The Supreme Caspian Steele

Chapter [009] — IN TROUBLE [II]: A CARDIAC FAILURE

She raised the cocktail glass to her lips, unaware of the subtle switch Arthur had executed, her hand trembling as her nerves persisted.

But then, her phone vibrated, causing her to drop her glass, her eyes fixed on the message notification that popped up on her screen. Arthur watched, uncertain if she would drink from her now-neglected cocktail.

Her eyes widened as she read the words flashing across the screen, her face contorting with anger.

"Emergency: Mia at the hospital. Heart failure. Come ASAP."

"What the heck!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her shock

Concerned, Arthur asked, "What's going on, dear?"

Panic surged through her like an electric jolt. Mia was her only daughter, her young girl, and the thought of her lying in a hospital bed made Diana's heart race.

Diana's voice, rushed and filled with urgency, cut through the chaos. "We need to leave right now. Let's get out of here."

"Arthur, it's Mia! She's at the hospital... it's a heart failure." Without waiting for Arthur's response, she hurriedly walked to the end of the champagne room.

"You mean Mia?" Arthur inquired.

Feeling both confused and worried, Arthur followed Diana and took her phone to read the message. A deep frown etched onto his face as he read the words, mirroring his growing concern.

With panic setting in, Diana grabbed her bag and left Arthur behind. Noticing that Diana hadn't touched her cocktail, Arthur felt a sense of unease.

Following her to the hospital was necessary.

"Frustrating! This is ridiculous!" Arthur slammed his fists on the table.

Diana nodded, her heart throbbing in her chest. With confusion and concern, Arthur paid the bill and compensated the waitress before leaving her behind. Diana's mind raced as they left the strip club, making her increasingly uncomfortable until they reached the valet parking.

Within the next 30 seconds, Diana and Arthur had entered their car. The engine roared to life, driven by Arthur's chauffeur, who sped onto the road.

"Hello, this is Mrs. Diana! I'm Mia's mother," Diana introduced herself while calling the hospital.

"Gasps! I just received a message that Mia had a heart failure. Can you please tell me how she's doing and what's happening?" Diana asked, her voice trembling.

"Miss Diana, I am sorry to report that your daughter's condition is still critical. Her life is at risk, but we'll do everything we can to keep her alive," the voice on the other end explained.

As the city's skyline blurred past, the car suddenly came to a halt. They pulled up at the hospital entrance, Diana's heart heavy with worry as she gazed at the emergency unit. She rushed into the hospital's reception and approached the front desk.

"Excuse me, I just received a message about my daughter, Mia. She's here for heart failure. I need to see the doctor right now," Diana said, her voice trembling even more.

The nurse nodded and asked, "Of course, ma'am. The hospital admitted her 80 minutes ago after she left school. Can you provide me with her full name?"

"It's Mia Collins."

The nurse's expression turned serious as she typed on her desktop to access Mia's medical records.

"Ah, I see. Mia is currently in the cardiac care unit. She's stable for now, but our medical team is closely monitoring her. Our doctors are running some tests to determine the cause of the heart failure."

"I'll inform them that you're here."

"Thanks. Can I see her?" Diana sighed, her words filled with appreciation.

"Please, hold on for a little while."

"I'll keep you updated. We'll notify you soon; please have a seat in the waiting area; it won’t take long," the nurse assured.

"Hello, ma'am. I'm Arthur Collins!" Arthur introduced himself while listening to Diana's conversation. The nurse immediately recognized him as one of the city's powerful elite billionaires.

"That's good," the nurse remarked with respect.

Diana was able to see her daughter after the doctors finished the tests more efficiently. Her eyes landed on Mia's frail figure lying in the hospital bed, surrounded by wires and monitors as she entered the room.

That evening, Lady Ciara, renowned for her compassion and willingness to help, was at the hospital to visit her grandmother. As she walked past Mia's room, something compelled her to stop and take a look.

Lady Ciara was recognized and approached by Diana. "You must be Lady Ciara Williams," she said, her voice filled with worry.

"Yes, I'm Ciara. I heard about Mia and couldn't stay away. How is she doing now?" Lady Ciara inquired, her eyes fixed on Mia's fragile figure connected to various machines.

Diana's face turned pale as she spoke.

"We can't afford the mounting medical bills, and we're running out of options. Now, Mia needs an artificial heart," she explained, her voice trembling.

Moved by Diana's plight, Lady Ciara stepped into the room. "Thank you," she said sincerely.

"You're welcome," a voice responded.

"I want to help. We'll find a way to manage those bills," Lady Ciara reassured Diana, taking her hands in a comforting gesture.

In walked a beautiful woman wearing a white lab coat, and it was at that moment. "Well, about the total artificial heart (TAH), we'll need to perform surgery on Mia," she announced.

Mrs. Ciara, eager to help, asked, "How much will it cost?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am; as of now, we lack the technology to create TAHs that are highly efficient, safe, and adaptable for humans," the doctor regretfully explained.

Lady Ciara was caught off guard and took a moment to compose herself before responding. "Are you kidding? I assumed your healthcare research facility was working on that."

"Yes, we are, but we haven't made a breakthrough yet. For now, a pig heart-to-human transplant is a more viable option," the doctor admitted.

Lady Ciara checked the digital screen, monitoring Mia's condition, understanding the situation. "I'll get back to you soon," she promised.

She sighed internally, before turning away from Diana. Mrs. Ciara reached for her phone and dialed Caspian's number. "Where are you?"

"I'd like to see you, maybe tomorrow," Lady Ciara stuttered with worry.

"Tomorrow? What's the problem, ma'am?" Caspian said, unsure of their meeting.

"Let's meet now!"

"Meet me at the police headquarters!" Caspian exclaimed, his voice loud, and then a loud beep followed.