After getting my permission, Zachary simply moved into the hospital. Compared to me—someone already close to death—he seemed even more desperate to cherish every second we had left."Shan, does this one look good?" He handed me a screen.I tilted my head to look—it was a stunning wedding dress. The pure white skirt was dotted with expensive diamonds, sparkling brilliantly under the lights."It's beautiful.""Once you're better, let's get married in this," he suggested. I knew he was just trying to soothe both of us with empty dreams, but for a fleeting moment, I truly believed in the future he painted."Sure. What about your groom's outfit? If I'm wearing something this beautiful, you'll have to look handsome, too."He didn't answer. Instead, he flipped the tablet face down onto the bed, pulled me into his arms, and planted a soft kiss on my forehead.Then, he handed me a cup of warm milk. I drank it slowly, sip by sip while noticing the redness creeping into his eyes."After I
When I opened my eyes again, I was met with the familiar ceiling. But unlike before, the person sitting beside me wasn't Wendy—it was Zachary."Shan, you're awake." Sensing my movement, he immediately opened his eyes.It looked like he hadn't rested properly for days. There were dark shadows under his eyes and a scruffy layer of stubble around his mouth.Seeing me regain consciousness, a flash of joy crossed his face, but it was quickly swallowed by overwhelming guilt."I'm sorry, Shan. I didn't know. It's all my fault…""N-no…" I wanted to tell him that it was fine, but after being unconscious for so long, all I could manage was a hoarse groan.He sniffed hard, like waking from a dream, and hurriedly wiped away the tears that had gathered in the corners of my eyes. After that, he rushed off in a panic to call the doctor.My body recovered faster than anyone expected.The clue I had left behind that day worked. Before Mildred could do anything to me, the police had already lock
Under the persistent persuasion of Wendy and the Shaw siblings, I decided to accept treatment. Yuri, tormented by my record of noncompliance, would show up every day carrying a handful of colorful pills, refusing to leave until he saw me take them all.Wendy and Ms. Rose also took turns keeping me company. They wouldn't let me go online, so every day, they racked their brains to tell me about fresh news and funny stories with vivid expressions.We all knew waiting for a matching kidney in such a short time was like chasing a fantasy. But we all wanted to give it a try."I'll go buy you some food, Shannon. What do you want to eat?""I'll just go to the cafeteria, too."After lying in bed for half a month, I decided to go out for a bit. The moment Wendy heard that, her whole face lit up with joy. She wouldn't let me walk, so she borrowed a wheelchair.On the way back, she spotted someone selling candyfloss outside the hospital fence and said she wanted to buy me one.I didn't want
Zachary didn't believe what Ms. Rose said. His eyes widened, and his body shook uncontrollably."That's nonsense!"Seeing as he was about to waver, Mildred quickly stood up and shielded him behind her."Everyone knows Zachary's kidney came from a kind-hearted, deceased organ donor. You people are unbelievable! You'd even lie for money.""You—"Ms. Rose was about to argue in my stead, but I raised my hand to stop her. I swallowed the metallic taste in my mouth and forced out a smile. Maybe it was my bloodstained smile that horrified them. Mildred's and Zachary's expressions both turned a little strange."Ms. Jameson is right. My body has nothing to do with Mr. Lake. The wine… I've finished it. Please don't trouble me again in the future.""What did you just say?"Before I could respond, the sound of ambulance sirens blared nearby. Ms. Rose turned around, fought back her tears, and helped me onto the stretcher.Zachary seemed like he wanted to follow, but someone beside him st
The job Wendy introduced me to was working as a staff member in a small restaurant. The owner was a woman with big, permed curls. She loved wearing clothes that were popular decades ago. On top of that, she always wore exaggerated earrings.She didn't tell me her real name. Instead, she told me to call her Ms. Rose. Looking at her, I felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, which made me relax a little."You… don't mind my…" I asked cautiously."You're just a dishwasher. What's there to mind? Go get your things ready. You'll start tomorrow. Oh, and if you take leave, your attendance bonus will be deducted," she said.With a job, I finally had a way to pay for my painkillers. By then, I wasn't particularly afraid of death anymore. It was just that the pain each time was really unbearable.Zachary hadn't contacted me again, but he frequently appeared on social media with Mildred. Everyone said they were a perfect match.Meanwhile, a few unscrupulous media outlets dug up my gaunt
Inside Zachary's body was one of my kidneys, but he didn't know that. Dr. Shaw once suggested telling him, especially after I began to suffer complications from the surgery."Why not just tell him? He has everything now. If nothing else, you could save your own life.""Dr. Shaw, his father died saving me." With a sigh, I finally told him the truth behind the tangled mess that bound Zachary and me together.His mother had passed away early. Zachary was raised by his father, who was a firefighter. He was kind, strong, and full of honor.When I was 14, my home caught fire. My parents threw themselves over me, shielding me from the flames. Zachary's father came charging in through the inferno and pulled me out. However, he never made it back out himself.I owed Zachary a life. So, when we found out I was a matching donor, I signed the donation form without hesitation.He was just like his father, who was a man of dignity and honor. If I had told him the truth, he would never have a
"Well, say something. You were so smug over the phone earlier."Noticing my silence, Zachary's grip on my wrist tightened further. I gasped in pain, which caused his brows to twitch."Hey… isn't that Zachary Lake? The guy from TV?""It really looks like him. Wait, is that woman with him Shannon Morrison, that shameless one?"The commotion drew the attention of the surrounding crowd, and they soon spotted and recognized Zachary. In my panic, I let down my hair to cover my face and struggled to pull free from his grasp.However, that only seemed to enrage him further.In the struggle, my bag slipped from my shoulder, crashing to the floor. My stack of medical records spilled out from within.He bent down, picked up a piece of paper, and scanned the page. Then, his lips curled into a cold, bitter smile."Renal failure?" he sneered. "Shannon, do you have no shame? You left me back then because of my illness, and now you're faking one to get me back?"I bit down hard on my lip. The
After Zachary Lake's interview aired, the name Shannon Morrison became a lightning rod for public fury. It was a story of a heartless gold-digger and a brilliant, wronged young man.People loved a good reversal-of-fortune story, the kind where tides turned over time, and karma finally catches up. This one fitted the mold perfectly.Thankfully, I was just an ordinary nobody, so the wave of online witch hunts hadn't quite reached me… yet. Still, the internet was alive with speculation, with most of it cruel and aimed right at me."Stop reading that." Dr. Yuri Shaw, my attending physician, gently pulled the phone from my hands and shook his head."I'll help you apply for hospital assistance. It's not time to give up just yet."His voice was kind and steady, like a lifeline I could hold onto.I gave him a faint smile and shook my head. Right now, he might be the only person in this world who still wanted me to live."No need," I said softly. "There's no point anymore."I steadied m