Chapter 3

I drifted back to the basement, like my soul had been sucked out of me.

Then it hit me. I'd already given up the place this morning. I needed the money for the medical bills.

I curled up on the doorstep and hugged my knees to my chest.

I was so drained for the first time.

Right then, my phone buzzed. It was the doctor.

He asked, "Ms. Moore, why aren't you here yet?"

I was about to tell him to give my spot to someone else.

But then I looked up and saw an ad on the wall.

The words caught in my throat. I changed what I was going to say.

I said, "Doctor, please, just give me one more day. I'll have the money by tomorrow. I promise."

On the other end, he let out a heavy sigh. But he still gave in.

He replied, "Ms. Moore, this is your last chance. If you don't pay, we'll have to give the heart to the next patient in line."

After I hung up, I dialed the number from the ad.

*****

I sold my first night for 70,000 dollars.

When it was over, I lay there on the bed, like a ragdoll someone had tossed aside.

The guy across from me let out a chuckle.

"Ms. Moore, I had a good time tonight. I'll definitely come back for more next time," he said.

I clutched the money so hard that my knuckles went white.

I wanted to throw up. But I swallowed it down.

No matter what, I had to survive.

*****

I clutched that life-saving cash and crouched outside the hospital, waiting for the doors to unlock.

The second they opened, I ran straight to the doctor's office.

"Doctor, I have the money. I'm ready for the surgery. Whenever you can fit me in," I blurted out.

The doctor looked at me, then somehow shook his head.

My breath caught in my throat.

"Doctor, what are you trying to say?" I asked. "Is this because you think I can't pay?"

I tore open my bag like a madwoman. I had to prove I had the cash.

I thrust the money right in front of the doctor, holding it out for him to see.

"Look, Doctor. I have it. I really have it," I said.

The doctor looked at me, his eyes full of pity.

He said, "I'm sorry, Ms. Moore. The heart was already bought by Mr. Moore yesterday.

"You'll have to wait your turn again."

A ringing filled my ears. My mind went blank. The world just stopped.

A few seconds passed.

All the pain I'd been ignoring for so long hit me all at once.

The nausea I'd been fighting surged up. I couldn't hold it anymore.

I ran to the bathroom.

I hugged the toilet. Then I threw up everything.

Tears mixed with all the bitterness. It all crashed over me.

I just didn't understand.

All I wanted was to live. Why was that too much to ask?

For the first time, I actually thought about just swallowing my pride and giving up.

*****

I stepped back into Moore Mansion after six long years. Honestly, I never thought I'd set foot there again.

Surprisingly, the guards at the gate acted like they'd already been told to let me through.

No one stopped me.

I slipped inside without a hitch.

Philip sat there, his brow furrowed. He was staring at his phone screen.

I opened my mouth to speak.

He slammed his phone right into my face. "You still have the nerve to come back? I warned you. Stay away from that kind of dirty work!"

My vision blurred for a moment.

Warm blood started to drip down my forehead.

Philip grabbed me by the hair.

He shoved my face right up against the cracked screen.

"Do you have no shame left, Natalie?" he snarled.

Through the web of cracks, the screen showed a video of me in a hotel room with some stranger.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

I didn't know how to explain myself.

"I need..." I stammered.

"Need what? Need to sleep with some guy?" he snapped. "Natalie, when did you get so disgusting?"

Philip stood up, breathing hard.

Just then, his assistant, Carl Ingram, came over and filled him in on the plans for Mom's memorial tomorrow.

I lay sprawled on the floor. My heart burned with agony.

I was out of time. There was no way I'd survive long enough for another heart.

All I wanted was to see Mom again, just once, before everything ended.

So I muttered, "I want to go too."

Philip hesitated for a moment.

He glared at me with disgust in his eyes.

"You don't deserve it," he sneered.