Chapter 3 " She actually dared to lie to us about working ! " This time the call connected quickly . Background noise came through , and Belle's excited voice yelled " Mom , I need 10 more pearls to make a whole necklace ! Keep diving ! " Mom said indulgently : " Okay , Mommy will keep helping you find them . " Dad spoke urgently into the phone : " Victoria , you need to come back ! Kai's been shot , he has brain bleeding and needs your surgery " The other end went quiet for a few seconds , then Mom's displeased voice came through " You're being ridiculous too ? Did that little brat Nina tell you that ? She can't go one day without stirring up trouble " I've told you a million times - don't believe a single word she says ! " I stood to the side , listening to their conversation , feeling cold all over . Belle was the one who constantly lied , always framing me for things while I couldn't defend myself . Dad's voice was pleading : " Victoria , I'm begging you , this time it's real ! Kai's really dying . Please come back and see! " Mom's tone showed hesitation : " Ryan , maybe I should … " Just then , Belle's voice came through the phone again , with a hint of whining : " Ugh , I just wanted a pearl necklace , and now sis is getting the whole family to ruin it . " " Forget it , Mom . I don't want it anymore . After all , I'm just the foster daughter - not as important Mom's attitude immediately became firm . " Alright , stop it . I'll be back tonight . Don't try to trick me with Kai again !" " He's tough as nails - what could happen to him ! " as sis . " Grandma Hayes couldn't take it anymore and yelled into the phone : " Victoria , do you have any conscience left ?! " " Kai's life is hanging by a thread and you're still thinking about that foster daughter ! " " Would all of us lie to you ? Is Kai's life really less important than some pearl necklace ?! " Mom's voice was now full of impatience : " Enough , Mom . Belle is my precious baby , just as important as Kai . I'll be back soon , stop pressuring me ! " " Nina's just a selfish liar - don't believe her ! " She hung up again , leaving a group of family members anxiously waiting outside the operating room . This time Grandma Hayes and Grandma Cole were obviously furious . They hadn't expected Mom to be so unreasonable . For the sake of a foster daughter , she wouldn't even care about her biological son's life . And I stood to the side , watching their anxious , angry expressions , feeling unexpectedly calm inside . In my previous life , I'd tried desperately to save my brother's life , only to get blamed by my family and treated coldly by Mom . This time , I'd chosen to watch from the sidelines . I wondered what everyone would think of Mom choosing Belle . The nurse rushed out of the operating room again , urgently pressing : 1.89 % Ma SoT Burned It All Down ! * Did you find Dr. Hayes ?! The patient's vital signs are dropping ! If we don't operate soon , it'll be too late ! " Dad frantically tried to call Mom again , only to discover he'd been blocked . Grandma Cole and Grandina Hayes also fumbled for their phones , trembling as they dialed . Soon , both their faces turned deathly pale . " Can't get through ! She blocked me too ! " Grandma Cole's voice was filled with painful disbelief . " Me too … that heartless thing ! How could she do this ! " Grandma Hayes gripped her phone tightly , tears and snot streaming down her face . Despair instantly spread through everyone . We all knew that this time , my brother was really going to die . We could only stand helplessly outside the operating room , listening to the urgent sounds of resuscitation inside , watching as my brother's life slipped away bit by bit . The operating room doors opened again . The doctor walked out wearily and gently shook his head . " I'm sorry … we did everything we could . " Grandma Cole let out a piercing wail , throwing herself on my brother's body , crying heartbrokenly . " My Kai ! My grandson ! " Grandma Hayes also stumbled in , holding my brother's cold body and sobbing : " Kai ! My grandson ! How could this happen ? !! " Dad stood frozen in place , his body swaying , his face showing extreme pain and regret . He looked at his lifeless son on the operating table and let out an uncontrollable roar of anguish .