Chapter 8: The Man Who Saved Me
We left the warehouse without another word.
My father didn’t speak.
Neither did I.
The silence between us felt heavier than the storm outside.
When we arrived home, I went straight to my room.
I expected him to follow.
He didn’t.
And somehow, that hurt more.
I sat on my bed and stared at my prosthetic leg.
Three years.
Three years of learning how to walk again.
Three years of telling myself I was strong.
But now I wondered.
Was my strength built on a lie?
A knock came.
“Come in.””
My father entered.
He stood by the door.
Not like a powerful man.
Like someone asking permission.
“Can I talk to you?””
I nodded.
He sat across from me.
“I owe you the truth.””
“Yes.””
His eyes lowered.
“The night of your accident, I received a warning.””
I froze.
“What kind of warning?””
“Someone told me your car was being followed.””
My heart started racing.
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
“Dad.””
He looked at me.
“I swear.””
I believed him.
Because my father lied badly when he was trying to protect someone.
“What happened next?””
He continued.
“I rushed to the hospital.””
“I remember.””
“No.””
His voice softened.
“You remember the hospital. You don’t remember what happened before.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
My father looked toward the window.
“When I arrived, doctors told me you might not survive.””
I swallowed.
“They said they needed authorization for emergency surgery.””
I nodded slowly.
“And you signed.””
“Yes.””
“Then why does the paper say you approved everything?””
“Because after signing, I discovered something.””
“What?””
“The surgeon assigned to you had a connection to Damian.””
I felt cold.
“So you stopped it?””
“I tried.””
His voice became quieter.
“But I was too late.””
I stared at him.
“What happened?””
“The surgery had already started.””
A tear escaped before I could stop it.
“Dad…”
He looked at me.
“I thought I lost you.””
For the first time, I saw the memory on his face.
Not anger.
Not guilt.
Pain.
“I sat outside that operating room for seven hours.””
He looked down.
“When the doctor finally came out, he said they saved your life.””
I wiped my eyes.
“But my leg…”
My father nodded.
“The damage was too severe.””
Silence.
“Then why hide it?””
He looked at me.
“Because I found out the surgeon was paid.””
“By Damian?””
“Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
Everything connected.
The accident.
The hospital.
The forged records.
The bullying.
But one question remained.
“Why did Damian want me alive?””
My father didn’t answer.
That scared me.
A knock interrupted us.
Marco entered.
“Boss.””
My father stood.
“What?””
“We found the surgeon.””
My father immediately turned.
“Where?””
“Atlanta.””
My heart stopped.
“Atlanta?””
Marco nodded.
“He’s been living under another name.””
My father looked at me.
“Stay here.””
I stood.
“No.””
“Sweetheart—”
“No.””
I stepped forward.
“I need answers too.””
My father studied my face.
Then nodded.
“Okay.””
We drove to a small house outside the city.
The man who opened the door looked nothing like the doctor I imagined.
He looked scared.
The second he saw my father, his face went pale.
“Adrian Kane.””
My father stepped forward.
“You remember me.””
The man looked at me.
Then looked away.
“Yes.””
I asked:
“Do you remember me?””
The doctor’s hands began shaking.
“Yes.””
“Did you hurt me?””
His eyes filled with guilt.
“No.””
My father stared.
“Then tell us the truth.””
The doctor looked behind him.
Like he expected someone to appear.
Then whispered:
“I didn’t choose your daughter.””
My father frowned.
“What?””
The doctor looked at me.
“Your daughter was never the target.””
Everyone froze.
“Then who was?”” my father asked.
May you like
The doctor swallowed.
“You were.””
