Chapter 6

By the time Ryder and the others reached the hospital, Mona was waiting outside the operating room. Her clothes were soaked in blood, sweat beaded on her forehead, and she looked absolutely terrified.

Ryder had never seen her like this before.

Kieran's friends crowded around her, asking what had happened.

Mona clutched at her hair, her voice trembling with regret. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have said those things to upset him. I shouldn't have let him drive off alone. He was only speeding because he was angry with me. That's why he crashed..."

Ryder's expression shifted slightly as he listened to her take all the blame.

She'd said those things during their argument just to hurt Kieran. That much was clear to Ryder now. Perhaps she'd been waiting for Kieran to come back all along, hoping they could pick up where they'd left off.

It certainly seemed that way. Ryder couldn't bear to dwell on it.

Just then, a nurse came out of the operating room, looking grim. "The patient's lost a lot of blood, and we're running low on blood supplies. Does anyone here have type O blood? We urgently need a donor."

Kieran's friends exchanged uneasy glances. They all had type AB blood, so none of them could help.

Mona was the only one with type O blood. Without hesitation, she took off her jacket, changed into a sterile gown, and followed the nurse inside.

The minutes dragged by. Half an hour later, the nurse helped Mona out of the operating room.

She was deathly pale. Ryder had no idea how much blood she'd given, but she was so weak and dizzy that she collapsed into his arms.

The nurse turned to the group again. "The patient's condition is improving, but he still needs another 14 ounces of blood. Do any of you know someone with type O blood who could come in?"

Everyone had been calling friends and relatives while they waited, but no one had managed to find a suitable donor.

As the group fell silent, Mona struggled to her feet. "He only needs another 14 ounces? I'll do it."

The nurse stared at her in disbelief. "You've already given 21 ounces. You can't seriously be thinking of giving more."

Kieran's friends were equally alarmed and immediately tried to stop her. "Mona, that's enough! I'll have my assistant ask around the office. Someone there might have the right blood type."

But Mona shook her head. "Kieran can't wait that long."

She rolled up her sleeve, revealing the bruised needle mark on her arm.

Ryder couldn't stay silent any longer. "The doctors are doing everything they can. They can arrange for another hospital to send blood over, too. You don't have to do this."

Mona paused for a moment, but she didn't answer. She simply turned and went back into the operating room.

Everyone watched her go in silence. A few of Kieran's friends let out heavy sighs.

"Mona completely loses her mind whenever Kieran's involved! Remember when she got into a fight over him and hurt her leg so badly she ended up in the hospital for three months? The moment she got discharged, she went straight back to teach those guys a lesson!"

"Tell me about it! Back in high school, she made a bet with someone and went skydiving from 16,000 feet just to win a necklace Kieran wanted.

"Her equipment malfunctioned on the way down, and she nearly died! Now she's risking her life for him all over again.

"I knew she still had feelings for Kieran, so I thought I'd help get them back together. But now... God, what a mess."

They kept talking, completely forgetting Ryder was standing right beside them. He listened in stunned silence.

Until now, he'd had no idea Mona had done so much for Kieran. And suddenly, he understood just how foolish he'd been on their wedding day.

When he'd stood up and offered to marry her, he'd genuinely believed he could win her heart if he loved her enough.

But that had been wishful thinking. Love wasn't something he could earn through patience or devotion.

Mona loved Kieran. She didn't love Ryder. It had been that simple from the beginning.

He'd taken a chance on their marriage, and now he'd lost everything he'd hoped to gain. All he could do was accept it.

After what felt like an eternity, the red light above the operating room finally went out.

The doors opened, and the medical team wheeled Kieran and Mona out. Everyone rushed forward anxiously.

The doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the unconscious Mona, shaking his head in amazement. "Those two are a couple, aren't they? It's rare to see someone willing to sacrifice so much for the person they love."

Ryder stood alone at the back of the group. He stared up at the harsh hospital lights and let out a quiet, bitter laugh.