6
The pain ripped me awake.
Harsh fluorescent lights burned my eyes. I tried lifting a hand to block them, but the movement tugged at the fresh incision on my chest. A sharp gasp tore out of me.
“You’re finally awake.”
The nurse changing my dressing let out a breath of relief.”We worked on you for three days. You barely made it. Luckily, the artificial heart saved you. But your body’s taken too much damage. If we can’t find a suitable donor within three years… you probably won’t survive.”
I stared at the ceiling, hollow.
No light. No feeling.
My hand drifted to my chest.
Just emptiness.
The heart that once beat for Ethan was gone.
And whatever love I had left for him… completely drained.
The nurse hesitated.”Should I call Mr. Carter?”
I shook my head.”Don’t tell him.”
She blinked.”Why? Isn’t he your husband?”
“No.” My voice was barely smoke.”Not for much longer.”
The ward door burst open.
Ethan stood there, frowning.”What did you say?”
The nurse flinched and slipped out.
Ethan stepped to my bed.”You’re still mad about the blood draw?”
I didn’t answer. Stared at the floor instead.
His hand snapped out, gripping my chin and jerking my face up.”You screw up, and now you’re blaming everyone else? Why are you being so childish?”
His fingers left a raw red mark on my pale skin.
I just looked at him.”What do you want?”
He released me, tone softening by a hair.”Peter says your mom should wake up tomorrow.”
My dead heart twitched.
The next morning, before the sun even rose, I ran straight to Mom’s ward.
The moment I reached the door—
I saw Chloe tearing out Mom’s ventilator.
My pupils blew wide.”STOP!” My scream ripped through the hall.
Chloe looked up, a vicious smile twisting her lips.”Luna, you can’t stop me. Your mother’s life? It’s mine now.”
With a sudden shove, she sent me crashing to the floor.
Pain exploded in my chest as my surgical wound tore open, white—hot and blinding.
But I forced myself up, putting my body between her and Mom.
“Get out! Don’t you dare touch my mother!”
Chloe stepped forward—then froze. A shadow appeared in the doorway.
Instantly, she collapsed to the floor, sobbing on cue.”Mrs. Carter… I told you… Mr. Carter sent me to borrow it! Why… why did you push me?”
Ethan strode in. His eyes hit Chloe trembling on the floor, and his face turned ice—cold.
“Luna!” he snapped.”What did you do to her this time?”
I trembled, voice shaky.”You… you sent her to steal my mom’s ventilator?”
Ethan’s face didn’t even flicker.”You damaged Chloe’s lung. She’s been on a ventilator. Hers broke this morning. The new one isn’t here yet—so I told her to borrow your mother’s for now.”
His words hit me like an ice bath.
“She’s unconscious, Ethan!” I choked.”If you take her off, she could die!”
But Ethan didn’t even blink.
“Peter said she’s fine. It’s just for a moment. She’s not going to die.”
My nails dug into my palms. A metallic taste filled my mouth.
“Ethan, don’t you dare gamble with my mom’s life. If she dies, I will never forgive you.”
His jaw tightened. He hesitated.
Then Chloe clutched her chest, whining,”Mr. Carter… I feel terrible… I can’t breathe…”
Ethan didn’t hesitate anymore.
“Pull the plug.”
“No!” I grabbed his arm, begging.”Please, you can’t—”
“Enough!” Ethan snapped.”Haven’t you learned? I said your mom isn’t dying.”
With that, he shoved me away. His bodyguards dragged me to the corner.
Kneeling on the floor, helpless, I watched as they pulled my mom’s breathing tube.
I screamed until my throat tore, but Ethan didn’t even look back.
He just scooped Chloe into his arms and walked out.
Suddenly—
The heart monitor shrieked.
Flatline.
I slammed the emergency button over and over. No one came.
I stumbled into the hallway, screaming,”Doctor! Anyone! My mom—she’s dying!”
Silence.
The entire floor was empty.
A horrifying realization struck me: Ethan.
He’d ordered them not to help her.
I spun toward the stairwell. My foot slipped.
I tumbled down the steps, smashing into each one, but I didn’t feel a thing.
I dragged myself up and kept running.
Door after door, floor after floor—eight floors—before I finally found a doctor.
By the time we rushed back, Mom was gone.
No breath left.
No heartbeat.
Just one more day.
One more day and she would’ve woken up.
I stared at her ashen face, my soul ripped clean out of me.
