Love That Vanished with the Dream

Winter Liddell was ecstatic. "Have you forgotten how much we went through just to get this heart donor source?"

"No," Liam Jager said calmly.

His composed tone was almost suffocating. "But things have changed. Regina is much younger than your father. Her chances of recovery are higher. She has more long-term value to society.

"Rationally speaking, the heart should go to her."

"Rationally speaking? Liam, that's my dad's life! He's being kept alive by machines while he waits for a donor!" Winter screamed, enraged. "Regina had a full physical two days ago! She has mild angina! She doesn't need surgery at all!"

Winter pulled a crumpled sheet of paper from her pocket and hurled it at him.

"Have a look at that! You've kept her wrapped in bubble wrap her whole life. One stubbed toe and she's screaming in pain. 'Critical condition'? Do you even have a conscience, Liam?"

Liam lowered his gaze and skimmed the thin medical report. His expression didn't change.

Winter's heart sank. He had known all along.

Liam unhurriedly reached into the inner pocket of his expensive coat and took out several neatly folded sheets of paper.

"Sign this. It's a voluntary organ transfer agreement. You'll give Regina priority use of the heart."

The room spun. Winter held onto the wall tightly to keep herself from collapsing.

"I—Never!" she said through clenched teeth.

Liam lowered his voice. Each word was cold like ice. "Be realistic, Winter. What's keeping your father alive right now? Extremely expensive ICU machines.

"Sign it, and let Regina have the heart. I'll make sure the equipment keeps running until we find another one for him," he said, pausing before adding, "If you refuse, I'll have every machine shut down in ten minutes."

Strength drained from her body. She slid down the wall, feeling powerless.

Just before her knees hit the floor, Liam reached out. He wasn't trying to help her up. Instead, he shoved a pen into her stiff, icy hand.

Seven years ago, when Richard Liddell was diagnosed with severe heart failure, he solemnly placed the same pen he had carried around for 20 years into her palm.

When she and Liam made their relationship official, she gave the pen to him as a token of love.

She had looked up at him with eyes full of trust. "This is my dad's most precious possession. Now I'm giving it to you."

Liam took it, bent down, and kissed her forehead.

"I'll never betray you, or your father's trust, Winnie."

And now, this pen that carries her purest love is being used by the man she once deeply loved—he wields its sharp nib like a blade, pressing it against her throat to force her to sign the contract that will kill her own father!

Winter's lips trembled. Her voice cracked as she said, "If I refuse, would you really—"

Liam's face was unmoving under the harsh hospital lights.

"This isn't a negotiation, Winnie."

"Liam, for the sake of our seven-year marriage—" she said as her hand spasmed around the pen.

His gaze turned colder. "Remember, Winnie. It's your stubbornness that killed your father."

As his words fell, his men rushed into the ICU and shut down the life-support machines.

"Who are you guys? Don't you know he'll die?"

The nurse's scream crushed Winter's last hope.

Liam had actually done it.

Winter let out a broken scream. She staggered forward and grabbed at Liam's sleeve.

He dodged her.

"I'll sign it!"

She snatched the agreement, but her hands were shaking so badly the pen kept slipping from her fingers.

Tears streamed down her face as she took a deep breath and forced herself to focus.

She steadied her right wrist with her left hand and scrawled her name at the bottom. "Liam! I signed! Tell them to stop!"

Liam let out a low chuckle and leaned closer. There was a cigarette between his fingers. "As punishment for disobeying me, your father gets another ten minutes off the machines."

Richard's weak, labored breathing echoed through the walls.

Fear gagged Winter. "You're insane!"

She lunged toward the ICU, but Liam grabbed her and threw her aside.

"I said ten minutes. Not one second less."

For the next ten minutes, Winter begged, cursed, and screamed. Liam stared at his wrist, never looking at her once.

When the alarm sounded, he lifted his gaze from his green Submariner watch. "The punishment's over."

The machines hummed back to life. They sounded like music to Winter's ears.

Like a puppet whose strings had snapped, she could no longer hold herself up. Her knees slammed onto the cold floor.

She couldn't feel the pain. She struggled to her feet and shuffled toward the exit while clinging to the wall for support.

Doctors and nurses rushed past her.

"Resuscitate him. Now!"

Winter turned just as the ICU doors flew open.

Her eyes met Richard's. His lips were purple as they twisted into a grimace.

Winter's tears fell in heavy drops.

Liam spoke softly into his phone. "Don't worry, Regina. She signed. What do you mean by I stole it? Her father was dying anyway. Giving it to him would've been a waste."

He strode toward the elevator.

"Wait for me. I'm coming. You'll be fine."

Winter laughed through her sobs. That was the man who had once said she was the only one for him. He had even promised not to betray her.

It took the hospital staff an entire hour to rescue Richard.

Winter stood outside the emergency room and dialed a number that had sat untouched in her contacts.

"Hello? I'd like to apply for an artificial heart transplant for my dad. The immigration paperwork will take a week. We'll leave then."