At seven in the morning, Jenna Roland arrived at the hospital.

The corridor outside the operating room was empty. Only the sound of nurses pushing carts echoed through the hall. Milo Roland had already been wheeled into the pre-op area, where Dr. Liam Melford was conducting final checks.

Jenna clutched her phone, her knuckles turning white.

"Don't worry."

Stella Laurent's voice came from behind. She carried two cups of hot coffee and handed one to Jenna.

"Dr. Melford is a leading cardiac surgeon. He's performed this procedure over a hundred times."

Jenna accepted the coffee. The warmth seeped through the paper cup into her palms.

"I know. But it's still a heart transplant..."

Her words were cut off as the operating room light turned red. Nurses wheeled Milo past them on a gurney. He flashed his sister a victory sign.

Stella pulled Jenna down onto a bench.

"How long will it take?"

"At least eight hours." Jenna stared at the closed doors. "Dr. Melford said it's the most complex type of cardiac surgery."

Stella patted her hand.

"Guess who I ran into the other day?"

Jenna abruptly changed the subject. Stella raised an eyebrow.

"Lucien Valois."

Stella nearly spilled her coffee.

"At this hospital? Did he see you?"

"I dodged him." Jenna gave a bitter smile. "Only to accidentally walk into his grandmother's room."

"My God!" Stella gasped. "Was his wife there too?"

Jenna nodded.

"Luckily I reacted fast. His wife seemed gentle enough."

Stella's expression turned serious.

"Don't be fooled by appearances. Her father is the second-in-command at Valois Group. Ruthless tactics run in that family."

Jenna's phone vibrated. The screen displayed "Ethan Roscente."

"Speak of the devil."

She walked to the corridor corner and answered.

"Hello?"

Ethan's deep voice came through. "I'm downstairs at the hospital."