Chapter 3: Heartbeat

The room was silent as the doctor pulled off his mask, his expression dull. He glanced at Ephyra's lifeless form on the operating table, her pale skin almost translucent under the harsh hospital lights. The nurses began disconnecting the machines, their movements slow.

One of the nurses gently pulled a white sheet over Ephyra's body, covering her face. "Poor girl," she whispered to herself. "So young… and to go like this."

The doctor nodded but said nothing. He had seen countless deaths in his career, but something about this one—perhaps her youth, her innocence—struck a chord deep within him. He lingered for a moment longer before stepping out of the operating room. At the same time, the nurse went to the heart monitor, and just as she was about to disconnect it, a single blip appeared on the screen.

A heartbeat.

Another blip followed, and then another. The slow, steady rhythm of Ephyra's heart returned, weak but unmistakably alive. A collective breath of disbelief swept through the room.

"Doctor Liam! She's alive!" the nurse exclaimed, while the one who had covered Ephyra hurriedly pulled back the white cloth.

"Oh my God! She came back to life!" the third nurse covered her mouth in disbelief.

Liam was already beside Ephyra in a heartbeat, his hands moving swiftly to reconnect the machines and check her vitals.

"Prepare a new round of IV fluids and monitor her oxygen levels closely," Doctor Liam commanded, his voice laced with urgency but also amazement. This wasn't supposed to happen. She had died, and yet, here she was, alive by some miracle.

The heart monitor continued its steady rhythm, still weak but growing stronger with each passing second. Ephyra's pale complexion remained, but the faintest blush of life returned to her cheeks.

The nurse who had covered Ephyra with the white sheet just moments before stood frozen as she whispered, "I thought she was gone… How can this be?"

"She's stable for now," Liam said, though the uncertainty in his voice was clear. "But we're not out of the woods yet. Let's conclude this and get her to the ICU for round-the-clock care."

Fifteen minutes later, as the nurses wheeled Ephyra out of the operating room, Liam wiped his brow, his lips set in a thin line. "Let's hope she's a fighter."

Allen Family Mansion.

Knock. Knock.

"Who the hell is that?" Mira yelled at the person persistently knocking on her door and disturbing her.

"It's me, Young Miss."

Hearing the voice of the old nanny, Mira rolled her eyes and continued scrolling through her phone, the acrylic nails on her fingers hitting the screen

"Come in."

The door creaked open, and the old nanny stepped inside, her face lined with age and a hint of worry. She carried a tray with tea and a few light snacks; this gesture was usually for Ephyra, but she wasn't home, and Mira had also locked herself in her room.

Mira barely glanced up from her phone. "What do you want?" she muttered, her voice dripping with annoyance.

The nanny hesitated, her eyes lingering on Mira's distracted form. She had served the Allen family for decades and had seen a lot of things in this house. But she didn't want to imagine what Mira would become once hatred and jealousy totally consumed her.

"Miss Mira," the nanny said softly, placing the tray on the small table near the window. "I thought you might need something to eat. You haven't left your room since you came home."

Mira scoffed and tossed her phone aside, stretching out on the bed, her blonde locks sprawling on it. "I'm fine. And don't bring me this boring stuff next time. Get me something more… exciting. Maybe sushi or something."

The nanny offered a small, forced smile. "Of course, Miss Mira. I'll make sure to have your favorite delivered next time."

As the nanny turned to leave, she hesitated again, making Mira look up at her. "Anything else?"

"Uhm, Miss Mira… do you… by any chance know where Miss Ephyra could be? She hasn't come home, and it's getting late. She never misses her evening check-in with me, and… I'm worried."

Mira's expression hardened, her hazel eyes narrowing at the mention of Ephyra's name. "Why are you always so concerned about her? If you are so worried, why don't you look for her instead of coming to meet me? How the hell would I know where she is?"

"But Miss Mira—" Her words were cut off by her phone ringing. Frowning, she pulled it out of her apron pocket and answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello, this is City Hospital, Manhattan. Are you Ephyra Allen's family member or guardian?"

The nanny's breath caught in her throat as she gripped the phone tightly. "Yes," she replied, her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm her guardian. What... what happened?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line, long enough to send a wave of dread through the nanny. Mira noticed the shift in the nanny's behavior and narrowed her eyes. She straightened up and leaned forward.

"I'm afraid Miss Ephyra was involved in a serious accident," the voice on the phone said carefully. "She was struck by a car and was brought into emergency surgery. It was... touch and go for a while, but she's stable now. She's been transferred to the ICU for monitoring."

The nanny gasped, her free hand coming up to cover her mouth. "Oh dear Lord," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "Is she... is she going to be alright?"

The doctor's voice softened. "It's still too early to say for certain, but the fact that she's alive is a miracle in itself. We'll know more over the next 24 hours. It would be best if her family could come to the hospital as soon as possible."

"I—I'll be there right away," the nanny said, her voice shaking. "Thank you for letting me know."

"What's going on?" Mira's sharp voice cut through the nanny's daze. "What happened to Ephyra?"

The nanny looked up at Mira. "Miss Ephyra... she's been in an accident," she choked out. "They thought she... they thought she was gone, but she's alive, thank God. I have to go to the hospital right away."

Mira's heart skipped a beat, but upon remembering the letter, she couldn't help but wish that her stupid stepsister had died.

"Tsk, she should have just died," Mira muttered under her breath. "That would have been great for everyone."