No Strings Attached

Clara's body shivered, her steps faltering backward until she hit the wall. The cold of the wall snapped her back to reality.

Signing this paper meant her father had an 80% chance of never making it to the operating table. If she didn't sign, his life could slip away at any moment.

Faced with such a harrowing decision, Clara forced herself to stay composed. She walked over to the doctor, took the consent form with trembling hands, and scrawled her name across it in shaky letters. Tears fell from her eyes, dotting the paper as she whispered, "Can I... Can I go in and be with my dad?"

The doctor frowned slightly. "The surgery could take seven to eight hours, and you're not in the right condition to be in there. It's better to wait outside. We'll do everything we can." sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Clara nodded numbly, watching the doors to the emergency room close again. Time crawled by, and though only half an hour had passed, it felt like an eternity to her. Even when she was pacing the hallway, she couldn't tear her eyes away from the OR doors.

rest a bit. You need to think of the baby

to sit down

doors swung open. Clara's heart stopped. When a surgeon came out mid-operation, it

voice a quivering mess.

a complex case, and the patient's vitals are fluctuating. We need you to sign a critical condition notice." Edwin quickly steadied Clara, his voice firm yet soothing. "Clara, this document doesn't

OR doors shut once more, she pressed her hands together in prayer. That was when

to see Dawson leading a gray-haired man through the corridor. Clara's spirits lifted, and she quickly asked, "Where's lan?" Dawson hesitated, "To avoid the conflict zone, Mr. Hayes escorted us out. He's been

he inquired, "What's the status

he asked, "How certain

thoughtfully. "I'm 70% sure, but for Mr. Hayes and Ms. Clara, I'll give