บททั้งหมดของ The Heart They Gave Away: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

Nathaniel Whitcomb's face froze.Then his brows drew together."Are you questioning my professional judgment as your attending surgeon? You could last another month. You could probably last another year."I let out a laugh that wasn't one.Of course he believed that. He hadn't asked about my condition in a full year.Twelve months ago, he'd been running my scans when Jocelyn Crane came by with lunch for him, and he missed her. She cried, and from that moment every ounce of his attention swung to her. I got handed off to Dr. Theo Lang, then a first-year cardiology fellow.From that day on, everything that should have gone to his patient and his sister went to Jocelyn instead. I was left with Theo and all but forgotten.When I didn't answer, Nathaniel called the fellow. "Theo, bring me every report in Rosalie's chart for the past year. Now."Theo came through the door a few minutes later with a thick file.Nathaniel had barely opened the cover when his phone rang.The tension w

Something like regret crossed Spencer's face, and he caught my arm."Don't take it the wrong way, Rosie. We had hundreds of guests coming, including people Marcus works with. Jocelyn only agreed to stand in for you."Since you're here, we can run the ceremony again."Nathaniel stepped in front of me.I looked at him, not understanding."You told me to wait at the hospital until you came for me. Why did you tell everyone I refused to come?"Marcus and Spencer both turned toward him.Nathaniel went pale. "I lied. Jocelyn wanted a wedding of her own, and you owe her...""Enough."I cut him off and looked at Spencer through burning eyes. "And she told you she wanted to wear a wedding dress, so you gave her mine. Is that it?"Spencer looked at the floor and said nothing.I turned to Marcus."Jocelyn wanted a birthday nobody interrupted, so you had someone run me down. Is that it?"This time Marcus looked away.I laughed until the tears ran down my face."Why not just tell the

The resuscitation lights were a painful white as my awareness lifted out of my body and drifted up near the ceiling.I don't know how long it was before the doors banged open.Nathaniel came at the bed like he couldn't believe what he was seeing and started pressing down on my chest, again and again."That's impossible." His eyes were bloodshot. "My sister can't be dead. Rosie, wake up. I haven't found you another heart yet. You can't die."Theo tried to stop him, and Nathaniel shoved him off. "Don't touch her. You people couldn't save her, and now you want to get in my way?""Dr. Whitcomb." Theo was shouting through tears. "She's already been pronounced."Marcus grabbed the emergency physician by the collar with his fist drawn back."My sister was fine. How does somebody die like that? Save her. I'm telling you to save her."Spencer kicked an equipment cart over with a crash."Rosie can't be dead. She can't be."He kept saying it, staring at nothing, unable to take in what w

Marcus stepped forward, eyes red. "If money can save Rosie, the Whitcombs will spend every cent we have. Make the call."Miles grabbed at the same impossible hope and stared at Jocelyn. "Call him. There might still be time."They closed in around her, half pleading, half threatening.Jocelyn's face went white. She fought against Nathaniel and screamed, "There's no broker. There was never any broker. I made it up.""What did you just say?""Why did you lie to us? Where's your cousin? Bring her here. Make her give Rosie's heart back. I'll give my own life for it."Jocelyn was shaking so hard she could barely get the words out. "There's no cousin. I took money to have the heart sent to someone rich. That's all."The truth hit them like a thunderclap.Just then the hospital's chief of staff came in with two senior physicians. He looked at the monitor and the record, then turned to my family. "I'm sorry. Rosalie Whitcomb has been pronounced dead."Mom went down without a sound.Na

Theo held the rabbit and stood in front of the marker for a long time without saying anything.Then he bowed deeply, three times, and turned away with his mind made up.I wondered where he was going, and why I was still here at all now that I'd been put in the ground.I followed him back to the Whitcomb house.Jocelyn was on her knees in the middle of the living room, apologizing through tears. "I know I was wrong. I didn't mean to deceive any of you."Nathaniel said Rosalie could hold on a while longer, so I thought I'd take the money from the heart and send her abroad for better treatment. I just ran out of time."The tears came easily, and she looked heartbreakingly fragile. "For five years I've thought of you as my family. I can't lose you, I can't. Please forgive me this once."Marcus looked down at her, cold. "Go. We're not going to hold you responsible for any of it. That's the last mercy you'll get from us.""Go?" Jocelyn's head came up, her face full of resentment. "Ma