Chapter 1

1

My mother was dying.

She was stuck in a hospital bed with end-stage kidney failure, waiting for a miracle.

I had spent months fighting tooth and nail to find a compatible donor, and I finally did.

But right before the surgery, my husband, Silas, stole that chance away.

He gave the kidney to his young assistant, Saskia.

"Saskia's kidneys have been under a lot of stress lately," he said, his voice cold and indifferent. "She needs this more than your mother does."

I begged him, falling to my knees and crying for mercy. I pleaded with him to save my mother's life.

But he only looked at me with pure disgust.

"Stop acting, Elora," he spat. "I know your mother is just using her old health issues to blackmail me again."

"She's been sick for years and hasn't kicked the bucket yet. Saskia is young and has her whole life ahead of her. Don't you have any heart?"

Because the surgery was delayed, my mother never made it off the operating table.

That same night, Saskia posted a photo on Instagram.

In the picture, Silas was holding her close, smiling with a sweetness I hadn't seen in years.

"Thank you to my amazing big brother for giving me a new life. Love you so much!" the caption read.

My heart turned to ash. After quietly burying my mother, I called my lawyer.

"Draft a divorce settlement," I said, my voice steady for the first time in months.

…

The red light outside the operating room finally flickered off.

The surgeon walked out, his shoulders slumped with exhaustion.

He looked at me, stayed silent for a moment, and slowly shook his head.

"I'm so sorry. We did everything we could…"

As they wheeled my mother out under a white sheet, my world went silent.

My ears were ringing, and I couldn't hear a word anyone said.

I followed the nurses to the morgue like a ghost.

I couldn't believe it. The last person in this world who truly loved me was gone.

She wasn't even that old. Life was so damn unfair.

The doctor let me have a moment alone with her in the cold room.

I looked at her pale, withered face, and tears wouldn't stop streaming down my cheeks.

An orderly walked in and tried to comfort me in a low voice.

"I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sure she wouldn't want to see you this heartbroken…"

I didn't say a word. I just gently tucked a stray hair behind her ear and hoisted her onto my back.

"Mom, let's go home," I whispered.

It was late at night when I walked out of the hospital and called the funeral home.

As I watched the flames consume her body, it felt like my soul was turning into gray ash right along with her.

Pain could never touch her again.

And soon, it wouldn't touch me either.

In my memories, Mom was always in the kitchen, her back slightly hunched as she cooked for me.

I used to think she'd never age.

I never imagined she would end up as nothing more than a small wooden box.

I held it in my hands, but it felt heavier than a mountain.

Twenty-some years ago on a cold winter day, she must have held me just like this.

I never thought the man I loved most would become the person who killed my mother.

If I had just divorced him sooner and taken her away, maybe things would be different.

My mother's kidneys had been failing for a long time.

I had called every contact, begged every favor, and spent a fortune to find a match.

Everything was ready. The surgery was scheduled.

But as she was being prepped, a nurse came out with devastating news.

"I'm sorry, but we just received orders. The donor organ has been redirected by Mr. Silas Vance."

My brain went completely blank.

"Redirected? By what right?"

The doctor just shook his head helplessly.

Silas had too much power. A man with his money and influence didn't have to answer to doctors.

My mother's vitals were dropping fast. She was fading.

I fumbled with my phone and dialed Silas's number.

I called him over and over, but he didn't pick up.

It wasn't until the hospital declared her in critical condition that he finally answered.

"What the hell is it now? Speak fast!"

I screamed into the phone. "Why did you take Mom's donor kidney? She needs the surgery right now!"

Unlike my frantic voice, Silas sounded calm, almost bored.

"Saskia is having some issues. It's a perfect match for her, so she's taking it. You can just find another one for your mom later."

I couldn't believe his audacity.

"Do you even hear yourself?"

"It took me two years to find that match! My mom is dying on the table, and you gave it to an outsider?!"

He ignored me. I heard him whisper to someone else in a tender voice: "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here with you."

Then, he turned his annoyance back to me.

"Stop screaming! Saskia isn't an outsider. Watch your mouth, Elora. You're being disgusting."

"Saskia works her tail off for me every day. Her health is failing because of it. She's young. Do you know how serious a kidney issue is for a girl her age?"

I roared into the phone. "You're still saying this? My mother is dying, and you're at another hospital playing hero for another woman?!"

Before Silas could respond, I heard a weak, high-pitched voice in the background. It was Saskia.

"Silas… please don't leave me…"

Silas's tone sharpened instantly. "Look, I know your mom's condition. It's just a chronic thing. She'll be fine. Stop calling me!"