Second Shot: Choosing Silence Over Salvage

Grandma Bessie stamped her foot and said angrily, "What are you still standing around for? Hurry up and get your wife back here! How dare she lie to us about being at work?"

This time, the call connected quickly.

The noisy background sound came through, and Cynthia could be heard exclaiming happily, "Mom, we still need ten more pearls to make a necklace! Hurry up and keep gathering them!"

Mom said dotingly, "Okay. I'll keep gathering them for you."

Dad said anxiously into the phone, "Miranda, you need to come back now! Alex was shot! He has an intracranial hemorrhage and needs you to operate!"

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, followed by Mom's displeased voice.

"Are you joining in this nonsense too? Did that wretched girl Cindy say this? She can't go a single day without causing trouble! How many times have I told you that not a single word she says can be trusted?"

I stood to the side, listening to their conversation. I felt a chill spread through my whole body.

It was Cynthia who was the habitual liar. Every time she framed me for something, I was left unable to defend myself.

Dad was speaking pleadingly now. "Miranda, I'm begging you. This time it's real! Alex really might not make it. Please come back and see for yourself!"

Mom's tone was hesitant as she said, "Peter, I—"

At that moment, Cynthia's voice came through the phone again, this time with a hint of a whine.

"Ugh, I just wanted a pearl necklace, and now Cindy has gotten the whole family to gang up on us. Never mind, Mom. I don't want it anymore. After all, I'm just the adopted daughter. I'm not as important as Cindy."

Mom's attitude instantly became resolute. "Alright, that's enough. I'll be back tonight. Stop using Alex to trick me! He's as tough as nails. What could possibly happen to him?"

Grandma Bessie couldn't take it any longer and yelled into the phone, "Miranda, have you no conscience? Alex's life is hanging in the balance, and you're still thinking about that adopted daughter!

"Would all of us lie to you? Is Alex's life really less important than a pearl necklace?"

Mom's tone was now filled with impatience. "Enough, Mom. Cynthia is my treasure and is no less important than Alex. I'll be back soon. Stop pressuring me! Cindy is just a selfish brat and a liar. Don't believe her!"

She ended the call again, leaving the rest of the family anxiously waiting outside the operating room.

This time, Grandma Bessie and Grandma Carol were clearly furious. They never expected Mom to be so irresponsible.

For the sake of an adopted daughter, she was disregarding her own son's life.

Meanwhile, I stood to the side, watching their anxious and angry expressions. Surprisingly, I felt calm on the inside.

In my previous life, I exhausted myself trying to save Alex's life, only to be met with my family's blame and Mom's cruelty.

In this life, I had chosen to stand by and watch. I wondered how everyone would react to Mom choosing Cynthia.

The nurse rushed out of the operating room again, urging hurriedly, "Have you found Dr. Wood yet? The patient's vital signs are starting to drop! If we don't operate soon, it will be too late!"

Dad frantically tried to call Mom again, only to discover he had been blocked.

Grandma Carol and Grandma Bessie also fumbled for their phones, dialing with trembling hands. Soon, both their faces turned pale.

"It won't go through! She blocked me too!" Grandma Carol exclaimed, sounding disbelieving and heartbroken.

"Me too… That heartless woman! How could she do this?"

Grandma Bessie clutched her phone tightly. Her face was streaked with tears and snot.

A feeling of despair instantly spread. Everyone knew that this time, Alex was really going to leave us.

We could only stand helplessly outside the operating room, listening to the urgent sounds of resuscitation inside and watching as Alex's life slowly slipped away.

The operating room doors opened again, and the doctor walked out wearily, shaking his head gently.