Chapter five

No! Jeff gasped as he stormed into the theater but stopped short at the sight before him.

He felt a rush in his ears and his heart squeezed in pain.

Claire's skin had lost all its color and those blue eyes that used to stare at him like a lost puppy were closed now, the lashes dark against her pale cheeks.

He wanted to howl in agony as the air in his lungs suddenly felt constricted.

Guilty gnawed at him, "She can't die". He whispered.

"Mr. Anderson." The surgeon's voice cut through the fog. "I'm truly sorry for your loss. We did everything we could."

He felt a rush of anger at his words and in swift move, he grabbed the surgeon by the collar.

“How could you? You killed her”. He clenched out.

“No Sir, I didn't. You consented to giving out her heart remember?” the doctor replied calmly while trying to ply off his hands from his collar.

His words felt like a sucker punch and all the strength suddenly drained away from him, the doctor was not wrong, he had forced Claire even when he hadn't wanted to.

He felt his throat closed up completely and pain shot between his eyes.

"We need to take her to the morgue". The doctor said and Jeff shook his head and he felt his knees go weak.

He still couldn't believe that Claire was dead.

"No! She is not dead" he gasped in denial.

"Do you regret how you treated her now? I never knew that I had a moron for a grandson". His grandfather's voice was tight with anger.

"Grandfather..." He choked.

"You don't deserve any last moment with her, take her away". He ordered the doctor and he watched with a sinking feeling as they covered her face with a white cloth and started wheeling her away.

"Gosh! You disappoint me". Grandfather said as he stormed off, his walking stick tapping furiously on the ground.

He stood alone in the room feeling lost. He wanted this right? Why was he suddenly feeling pained by her demise, he suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe.

The door opened behind him and Irene entered, her eyes took in the scene before her and her lips curved in a secret smile.

Finally, that bitch was gone, her plan worked out perfectly.

She wiped the smirk from her face before Jeff could see it and walked towards him, her heels clinking on the marble floor.

"Jeff." She called, her voice suddenly thick with tears.

She run her fingers over his shoulders in a comforting gesture and pressed one hand to her mouth. 

"My sister is really gone." She choked on a sob and stared at him with tears streaming down her face.

"This is my fault. If I hadn't gotten sick, If I hadn't needed a transplant, she'd still be alive." She cried, her hands clutching her belly as if to remind him that he has a child growing inside of her.

"It's not your fault." He tried to reassure her even though his insides felt hollow.

He had asked Claire to go through with the surgery to save his baby growing inside Irene, what pained me most was that she didn't need the surgery after all, she didn't have to die after all and what hit me the most is how empty I am feeling.

Irene looked at me, her eyes red and swollen. "I'm so sorry".

"It wasn't your fault, I blame that damn doctor for giving wrong report. You never needed a transplant."

" My voice came out tight. Irene's tears stopped and she went completely still.

"The doctor has to pay for his mistake." She said and he gritted his teeth.

“I know that we weren't close because she's always jealous of me but still…Claire can't die for nothing."

Irene is right, the doctor will take responsibility for his actions.

Slowly, he nodded and Irene's eyes narrowed slightly in anger. What does he care if that bitch dies? She hated playing the caring sister when all she wanted to do was to spit on Claire's corpse but for now, she has to keep up the charade.

Jeff ran his fingers through his hair, “grandpa said that you were perfectly healthy, you didn't even need a blood transfusion”.

Irene blanched at his words, “no! He might be right about the heart transplant but that doesn't mean that I was fine because I wasn't feeling fine, he is trying to take advantage of the situation” Her voice rose, frantic. "Jeff, your grandfather has hated me from the beginning. He'd do anything to turn you against me."

“I need to see the doctor”. Jeff replied and started to leave but Irene placed a grip on his arm.

"He left. Right after the surgery. Packed his things and disappeared."

“I guess he panicked. He must realized he'd made a mistake during the surgery and ran before anyone could sue him?"

Jeff stared at her.

"That makes sense, doesn't it?" Her grip tightened. "He operated, something went wrong, Claire died, and he fled to avoid malpractice charges. It happens more often than you'd think."

Jeff's gaze narrowed and Irene and Irene suddenly gasped and clutched her stomach and Jeff's attention immediately shifted to her.

‘what is it? Are you alright?”

“My stomach suddenly hurts”. She breathed, clutching his arm tighter.

“Let's get you checked up”. He said as he carried her, all talks about Claire forgotten.

Irene smirked inwardly, she wasn't feeling any stomach pain, she just wanted him to forget about Claire and focus on her.

This is just the beginning. She was determined to take everything that belongs to Claire and that includes Claire's husband, this time, she would make sure that she becomes the next Mrs Anderson.

“Rest in pieces Claire”. She thought furiously.