Jackson’s mind reeled. His hand trembled uncontrollably as he held the document. “The baby… is it really beyond saving? Isn’t it seven months along? Can’t we do a cesarean section?” The nurse sighed, her voice tinged with regret. “If Emily had arrived at the hospital sooner, there might have been a chance. But by the time she got here, it was too late. We can’t detect a fetal heartbeat, which means the baby’s heart has already stopped…” Jackson felt as if the nurse’s words were drifting from a distant place, an unreal feeling overwhelming him. The last time he saw Emily, she was a tender, hopeful mother-to-be, eagerly anticipating the baby’s arrival. Now, not long after, the baby was lost, and Emily was in the operating room. What had happened…? “Sir? Sir?” The nurse nudged him. “Please sign the document quickly. Time is of the essence. The patient needs immediate surgery. There can be no further delays.” Jackson came back to reality, wiped his face in a daze, and scribbled his name in the “Family Member” section at the bottom of the form. “Alright, here you go.” The nurse glanced over the document. “Okay, I’ll inform the doctors right away.” “Wait,” Jackson quickly asked, “Will Emily be okay? The baby is gone, but she will be alright, right?” The nurse didn’t offer a definitive answer. “Emily has lost a lot of blood, and her condition is still precarious. For now, it seems to be stabilized, but the outcome remains uncertain.” Jackson nodded, feeling a wave of frustration and helplessness. “Thank you.” The nurse hurried into the operating room, and Jackson peeked through the crack in the door. A doctor in a light blue coat was talking with the nurse, his latex gloves smeared with bright red blood. Jackson’s heart clenched painfully, and he couldn’t bear to look any longer. He checked his phone; it was past eleven at night. The hospital was still bustling with activity. He sat on a chair beside the emergency room, waiting. In about half an hour, three more patients were brought in—one from a car accident, another from a fall, and the last from an overdose. Family members wept bitterly, collapsing in despair, unable to stand. Eventually, a few compassionate nurses helped them to sit down, handing them cups of hot water. But their spirits seemed drained, as if they had lost their very essence. Every moment in this world is filled with farewells—some sudden, some premeditated. Farewells are a cruel word, like strong liquor, bitter to taste and lingering long after.Jackson’s phone rang. He answered, “Hello?” “Jackson, where are you?” Allen Parker’s voice was strained, as if he already suspected something. “Olivia’s been trying to reach Emily and can’t get through. I can’t reach Simon either. Are they in trouble?” Jackson frowned. “Simon?” “Vincent,” Allen Parker clarified. “It’s a long story; I’ll explain later. Do you have any news about them?” Jackson sighed, sharing everything that had happened that day. As much as he hated to admit it, his brother’s mind was sharper. Now, he was unsure of what to do. If his brother were here, there would be someone to make the decisions. Allen Parker was silent for a few moments. “Jackson, are you in the hospital?” “Yes.” “I’m on my way,” Allen Parker’s voice was somber. “Jackson, calm down. This fire is suspicious; someone must be behind it. Emily and Simon are both injured. We need to investigate this ourselves.” Jackson rubbed his head in agitation. “I’m completely lost today; it all feels like a dream… Brother, just come. Emily’s baby is gone…” The phone was abruptly taken over by Olivia. “What about Emily? Is she okay?” “I don’t know,” Jackson answered honestly. “The doctors are trying to save her.” “I’m coming right now! I need to be with Emily!!!!” On the other end, Olivia’s panic was evident as she seemed to have shattered something in her distress. Allen Parker was trying to calm her down. Jackson hung up, leaning back in his chair, his legs stretched long. Standing tall, his height and build felt pointless in the sterile, clinical environment of the hospital. … Meanwhile, the hospital admitted a severely burned male patient, around thirty years old, with extensive burns all over his body. His face, already scarred, made it difficult to identify his features.“Is he trying to commit suicide? With a fire like that, and with gas leaks, there was a risk of explosion! If the firefighters had been any later, he’d be dead!” The doctor marveled as he examined the patient. “Who are you to him?” the doctor asked a concerned woman waiting anxiously nearby. The woman, who appeared quite pretty in simple white sportswear, looked distraught, tears streaming down her face. “I’m his wife.” The doctor nodded. “That makes things easier. Please go prepare for his hospitalization; we’ll arrange the surgery immediately.” The woman wiped her tears and nodded rapidly. “I’ll go right now.” The nurse handed her the forms to fill out. Penelope took them and began filling in the details. But when she reached the Name section, she hesitated. She only knew him as Simon, but clearly, he wasn’t using that name now. She didn’t know his current name. “Miss, are you finished?” the nurse asked eagerly. Penelope took a deep breath and wrote down Simon Reed, handing the form to the nurse. “Alright, please come with me to complete the procedures…” Her phone vibrated. It was Satan’s, found in the fire and returned to her. She thought it might be broken, but it was surprisingly operational. The screen displayed the name Grandma. Penelope gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and answered, “Hello, Grandma…” Meggie was taken aback. “Oh, this isn’t Vincent’s phone? Who are you?” “I’m a nurse,” Penelope replied. “Are you a family member of this phone’s owner?” “Yes, I’m Vincent’s grandmother. Are you a nurse? What happened to Vincent? Or is it Emily who’s in trouble?” Vincent. Penelope silently noted the name. So, he’s now Vincent.