Chapter 477

The apartment building fire, occurring at night, injured many sleeping residents. Doctors and nurses at The People's Hospital worked frantically throughout the night, overwhelmed by the number of victims. The hospital lobby was chaotic, filled with cries and wails.

Lily, Alexander, and Edward navigated the crowd. They quickly found Olivia, whose injuries—a slightly burned arm and cheek, and wounds on her knees and ankles from her escape—were relatively minor compared to others. However, her mother was in surgery, leaving Olivia distraught outside the operating room.

"Liv!" Lily called, hurrying to her side.

"Lily! My mom, she's…" Olivia sobbed.

"It's okay. Everything will be alright!" Lily reassured her, though uncertain of the outcome. Relieved to see Olivia wasn't seriously hurt, Lily added, "Thank God you're okay! I'm sure your mom will be fine too."

"My mom was protecting me," Olivia explained, her voice trailing off. "She woke me, but everything was already burning. She was hit by falling wood… it's my fault…" Lily and Alexander recognized the profound shock she experienced.

While the surgery continued, Alexander, instead of sending Lily home, had Edward bring snacks and drinks. However, the somber atmosphere dampened their appetites. The scene was grim: some victims underwent surgery, others received treatment for minor injuries, and some had perished. Even at a distance, Lily felt the collective pain.

Suddenly, the operating room lights dimmed. A doctor emerged, removing his mask. Olivia rushed to him. "Doctor! Is my mom okay? Was the operation a success?"

The doctor’s hesitant shake of the head silenced her. "I'm sorry," he sighed. "We…"

"No! That can't be!" Olivia interrupted, denying the reality. "My mom is fine! She has to be!"

"Her spleen was damaged, and she lost too much blood," the doctor explained. "We did everything we could."

A nurse wheeled out a hospital bed draped with a white sheet. Olivia stared blankly, refusing to approach. Lily's face paled; her hands trembled.

"No. No…" Olivia whispered, stepping back before approaching the bed, her trembling hands unable to lift the sheet. Edward gently lifted it, revealing her mother's pale, blood-stained face. Olivia cried out, "Mom? Mom!"

Lily felt a sharp pain in her head, a wave of memories flooding her consciousness. The pain intensified, blurring her vision and causing dizziness.