A One Night Stand With My Boss

"Claire's condition suddenly worsened..." came Cole's heavy voice over the phone. "She's been rushed to the ICU."

Camila froze. The shock exploded in her ears and spread to every cell in her body.

Tears uncontrollably streamed down her face, and her hands trembled so much that she could hardly hold her phone. "She was fine during the day... How could this happen..."

She hung up the phone, hurriedly dressed, and dashed out the door. When she arrived at the hospital, it was already deep into the night. She rushed towards the ICU.

The hallway outside the ward was brightly lit, but her heart was engulfed in darkness.

"Cami..." Cole called out to Camila with a hoarse voice as he saw her. He sat on a bench nearby, looking exhausted, and his eyes were red with strain.

Craig leaned silently against the wall, not saying a word.

Through the glass window of the ward, Camila saw her mother lying on the bed. Her body was connected to various tubes and machines.

Her complexion was as pale as paper, and her eyes were tightly shut, as if she had lost all vitality.

Camila's heart clenched instantly, and tears slid uncontrollably down her cheeks. She quickly approached the doctor, anxiously asking, "Doctor, what exactly is going on with my mom?"

The doctor looked at Camila, then at Cole, and sighed, "She has severe pneumonia. Her condition deteriorated very quickly, leading to respiratory difficulties and unconsciousness..." His voice trailed off, growing deeper.

a sledgehammer had struck Camila's heart; she

and her voice was trembling. "Please, you must save my mom. No matter the

with a mix of sympathy and helplessness in his eyes. "Right now, she's having a very hard time breathing and

Camila nodded.

window of the ward, looking at her mother lying there quietly, then collapsed to the

over to help

up. "You

to be

needs

can't

a nurse approached, asking, "Who is the

"I am," Camila responded.

Claire has

nét

and can only survive with

continued, "The daily treatment costs