“Dad... it hurts so much... Emily’s gonna die, isn’t she?”

“Can we stop the treatment? Please?”

“I don’t want to feel this pain anymore... and I don’t want you to spend more money on me.”

“Can we just go home? I miss home… really, really miss it…”

In the ICU, a tiny, fragile body lay on the bed. Emily’s once adorable little face was now ghostly pale, with blood steadily oozing from her nose and mouth. Her whole body was marked with spots and bruises from internal bleeding.

Her small hand clung tightly to Blair Wright’s, using all the strength she had left. Her large, tear-filled eyes were full of pain and reluctant love for her father.

Blair’s eyes turned red. His heart felt like it was being stabbed over and over—far worse than the physical pain from the injury near his kidney.

“Emily, hang in there. Daddy’s gonna find a way. Once you get better, we’ll go home, and I’ll make your favorite cola chicken wings. Deal?”

He held her hand tighter, voice trembling.

“Don’t lie, Dad… I know I won’t get better. You should save the money, you still have to live after I’m gone…”

“Please, don’t waste any more money on me…”

As she spoke, she slowly lifted her head with effort and took off a dragon-shaped jade pendant hanging from her neck."This jade pendant doesn’t help me anymore. Daddy, you wear it instead—let it protect you."

The pendant had belonged to Blair Wright's father, said to be passed down from their ancestors. Supposedly, it could ward off illness and misfortune.

When Emily got sick, Blair had her wear it every day, hoping it could somehow keep her safe.

But now? That so-called protection felt like nothing but wishful thinking.

Hearing her say that, Blair felt like his heart was being torn apart. He clenched the still-warm pendant in his hand, eyes brimming with tears he couldn't hold back anymore.

She was only five. So small, yet far too sensible.

And the more she showed how grown-up she was, the more it crushed him inside.

There was a tightness in his chest, like something heavy pressed down, refusing to let go. It was driving him mad.

His daughter hadn’t even had a chance to enjoy life yet. Was she really going to be taken away like this?

No. No way!

If it came to it, he’d put everything on the line—his pride, his life—anything to keep her alive.

"Mr. Wright," Emily's doctor, David Jackson, asked, deadpan as ever, "you’ve used up all the payment from last time. Do you want to continue treatment or not? Your daughter's condition might hold out for a few more days if we use the special meds. With luck, a matching marrow donor might turn up in that time.""Of course we’ll keep treating her! Dr. Zhao, please, I'm begging you—don’t stop the meds! Please, Emily can’t die. She just can't!"

Blair Wright clung to the doctor's arm, his voice shaking with desperation.

"Come back after you've paid," the doctor replied coolly.

"I will! I’ll find the money right now!"

"Dr. Zhao, I’m begging you, just keep her on the medication!"

"Please! I’m begging you here!"

With those words, Blair bolted out of the hospital room like a madman.

Behind him, a few murmurs floated from the doctor and nurses.

"Use the medication first? No way…"

"That guy sold a kidney just to pay for his girl’s treatment?"

"Yeah, what a heartbreaking thing. But no money means no help..."

Right then, Blair rushed out of the hospital and staggered to a stop at the entrance.

Money. Money. MONEY.

Right now, money meant Emily's life.

But where could he get it?

He'd run blindly, driven by panic, thinking he just had to find more cash. Only now did reality hit—he had already begged everyone he could.

Out of options, Blair pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

This was his last shot.

Even if it meant swallowing his pride and begging her.

Because compared to Emily’s life, what did pride even matter?

"Hello? Who’s this?"A soft, flirtatious female voice came from the other end of the line.

"It's me. Blair Wright."

"You? Why are you calling me? We're already divorced!"

The sweet tone instantly turned cold as soon as the woman realized who was on the line.

It was Clara Johnson—Blair’s ex-wife and Emily’s biological mother.

Back in his early twenties, Blair Wright wasn’t broke like now. He had his own small factory that brought in millions every year.

He and Clara were college classmates, and she used to be the campus beauty. At a reunion, she took the initiative to charm him with her looks, and before long, they got married.

Things were fine at first. Clara even gave birth to their daughter.

But everything changed the moment Emily was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

Blair poured every penny he had into her treatment, even selling off his factory.

Once he fell from middle-class to flat broke, Clara’s true colors showed—cold, calculating, all about the money. She even tried to stop him from spending any more on their daughter's care.

Then she crossed a line: before the divorce was even finalized, she had already started seeing a rich guy, clearly planning her next move.A month ago, Clara Johnson had ruthlessly filed for divorce, kicking Blair Wright and his daughter out of her life without a trace of emotion.

As Emily’s biological mother, she hadn’t even come to visit once. It was like getting rid of some bad luck.

If Blair wasn’t completely backed into a corner, he wouldn’t have reached out to her.

“Clara... could you... lend me some money?”

His voice trembled—every word an effort.

“Hah... borrow money? From me? You’ve got some nerve, Blair. I must’ve been blind to marry you back then. Thank God I had the brains to dump you when I did.”

“Just get lost. You’ve got no shame, do you?”

Clara sneered, her voice dripping with contempt.

“Emily’s dying!”

“If I can’t pay the hospital... she won’t make it!”

“Clara, I’m begging you. For our daughter’s sake—can you lend me two hundred thousand? No—one hundred thousand is fine too!”

“I swear I’ll pay you back. I will!”

Blair’s voice turned frantic, terrified she’d hang up at any second.

There was a beat of silence on the other end.

“I’m sorry. I’m happy with someone else now—living just fine with Mr. Liu. Don’t call me again. Leukemia? That’s a bottomless pit. Just give up already…”

Beeep… beeep… beeep…

The dead tone felt like ice water pouring straight into Blair’s heart.Clara Johnson, how could you be so heartless?

Emily is your own daughter! How can you just turn your back like that?

How could you?!

He was furious.

Furious at fate. At Clara’s coldness. At his own helplessness.

Every time he pictured his little girl lying there, helpless and in pain… every time he remembered how she clutched his hand and softly called him “Dad,” Blair Wright’s eyes burned with desperation that quickly turned into a terrifying determination.

No.

Emily, Daddy won’t let you die.

Even if you really had to leave this world, Daddy would go with you.

He was useless… This was all he could do.

Baby girl, Daddy’s going ahead first.

Thud!

With a heavy, dull thump, Blair’s body was flung through the air.

When he hit the ground, blood spread out from under him, vivid and shocking.

But even then, his hand still clutched that dragon-shaped jade pendant.

Like it was the most precious thing in the world—maybe because it had been Emily’s for years.

Strangely, as the blood seeped onto the jade, it started to disappear—like the pendant was drinking it in.

Screech!

Just then, a Bentley Mulsanne slammed on the brakes. Two figures rushed out of the car toward him.A man and a woman.

The guy looked like a bodyguard or a driver, while the cool, elegant woman clearly seemed to be the boss.

She was young, stunning, with flawless features and a tall, graceful figure—honestly, better looking than most celebrities.

Wearing a sleek office outfit, she radiated a sharp and professional vibe.

"Scam?"

The driver frowned as he stared at Blair Wright lying in a pool of blood.

"Using his life to scam someone?"

The woman raised her brows slightly and said in an icy tone, "Doesn't matter what he's up to—just call an ambulance."

Meanwhile, Blair Wright, still unconscious, felt a strange voice echoing in his mind.

"Pathetic! How could I have such a useless descendant?"

"Lost a human kidney? Fine. I’ll give you a dragon’s."