Chapter Four

CLAIRE

I screamed until my lungs hurt, why won't the doctor listen to me?

I struggled as I was placed on a slab in the theatre and my pleas fell on deaf ears. Jeff owns this hospital, it was owned by his mother and he had inherited it from her. In the five years of our marriage, I had only step here when he needed me to act as his wife for the camera or when his grandfather was in the country. Otherwise, I was almost not even known by the workers so my word holds no value.

The only person who could stop them was out of the country and that person was grandpa Howard.

The lights of the theatre came on and I could feel the needle injected in me.

I thought about the baby in my womb, “I'm sorry baby, I am such a useless mother, I couldn't even protect you”. 

If there is anything like a second chance, I promise myself never to fall in love so easily because right now, all I could feel was regret at loving the wrong man.

I could see Jeff standing by the door watching each process, his cold gaze was the last thing I saw before I drifted into unconsciousness.

JEFF'S POV 

I stood for a moment, watching the doctors work on Claire. I suddenly felt a tightness in my throat and my chest constricted painfully.

“There was no other way”. I told myself.

Irene had risked her life saving me five years ago and I had promised her that I would never allow anything to happen to her and if Claire happened to be the one to pay the sacrifice for Irene to be fine, so be it. I owe her my life.

I walked back to Irene's room and stopped short when I saw my grandfather in the room pointing angry fingers at Irene, I hurried in.

“Grandfather, what are you doing here?” I asked in surprise.

He turned towards me and before I could fully grasp what he was about to do, his hand connected with my cheek.

“How dare you do this to my daughter in-law?” He clenched out.

“How did you…” I started to ask but stopped short, rubbing my hand on my cheek. He might be old but his slap is still so hard.

“I can't let Irene die grandpa”. I replied instead and he looked at me with disappointment.

“But you can let your wife die?” He bit out.

“Irene saved me years ago and…”

“There wasn't any need for the transplant, you just allowed your wife to die for nothing”.

My eyes narrowed on him, “what do you mean grandpa?”

He shook his head in disappointment and threw a paper at me before storming out of the room.

My heart was pounding fiercely as I quickly picked it up and scanned through the lines and my stomach dropped.

I stared at Irene, “You didn't need a transplant”. I whispered and she blanched.

“How is that possible? But the doctor…” she stopped and stared at me wide-eyed, “could it be that the doctor made a wrong diagnosis?”

I paled at the possibility.

Claire!

My mind screamed, I had to save her.

I dashed towards the theatre, I needed to stop them from operating on her.

“Doctor stop! Do not operate”. I yelled as I dashed in.

I skidded to a stop when I saw the outline of a person, covered in white cloth.

No! 

The surgeon shook his head, “I'm sorry Mr Anderson but it's too late. Your wife is dead”.

My grandfather stared at me with fury in his eyes, "I can't believe that I have a beast like you for a grandson, you killed her!".