Chapter 2

Only after the sound of an engine starting outside did the men finally release Ella.

Perhaps she had cried until she had no strength left. By then, she could only manage weak, broken sobs.

She took out her phone and called Julian again and again.

As always, every call went unanswered.

At last, she picked up the card in despair. Somehow, she managed to hoist my body onto her tiny shoulders.

"Mom, I'll take you home."

I had no idea how a frail six-year-old managed to get my body home.

I had no control over where I went. Some unseen force compelled me to follow the man into his car.

Throughout the drive, he guarded my kidney as though it were priceless. He placed the container in the passenger seat, fastened the seat belt around it, and kept glancing over to make sure it was safe.

Only when the car stopped outside an upscale private medical center did he relax.

He carried the container to a man waiting at the entrance and practically bowed as he handed it over.

The moment I saw that all-too-familiar face, I froze.

It was my husband, Julian Parker, the very man who had talked me into selling a kidney to pay off his debts.

Before I could understand why my kidney was being handed to him, Julian carefully accepted the container. "I've wired you the remaining $5 million."

Without so much as mentioning me, he turned and hurried back into the hospital.

I stood there, too stunned to move.

Not long ago, Julian had told me he'd lost everything in the stock market and still owed more than $1 million.

To help him pay off the debt, I'd sold our house and car. Ella had even sold her beloved piano.

Even after all that, we still owed a fortune.

So where had Julian gotten $5 million?

Before I could make sense of it, he hurried inside and handed the container to a doctor.

A nurse rushed over before he could say anything.

"Mr. Parker, your girlfriend refuses to go through with the surgery. You need to talk to her."

Panic flashed across Julian's face.

He didn't correct her. Instead, as composed as ever, he instructed the doctor to prepare for surgery immediately. Then he strode upstairs.

Still dazed, I followed him. We stopped outside a private suite.

The moment I saw the woman lying inside, my breath caught.

It was Claire Morgan, Julian's first love. The woman he had never gotten over.

They had dated years ago, but the Parker family hadn't considered Claire good enough for him. Furious, she left the country and cut off all contact for years.

Years later, the Parker family lost its fortune, and Julian was pressured into marrying me. We settled into married life and eventually had Ella.

After Ella was born, I once caught Julian staring at a photograph of Claire with tears in his eyes.

That was when I first learned about Claire.

But I didn't care.

By then, we'd been married for years and had a child together. I trusted him not to cross that line.

I never imagined that the real reason he'd asked me to sell my kidney was so he could give it to her.

Claire looked at him, her face pale. "Julian, maybe I shouldn't go through with the surgery. You're married now. I don't see much point in staying alive anyway."

Julian hurried to her side and took her hand.

When he spoke, his voice held a tenderness I barely recognized. "I had no choice when I married her. I've never stopped loving you. If you die, I won't be able to go on."

He tightened his grip on her hand. "Promise me you'll go through with the surgery, okay? Your blood type is rare. It took me so long to find a kidney that matched."

Claire shook her head. "I know that's Diana's kidney. You should give it back to her. I don't want you two fighting over me."