Chapter 2

The next morning, Clara came home. She was holding the hand of a young girl.

It was Chloe, the daughter of her ex-boyfriend, Julian.

I sat on the couch, surrounded by empty liquor bottles, staring blankly ahead. I didn't even look at them.

Clara took one look at the mess and sneered.

"This dramatic act of yours is honestly repulsive. I was only gone for two days to take care of Chloe."

"You're acting like I committed some ultimate betrayal, putting on this pathetic display of grief!"

"Chloe, sweetheart, watch your step. Let's go to the guest room."

Looking at her, a cold laugh bubbled up in my chest.

Clara was so incredibly gentle. She was always so attentive when it came to her ex’s child.

When Lily was alive, there was an incident where a glass broke on the floor. Shards were scattered everywhere.

Clara never once told Lily to "watch her step" in that gentle voice.

Instead, she had screamed at her, calling her blind, useless, and saying she would grow up to be a pathetic failure just like her father.

I used to think she just didn't like kids, that she lacked patience. So, I raised Lily mostly on my own.

But now I realized the truth. She didn't hate kids. She just hated our daughter.

Since Lily's death felt suspicious, I now looked at everyone entering my house with intense distrust.

Seeing Chloe, who had been staying at our place on and off, filled me with sudden, uncontrollable rage.

"Get out! Both of you, get the hell out of my house! Who gave you permission to bring her here?!"

My sudden outburst startled both of them. Chloe instantly teared up, looking terrified.

A flash of pain crossed Clara's face. She rushed forward, stepping between me and Chloe, her voice dripping with anger.

"Arthur! Chloe has a severe heart condition! Do you want to trigger her? If you scare her into an attack, I will make you pay!"

Hearing the words "heart condition" made my eyes burn with rage.

She truly had no soul. Her ex’s daughter had a heart condition, so she kept her close, treating her constantly.

But what about Lily?

She ignored Lily entirely, and then stole the heart I had begged dozens of people to secure, giving it away to someone else.

Did she really not notice anything wrong?

Usually, the second Clara walked through the door, Lily would run out, shouting "Mommy!" But today, there was only silence.

Yet, Clara only cared about defending her ex's child.

"Chloe, honey, are you okay? Did he scare you? You just had surgery, you need to keep your heart rate down. Tell me, do you feel any discomfort?"

Hearing the word "surgery," I snapped my head up.

My fists clenched so hard my knuckles turned white. I glared at them and asked in a low, dangerous voice:

"Where did Chloe get the heart for her surgery?"

Chloe whimpered, completely terrified, and burst into tears.

Clara’s face hardened further. "Arthur, what is wrong with you?!"

"I already told you, she has a heart condition and just got out of surgery! She is in recovery! Stop shouting!"

I lost all control. I pointed at her and roared, "Really? I didn't know you cared so much about heart patients! Lily’s heart was failing too, but I never saw you give a single damn about her!"

"Did you give Lily's heart to Chloe?!"

Before Clara could answer, Chloe sobbed and spoke up in a shaky voice.

"Uncle Arthur... I'm sorry. I didn't know that heart belonged to Lily. I was just really sick. The doctors said I wouldn't survive another two years, so Aunt Clara switched it for me..."

My hands shook with violent rage.

How dare they?

I had begged, pleaded, and literally knelt on the cold floor in front of donors and hospital boards to get that heart to save my daughter. How could they just take it and put it in this girl?

My eyes bloodshot, my expression twisted into something monstrous.

At that moment, I wanted to rip that heart right out of Chloe's chest.

But Clara stepped in front of her, shielding her.

"Arthur, have you lost your mind? Chloe was going to die within two years. She needed that heart immediately. What's wrong with me signing off on it?"

"Yes, that heart was hard to get. But Lily had ten years to find another one. Chloe couldn't wait!

"I gave it to the one who needed it first. Isn't that normal? Why are you being so incredibly selfish?"

"No wonder I want a divorce. Living with a selfish, small-minded bastard like you is suffocating!"

I felt my chest tightening, my voice trembling as I forced out each word: "Who... is... your... actual... daughter?!"

Clara remained stubborn. "You can't even see the bigger picture. I told you, Chloe was my patient first. Lily still has ten years. Do you really think we can't find another match in ten years?"

"Stop yelling at me! You're so useless!"

My heart went completely cold. The last spark of affection I had for this woman died. I reached into my bag and threw the pre-prepared divorce papers onto the coffee table.

"Sign it. I have nothing left to say to you."

Clara’s jaw dropped. She looked at the papers in disbelief.

"I told you, Chloe is just my patient! Don't assume I'm sleeping with Julian just because I helped his daughter. We are completely clean!"

"Julian saved my life once. Helping his daughter is just me paying him back. Why do you have to make everything so dramatic?!"