But with the earthquake, every operating
room in the area was booked.
The one that had just opened up was going to
be free as soon as I got there, but Lily got
there first and snagged it for her little
scratch.
い
I was losing precious time.
When Chad heard, he looked relieved. He said
to the medical staff, “If it’s too much trouble, I
can sign a DNR. I’m her husband. Save the
resources for someone else.”
He sounded so righteous.
The others exchanged worried glances,
unsure of what to do.
Then Lily chimed in, “Patients who’ve been
hypothermic for this long, are pretty much
doomed. It would be kinder to just let her go.”
Lily’s family was full of doctors, including her
father and brother, who were famous
physicians.
People put more weight in what she said.
Everyone started to waver, and before long,
someone brought out the DNR form.
Chad didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the pen and
was about to sign.
<
That’s when the anger and despair of two
lifetimes seemed to flood me with strength. I
grabbed his hand.
He was shocked that I was able to hold him
back.
As he tried to pry my fingers loose one by
one, the surgery that had been going on
finished up, and the nurse who had been
trying to help me called out, “Doctor, the OR
is open! We can prep her for surgery. She still
has a chance!”
As they wheeled me away, Chad still didn’t
give up. He was still saying, “If she can’t
make it, you have my permission to stop
trying!”
Г
It was the most inappropriate thing anyone
could say outside an operating room.
Everyone else with a loved one inside was
praying for a miracle.
But he was praying that they’d give up on me.
The surgery took two hours. I only made it
through because of my anger.
When they wheeled me out, Chad’s face fell
as soon as he saw I was still alive.
He whispered in my ear, so no one else could
hear, “Why didn’t you die? If you did, Lily
wouldn’t be threatened.”
Then, he stroked my neck, like he wanted to
strangle me.
After they put me in a room, Chad closed the
door and, while tucking me into bed, said,
“Hey, Lily’s been working so hard to make a
name for herself. She volunteered to join the
rescue team. If anyone asks about what
happened, just say another doctor
misdiagnosed you, okay?”
Then he gave me a name.
He’d already found someone to take the fall.
He was going to make sure his darling got a
chance.
Chad, it looks like you can get things done.
I’ve asked you for so much, and you always
say you can’t do it.
く
But all Lily had to do was cry, and you do
anything for her.
I smiled sadly and looked at the name he
gave me and the photo on his phone.
More than half of the conversation was about
Lily.
Even this was for Lily.
All those years of sacrifice felt like a joke.
“Okay, I’ll do what you say.”
Chad seemed confident he had me wrapped
around his finger.
He jerked the blanket around me and left.
^
For the next few days, he took Lily to get her
dressing changed, passing my room without
even glancing inside.
All my consent forms were signed by me, but
Lily just had a little infection and he almost
started a fight with the doctor because he
was so worried.
It was laughable.
After a few days, the rescue efforts started to
wrap up and things started to go back to
normal. Interview requests came in, especially
for Lily, the talented young woman from a
family of doctors.
The photo of Chad carrying Lily out of the
rubble went viral.
Г
People wondered about their relationship.
The headlines all talked about a couple who
found love during a disaster.
And I, Chad’s wife of ten years, didn’t even
have anyone to help me to the bathroom.
Chad even posted a picture of himself
feeding Lily and giving her flowers without
blocking me.
I liked the photo and used it to find the fall
guy.
The young doctor had just started his
internship. Lily just told him that she
misdiagnosed a patient, but she didn’t say
that she almost buried me alive.
When I told him everything, he realized how
serious it was.
He said, “Ma’am, they want me to go to the
media interview tomorrow and say I messed
up, and that Lily saved the day…”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Their plan was really something.
“Should I go?”
I nodded. He had to go.
The next day, the young doctor texted me.
That’s when I called the cops.
く
“Hello, I’d like to report a crime. I believe
rescue worker Chad and Dr. Lily from Central
Hospital are guilty of attempted murder.”
Chapter 2
When the interview started, it felt like
everyone in the hospital crowded around to
watch.
Lily and Chad were super popular online now.
There were even people exposing Chad for
having a wife!
But the die–hard shippers didn’t care.
They kept saying Lily and Chad were perfect
together and wondering how I even managed
to snag the team captain in the first place.
They photoshopped my picture into a
memorial shot and spread it all over the
internet.
Even though Chad was always on social
media, he acted like he didn’t see any of it.
There were even rumors he’d liked one of the
memorial pics a few days ago.
That drove his fan base crazy, and they all
started guessing that we were already
divorced.
Today’s live interview with Lily had been
promoted for days. So many people from the
hospital were there to watch. I told my nurse
after my shot that I wanted to be wheeled
down there.
L
Before I went, I got a text.
“Mrs. Reynolds, I’ve decided. I’ll testify.‘
I replied with a simple “Okay” and had the
nurse take me to watch my husband and the
other woman on their lovey–dovey livestream.
When the nurse wheeled me into place, Lily
was talking about how she and Chad had
grown up in the same neighborhood,
childhood sweethearts and all that.
