Chapter 1

After my seven-year-old son donated bone marrow to Lillian's child, he died on that cold operating table.

While he was fading in my arms, I called Leonel, my husband, countless times, begging him to take my son to a better hospital, somewhere that could actually save him.

On the very first call, he said coldly, "It's just a bone marrow donation. Why are you being so dramatic?"

By the tenth call, he was comforting Lillian and snapping at me, "Enough. Stop using our son to manipulate me. I'm not staying in this marriage."

By the ninety-ninth call, he didn't even pick up.

He sent a voice message instead. "Silvia, are you insane? Lillian's child is trying to sleep. Call again, and I'll cut off Elliott's meds."

I held my son as his breathing slipped away, sobbing so hard that I couldn't see straight.

I murmured, "Elliott, I'm so sorry. I'll take you away from here. Right now."

I had just reached the elevator with Elliott when the doors slid open, and Lillian Lloyd, my husband's first love, stepped out.

As soon as she saw me, she stormed over and slapped me hard across the face.

She said, "Silvia, you're so disgusting. Do you really think pulling this kind of stunt will win Leonel back? What a joke."

I bit down hard on my lips, tasting blood, but that was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

I just couldn't understand how a man could be this cruel.

He knew Elliott had anemia, but for her and her kid, he locked me away in the basement and dragged Elliott onto that cold operating table.

He could have saved Elliott. He had the chance.

If he'd just picked up even one of those ninety-nine calls, Elliott would still be here.

I stared at Lillian, clenching my fists.

I wanted nothing more than to tear her face apart, but that wouldn't bring Elliott back.

This place felt filthy. All I wanted was to take Elliott and leave.

I pushed Elliott's wheelchair, trying to get around Lillian and into the elevator.

Just then, Lillian's gaze zeroed in on Elliott.

She said, "Of course. A cheap woman raises a rude kid. He can't even say hi. He only donated a little bone marrow, and you two act like it's a big deal.

"Move it, you little bastard. My precious boy needs that wheelchair more than you do."

Since Elliott didn't react, Lillian started spitting insults, stormed over, and roughly dragged him out of the wheelchair by his arm.

I rushed over, catching Elliott just before he hit the floor, and clung tightly to the wheelchair, refusing to let it go.

With tears burning in my bloodshot eyes, I glared at her. "What the hell is wrong with you? Elliott died just to save your kid."

Lillian paused for a second, then started cackling like a lunatic. "Dead? That little bastard never should have been born. Well, since he's dead, he doesn't need a wheelchair anymore. Give it to me."

Without hesitation, Lillian yanked the wheelchair out of my hands with brute force.

"Enough, Lillian. You crossed the line," I yelled, my voice trembling with fury.

She said, "So what if I did? Silvia, when you pulled your pathetic stunts to steal my man, you should have known you'd pay for it one day.

"Your son is dead. Guess karma is real."

Karma?

I held Elliott close. Even though I tried to hold it together, the tears just kept falling.

If karma were real, shouldn't it be Lillian and Leonel who got what they deserved? Why did Elliott have to be the one who paid the price?

I fixed Lillian with a cold stare, fighting to keep my fury from boiling over. "Give me back the wheelchair."

Lillian let out a mocking snort. "No way. I'm not giving it to you. What are you gonna do about it?"

"Lillian, you're going way too far," I snapped.

Elliott was already gone. With all the operating tables full, the only thing the hospital could offer was this wheelchair to take him downstairs.

And now, even his final bit of dignity was being stripped away.

Elliott's body hung limp against me, and it felt like someone had ripped a piece out of my chest. I could barely breathe from the pain.

"Lillian, I'm saying this one last time. This is Elliott's wheelchair," I said. "If you don't give it back, I'll come after you."

With one arm holding Elliott, I reached out with the other to grab the wheelchair.

Suddenly, Lillian let go, and the wheelchair slid forward.

Elliott and I lost our balance, almost falling to the ground.