Chapter 2

As my consciousness detached from my body, the crushing pain finally dissolved.

I hovered in the air, watching the twisted wreck in the pouring rain. The driver's seat had collapsed on impact, the person inside unrecognizable.

Today was our fifth wedding anniversary—and the hundredth time Evelyn had asked for a divorce.

Before, I'd always dodged it, desperately trying to cling to our relationship, fragile as a spider's silk.

But this time, I'd nodded.

It wasn't until a month ago, when Liam, the one she could never let go of, returned home for severe heart treatment.

Evelyn stopped coming home, pouring all her time into St. Mary Ann Medical Center, glued to his side.

Everyone knew she'd only accepted my proposal on a whim that afternoon, purely to spite Liam.

And me? I'd loved her in secret for seven long years.

My thoughts snapped back to reality.

I watched as a St. Mary Ann Medical Center ambulance carried away my shattered body, following it without conscious thought.

Evelyn was the star cardiac surgeon here.

Yet as her husband, I couldn't even book a regular annual check-up under her name.

On our wedding day, she'd made it crystal clear: "I don't want my personal life crossing over into my professional one."

"And I certainly don't want anything about you affecting my professional judgment."

So, the important thing I'd planned for months, hoping to tell her on our anniversary, would forever remain unsaid.

Tears fell silently, a dense, hollow ache spreading through my chest.

It was a hope I'd carefully, meticulously cherished for so long.

My body wasn't taken to the morgue. Instead, it was wheeled directly into the pre-op area on the fifth floor.

The door opened, and two men walked in.

"Mr. Miller, performing organ harvesting without formal consent and family approval is illegal, and besides…"

The speaker was Alex Reed, Evelyn's resident. In the past few years, I'd hosted him many times when he came to discuss cases at our home.

Liam walked to the gurney, his gaze sweeping over the body before calmly moving away.

"I've waited three years for a matching donor. There's no time for bureaucratic red tape."

He turned to Alex, his tone brooking no argument: "Contact Evelyn. Tell her to come back immediately."

"I want her to perform the surgery."

Alex's face showed his discomfort.

Liam pulled a checkbook from his suit jacket, quickly signed a check, and handed it over. "This is for collateral. I'll bear all consequences. My legal team will handle any procedural issues."

Alex hesitated, then took the check and dialed.

After a few rings, Evelyn's cool, clear voice came through, the background a little noisy.

"Alex? This isn't a good time."

"Dr. Hayes, they've found a matching heart donor for Mr. Miller." Alex glanced at Liam, lowering his voice. "The donor is in OR Five. We need you back immediately to operate."

A moment of silence on the other end, then Evelyn's voice, suddenly raised, barely containing her excitement:

"Confirmed match? I'm on my way!"

"Liam finally won't have to wait anymore…"

The sheer relief and joy in her voice pierced through my already un-beating heart like an ice pick.

If she knew that was me, would she still be so happy?