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Chapter 2

Author: South Twig
The ache in my chest ebbed like the tide. I lifted my head, staring at Nina.

"I can go… but Nina, if I die out there, you'll be the one who drove me to this."

My voice was quiet, yet it hit Nina like a slap. She froze, stunned, her words catching in her throat. After a long pause, she finally forced out a few ragged, broken sentences.

"You… what are you pretending for? It's just a kidney donation! My family took you in for three years! Didn't you hear? The commander's sending someone tomorrow. Go pick up more pastries! If you can't even handle something this small, I've wasted my care on you."

She opened her mouth to argue further, but I couldn't take it. I turned, my body burning, and headed downstairs.

Before we were married, whenever I got sick, Nina had cared for me without rest, day and night. One night, I'd muttered in my sleep that I wanted a cup of spiked hot cocoa. She'd walked six miles to the all-night convenience store to get it.

Back then, our apartment had been just a cramped studio, but that cup of spiked hot cocoa had tasted sweeter than anything I'd ever known.

Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the silence from behind.

"Caleb!"

Before I could turn, a few coins clattered heavily against my back.

Theo's laugh rang shrill and cruel, brimming with unrestrained pride.

"Caleb, broke again? Planning to mooch off the shop owner now?"

Every word dripped with mockery. I stared at the coins on the floor, straightened my back, and stepped over them. Without a glance, I walked down the stairs and headed straight for the clinic.

My hands trembled as I applied the medicine to my wound. Sweat soaked my body through.

The doctor frowned as he read my chart.

"Mr. Barnes, your infection is severe. Combined with inadequate post-op care and nutrition… the swelling around your kidney has spread significantly. You'll need to be extremely careful going forward, or it could affect your long-term health."

I nodded calmly, unsurprised.

After leaving the clinic, I didn't just sit around. I went straight to the nearest post office. On the letter, I documented Nina's personal misconduct over the years—the lies, the cover-ups—everything. Watching it get sent to the tax authorities, I finally felt some relief.

Then my eyes landed on a newspaper.

The photo on the front showed Kathryn in full military uniform, radiating authority without a word.

[Youngest Female Commander Kathryn Jennings Visits Reed City]

[Commander Kathryn Jennings Tours National Cancer Institute, Reviews Latest Research]

My breath caught. A flicker of hope surged in my chest.

By late morning, I returned home to grab my ID.

The moment I stepped through the door, Nina launched into an interrogation.

"Theo's been waiting for you all morning. Where are the buns?"

Theo slumped on the sofa, his face pale and pitiful. I ignored her scolding entirely, brushing past her into the master bedroom to get my documents.

Nina's impatience flared; she grabbed me, nearly knocking me over.

"Are you deaf? I'm talking to you."

I lifted my head, calm, meeting her gaze.

"Nina… I almost passed out on the street corner. The cab driver wouldn't take me. You wanna know why?"
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  • The Man Who Gave His Kidney Away   Chapter 9

    My eyes went wide as I watched Kathryn light a cigarette, standing by the window.After a long moment, she exhaled a thin stream of smoke and spoke, her voice calm and distant."Three years ago, I was ambushed. A bullet went through my shoulder. In the chaos, I hid in an alley near some shelters…"As she spoke, the memories slowly crept back.Back then, my mother had just gotten off her shift at the textile factory. I was walking her home through a narrow alley when we saw a woman crumpled on the ground, filthy and in rough shape.She looked like a homeless person from head to toe, but I stopped my mother from leaving."She's hurt," I said. "Maybe she's from that construction site nearby?"There was a site close by, and accidents happened there all the time—falls, serious injuries.My father had died in a construction accident too, so I always felt a strange sympathy for people like that.Ignoring my mother's protests, I carried her straight to the nearest clinic.Now, starin

  • The Man Who Gave His Kidney Away   Chapter 8

    Nina was being dragged across the ground, her face burning red with rage as they hauled her away.Then, out of nowhere, she found some burst of strength and wrenched herself free. Teeth clenched, she lunged straight at me."Caleb! I hope you die in agony!"Before anyone could stop her, she was already in my face. Her voice went shrill as she raised both hands to shove me with everything she had—Suddenly, my abdomen seized up violently. My vision went black.Blood poured from my mouth in thick streams.Before her hands even touched me, my body went rigid and I collapsed backward.Right before I blacked out, I saw panic flash across Nina's face. She stood frozen in front of me, mouth open like she was screaming my name."Caleb!""Caleb!"By the time she yelled it the second time, I'd already hit the ground and slipped into darkness.When I came to, the steady beeping of machines filled my ears.I opened my eyes to the dim glow of an old hospital light overhead.A sharp, twi

  • The Man Who Gave His Kidney Away   Chapter 7

    Theo was nothing more than Nina's poor relative who'd shown up from some backwoods town claiming family ties.When Nina and I first bought our apartment, it wasn't exactly spacious. After furnishing our bedroom, there was only one guest room left.I figured Theo wouldn't stick around long—we were newlyweds, after all. Who wants an extra person crammed into their space right after getting married?But Theo dug in his heels and made himself a permanent fixture. I dropped hints that it was getting cramped.He acted like I was trying to throw him out on the street, bursting into tears with that pathetic look."Caleb, where am I supposed to go? I've got nobody. If you kick me out, I'll be sleeping outdoors…"Forget it… I guess I've worn out my welcome. I'll figure something out on my own…"He was barely dressed and made a show of rushing for the door. But Nina grabbed him and laid into me."Caleb! Do you have a heart? He's got no one—where exactly is he supposed to go? We don't even

  • The Man Who Gave His Kidney Away   Chapter 6

    Throughout the three years Nina and I were married, her mother never let me forget that I hadn't given her a grandchild.But Nina adamantly refused to let me touch her. How could I possibly get her pregnant?Later, Nina's father developed kidney failure and, as a result, required a kidney transplant. When the kidney match came back positive, the Dawson family showed up at my door on their knees, begging me to donate a kidney to save him, who was literally at death's door.I didn't hesitate. I gave him one of my kidney, and it cost me a long time to recover.And what did I get in return?Nina got pregnant with Theo's child—while I was still lying alone in that hospital bed.Back then, the whole family had sworn up and down that they'd spend the rest of their lives repaying me.Now, after I gave up a kidney, here's what I got instead: my wife carrying another man's child, her mother calling me a freeloader and shoving a divorce agreement in my face, demanding I leave with nothing.

  • The Man Who Gave His Kidney Away   Chapter 5

    The crowd fell instantly silent, every gaze fixed on the woman who had just appeared in the doorway.She wore a sharply tailored black coat, her presence overwhelming and commanding.Someone in the crowd recognized her and sucked in a sharp breath."Commander Jennings? Is that the legendary Commander Jennings—the one they call the Iron Lady? She may be a woman, but her methods are just as ruthless as any man's!"The two female soldiers hurried forward, guilt written all over their faces."We're so sorry, Commander Jennings! It was our negligence that led to—"Before they could finish, Kathryn swept them with a cold glance and said in a low voice, "Report to the base for disciplinary action. Thirty days' restriction and forfeiture of pay. Don't let it happen again."With their heads bowed, the two soldiers retreated quickly.Only then did the crowd seem to snap back to reality, but Nina stood frozen in shock. She forced her voice out, hoarse and stiff."Commander Jennings… what

  • The Man Who Gave His Kidney Away   Chapter 4

    I found a cheap motel and made do for the night.The next morning, there was a knock at the door.Two female soldiers stood in the hallway, their posture straight, their bearing cold and disciplined. One of them raised her hand in a formal salute, her tone respectful."Are you Caleb Barnes? Commander Jennings instructed us to tell you to meet her at ten o'clock this morning in front of the City Hall."I let out a long breath. Finally, the weight on my chest eased.Nina and I had agreed to file for divorce at eight. I waited at the entrance.Soon, I saw her arrive arm in arm with Theo, strolling in unhurriedly.They were dressed in bright, flashy colors, as if they were about to walk down the aisle the next second.Nina had been worried I might cause trouble, but when she saw how cooperative I was, she finally relaxed.Suddenly, a factory worker suddenly rushed in and whispered urgently into Nina's ear.Her face changed instantly. Her gaze turned sharp as a blade and stabbed s

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