Nice Try, But No Kidney

Six months ago, they told me my daughter, Talia, had kidney failure. That only I could save her.But the night before surgery, I found out the truth—Talia was fine. The real patient? Gabriel, the son of my husband's first love, Bianca Tuck.It was all a lie. A setup. Hudson had planned everything, and Talia—my own daughter—had played along. I was the only fool left in the dark.In that moment, ten years of marriage, ten years of sacrifice, shattered.I slammed the divorce papers on the table. Didn't even ask for custody. I was done.Hudson frowned. "Lying was wrong, but is divorce really necessary? All I wanted was your kidney. You'll live with one—Gabriel won't if he doesn't get a good match."I shut my eyes, exhaled slow, then shoved the papers back at him."Sign it."

"Oh, let me guess—you're about to say you gained weight because you were overworked after having me? That all the meds ruined your body?" Talia rolled her eyes. "Please. You're just lazy. Stop blaming me. Bianca had a kid too—why is she still slim?"And just like that, it clicked. The real reason Talia never let me attend her school events. I used to think she was being considerate, that she knew crowds drained me. But no. She was just ashamed of me.The perfect family I once believed in? Nothing but broken pieces."Sign the papers, or we'll settle this in court," I said, exhausted.Talia scoffed. "You think threatening Dad with divorce will work? Have you seen yourself?"Hudson let out a frustrated sigh. "Do you really have to make such a big deal out of this?"Fine. Do whatever you want. But you're still coming to the hospital tomorrow. If you don't, don't expect a dime next month."Oh, and Bianca doesn't like hospital food—make something light for her. You cook all day anyway

Half an hour later, Hudson froze all my bank accounts and even changed his phone number—just to gloat.[So, struggling without money? Come back now, and I'll forgive you! The house is a mess with no one to clean it!]Pathetic. That house wasn't my home anymore. I wasn't going back.With what little cash I had left, I got a new number and rented a tiny shared apartment way outside the city. The commute was brutal—four hours a day—but I threw myself into my tutoring job, relearning the skills I'd abandoned years ago.Two days later, just as I reached my student's neighborhood, Hudson and Talia ambushed me at the entrance."I heard you're working as a tutor here," Hudson said, frowning. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is for me? Quit and come home. Taking care of me and Talia is your real purpose in life."Unbelievable.My voice stayed flat. "Did you sign the divorce papers?""Divorce?" He scoffed. "Are you still not done with this tantrum? You abandoned your own child

Two days later, Micah's parents got sick and asked me to pick him up from school and take him to the hospital.At the school gate, I ran into Talia—along with Bianca, who had come to pick her up.One of Talia's classmates spotted me and snickered. "Talia, your maid is here to pick you up again!"Maid? So that's what she told people.The kids turned to Bianca, eyes lighting up. "Wow, your mom is so pretty!"Talia lifted her chin, smug. "Of course. My mom's the best."Bianca smirked, then mouthed at me: 'You're a failure. Even your daughter looks down on you. She doesn't see you as her mother at all.'

Minutes later, the police arrived and took down the attacker. Once things calmed, I took Micah to the hospital—only to run into Talia being brought in by the authorities.Her arm was slashed, and both Bianca and Hudson were hovering over her."Why did you run and leave me behind? And why did you push me before you ran?!" Talia screamed, hysterical. "I trusted you! I was so good to you! How could you do this to me?!""I..." Bianca hesitated for half a second before throwing herself into Hudson's arms, sobbing dramatically. "Hudson, I was terrified! Gabriel still needs me—I couldn't afford to get hurt! I didn't do it on purpose!"Talia, please forgive me! If you don't, I might as well die—"Hudson pulled her close, his face full of sympathy. "That's enough, Talia. Stop overreacting. You're fine, aren't you?"Bianca already feels awful, and Gabriel's still sick. Do you really want to push her over the edge?"Talia looked ready to explode, but his sheer stupidity left her speechless