Chapter 130

Mia Harris pushed open the hospital room door carrying a thermal lunchbox. Lily White sat by the bed peeling an apple. Emily Smith lay motionless on the bed, her pale cheeks flushed with fever.

"Her temperature has dropped a little," Michael Thompson whispered as he took the lunchbox. "The doctor wants to observe her overnight."

Mia nodded, her gaze lingering on Emily's furrowed brows. She reached out to tuck the blanket tighter around her friend, her fingertips brushing against cold skin.

"You two should go home," Mia said with a tired smile. "I took time off work."

Michael hesitated. "Should we contact her family?"

"Family?" Mia's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "What family does she have left?" She immediately regretted her words and added, "Her younger sister's been in the ICU for over a year. Comatose."

Lily's apple slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a thud. Michael swallowed hard before asking, "What about her parents?"

"That's..." Mia shook her head. "Let's wait until she wakes up."

After seeing them out, Mia scrolled through her phone by Emily's bedside. The company group chat was flooded with photos of William Johnson and Amanda Lin holding hands. The image of their intertwined fingers burned her eyes.

"Xiao Yi—"

A heart-wrenching scream erupted from the bed. Mia dropped her phone in shock as Emily suddenly sat upright, yanking the IV line violently.

"Nightmare?" Mia grabbed Emily's flailing hands.

Emily trembled violently, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. "I dreamed... William stopped Xiao Yi's treatment..."

Mia's heart clenched. She recalled the morning elevator gossip about the VP personally canceling special care for a certain patient.

"Don't worry." She pulled Emily into a tight hug. "We can transfer hospitals. My cousin has connections at Johns Hopkins. If necessary, we'll go to America."

Emily's sobs gradually quieted. She fumbled for her phone and dialed the caregiver with shaking fingers. Only after confirming her sister's stable condition did she collapse back against the pillows, drained.

"Is it because of him?" Mia handed her tissues, the implication clear.

Emily lowered her lashes, shadows dancing across her face.

"That bastard!" Mia slammed her fist onto the nightstand. "Playing both sides—flaunting his relationship with Amanda while messing with you!"

In her fury, Mia didn't notice the door creaking open slightly. William Johnson stood in the corridor shadows, the bouquet of lilies in his hand crushed beyond recognition.