Chapter 4
Justin refused to believe the nurse's words until my attending doctor found him and handed him a death report.
He took the report, and as he read it, his face went pale.
"This can't be true. You're lying to me!" he shouted, his voice trembling with disbelief.
He staggered into my hospital room, and when he saw the empty bed, he seized a nurse and demanded, "Where's Grace?"
"M-Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling... she's in the morgue," the nurse stammered, her voice shaking with fear.
Justin was like a man possessed, rushing frantically to the morgue.
When he arrived, he grabbed the elderly morgue attendant and demanded, "Where's Grace?"
The old man was visibly shaken, trembling as he led him to where I lay.
With trembling hands, he lifted the white sheet covering me, then hesitantly pulled the cloth away from my face.
When he saw my pale face, his hand froze for a moment before he brought his trembling fingers to my nose, searching for any sign of breath.
He then staggered back a few steps and collapsed to the ground.
"This can't be. It's impossible," he muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief.
"It's just a kidney donation. How could you have died from that?" he cried out, his voice cracking with desperation.
As if a sudden realization struck him, he scrambled to his feet, pulled the sheet back, and hurriedly unbuttoned my clothes. When he saw the hollowed sides of my abdomen, his eyes went dark.
"How is this possible..." he whispered, his voice shaking with disbelief.
"I didn't know. I really didn't know..." he said.
He slumped to the ground, wearing a pained expression, his eyes quickly welling up with tears.
No one would recognize him now as the once confident and ambitious CEO of Sterling Enterprises.
But to me, this whole act was pure hypocrisy.
In our intimate moments, he used to touch me so tenderly.
The unevenness in my belly was so obvious. If he'd just paid a little attention, there was no way he could have missed it.
Ultimately, he just didn't love me, which was why he never truly cared about what was happening to me.
Justin looked at me, his eyes heavy with sorrow.
He grabbed my hand and apologized, "Grace, I never expected you to die.
"I made sure they used the best medicine, so why did this still happen to you...
"And I truly had no idea you had lost your other kidney too."
I rolled my eyes, feeling utterly disgusted.
Save those words for Lily.
I didn't want to hear them.
After realizing I was truly gone, Justin grew more haggard each day. He didn't even go to take care of Lily. Instead, he started making arrangements for my funeral.
But I wouldn't let him stain my final journey.
My parents, who were traveling abroad, must have already heard the news of my death.
When I decided to marry Justin, they never approved because I had donated a kidney to save him without a second thought.
But seeing how much I loved Justin, they couldn't bring themselves to blame me. Instead, they just told Justin to take good care of me.
Back then, I thought I would grow old with Justin. How could I have known that after five years of giving my all, I'd meet such a cruel end?
Seeing their haggard faces, I was overwhelmed with guilt.
I reached out to hug them, but my hand passed right through them.
I couldn't even embrace them anymore.
And it was all because of Justin!
When my parents arrived at the funeral home, Justin was mourning in front of my portrait. I rushed over, glaring at him with tears streaked with blood running down my face.
But Justin didn't react at all.
My parents, however, immediately stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face.
"We trusted you to take care of our daughter," my dad shouted, his voice trembling with anger.
"But look at her now. What have you done to her?" my mom cried, her voice breaking with grief.
"Give us back our Gracie!" she sobbed, trembling with pain.
Justin's face was filled with sorrow as he repeatedly bowed his head in desperation.
"Sorry, I failed Grace. I didn't take good care of her." He choked out, his voice thick with regret.
"I don't deserve your forgiveness, but please, just give me a chance," he pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation.
"Let me take care of you in Grace's place," he added, his tone heavy with remorse.