Chapter 8 - The Desperate Deal
The tension in the hospital room was so thick it felt like I was suffocating.
I looked past Marcus Vance and saw my father's tactical team waiting in the hallway with their own weapons drawn.
A massive, bloody shootout was about to erupt inside the hospital, and innocent people would die.
I pushed myself up from the hospital bed, completely ignoring the fiery pain in my healing stomach.
"Stop this right now!" I screamed with every ounce of strength I had left.
Marcus Vance shifted his dark, terrifying gaze toward me.
"You carried my child, Vivienne, but you have no claim to her," Marcus stated coldly.
"She has my blood, and she belongs with her true family."
I took a brave step toward the ruthless crime boss, refusing to show any fear.
"Your blood gave her a rare genetic disease, and she will die without a bone marrow transplant!" I yelled.
Marcus lowered his silver revolver slightly, clearly shocked by the devastating medical news.
"I birthed her, I suffered for her, and I love her more than life itself," I continued fiercely.
"If you truly care about your daughter, you will donate your bone marrow to save her life."
Marcus stared at me for a long, agonizing moment, weighing his violent pride against the life of his child.
He finally holstered his massive weapon and signaled his mercenaries to lower their rifles.
"I will provide the bone marrow and save her life," Marcus agreed slowly.
"But in exchange, you must hand the child over to me the moment she is fully recovered."
My heart broke into a million tiny pieces, but I knew I had to make the ultimate sacrifice to save my baby.
"I agree to your terms," I whispered, tears streaming freely down my pale face.
Arthur tried to protest, but I held up my hand to silence him.
The doctors quickly prepared Marcus for the emergency extraction procedure in the adjacent operating room.
I sat in a wheelchair outside the intensive care unit, watching my fragile daughter fight for every tiny breath.
Hours felt like agonizing years as the brilliant surgeons performed the complex transplant operation.
Finally, the lead surgeon walked through the double doors with a tired but victorious smile on her face.
"The transplant was incredibly successful, and Sophia is going to make a full recovery," the doctor announced.
I sobbed with profound joy and thanked the universe for the miraculous news.
My joy was suddenly interrupted by the sound of heavy boots echoing down the sterile corridor.
Marcus Vance walked toward me, pressing a white bandage against his hip where the marrow had been extracted.
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"The deal is done, Vivienne," Marcus said darkly.
"Pack her belongings, because my men are taking her to my estate in five minutes."
