Chapter 6

Josie received a sudden call from the hospital, saying her father's condition had become unstable.

She rushed to the hospital, only to find an intern doctor struggling to save him.

He was sweating profusely. "We need the chief surgeon now. His blood pressure's out of control."

Josie grabbed a nurse. "Where's my dad's primary doctor?"

The nurse replied, "A VIP came for a full checkup today. All the doctors were called away."

"How could this happen? Lives are at stake!" Josie exclaimed.

She knew the top floor had the best VIP wards.

She bolted upstairs but found security guards blocking the hallway.

"This floor's reserved today. You can't enter," one said.

Josie dropped to her knees, begging. "Please, let me find a deputy doctor. My dad needs surgery now!"

The four guards remained stone-faced. "The dean gave strict orders. Letting you in costs us our jobs."

"Miss, try transferring him. The checkup will take all day," another added.

"Please, I'm begging you! His condition is really urgent!" Josie cried, banging her head on the floor until blood appeared.

Two guards, unable to watch, pulled her up. "There's an ambulance downstairs. Hurry and transfer him. What a tragedy."

This was Bayside's best private hospital, with guards paid better than most.

Seeing their resolve, Josie ran back downstairs.

As she ran, she called Laurence.

The call connected, but Rosalie's voice came through. "Laurence, I'm scared of needles. Come cover my eyes."

"Okay," Laurence replied. "Josie, I'm busy. I'll call you back," he said, hanging up before she could speak.

Josie laughed bitterly, not bothering to call again, and focused on transferring her father.

But as the ambulance pulled out, a truck slammed into it.

The rear door was torn off.

Luckily, the vehicle still ran. The injured driver pushed through, getting them to the nearest hospital.

It took ten extra minutes.

Josie's father reached the ER, but it was too late.

The doctor, after hours of effort, delivered the grim news. "If he'd arrived twenty minutes earlier, there might've been hope. I'm sorry."

Josie collapsed to her knees, her mind blank.

Her last family member was gone.

Her phone buzzed. Laurence was calling back.

Her trembling hand rejected the call.

Laurence, hung up on, didn't try again, likely busy with his precious Rosalie.

For the next four days, Josie handled her father's funeral like a ghost.

Laurence, caught up bidding on a project with Rosalie, didn't notice her absence.

He didn't even realize she hadn't shown up to work.

After collecting her father's ashes, Josie chose not to buy a plot in Bayside.

She decided to take the ashes with her.

Before leaving, she visited the private hospital.

Using her rapport with the nurses, she learned who the "VIP" was that day, demanding a full checkup.

It was Rosalie.

A healthy woman had pulled all the doctors for a pointless exam?

Without Rosalie's prior provocations, Josie might've believed, like others, it was a coincidence.

But Rosalie had done it on purpose.

She'd deliberately ensured Laurence cut off her father's lifeline.

Rosalie wanted Josie to carry the weight of this blood feud, ensuring no chance of reconciliation with Laurence.

Laurence went all out for an outsider, while his wife's father died from delayed treatment.

The next day, as Laurence left for work, Chris's car pulled up to the Andrews' doorstep.

He looked at Josie, holding her father's ashes, his eyes full of regret and sympathy. "Josie, I'm so sorry I came too late."

Josie's face was stern. "Chris, how much are you willing to do for me?"

Chris knelt on one knee, reverently kissing the back of her hand. "The moment you pulled me from that cliff, I fell for your courage and strength. I'll give you everything. The entire Harris family is yours to command, my princess."

Josie didn't fully trust Chris.

But since Rosalie used Laurence to hurt her, she wouldn't hesitate to wield Chris as her weapon.

They headed to the airport.

After the plane took off, Josie sent a message to her lawyer.

"Liquidate all the assets Laurence transferred to me in the divorce agreement. Do it fast, no matter the cost."

Laurence. Rosalie.

She'd make them taste her piercing pain.