The Queen They Let Go (Alice and Eric) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Rising Stakes

“Two and a half minutes left.”

Her hand stayed firm on the wheelchair’s handle.

Deep down, she already regretted stepping into this chaos.

If she’d known how messy it’d get, she might’ve chosen another avenue.

Eric watched the frantic medical team inside, then finally broke the silence.

“How confident are you?”

Alice answered without hesitation, steady as ever.

“Pretty confident. If all goes well, he’ll be back on his feet within a month.”

The room froze.

That was a bold statement.

If it weren’t such a dire situation, Melanie might have laughed out loud.

“Even Professor Hoffman’won’t promise that, and you say it like it’s a sure thing…”

Before she could finish, Alice lifted one hand slowly, as if ready to concede.

Melanie snorted.

“So you want to back out now?”

But before the words left her mouth, Alice lowered her hand again.

Everyone blinked, confused.

It wasn’t surrender–Alice was counting.

In the moment everyone lost focus, her fingers dropped once more.

Only four fingers remained.

Melanie froze, her face paling as realization set in.

+5 Free Coins

3/8

12:24 am

Chapter 8 Rising Stakes

As Alice folded her last finger, the monitors blared a sudden, piercing alarm.

Every face went pale.

Professor Hoffman and Melanie rushed inside.

Urgent commands cut through the chaos.

“Get the pacemaker, now!”

“Defibrillator ready!”

“Professor, his oxygen’s dropping fast!”

“Heartbeat-!”

The medical staff spiraled into panic.

+5 Free Coins

But outside, amidst the rising anxiety, Alice stayed eerily composed–as if time itself slowed around her.

Eric clenched his fists and motioned to Stanley.

“Clear the room.”

Stanley glanced toward Alice, then swiftly ordered the bodyguards in.

In an instant, the courtyard was sealed off. No one dared move.

Before anyone could protest, Eric’s piercing glare swept the crowd.

“Quiet.”

His presence crushed every whisper.

Silence fell instantly, heavy and absolute–like a graveyard.

Eric’s voice cut through the tension again, sharp and unwavering.

“You’re going to operate on my father.”

4/8

12:24 am DDD.

Chapter 8 Rising Stakes

+5 Free Coins

Alice fired back instantly, no hesitation in her tone. “Can you really call the shots here?”

Eric’s gaze hardened, cold and merciless.

“Anyone standing in your way is standing against me. Against us, the Nolans.”

Irene opened her mouth to retort but froze, trembling with barely contained rage.

Alice gave a single, firm nod.

“Fine.”

She moved straight toward the door,

At the entrance, Ruby stepped up to block her, but Eric’s eyes sliced through her like a blade -cold enough to cut deep into the soul.

Her heart skipped, and she stopped moving at once.

Alice approached the bedside and glanced into the small adjacent room.

“Wheel him into this operating room.”

Melanie, burning with jealousy and anger, had been watching Alice closely, suspicious of

every move.

Now, hearing that, she was even more taken aback.

If she did not have the skills, she would never have taken on this task.

This could be a stroke of bravery or sheer stupidity.

Melanie felt no pity for Alice at all.

Oscar’s condition was beyond saving–for both her and Professor Hoffman.

If they could pin Oscar’s death on Alice, she’d make a convenient scapegoat.

“Move Mr. Oscar into the operating room!”

Before Professor Hoffman could speak, Melanie snapped the order, fully committed.

5/8

12:24 am DDD

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify