Chapter 1

On the day of my mother's heart transplant surgery, my husband Ethan snatched away the heart meant to save her.

He gave it to his childhood sweetheart, Autumn. She wasn't even sick.

My mother died on the operating table, while he held Autumn in his arms, watching the sunset by the sea.

Autumn framed me for hurting her child, so Ethan threw me to the wolves.

I was torn apart, and I lost the baby because of it.

Later I learned he'd been hypnotized, with all his memories of loving me sealed away.

But so what? Who will pay for my child's life? For my mother's life?

Until he knelt before me, begging pathetically for mercy.

I only smiled faintly.

"Ethan, I'm already married to someone else."

Maya's POV

I waited anxiously outside the operating room. My mother was inside receiving a heart transplant.

An hour ago, the doctor had already sent someone to retrieve the transplant organ.

But that precious heart still hadn't arrived.

Suddenly, Ethan walked toward me, his presence ice cold.

"That heart was a successful match for Autumn. Her body is weak and can't wait any longer. Your mother's surgery will have to be postponed."

I froze instantly.

My mother's chest cavity was already open, all the medical staff were waiting for the heart to arrive. How could Ethan suddenly change his mind and give the only heart to his childhood sweetheart?!

My face turned deathly pale as I gripped Ethan's sleeve tightly. "My mom is lying on the operating table right now. If you take that heart away, you're condemning her to death! Ethan, that's my mother. You can't do this!"

Ethan's face showed no emotion, his tone indifferent. "Autumn is from a wealthy family, a rising star in academia. She's made many contributions to society. The heart will create more value in her body."

I stood there stunned, as if I hadn't understood, then let out bitter laughter as tears streamed down my face.

"You think Autumn's life is worth more than my mother's? Does that mean my mother deserves to die? You promised that as long as I didn't press charges against Autumn, you'd help me find a heart donor. How can you go back on your word!"

Half a month ago, Autumn had injured me.

I wanted to report it to the police, but Ethan stopped me.

I knew he was biased toward Autumn, but to save my mother, I had no choice but to agree to Ethan's conditions.

Now, with my mother on the brink of life and death inside the operating room, Ethan was going back on his word.

My whole body trembled with anxiety.

I dropped to my knees at Ethan's feet. "Ethan, I'm begging you. My dad died early, and my mom worked four jobs to raise me alone. I haven't even given her a good life yet. She can't die... Please..."

Ethan looked down at me kneeling and begging, frowning slightly.

"I did promise you, but now Autumn needs that heart too. I had to make a choice."

"Autumn and I have known each other for over twenty years. She's more important to me. I hope you'll be reasonable about this."

Those two short sentences left me both confused and heartbroken.

The Ethan of the past loved me more than anything, wanting to give me the whole world.

We first met by the roadside when some thugs were harassing me and Ethan came to my rescue.

After that, Ethan would occasionally appear at my food cart, patronizing my business. Later, Ethan confessed his feelings for me, saying he didn't mind my poor background and would take care of me forever.

But all of that changed after Ethan returned from his business trip abroad.

He seemed like a completely different person, extremely cold toward me.

I glared at Ethan with grief and anger. "When we got married, you clearly said you would cherish me and love me. Now you want to sacrifice my mother for someone else. Have you lost your memory and forgotten what you said?!"

Ethan frowned. "That's nonsense. How could I have lost my memory?"

With that, he stopped looking at me, turned coldly, and walked toward the exit. I froze for a moment, then chased after him.

Outside the hospital, medical personnel were placing the cooler containing the heart into a vehicle.

"Mr. Foster, the heart has been arranged. We'll head to Sacred Heart Hospital immediately," the driver said respectfully.

Ethan nodded slightly. Seeing this, I frantically rushed over to try to grab it.

I no longer cared about any dignity. I only knew that without this heart, my mother would die!

But how could I possibly overcome the group of medical staff and drivers around? Before I could even touch the cooler, I was forcefully pushed to the ground, my arms and thighs badly scraped and bleeding.

Ethan glanced at me and stepped into the vehicle.

The car started and slowly drove onto the road.

My eyes turned bloodshot as I struggled up from the ground and chased the car.

I grabbed onto the rear of the vehicle with both arms and was dragged for a distance before falling hard to the ground.

On the asphalt, a gruesome trail of blood was left behind.

But the pain in my body couldn't compare to even half the despair in my heart.

I cried out helplessly, painful tears soaking my collar.

My mother was still on the operating table, and I had no idea what to do.

Just then, a nurse came running over anxiously. "Ms. Carter, we sutured your mother's chest cavity as Mr. Foster requested, but something went wrong... You should go see her one last time."

I felt my entire world come crashing down.