Winner Takes All

"I'm sorry, Mr. Campbell. Your mother has late-stage liver cancer, and …"

When Austin Campbell saw the doctor in front of him shaking his head, he felt dizzy, and his eyes reddened at once.

Ever since he was a child, all he and his mother had were each other. To raise him and fund his education, she'd worked so hard that her health suffered. Before she even got to enjoy a better life, she had fallen severely ill.

"Doctor, please save my mother. I'm begging you, please. Is there really no way to save her?" Austin pleaded hoarsely. He was choking up.

The doctor hesitated briefly before replying, "There's one last option—a liver transplant. We do have a suitable match here at the hospital …"

Pausing, he studied Austin. Having treated Austin's mother for some time now, he was aware of Austin's financial situation.

In the end, the doctor decided to continue saying, "But … the surgery won't be cheap. At the very least, it'll cost 200 thousand."

200 thousand?

Austin's eyes lit up. He clutched the doctor's hand and exclaimed, "Do it! Save her! You have to save her. I have 200 thousand!"

He could always earn more money, but if his mother passed away, he would never get her back.

The doctor nodded and said, "Alright then. Gather your funds as soon as possible. If we delay it any longer, the liver transplant might not even make a difference."

Then, with a sigh, the doctor turned and left.

As Austin left the hospital, it had started to drizzle.

He rushed home to find that his wife, Nancy Welch, was sitting on the couch watching television while munching on some potato chips.

Nancy glanced at Austin and asked, "Is Mom dying?"

"The doctor said that if she gets a liver transplant, she has a chance of survival!" Austin said joyfully. The doctor's words had given him hope. "The surgery will cost 200 thousand, but thankfully, we have that much. Mom still has a fighting chance."

Austin walked toward the bedroom to get the debit card.

Nancy's expression stiffened. She hastily called out, "Wait, Austin!"

Austin's brows creased, and a thought occurred to him. He turned toward Nancy and asked, "Where's the money?"

Looking flustered, Nancy fidgeted without saying anything.

"Did you give everything to your family again?" Austin asked. He cocked his eyebrows and smirked bitterly.

Taking a seat on the edge of the couch, he took out a wrinkled box of cigarettes and lit one. After inhaling deeply, he leaned back against the couch.

Throughout their years of marriage, Nancy had repeatedly given all their money to her family.

"Nancy, I need that money to save my mother's life," Austin said wearily. "Can you get it back from them?"

"Get it back?"

Nancy's brows shot upward, and she shrieked, "What do you mean by that, Austin? I gave the money to my parents to show them that I love them! How can I ask for it back?"

Austin's expression turned icy as he explained, "The hospital has found a suitable organ donor for my mother. If I can give them the money right away, the doctor can perform the liver transplant for my mother at once. My mother can't hold out much longer."

"I don't care. That's your problem. You can find your own solution!" Nancy wailed with teary eyes.

"How am I supposed to get 200 thousand at a moment's notice?"

Austin felt like he was about to explode. His voice was imploring as he said, "Nancy, help me just this once. Get the money back. My mother needs that 200 thousand to save her life!"

"Austin! I already gave that money to my mother. There's no way I can ask for it back!"

Still wailing, Nancy slumped down on the floor. With snot and tears streaking down her face, she screamed, "Your mom's on her deathbed anyway, and you're just wasting all that money on her medical bills! Have you ever considered our family's needs?"

Austin's body tensed up. He was so angry that smoke was about to come out of his ears.

He grabbed Nancy's phone and growled, "Since you won't make the call, I'll do it!"

Before Nancy could stop him, the call connected.

"Mom, Nancy just gave you guys 200 thousand right? Please give it back to me," Austin begged. "I need that money to save my mother's life. She's still in the hospital waiting for me to find a way to save her."

The shrill voice of Urma Horton, Austin's mother-in-law, rang out over the phone.

"What kind of nonsense is that, Austin? Nancy gave us, her parents, that money. How can you shamelessly ask for it back? We never approved of Nancy's decision to marry you, you know. With your lowly family background, Nancy was a fool for marrying you!"