Chapter 1

To save his illegitimate son from kidney failure, Gabriel Price secretly arranged for our five-year-old daughter, Mia, to be taken into surgery as a kidney donor, without telling me, his wife.

When I found out, I lost my mind and drove straight to the hospital.

By the time I arrived, the operating room light was already on.

My eyes burned with rage as I slammed desperately on the doors.

"Stop! I'm her mother, I do not consent to this kidney donation!"

Gabriel stepped in and pulled me into his arms, his voice heavy with guilt.

"Charlotte, I'm sorry. Nathan won't survive if this drags on. Only Mia can donate a kidney to save him."

I looked at the man I had loved for so many years in disbelief. The face I once clung to now felt completely unfamiliar.

All he cared about was the safety of his illegitimate son. But had he ever thought about Mia? She was born prematurely and had been sickly since childhood.

How was her body supposed to endure losing a kidney?

*****

The red light above the operating room felt like a blade hanging over my head. My voice trembled.

"Gabriel, that illegitimate child is your son, but doesn't that also make Mia your daughter?

"I'm begging you, please stop the surgery."

By the end, tears were falling heavily onto the floor.

Gabriel gently kissed away the moisture at the corner of my eyes, but his grip on me did not loosen at all.

"Charlotte, don't worry. It's just one kidney. Mia will be fine."

I was completely shattered by his words. I struggled violently, then bit down hard on the base of his hand.

The taste of blood filled my mouth, but Gabriel still did not let go. He held me firmly in place.

No one knew how much time passed before the operating room light finally went out.

A doctor came out carrying a box and hurried upstairs.

Gabriel's expression lit up with relief, and he immediately released me before striding away.

I stumbled forward and rushed into the operating room.

Seeing my daughter lying on the operating table, her face pale and lifeless, overwhelming guilt washed over me like a tidal wave.

"Mia, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I'm late."

Mia slowly opened her weak eyes and lifted her small hand, trying hard to touch my cheek.

"Mommy, didn't Daddy say he was taking me to the amusement park? Why am I in the hospital? Did I do something wrong to make him angry?"

Her confused voice broke my heart. I felt like I couldn't even breathe, let alone speak.

How was I supposed to tell her that she hadn't done anything wrong? That it was just that her father, Gabriel, now only had eyes for his illegitimate son, and there was no longer a place for her in his heart?

How could a five-year-old child possibly bear such a cruel truth?

The hurt in Mia's eyes deepened, and tears began to gather at the corners.

"But Daddy said he loves Mommy and me the most, and that he would never be angry with us."

I could no longer hold it in and broke down crying.

The Gabriel who once existed only for me and Mia was gone.

He used to be known in the business world as a cold and ruthless man, yet as my childhood sweetheart and husband, I was the only exception to his gentleness.

If I said I felt unwell, he would immediately drop a billion-dollar deal and fly back from overseas overnight just to stay by my bedside and take care of me.

If I so much as glanced twice at an artifact, he would mobilize every resource to find its owner and pay millions above the asking price just to buy it for me.

After I became pregnant, he spoiled me even more, giving me anything I wanted without hesitation.

People said that in wealthy marriages, couples eventually grow distant and end up living like strangers under the same roof.

But I truly believed Gabriel, and I would be the exception.

Then, when I was seven months pregnant, I caught him in bed with a college student.

That day, the shock and rage triggered premature labor, and I was rushed to the hospital, where I gave birth early to our daughter, Mia.

Gabriel knelt by my hospital bed, the proud man repeatedly slapping himself hard across the face, his cheeks swollen as he begged for my forgiveness.

"Charlotte, I was set up. Please believe me. I never had any intention of betraying you."

Looking at our newborn daughter, my heart softened.

Gabriel gave the college student a sum of money to make her disappear, and he went back to being a devoted husband and father.

It was only a month ago that I caught Gabriel standing with a woman and a little boy holding his hand.

The child looked like a smaller version of him.

The woman stepped in front of the boy protectively and looked at me with a stubborn expression.

"Mrs. Price, Nathan is only my son. Sophie's son. He will never compete with your daughter for the Price Group."

For the first time, Gabriel showed visible panic. He pulled me into his arms and hurriedly tried to explain.

"Charlotte, she's the college student I was drugged with five years ago that night."

That was when I learned the truth. Five years earlier, that accidental night had led to Sophie Shaw becoming pregnant. She chose to give birth alone and raise the child by herself.

Not long ago, Sophie brought the boy to a Price Group interview, and that was when Gabriel saw them.

Even though Gabriel had long forgotten what that college student looked like, the boy standing beside her shared about sixty percent of his features, and he recognized at a glance that the child was his.

When we got home, Gabriel made me a promise.

"Nathan is still my blood. Give me some time, and I will take care of them and make arrangements. Mia will remain my only heir. That will not change."

Thinking of our daughter, who trusted and depended on her father so much, I gave in again.

Soon after, Nathan was diagnosed with kidney failure.

Gabriel already felt guilty toward Sophie and her son, and after hearing the news, he used all his connections to find a matching kidney donor.

In the end, the only match turned out to be Mia.

I had believed that with how much Gabriel adored Mia, he would never let her go through with a kidney donation.

But reality proved me completely wrong.

Not only did Gabriel suggest that Mia donate her kidney, but he even went so far as to deceive her and secretly send her into surgery behind my back, despite my strong opposition.

Looking at my weak and fragile daughter, all I felt was regret.

"Mia, should I take you away? We don't need Daddy anymore."

"Why don't we need Daddy? Is he still mad at me?" Mia's voice grew softer and weaker. "Mommy, can I say sorry to Daddy so he won't be mad at me? I don't like the hospital."

Her voice kept fading, and her small hand slipped weakly from my cheek. Her eyes slowly closed as if she had exhausted all her strength.

My heart pounded violently. I grabbed her tiny hand tightly, my voice shaking.

"Mia, what's wrong? Open your eyes, please. Don't scare me."

But she did not respond at all.

I screamed for the doctors.

A nurse rushed in. The moment she saw Mia's pale face, she gasped.

"Postoperative infection. We need emergency resuscitation immediately."

Tears streaming down my face, I shouted, "Then call a doctor, hurry!"

The nurse looked conflicted.

"All the doctors have been called away by Mr. Price. No one is available to treat her."

My hands trembled as I pulled out my phone, panic written all over my face.

"I'll call him myself right now."

I made eighteen calls, but none of them were answered.

Still refusing to give up, I dialed a nineteenth time.

This time, the call finally connected.

"Gabriel!"

Beep.

All the monitors turned into flat lines, and the alarm blared.

I froze in place, staring blankly at my daughter lying motionless on the operating table.

Gabriel's voice came through the phone, unable to hide his excitement.

"Charlotte, Nathan just finished surgery. It went very smoothly, he's fine now.

"Why did you call so many times? Is Mia awake and asking for me? I'll come over right away."

I closed my eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"No need."

Whether it was Mia or me, we would never need Gabriel again.