Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Kidney That Never Came: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

When the hospital said Stella's kidney went to someone else, everything shattered.She'd been hanging on for six brutal months—her only shot at staying alive.I clutched the doctor's sleeve. "Please, you have to help me. My daughter's dying. My wife runs this hospital. Just help us."Stella had been stuck in that hospital bed for six months. Kylie barely showed up. Said being director meant she couldn't visit too often—people might start talking.Every night, Stella cried in pain, whispering how much she wanted Mom. I swallowed it down and never called. Kylie was busy. I figured if I could just hold on, I wouldn't have to drag her into it.But this was different. That kidney was Stella's lifeline.So I dropped Kylie's name. I had no choice.The doctor froze. His eyes blew wide.Then he muttered, "I'm sorry, Mr. Abel. Dr. Thornton personally reassigned the kidney. She said her friend's son needed it more urgently. Maybe... try calling her?"His words hit like a bullet to the sk

I left Stella with a nurse and took the elevator up to the VIP floor alone.What a sick joke. Kylie had shoved her own kid into a basic room downstairs while Caleb's son got the luxury suite up top.The floor was quiet. I followed the sound until I found Evan's room.Of course she was there.The door was cracked open, and I froze.Inside, Kylie and Caleb were throwing Evan a birthday party.The room echoed with a cheesy birthday song.When it ended, Kylie touched Evan's face like nothing was wrong."Good boy. You've healed so well you're even singing again. Daddy and I are both here for your birthday. Are you happy?"Evan grinned. "Happy!"Kylie lit up. "That's all that matters. I'd do anything for you. As long as you're healthy."Caleb chimed in, all misty-eyed. "Kylie, I don't even know how to thank you."She looked at him like they were the only two people in the room. "You don't have to..."He took her hand. "If your dad hadn't torn us apart back then, we—""Don't." H

"No! This isn't real!"Kylie staggered forward like a ghost, crawling to the bed.Stella wasn't breathing. Hadn't been for hours. Her body was ice."How... How could this happen? Stella wasn't—she wasn't this bad. She can't be—this can't be real!"She kept shaking her head, tears spilling nonstop.Watching her fall apart, I felt nothing. Just bitter, hollow irony."Of course you wouldn't know," I said. "You didn't step into this ward once in six months. I called you again and again. Told you Stella was hurting. Told you she missed you. And what did you say? You were busy. You didn't want rumors."I laughed under my breath. "So how'd you find the time to sit by your ex's kid every day? How did gossip suddenly stop mattering when you handed them a VIP room—when you used your power to steal someone else's kidney for him?"I grabbed her arm and yanked her forward, forcing her to face the bed."Look. Open your eyes. Look closely. This is the Stella you called drama queen. She fough

Three days later, I planned the funeral myself.All four grandparents showed up—both sides, wrecked.Stella was the only kid in the family. Soft-spoken, sweet, never caused trouble. She was their whole world.Losing her crushed them.Kylie's parents fell apart during the service. Said they never wanted to see her again.I stayed silent the whole time.Had no more tears left.Everything I needed to say to Stella—I'd already whispered it in my head a thousand times.Felt like my soul died with her.I kept replaying those six short years. Beautiful. Way too short. She left me with memories that won't ever fade.Every night after work, I'd open the door and there she was—running straight at me, arms wide."Daddy! Daddy!"I can still hear it. Still feel her tiny arms locked around my waist, like she'd been waiting all day just to breathe again."Daddy, can you come home earlier next time? I missed you so much.""Daddy, when I grow up, I'll buy you a huge house.""Daddy... wil

I chose Stella's grave myself.Quiet. Open. The kind of place that felt gentle enough for her.The day we buried her, it was just Kylie and me. No one else.It was also Stella's birthday. By then, she should've been healthy again.I should've been walking in with a cake, watching her eyes light up, singing off-key while she laughed.Instead, she was underground.And with her went everything I ever called happiness.Suddenly, footsteps scraped somewhere behind me. Soft. Wrong.I spun—and there he was. Ten meters out, half-hidden behind a headstone. Caleb.I lost it.I crossed the distance in a blink, fisted his collar, dragged him out, and hit him. Once. Then again. Hard.He was all bone and air. He went down fast, stars in his eyes.I kicked him. Twice."You piece of shit. You monster. You get my daughter killed and you still show up? That wasn't enough for you?"He sucked in air, choking—then laughed. Unhinged."Of course it's not enough. I came to watch you cry. The mo