Chapter 3

I went to the hospital alone to treat my injuries.

The X-ray showed a comminuted fracture in my right hand.

"Dr. Walsh, your injury is severe. Even if it heals, your ability to perform delicate operations will be greatly reduced."

I understood what he meant.

My dream of being a surgeon would be over.

Just as I was in despair, George appeared in the hospital room.

He was holding our five-year-old son, Kaiden Norris.

"Mommy. Mommy." Kaiden rushed into my arms. When he saw my right hand wrapped in bandages, tears immediately welled up in his eyes.

"Mommy, what happened to your hand? Does it hurt?"

I looked at his innocent face and was heartbroken. "It's okay. It doesn't hurt."

George stood by and gave a smile. "Kaiden, tell Mommy, do you want her to come home?"

Kaiden nodded vigorously. "Yes! I want Mom to come home."

George bent down and softly touched Kaiden's hair. "Then if Mommy made a mistake, shouldn't she bravely admit it?"

Kaiden didn't understand the complicated adult world. He just nodded with childlike sincerity. "Mommy, the teacher says if one makes a mistake, he'd better admit it. Then he can be forgiven."

George looked at me and gave me a smug smile. "Julia, did you hear that? Even Kaiden hopes you'll admit your mistake. As long as you do what I say at the press conference, our family can start anew. I'll find a way to get you a lighter sentence, at most probation, without jail time."

I looked at Kaiden in my arms and hesitated.

If I didn't compromise, what awaited me?

Would I be put in jail?

Or would I even face harsher retribution?

And Kaiden was just a five-year-old boy. What would he face because of my stubbornness? "Mommy, are you and Dad getting a divorce?" Kaiden suddenly asked. "Shawn, my friend in my class, said that after his mommy and daddy divorced, he couldn't see his mommy anymore. Mommy, please don't leave me. Okay?"

Kaiden's words pierced my heart deeply.

George interjected at just the right moment. "Julia, for Kaiden's sake, just give in this time. I promise, our family can go back to how it was as long as you cooperate with me."

I closed my eyes and felt Kaiden's warmth in my arms. "Okay." I struggled to utter the sentence, "I agree."

George's face lit up with satisfaction. "That's the right decision. I've already prepared the speech for you. Just read it as it is."

He took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to me.

I glanced at it. It described the "facts" of how I made a mistake during surgery and caused Timothy's death.

Each word stabbed at my heart.

At two in the afternoon, the press conference proceeded as scheduled.

Karson, as the director, spoke first. He expressed the hospital's concern over the "medical incident."

I held the script George wrote and began to read in a quivering voice. "I am Julia Walsh, and I bear inescapable responsibility for Mr. Timothy Mills's death. During the surgery, due to my personal..."

Below the stage, reporters were taking photos frantically. They seemed to be capturing the last moment of my life.

After reading the statement, the police approached as part of the procedure. They were to take me away.

Just then, Madeline suddenly appeared by my side.

She had a victorious smirk on her face. She pretended to support me with concern.

"Dr. Walsh, don't be too upset." Her voice was low and only audible to both of us. Do you think you will protect your son by doing this?"

I was stunned and looked at her.

Madeline leaned closer to my ear, and her voice dripped with malicious delight. "Let me tell you a secret. Your son died of asphyxiation at birth. Kaiden is the son of George and his first love, Gabriela Quinn. You stupid woman. You've raised her son for five years."