Chapter 4

Given how unpleasant the previous night had been.

The next morning, Nadia kept her promise and came with me to the hospital.

In the office, Dr. Lawrence tried to talk me out of it:

"You've been through so much, the IVF embryo barely survived, and you're just one step away from becoming a father. Are you sure you want to give it up?"

"Why not talk it over with your wife again? She is the child's mother, after all."

I thought about it, then pushed the door open and stepped outside, but Nadia was gone.

A message from her popped up on WhatsApp:

Phineas just called, he's not in a good place. I'm going to check on him and I'll be right back.

So it turned out her promise wasn't even worth five minutes.

I turned and went back into the office:

"There's nothing to discuss. Destroy it."

Dr. Lawrence sighed and had no choice but to sign the forms and arrange the procedure.

I never expected that while I was waiting in the hallway, a mentally ill patient would suddenly rush at me with a knife.

I instinctively raised my arm to block it.

The patient was quickly restrained, but my arm was cut, and the bleeding wouldn't stop no matter what.

After examining me, the nurse cried out in alarm:

"This is bad, Mr. Henson's artery has been cut. The medications he took earlier have left him with clotting problems. He needs a transfusion right now!"

"But he's Rh-negative, and every blood bank in the city is short on stock. Getting it from out of state would take three hours at the fastest. There's no time!"

I was rushed into the operating room.

The doctor told her to hurry and find out if anyone had a matching blood type and was willing to donate.

Even though everyone knew the odds of that were very low.

I spoke weakly:

"I know someone who's a match. Give me my phone."

Back when we first found out we had the same blood type, Nadia had smiled and said:

"Jesse, don't you think it's fate that we were meant to be husband and wife?"

The phone rang for a long time before she picked up.

Before I could say anything, Nadia spoke:

"Jesse, today is the anniversary of Phineas's mother's death, and he's grieving."

"I don't feel right leaving him alone. I have to stay with him. Let's push the embryo transfer to another day."

I paused:

"Nadia, I've been injured and I'm bleeding badly. The hospital's blood bank doesn't have enough. I need you to come back right now and donate blood."

As my words fell, Phineas's aggrieved voice came from the other end:

"Is my brother-in-law jealous again and lying on purpose?"

"Ms. Quimby, you should just go back. It's not the first time she's disliked me. Don't let me come between you and your husband."

I was about to say I hadn't, but Nadia cut in impatiently:

"Jesse Henson, I know you've been in a bad mood these past couple of days, but can you stop competing with a younger guy all the time? It's so childish!"

The call was cut off abruptly.

The operating room went dead silent.

Whatever last bit of hope I'd held for Nadia died right along with it.

As my consciousness started to blur, the young nurse from before ran in, delighted:

"Dr. Lawrence, a woman who meets the criteria has come to donate blood. She says she's the patient's family..."

The one who came was my sister-in-law, Sophie.

Sometimes you can't help but marvel at the coincidences in this world.

One family, two people with Rh-negative blood.

Sophie said Greg had had a poor appetite lately and had lost a lot of weight.

Even though he laughed on the phone and said he'd just treat it as dieting, she was still worried, so she'd gone to an old herbalist she knew to get something to settle his stomach.

She happened to overhear the nurses asking everyone about their blood type, and that was how she found out it was me.

Remembering how coldly Nadia had just treated me, I pulled at the corner of my mouth but said nothing.

Sophie told me:

"I've drawn up the divorce agreement. Once you've built your strength back up, we'll go abroad."

The surgery was over, but I still needed to stay in the hospital for a few days of observation.

She helped me sit down on a chair in the hallway, then went to handle the paperwork and get my hospital gown.

Sophie had only just left.

Then Nadia showed up with Phineas, two police officers trailing behind them.

"Wasn't it supposed to be a massive hemorrhage? I knew you were lying just now!"

She marched right up to me, seething:

"No wonder Phineas said it wasn't the first time you disliked him. If I hadn't kept pressing, I never would've known how vicious you are!"

"I told you before that he's allergic to peanuts, and you deliberately used peanut oil when you cooked for him last night?!"

As she spoke, Nadia rolled up Phineas's sleeve and pointed at the red rash on it for me to see:

"He put up with the discomfort the whole time to save your face. He held out until he got home to take his medicine, and the rash still hasn't gone away."

"Do you have any idea a severe allergy can kill someone?!"

My tone was flat:

"None of the oil or ingredients used for yesterday's family dinner contained peanuts. If you don't believe me, you can check the surveillance footage at the old house."

At that, nervousness flashed through Phineas's eyes, and his rims went red at once:

"Brother-in-law, are you saying I lied and framed you?"

"Even if you don't like me, there's no need to sling mud at me. I'm not you."

Nadia wiped away his tears with aching tenderness, then glared at me in fury:

"Phineas is simple and kind. He'd never stoop to cheap, underhanded tricks."

"Apologize to him right now!"

I was unmoved. "Why should I apologize for something I didn't do?"

Nadia let out a furious laugh and pointed at me:

"Fine, fine, fine. Deliberately feeding someone food they're allergic to, and still no remorse. Is this the breeding you have as the man of the Quimby house?!"

"Fine. Since you won't apologize, then go spend a few days inside and reflect!"

She looked at the two officers:

"As Phineas's boss, I have a responsibility to protect my employee."

"Jesse Henson may be my husband, but I won't shield him. He's suspected of intentional assault. Please take him into custody."

The two officers exchanged a glance and said to me:

"Mr. Henson, please come back with us to cooperate with the investigation."

The next second, Dr. Lawrence suddenly rushed over.

She planted herself in front of me:

"No!"

"Jesse Henson just went through a massive arterial hemorrhage. He has a clotting disorder and is not yet out of danger. There is no way he can leave!"