The chapel doors hit the walls, and a rain-soaked girl stood in the opening. Ethan Pierce was at the altar beside Victoria Hale—white roses, candle smoke, nearly a hundred

Though Victoria was behind bars, the battle for Olivia’s life was far from over.

By 2:00 AM, Dr. Harrison—the chief pulmonary specialist at Saint Jude’s—walked into Room 304 with a grim expression on his face.

Ethan sat in a chair beside the bed, holding a sleeping Lucy in his lap. He had wrapped his suit jacket around her like a blanket.

"Mr. Pierce," Dr. Harrison said quietly, gesturing for Ethan to step into the hallway.

Ethan gently set Lucy down on the visitor sofa and stepped out into the quiet corridor. "How is she, Doctor?"

"Not good," Dr. Harrison admitted, rubbing his eyes. "Olivia’s lung capacity is down to twelve percent. The scarring is severe. The only reason she survived this long was sheer willpower to keep that child safe."

"What do we do?" Ethan asked immediately. "Money is no object. Transfer her to Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic—anywhere."

"She can't survive a flight," Dr. Harrison explained. "Our only option is an emergency transplant right here. Fortunately, a donor lung became available two hours ago at Oregon Health Science University in Portland. It's a perfect match."

Ethan’s heart leaped with hope. "Then bring it here!"

"There's a complication," Dr. Harrison said grimly. "The storm has grounded all medical transport helicopters between here and Portland. The roads through the mountain pass are flooded. The organ courier service says they can't make the drive in time. We have a four-hour window before the donor organ viable life expires."

Ethan looked through the glass window at Olivia, whose heart monitor was beating at a dangerously weak rhythm.

"Where is the organ right now?" Ethan asked, his voice hardening.

"At the OHSU logistics depot in Portland," the doctor replied. "Four hours away by standard road."

Ethan pulled out his phone and dialed his chief logistics manager at Pierce Logistics.

"Mark," Ethan said into the receiver. "I need our high-speed prototype refrigerated transport truck cleared for emergency road run immediately. Get the police escort cleared through Washington State Patrol."

"Ethan, the mountain pass is closed due to mudslides!" Mark warned over the speaker.

"I don't care if the mountain is on fire," Ethan growled. "I'm driving it myself."

Ten minutes later, Ethan stood in the doorway of Room 304. Lucy was awake, staring up at him with wide, trusting eyes.

Ethan knelt in front of his daughter. "Lucy, I have to go bring something back for Mom. It's going to save her life. I need you to stay right here with Uncle Thomas and guard her. Can you do that for me?"