Chapter 3
Olivia came to in the guest room of the Lowell estate.
Emily had told the nurses it was just a superficial injury—not worth tying up hospital resources.
So Harrison had her dumped back at the mansion, left to fend for herself.
The gash on her forehead had gone untreated. Crusted blood caked the wound, and even the lightest touch sent jolts of pain through her skull.
Standing in front of the mirror, Olivia carefully dabbed at the cut, wincing. She couldn’t help but remember how Harrison once reacted to a tiny hangnail that bled—calling in three specialists just to stop the bleeding.
“You’re my wife,” he’d said back then, kissing her fingers. “If I don’t fuss over you, who will? Even if it’s just a strand of hair, I’ll have someone to check it.”
Back then, his love had been real. So was his tenderness.
But now… it was all gone.
She had just finished covering the wound with gauze when a knock came at the door.
It was Dean Garrett West, the station director and her former journalism mentor. His face was ashen, eyes hollow, and the hem of his suit jacket was streaked with dirt. He looked like he’d aged decades overnight.
He was the one who had founded Liberty Broadcast. A man who’d devoted his entire life to investigative news.
“Mr. West?” Olivia quickly stepped aside, letting him in. She’d never seen him like this.
“Olivia… I’ve never asked you for anything before,” he said, voice cracking as tears filled his eyes. “But please. Help me. Elaine finally reached the top of the transplant list, and now her kidney had gone to someone else entirely.”
“The doctors say she won’t survive another delay.”
He was full of anxiety and sadness and nearly dropped to the ground.
Olivia rushed to him. “Please, Come in, let’s talk.”
It turned out that earlier that morning, Emily Ross had once again broken protocol. She’d overridden the schedule and assigned Elaine’s kidney to a homeless man who had just been admitted.
The man was only in the earliest stage of renal failure—nowhere near qualifying for a transplant. But Emily had seen him as poor, pitiful, and in more urgent need—so she took it upon herself to steal Elaine’s chance at survival.
Dean West had begged the hospital administration for hours before they finally told him the truth: Harrison Lowell had made the call.
No one dared challenge it.
Desperate, the old man had tried contacting Harrison himself directly—only to be met with fists instead of answers.
“She doesn’t have much time, Olivia,” he said, voice trembling. “Even if another kidney turns up, she might not survive the surgery.”
Olivia’s heart twisted. She comforted him as best she could, then grabbed her things and rushed to Harrison’s office downtown.
But as she approached, she froze in place.
Through the heavy doors, she could hear laughter.
Soft moans.
Whispers.
The sound hit her like a brick to the chest.
He was with her. Again.
Tears filled her eyes as her knees threatened to buckle. Her chest felt like it had been punctured with ice picks—sharp, cold, and merciless.
She couldn’t go in. And she couldn’t walk away.
She stood there for what felt like an eternity, her body slowly going numb.
Finally, the door opened.
Emily walked out, freshly showered, wearing one of Olivia’s dresses—a silk camisole she had just bought a few weeks ago.
She’d practically moved into Harrison’s office. He’d even built a walk-in closet for her, filled it with her clothes and toiletries.
“Well, well,” Emily smirked, arms folded. “Still eavesdropping? Don’t look at me like I’m the other woman. Harrison and I are in a perfectly normal relationship.”
“I’m not here to argue with you,” Olivia said, her voice tight with restraint. “I just need to speak with Harrison.”
Emily tilted her chin proudly. “Why? Got secrets I can’t hear?”
Harrison emerged next, in a clean shirt. His eyes still carried the lazy gleam of pleasure, casual and unbothered. He smiled at Emily, pulled her close, and brushed his lips along her ear.
“There’s nothing she can’t hear.”
Olivia bit her lip so hard the metallic taste of blood flooded her mouth.
“Whatever you have to say,” Emily said sweetly, wrapping her arms around his neck, “say it now.”
Olivia forced herself to stay calm. “Harrison, the transplant for Dean West’s wife was canceled. She waited months for that kidney. They gave it to someone else.”
Emily burst into laughter. “Told you she’d come running to you, trying to meddle.”
“She wins,” Harrison chuckled, eyes gleaming with perverse amusement, stroking her back. “What’s your punishment, then?”
Olivia blinked, chilled to the bone.
“I’m sick of people like you,” Emily snapped. “Rich folks throwing around their money to play God. You think just because your mentor’s wife is dying, you get to jump the line?”
“She has a name on a list. So does the homeless man. You don’t get to decide whose life matters more.”
She punched Harrison playfully on the shoulder.
“You’re right,” he said, indulging her. “I shouldn’t have encouraged it. I didn’t expect her to be so shameless, asking me for help like that. I lost the bet.”
“You’d better remember this,” Emily said, glowing with righteousness. “Human life isn’t something to be bought. Doctors are sacred—we don’t answer to people like you. Don’t ever try to help her steal an organ again.”
Listening to Emily twist the truth so brazenly made Olivia’s blood boil. Her hands clenched into fists. She wanted so badly to slap that smug face.
“That’s not true. Elaine was first on the transplant list. She—”
“Enough.” Harrison cut her off with a wave of his hand. “You’ve said what you came to say. You can leave now.”
“I—”
“I said leave,” he snapped, then turned to Emily. “So what’s my punishment, doc?”
“This time… no protection,” she whispered in his ear.
“You wicked little thing,” Harrison grinned. “Looks like I’ve really fallen under your spell.”
…
Olivia stood frozen in place, reeling. She didn’t recognize the man before her anymore.
This wasn’t the Harrison Lowell who had loved her for nine years.
Her phone buzzed. It was Dean West, his voice hoarse and cracking.
“She’s getting worse… Olivia, please—we’re running out of time.”
Olivia wiped her tears, turned on her heel, and ran.
