Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Ever since Chloe's pregnancy ended in tragedy, a suffocating silence settled between Grant and me.

He still cooked meals and washed the dishes. He still reported his whereabouts diligently. But beyond that bare minimum, there was nothing.

No warmth. No conversation.

Three days later, my father called me in a panic, telling me my mother had suddenly collapsed.

By the time I rushed to the hospital, Mom had already been transferred to the intensive care unit.

Dad's voice shook violently as he grabbed my shoulders.

"The doctors said her acute condition flared up. She needs an emergency bone marrow transplant immediately…"

I answered without a second thought.

"Use mine! Test me right now!"

"No, you can't! Your body never fully recovered from that car crash years ago. If you donate, it will be a life for a life!"

"The only matching donor currently registered in the entire regional database is Grant. But I can't reach his phone no matter how many times I call! What are we going to do?!"

Hearing Grant's name felt like a heavy blow to the back of my head.

Why did it have to be him?

I took a deep, steadying breath to calm my racing pulse, then dialed his number.

No answer.

I called twenty times in a row. Not a single call went through.

After comforting my father, I caught a cab directly to the hospital where Grant worked as the chief of neurosurgery.

The charge nurse informed me with a sigh that Dr. Mercer had taken emergency leave today, claiming a family crisis.

A bitter laugh nearly burst from my chest.

Since when did Chloe's apartment become his family home?

I took another cab straight to Chloe's luxury condo―an address I had seen logged on Grant's phone GPS weeks ago.

By the time I arrived, night had completely fallen.

The front door wasn't fully latched, spilling a warm, amber glow into the dark hallway.

I pushed the door open and saw Grant sitting on the plush living room sofa.

Chloe was curled up intimately in his lap, her head buried deep in the crook of his neck in a cozy embrace.

When Grant looked up and saw me standing in the doorway, he scrambled to his feet in a flustered panic.

"Cora? What are you doing here?"

Chloe slowly raised her tear-stained face, her voice sounding faint and fragile.

"I'm so sorry, Cora. I accidentally cut my hand while cooking today, and Grant just…"

I didn't spare her a single glance. My eyes locked onto Grant with piercing intensity.

"My mother is dying. You are the only matching donor who can save her. Come with me right now."

He hesitated.

It was only a single second of hesitation, but I understood everything.

"Cora, Chloe just went through a traumatic loss. Her mental state is completely fragile right now, and I can't just leave her alone. Your mom will be fine for a night; I'll come by tomorrow morning―"

"Tomorrow?"

I heard my own voice trembling with disbelief.

"Grant, my mother doesn't have until tomorrow."

"I know, but Chloe can't be left unattended either…"