All Chapters of Seven Heartbeats to Forever: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1 The Past

Once the live show was over, I got a transfer. Thirty grand from Jessica Goldenfold. That was surprising. I had no idea what to feel about this.I used that money to pay off my bills, then I heard a familiar voice coming from outside. Through the crack of the door I looked, and I saw Jessica.She was as beautiful as I remembered, but the one beside her was no longer me. She came straight to the hospital right after the award ceremony, and she didn't even get to change her clothes.All because her husband's stomach protested. I saw her gently rubbing Christopher Landton's stomach to relieve his pain. I hung my head low and tried to pretend I hadn't seen anything.Quietly, I pulled the door shut, but Jessica yanked it back before I knew it. That made me jump. I raised my head and met her eyes. She was scanning me, but the look in her eyes was colder than any biting wind."Been a while. Aren't you going to say hi?"I stared at her and opened my mouth. Yes, I had so much I wanted to

Chapter 2 Cruel Man

My train of thought came to a stop. Jessica stood on tiptoe and kissed Christopher's forehead. Her eyes were overflowing with tender love for him. "And if he hadn't been heartless enough, I'd never have met you, my guardian angel. You wanted that wallet? The 45 grand one? I'll get it for you. Pick a more expensive one next time. I can afford it."I watched them glow and bask in love, while the pain in my wrist gnawed at my bone. Breathing itself was becoming laborious, yet I found the strength to pull my hand away from Jessica's.Just when I was about to leave, Christopher stretched his leg out and tripped me. "Oh, you should watch where you're going, John."I fell to my knees, and my medical history fell open like white flowers. They fell right beside Jessica.Jessica's face tightened up, and she extended a hand without thinking. Christopher grabbed it and gasped. "What is this?"The medical history caught Jessica's attention. "Artificial heart transplant…" A hint of fury flared

Chapter 3 Foolish Choice

We spent five years together. No matter how hard life got, I never complained. I always stayed by her side. She knew how deep my love for her ran, and she never believed I'd leave her.I knew she loved me deeply as well. She loved me so much, she'd never let me sacrifice myself just to save her. There was only one path left for me. I had to swallow my pain and pretend that I'd had enough.I had to pretend I'd had enough of living a miserable life with her. I had to act like I hated living with her, where hope was nowhere to be found. I had to pretend that I had enough of one meal a day, cheap medicine, and a rough life.I told her I had had enough of thinking too much just to buy a simple thing.And that day was torturous. Even now, I could still see it in my mind. The girl who was always so headstrong and fearless shed tears for the first time as she signed the papers.I signed the organ donation papers at the same time as well. After the surgery, I left her, and the world called

Chapter 4 Ridiculous Request

Christopher pretended he only recognized me then, and he pulled me up in a hurry. "John? What are you doing here? You're Jessica's ex-husband! You can't be a waiter!"A pregnant pause joined the hall. Not a single sound was heard. Everyone turned their eyes to me, and then ridicule began."Heard Ms. Goldenfold's ex-husband left her when she needed him most. And he did it for money.""Well, guess God is punishing him now.""He left Ms. Goldenfold, and now he's a waiter. He deserves it."Someone splashed red wine on me, and then the flood began. The glasses smashed against my skin and shattered into pieces. Alcohol and blood merged and covered the ground in a crimson deluge.These people were sycophants, and they were all trying to butter up Jessica. Blood trickled down my forehead, but I felt no pain. All I offered was silence.Jessica looked at me coldly. "Why aren't you saying anything? Talking to you is a paid service now?" She sneered. The derision continued."You're waiting

Chapter 5 Shock

An invisible bolt of lightning slammed into Jessica's head, and it paralyzed her. The mockery and cold fury on her face melted away, replaced by shock and horror.Her eyes were wide as saucers, and they set themselves on me, the one lying on a pool of red. Her lips trembled. She wanted to say something, but her strength was all drained out of her body. Not a word came out of her lips.Eventually, she said, "You'd make up a whole story just for money, huh, Jonathan?"Though I was trembling and wobbling, I managed to stand up. She was sneering at me. Of course. I was the one who left her for the purported reason of money when she was in the worst phase of her life.Now that she was rich and successful, a lying man like me would stoop to any level just to get back in her life.I met her gaze of ice-cold disgust. Though I had no heart, my chest still felt pain."You made up a whole story just to lie to me, Jonathan."I slowly tore myself away from my friend's help, though my body wa

Chapter 6 Hospitalized

Christian's yells rang around my ears.…I woke up only to find myself in a hospital. The white of the world around me nearly blinded my eyes. Christian was staying by my bed. As I woke up, my worried friend asked, "How are you feeling? Anywhere unwell?"I opened my mouth. My throat was drier than a desert.A while later, the doctor came to check on me. The checkup left him looking solemn. He said, "Your body's incompatible with the artificial heart anymore, Mr. Shawlesque. If you cannot find a match in three months, your life will be in danger."I said nothing. Christian teared up. Three months? It was nearly impossible to find a match in that short a time.In other words, my days were numbered. Ninety days. Perhaps that was why God reunited me with Jessica. He saw my end. Though in the face of death, I remained calm. Then, I smiled at Christian. "Stop crying. I still have three months, not three days."I'd rather not spend my final months in a hospital, so I told him to get

Chapter 7 Evil Man

"Do you really think Jessica loves you? She only gave you money out of pity. I need you to know your place. You're nothing but an ex-husband who abandoned her. Everything she has now, I helped her build. I'm the one she loves."He was looking at me like I was beneath him. The guy did not even hide the fact that he was gloating.A stab of pain pierced my chest. A moment of silence later, I met his eyes. "At least I saved her life."That made his expression change. He looked like I'd cracked the biggest joke around. And the man broke into laughter. It took a very long time before he calmed down."Then, tell her. Let's see if she believes you, the heartless ex, or me, the one who went through life's ups and downs. You make me laugh."And he left in a dramatic gesture. I kept quiet. Of course. To the world, I was nothing but a heartless man who abandoned Jessica.…When I got back home, I found out all the discussion and abuse online had been eradicated. I went through my phone only

Chapter 8 Turn Around

The base of the mountains were dotted with black and white. People. From where I stood, the mountains were enormous, and the people were little more than specks.…The rumors about me should've died down, but a simple sharing of someone's daily life dragged me back into the spotlight.The salesperson who recommended good grave spots to me was sharing his job's moments.'A tall, handsome guy came to me, saying he wanted to get a grave. Good view, good lighting, he told me. First time I'd heard of that, so I asked him if he was buying the spot for his parents or something. He said no. Told me he was getting it for himself. Man, that was… something.'He paired the caption with a photo of my profile. Not too clear, but it was enough to figure out I was the guy.That went viral. The Internet called me a heartless gold-digger who abandoned Jessica. Now, they found out I had a big secret of my own.Some guys tried looking into my past and found out a lot of details. 'A lad came asking

Chapter 9 Sacrifice

Jessica was leaning on the door with her whole body, her breathing ragged and heavy. And then she hurried inside. Her shirt was drenched in her sweat, and her skin was covered in grime. Her hands and feet were covered in cuts.Her eyes were tearful as she raised the crumpled diagnosis. I was pale as a ghost, and she saw that. Hoarsely, she asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"She was crying. This was when I was supposed to feel vindicated and glad. I did not. I just felt empty.A smile curled my lips, and I said nothing. Nothing mattered at this point.The tears would not stop coming for Jessica. She was trying to hold them in, yet she bawled her heart out. "I'll get the best doctors money can buy. I'll tap into every single connection. I will get you that heart."Her eyes were bloodshot. I wanted to say so much to her. Instead, I replied, "Of course."Jessica got me discharged and took me back to my old place, but she did not leave. Instead, she took great care of me. As I watched h

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