Chapter 1
After drinking milk that Howell Swanson handed her, Faye Atkinson felt her eyelids growing heavy. She gradually lost consciousness.
Faye didn’t know how much time had passed when she found herself in an unfamiliar place, with a familiar voice vaguely echoing in her ears.
“Howell, are you insane? You wanna take Faye’s kidney and give it to Alianna Pearson?!” Stanley Greenwood, Howell’s childhood friend, said.
“She’s the only match,” Howell replied, his voice calm. “Alia is in critical condition. She can’t wait any longer.”
“As for Faye… I’ll make it up to her. She always wanted to marry me. I’ll propose after the surgery and never divorce her.”
Faye then heard glass shattered violently on the floor. Stanley roared. “Her kidney’s gone, and you think that makes up for it? I don’t get it. Why are you so obsessed with Alianna? You got hurt saving her in the earthquake, lost your inheritance, and she just ran off with someone else! Faye was there for you through everything. She tried treatments on herself first, got bruises all over her legs, and even begged a famous doctor to help you!
“Alianna’s back because you’re making a comeback. When she found out Faye was pregnant, she flipped out. And then you secretly gave Faye an abortion drug and killed your own kid! Faye still thinks she lost the baby because she didn’t protect it well enough. She’s been depressed for three months!
“And now, you’re going to cut out her kidney for Alianna?!”
“Enough!” Howell
voice suddenly rose. “I know Faye loves me enough
to give everything. And yes, Alianna is selfish and vain. But I love her. I’m madly in love with her!”
“Then what about Faye? What is she to you?”
“She’s nothing! I’ve made up my mind. No one can talk me out of this. It will take her kidney!”
At the moment those words fell, Faye felt the scalpel slice into her skin.
The anesthesiologist had clearly underestimated her drug tolerance. She could feel every inch of the pain.
But her heart hurt even more, torn apart bit by bit.
Faye had loved Howell for ten years.
From sixteen to twenty–six, she had given him her youth, her love, her everything.
Faye witnessed Howell falling for Alianna, going crazy over her, and losing it when she left.
She
stood by him through his darkest days and endured his rage. Even when Howell pushed her to the ground in a fit of fury, bruising her knees, she never complained. She just quietly got back up and continued caring for him.
Faye thought that one day, Howell would be touched.
But in his eyes… she meant nothing.
Even after everything they had been through in the past ten years, Howell still only loved Alianna.
Alianna said she didn’t like their kid, and he was ruthless enough to kill
it
He even deceived her and took her kidney to save Alianna.
Faye didn’t know how long had passed when she felt something being violently torn from her body.
It was her kidney. And at that moment, her ten years of love for Howell ended.
When Faye woke up again, the sharp scent of disinfectant stung her eyes.
“You’re awake??”
A low male voice came from the doorway. Faye froze and slowly looked
- up.
Howell stood at the door, his back against the light. His tall figure cast a cold silhouette.
He walked over, each step pressing down on her heart.
He sat by the bed, reached out, and touched her face. He then gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. His brows furrowed slightly “Does it hurt?”
Faye looked at him, her heart clutched by an invisible hand so tightly it nearly suffocated her.
He actually had the nerve to ask her if it hurt?!
How could he sit in front of her like nothing happened, pretending to care about her, after taking her kidney and killing her child?
“What… happened to me?” Faye asked, her voice hoarse.
Howell didn’t shift at all. He answered softly, “You had a sudden appendicitis attack. The surgery’s done.”
Appendicitis?
Faye laughed, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks.
He couldn’t even be bothered to make up a proper lie.
Seeing her cry so hard and being unable to stop, he still didn’t notice anything off. He thought it was just the pain, so he told her that he would find her a doctor and then hurried out.
But once Howell left, he never came back.
Three hours later, a nurse entered to change her dressing, whispering to another.
“Mr. Swanson really cares about Ms. Pearson. He stayed with her all night. Just now, when he heard she wanted some soup from that famous place on the west side, he drove there himself. It’s pouring outside…”
Hearing that. Faye couldn’t hold back her tears again.
So that was why he never returned.
He was so sure she wouldn’t get mad at him. He was convinced she loved him, so he couldn’t even be bothered to send a text to explain.
“Howell, do you think I’m some pathetic woman with no self–respect? What makes you think I’d love you without limits?” she thought.
Staring out the window, Faye had no more tears left to shed.
After some time, once the nurse was gone, she pulled out her phone. Her fingertip hovered over the screen for a second, then she dialed a number.
The call connected. A deep, lazy male voice answered, “Ms. Atkinson?”
Faye took a deep breath. Her voice was soft but clear. “Are you interested… in marrying me?”
There was a brief silence on the other end.
“Did you call the wrong number? I’m not Howell.”
“I know.” Faye gripped her phone tighter, her knuckles turning white. “I’m asking you.
“I don’t want to marry Howell anymore.”
Brigham Moss was intrigued. His voice was slow and he sounded. amused. “Oh? And what makes you think… I’d marry you?”
Faye closed her eyes and replied calmly, “Because you’re Howell’s worst
enemy.
“And-” she paused and then said word by word, “the profile photo on your desk… is of me.”
Chapter 2
