Chapter 2

Jacob's POV

I turned off my phone and drove to the hospital.

Nancy lay curled up on the hospital bed, looking so small. The TV in her room was still tuned to the day's news.

I must have looked pale as I switched it off.

Nancy asked in a small, hesitant voice, "Daddy, doesn't Mommy want us anymore?"

Hearing her struggle not to cry made my chest hurt.

I stroked her forehead. "Of course not. She loves you more than anyone. She'd never leave you. What you saw on TV wasn't true."

Nancy's eyes were red, but she held back her tears.

"Then why hasn't Mommy come to see me these past few days? I'm supposed to get a transfusion every Wednesday, but she didn't let me get one. Doesn't she want me to get better anymore?"

My hand went still.

Tyler had been Nancy's blood donor for years. Somewhere along the way, Anna started feeling sorry for him.

For Nancy's sake, I bit my tongue for three years. But when Tyler deliberately held up Nancy's treatment because he was upset, Anna and I had a huge fight.

Her face turned red as she defended him. "He's a human being, not a blood bank! Do you have a heart, Jacob?"

"Nancy almost died! He signed a contract, and we already paid him. What else does he want?"

Anna thought I was being heartless, but I had checked every one of Tyler's medical reports with the doctors. There was nothing wrong with him.

That day, Anna took Tyler away before he could donate, and Nancy nearly died on the operating table.

Anna finally realized she had been wrong. After that, she made sure Tyler came in every Wednesday to donate blood. But now Nancy had just told me that Anna hadn't brought Tyler in for her transfusion.

Anger simmered in my chest, but I swallowed my hurt and ruffled Nancy's hair. "That means you're getting better. You don't need transfusions anymore."

Even as I said it, I knew I was lying to myself. Nancy wasn't getting better. She was thinner every day, and she had to catch her breath whenever she spoke.

I got up and went into the hallway. I had just pulled out my phone to call Anna when I saw her storming toward me with Tyler close behind. She slapped me across the face without saying a word.

I tasted blood. I ran my tongue over the sore spot and calmly met her eyes.

Anna's face twisted with rage as she screamed, "Have you lost your mind? You posted our marriage certificate online! Do you have any idea people are calling Tyler the other man now?"

Tyler stood behind her, red-eyed and looking hurt. "You've gone too far, Jacob! I've practically given half my life to Nancy, and now you're making a big deal over something this small?"

I gave her a bitter smile. "What did I do wrong? You promised Nancy would get a transfusion every Wednesday. Did you keep that promise?"

That took some of the wind out of Anna's sails.

Before she could answer, Nancy climbed out of bed without me noticing. Barefoot, she brightened the moment she saw Anna. "Mommy!"

She ran toward Anna, then suddenly went limp and collapsed.

A doctor heard the commotion and rushed over.

After a quick examination, his expression turned serious. "She hasn't had a transfusion in a month. What have you two been doing?"

The words left me numb. My whole body turned cold, and nothing else mattered anymore.

I grabbed Anna. "Get Tyler. Hurry. Nancy can't wait."

Tyler didn't budge. He knew he had me where he wanted me, and he smiled. "Ms. Green, I'm not feeling well."

He rubbed his temples, putting on a show. "If Mr. Pollard apologizes, I might consider it."

My mind went blank.

Nancy lay there with her eyes shut, sweat pouring down her face.

Nothing else mattered. I dropped to my knees. "I was wrong. Please, I'm begging you."

Tyler remained unmoved.

Desperate, I looked up at Anna.

She frowned, visibly torn. "Jacob, Nancy's condition comes first. If you really want to apologize, post a statement saying there's nothing between us."

I went cold all over and started shaking.

In a panic, I nodded and made another post. "I have no relationship with the CEO of Green Group. The marriage certificate I posted was fake."

I turned the screen toward them. "Is that enough? Will you help Nancy now?"