Chapter 2

2

It was Gabriel's voice.

My heart hammered against my ribs like a drum.

What baby?

What heart?

Every word he spoke felt like a heavy blow to my ears. A sickening feeling rose from the pit of my stomach.

My hands shook as I gently turned the doorknob.

Through the crack in the door, I saw Gabriel comforting another woman with a soft voice.

The woman beside him whimpered. She sounded fragile and sweet.

"Gabriel, thank you. If it wasn't for that heart, my baby would have died of heart failure."

I saw the woman's face. My blood began to boil.

It wasn't just anyone. It was my stepsister, Courtney.

My husband had sacrificed our daughter's heart to save my stepsister's child.

The truth hit my nerves with the force of a high-speed train. The world seemed to stand still.

When I finally snapped back to reality, Gabriel was gripping my raised hand tightly.

"Claire! Calm down!"

He shoved me aside with irritation. He stood firmly in front of Courtney, who was crying her eyes out.

Seeing my deathly pale face, Gabriel realized he had been too rough. He stepped forward to grab my arm.

"Claire, let me explain..."

He looked anxious, as if he were the one who had been wronged.

I jerked my hand away and let out a piercing scream. "What is there to explain!"

"I heard everything! You killed my baby to save her daughter!"

I was shaking violently. Only one thought remained in my head. I wanted these two monsters to pay with their lives.

Suddenly, I was pushed back hard. My waist slammed into the corner of the table. The sharp pain forced me to double over.

Gabriel looked down at me. The eyes that used to be full of love were now filled with a coldness I had never seen before.

"Claire, I told you, Annie's death was an accident."

"Why do you think I donated her organs? I did it to help heal the rift in the family. Annie was my child too. Do you really think I don't hurt?"

Courtney walked over to me, sobbing. She fell to her knees on the floor.

"Claire, blame me if you want. I was desperate. I begged Gabriel to sign the donation papers."

"I only did it for my child. Please don't blame Gabriel."

"Annie really died by accident. If you truly hate me, I'm willing to die to make it up to your daughter."

My eyes were bloodshot. I lunged at her, my hands reaching for Courtney's throat.

"Enough!"

With a loud roar, I felt a violent impact against my chest.

Courtney coughed several times, looking frail.

The last bit of guilt in Gabriel's eyes vanished.

He rushed to pick Courtney up, gently stroking her back to help her breathe. When he looked at me again, it was like he was looking at an enemy.

"Claire, how can you be so selfish? I said Annie's death had nothing to do with anyone. It was an accident!"

"Chloe is your niece. Saving her is a blessing for our daughter's soul!"

"I'm telling you, if anything happens to Courtney, I won't let you get away with it!"

He picked Courtney up in his arms and kicked the door open as he left.

He didn't even see the blood I spat out on the floor.

I collapsed, tears streaming down my face.

Gabriel, my love for you ends here.