Three Years' Farewell

Chapter 6: Stolen Operating Room

Olivia ran into City Central Hospital, almost slipping on the polished floor. Cold air, white lights, the sting of disinfectant — none of it mattered.

Dad. Hold on.

She took the stairs instead of the elevator. By the time she reached ICU, her chest burned and her legs shook.

Her mother sat outside the unit on a plastic chair, shoulders hunched, a tissue crushed in her fist.

“Mom!" Olivia grabbed her arm. “What did the doctor say?"

Her mother looked up, eyes swollen. “They said his heart couldn't take the shock," she whispered. “Those creditors came in shouting about money. He got so upset he collapsed again. Now they say he needs another procedure. Right away."

Olivia's fingers went numb. “Then why isn't he in surgery?"

“They said all the operating rooms are full," her mother said. “They're trying… but…"

The ICU doors opened. A doctor stepped out, pulling down his mask.

“Family of David White?" he called.

Olivia stood. “Yes. I'm his daughter. How is he?"

The doctor came closer. “His heart rhythm is unstable," he said. “We brought him back for now, but the damage is serious. He needs to be taken into the operating room as soon as possible."

“Then why is he still in there?" Olivia asked.

The doctor hesitated. “All ORs are in use. We had one slot that was about to open, but another patient was moved ahead."

“Moved ahead how?"

He let out a slow breath. “She's a friend of a major stakeholder. Leg fracture from a car accident. Serious, but not immediately life‑threatening. The board approved her as a priority case."

Olivia stared at him. “So my father might die waiting because someone important broke their leg?"

“I know it seems unfair," the doctor said quietly. “We argued, but the decision came from above. We're still trying to free another room. For now we're doing everything we can in ICU to keep him stable."

Her mother clutched his coat sleeve. “Doctor, he's so weak. He can't wait much longer."

“We haven't given up on him," he said gently. “Please give us a little time."

Time. The thing they were already out of.

“Where is this patient with the leg fracture?" Olivia asked.

The doctor hesitated, then pointed down the corridor. “Pre‑op area. Room 3."

Olivia turned away. “I'll be right back, Mom."

“Olivia?" her mother called, panicked. “Where are you going?"

But Olivia was already walking, then almost running. At the far end of the hall, near the doors to the operating area, a sign read PRE‑OP 3. A nurse adjusted an IV pole outside.

“Excuse me," Olivia said. “Is the patient from the car accident in there?"

“Yes," the nurse replied. “We're preparing her for surgery."

“Can I talk to her for a moment?"

“Family only," the nurse said.

“I know her family," Olivia answered.

Before the nurse could ask more, a familiar male voice sounded from inside.

“Ava, don't be scared," it said gently. “It's a simple procedure. After this, your leg will heal."

Olivia's steps faltered.

She moved around the nurse and looked through the open door.

Anderson stood beside the bed, one hand on the rail, leaning slightly toward the woman lying there. His expression was soft, patient.

Ava lay on the bed in a hospital gown, her right leg in a temporary cast, hair loose over the pillow. She looked pale and fragile.

“But what if I can't walk properly again?" she asked in a small voice.

“The surgeon is the best," Anderson said. “With rehab you'll recover. I'll be here."

Olivia's hands curled into fists.

He's here for her. While Dad waits for a room that doesn't exist anymore.

The nurse noticed Olivia and stepped in front of her. “Ma'am, you can't—"

Anderson looked up.

His eyes met Olivia's. Surprise flashed across his face, then anger.

“Olivia?" His voice dropped, sharp. “Are you serious? You followed me here too?"

She stared at him, breath coming fast from the run and from fury.

He moved to the foot of the bed. “Is there anywhere you won't show up?" he snapped. “My office, my meetings, and now the hospital? Do you have to create trouble everywhere I go?"

Ava's fingers tightened on the blanket. The nurse glanced between them.

“I didn't follow you," Olivia said. “I came because—"

“Because I'm with Ava?" Anderson cut in. “Because you can't stand seeing us together, so you barge in and start accusing me again?"

Her nails bit into her palms.

“My father is in ICU," she said, each word clipped. “He had another heart attack. The doctor says he needs immediate surgery. They can't take him in because the last operating room was given to a 'priority case' with a leg fracture. Now I know that case is Ava."

Ava sucked in a breath. “Olivia, I didn't know—"

Olivia didn't look at her. “Did you know my father needed that room?" she asked Anderson.

“I knew he was in the hospital," he said, frowning. “You told me. I didn't know about any room."

“The doctor said his heart may not hold on," Olivia replied. “But the only open OR was used for a non‑fatal injury because someone pulled strings. If that someone is you, you can tell them to switch. Her leg can wait. His heart can't."

Anderson's jaw tightened. “This isn't my decision. The hospital arranged the schedule. I didn't take anything from your father."

“You're the one standing here with her," Olivia said. “If you're influential enough to get her on the list ahead of everyone else, you're influential enough to ask them to change it. I'm not here to argue about our marriage. I'm here to ask you to give that room back to my father."

Ava's eyes filled with tears. “My leg hurts all the time," she whispered. “The doctor said if they don't fix it properly, I might never walk normally again. I'm really scared, Olivia."

“The doctor also said my father might not live long enough for another opening," Olivia answered. “Pain can be treated. Death can't."

She swallowed.

“Anderson, please," she said quietly. “He helped you when no one else would. I'm not asking for anything for myself. I'm just asking you not to let him die in a hallway because someone used your name."

For a second, something flickered in his eyes. Then he looked at Ava, pale on the bed, and his expression hardened again.

“You're asking me to cancel her surgery," he said. “To send her away like this because you think your emergency is more important. Do you realize how unreasonable that sounds?"

Before Olivia could speak, the ICU doctor appeared in the doorway with another physician and two nurses. He stopped when he saw her inside.

“Ms. White," he said. “You shouldn't be here. We're about to transfer the patient to the operating room."

Olivia turned to him. “Doctor, you said my father's condition is more urgent," she said. “Can't you switch the rooms and take him first?"

The doctor's mouth pressed into a line. “This room has already been assigned. The board listed this patient as a priority case. If we go against that order, the hospital will be in trouble."

“What about the trouble of letting a man die because he doesn't know the right people?" Olivia asked.

“Sir," the nurse murmured, “we're behind schedule…"

Two security guards appeared in the doorway.

“Is there a problem?" one of them asked quietly.

Anderson straightened. “We're wasting time," he said. “The patient is scared and in pain. If something happens because of the delay, who's going to answer for it?"

The doctor hesitated only a moment.

“Prepare to move her in," he told the team. “We'll start in ten minutes."

Ten minutes.

The word rang in Olivia's ears like a sentence.

She reached for his sleeve. “Doctor—"

A firm hand closed around her arm.

“Ma'am, you need to step back," one of the guards said. “You're interfering with treatment."

“My father is the one who needs treatment!" Olivia cried. “You're giving his chance to someone with a broken leg!"

“Mrs. Gray," the nurse said softly, “please don't make this harder."

Olivia tried to wrench her arm free, but the guard's grip only tightened.

“Anderson!" she shouted, voice cracking. “Please. I'm begging you. Tell them to stop. Just once, choose him."

He looked at her, eyes dark.

Then he turned away.

“Get her into surgery," he told the doctor. “Now."

The guards began to pull Olivia toward the hall.

“Wait!" she struggled. “You can't do this! You can't—"

Her voice echoed down the corridor, thin against the beeping of monitors and the low murmur of staff. Behind her, Ava gave a small sob and let her head fall back, eyes fluttering shut as if she'd fainted from fear.

Whether it was real or not, Olivia never saw. The guards dragged her until the doorway vanished.

“Ma'am," one of them said at last, not unkindly, “if you keep resisting, we'll have to remove you from this floor."

Her strength drained away. She forced herself to stand still.

“My father…" she whispered. “He doesn't have anyone else."

No one answered.

The guards walked her back to ICU and released her there.

Her mother sprang to her feet. “Olivia? Where did you go? What happened?"

Olivia wiped at her face and lifted her chin.

“They're still trying to find an operating room," she said. Her voice sounded flat and distant. “We just have to wait."

Because the room that should have saved him was already taken.

Taken by the man who had promised to help them —

And the woman lying in a bed, too fragile to stand, but strong enough to steal his last chance.