Chapter 114

“You’re saying you need to remove her uterus?” Her voice rose in disbelief. “We went to extraordinary lengths to secure the best doctors, and now you’re telling me the only solution is to deprive her of her ability to bear children?”

Her body trembled with rage as she glared at the doctor. The Ashford family already had significant issues with Olivia. Discovering her infertility would be devastating. Stephanie and Chris were irrevocably estranged, and if Olivia and Chris also couldn't be together, any hope of a Hart-Ashford alliance would vanish.

“You call yourselves doctors? You have a team of specialists, and none of you can save her uterus?” she snapped.

The doctor sighed. “Mrs. Hart, Miss Hart’s overall health is critical. She also has liver cancer, severely restricting our medication options.” Many standard treatments were impossible. “Furthermore, she’s running out of time,” he added.

Catlin froze, her mind momentarily blank. Her chest tightened.

The doctor continued, “There’s Dr. Pierce; you know her, don’t you?”

Catlin’s gaze sharpened. “What do you mean?”

“She’s a highly specialized expert in this area. Despite her youth, she’s achieved remarkable success over the years. If you can secure her participation, there might be a slim chance of saving Miss Hart’s uterus,” he explained.

A loud buzzing filled Catlin’s head. Everything hinged on Allison and Macro. “Are they truly indispensable? Out of all of you, no one can replace them?” she demanded, frustration throbbing in her temples.

Both Macro and Allison were connected to Stephanie, who had made her position abundantly clear.

The doctor remained silent. Talent, he implied, couldn't be replicated. His silence only fueled Catlin’s anger. “Get out. Get out of my sight, you useless bunch,” she seethed. Her fury was unrestrained.

The doctor’s face darkened, but he remained silent, turning and leaving. In truth, blaming the doctors entirely was unfair. Olivia’s condition was exceptionally severe; multiple life-threatening illnesses demanded immediate attention.

Chris and Tyler arrived to find Catlin deathly pale.

“Mom, what’s wrong?” Chris asked, his brow furrowed.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Catlin turned to them. “Is there any way to pressure Stephanie?”

Chris and Tyler froze. Pressure Stephanie? Money, power—nothing seemed to affect her anymore.

Tyler sighed. “There’s no way to force her.”

“Then we’ll kidnap her,” Catlin snapped.

Stephanie, having just rounded a corner, overheard. Her eyes iced over. Unaware of her presence, they continued.

“We have no choice. We need Allison and Macro for Olivia’s surgery. She won’t cooperate willingly. We have no other option,” Catlin declared.

Stephanie stepped forward, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Mrs. Hart, after kidnapping me, if I still refuse, are you planning to kill me next?”

Catlin, Chris, and Tyler froze.