Chapter 7

Everything finally snapped into place. Every suspicion, every gut feeling—it all made sense now.

Noemi couldn't hold back anymore. She charged forward and slapped Ivanna. Twice.

Her whole body shook, fists clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms.

"So Daniel and I were just your little pawns?"

Ivanna shoved her hard. Noemi staggered—and then felt it. Warmth spreading between her legs.

She looked down. Blood. So much blood.

The bodyguards rushed in, yanked them apart, and hurried Noemi off for a check-up.

The old doctor squinted at the test results, frowning. "Miss, you can't treat your body like this. You're three weeks pregnant."

The grief cracked open, swallowed up by joy. She never thought she could get pregnant.

And now, she had something to fight for.

Noemi clutched the papers and bolted out of the room—only to see Ivanna fake-crying in Daniel's arms.

"Daniel," she sobbed, voice shaking, "don't let Noemi give me her kidney. She went crazy and attacked me. And..." Her lip trembled. "She's pregnant. With your baby."

Daniel's heart sank. His voice came out furious.

"I did everything right, and you still managed to trap me with a pregnancy." He pulled Ivanna closer.

"No, that's not it!" Noemi tried to explain, but the pain hit hard when she moved, tears springing to her eyes.

"Ivanna told me herself—she has kidney failure. I didn't push her. She wants mine."

For a second, his face shifted. Hope flared in her chest—then died as he sneered.

"Kidney failure? Seriously, Noemi? That's your excuse?"

"If you don't believe me, test her again. You—"

"Enough!" His voice cut like a blade. "Even if that's true, you STILL owe her a kidney."

She stopped. No more words, no more strength.

The pregnancy report slipped from her hand.

"Fine. I'll do it. Hand me the divorce papers. I'll sign."

Daniel didn't get what kind of game she was playing. He just nodded for his assistant to hand her the papers.

Noemi breathed hard, eyes closing as two years of chaos flashed through her mind.

Being his wife had always felt like living in borrowed time—like some dream she was never meant to keep.

Now it was over. Time to wake up.

"Goodbye, Daniel."

She signed without blinking and turned, dragging her broken body back toward her hospital room.

Daniel's chest clenched. Sharp and sudden. He grabbed at his shirt, confused.

Why did it feel like something was tearing inside?

He shoved the feeling down. Forced his mind to go blank.

***

The next day, the surgeries went ahead like clockwork.

Same hospital. Three people underwent the operation simultaneously.

Noemi's corneas—straight to Daniel. Her kidney—to Ivanna.

Lying on that freezing table, Noemi felt like her soul was bleeding out.

If she could do it all over again, she wouldn't love him. Not even a little.

Loving Daniel had destroyed her. Left her empty.

There was nothing left to give.

Before the surgery, she'd begged her best friend, Vera Mendoza, to get her out—no matter what.

Even if it meant dying, she never wanted to see any of them again.

***

Outside the OR, Juan stared at the two labeled containers pulled from Noemi's surgery.

One kidney. A set of corneas.

His chest tightened. Every buried suspicion locked into place.

It was Noemi. She'd given his boss her corneas.

He dropped to the ground, breath catching, frozen in shock.

After Daniel's surgery finished, he called out.

"Juan."

Juan stumbled in, eyes down. "Mr. Gomez... your surgery and Ms. Lopez's were both successful."

But Daniel's stomach twisted. He only cared about one thing. "Where's Noemi?"

Juan's jaw locked. He couldn't keep it in anymore.

He dropped to his knees, voice cracking. "Mr. Gomez... Mrs. Gomez gave you the corneas!"

Daniel, usually all ice and pride, completely snapped.

He ripped the IV out and shot off the bed, fists clutching Juan's shoulders.

"What did you just say? WHERE IS NOEMI?!"