Chapter 2

"Jacqueline! After all these years, Matthew has been good to you, and this is how you repay him?"

At that moment, my mother suddenly rushed out of the car, but the bodyguards inside yanked her by the hair and stopped her from moving.

"Let go of my mom!" I shouted in panic, but my cries were useless. My hands and feet were bound, and they dragged me toward the underground operating room.

From start to finish, Jacqueline stood aside, cold and indifferent. "Matthew, I'm sorry. If your kidney didn't match, I wouldn't make things difficult for you. But now the doctor says your kidney can save Gerald, and I can't let him die in front of me.

"The surgery will be quick. Don't worry. I've asked the doctor. Even if you lose a kidney, it won't kill you!

"Honey, don't blame me. I love you so much. Once Gerald's out of danger, I'll fulfill all your wishes."

As I heard Jacqueline's words, my heart ached like never before.

"No need. Once Gerald is out of danger, we'll get a divorce."

As soon as I said this, Jacqueline froze. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she stood there in front of me. "Honey, I know you're angry. I made this decision on my own, but I had no other choice.

"Don't say things in anger. We'll live a good life together once Gerald and you are both well.

"You always wanted kids, right? I'll have them for you. You can have as many as you want. Is that okay?"

Jacqueline's voice grew more frantic, her hands trembling as she clutched mine.

The doctor, standing nearby, hurried us along. "Are we going to do this surgery or not?"

"Yes! Of course!"

Jacqueline didn't hesitate for a second.

A few minutes later, I was dragged into the operating room. The anesthesia the doctor gave me didn't seem to be enough. I could clearly feel a knife cutting through my skin, layer by layer.

They were using their fingers, stirring around in my belly.

I wanted to scream, but my body was too weak, no strength at all. For a moment, I even felt like my illness had reached its end.

I didn't wake up until three days later.

I woke up in pain.

Since Jacqueline had used improper means to take my kidney, she didn't let me stay in the hospital for fear that her actions would be exposed.

Only the doctor who performed the surgery came to see me regularly, changing my bandages on schedule.

The servants brought me food during the day for the past few days, and the doctor checked my wound at night.

Jacqueline didn't show up once.

I lay in bed, looking at the crooked scar on my stomach. The stitches were ugly, and there was no skill involved at all.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

I picked it up and saw a message from Gerald.

[How's your health? Jacqueline told me you volunteered to donate a kidney to save me.]

[When I woke up, I wanted to come see you first, but Jacqueline wouldn't allow it. She insisted I wait until I'm fully recovered before I get out of bed.]

[Since Jacqueline isn't with you these days, you need to take care of yourself. I'll take good care of her for you.]

Gerald even sent a photo of Jacqueline sleeping in his hospital bed.

Actually, this wasn't the first time I had received a photo like this.

The first time was a year ago when Jacqueline's company was working with Gerald's.

At the time, her boss somehow found out that Jacqueline and Gerald were close, so he sent her to handle the cooperation talks.

Jacqueline came home late every day during that period.

Gerald would send me a photo of her sleeping, taken from the side, every night.

At first, I tried to fool myself, telling myself she must have been so tired from work.

I started driving her to and from work every day.

But Jacqueline got mad at me, saying I didn't trust her. That was the first time we had the biggest argument in our five years of marriage.

She was so angry that she moved into the company.

In the end, I had to beg her to come home.

Thinking back on it, I let out a bitter smile.

It was the same old trick. Maybe it seemed fresh the first time, but it lost its effect when it was used too many times.

I blocked Gerald without a second thought, then slammed my phone onto the nightstand.

I was just about to lie down and sleep when Jacqueline called me.

"Matthew, there's a limit to how much you can fool around. It's just a kidney, you won't die without it. Why are you being so dramatic?"