Chapter 1

Michael Gonzalez, the only son of the Gonzalez family in Robinburg, was diagnosed with acute leukemia. His mother, Isabella Roberts, poured all her money into searching for a matching bone marrow donor.

On the first day, the Gonzalez family brought in the best medical team from Ostville and offered a reward of two million dollars, hoping to find someone who could save Michael's life.

On the second day, the reward was raised to ten million dollars, and the Gonzalez family searched every hospital in Robinburg.

On the third day, Mason, who never believed in such things, was desperately praying with Isabella for Michael to survive.

Everyone said that with the Gonzalez family's connections, finding a matching bone marrow should be easy.

But even as Michael was rushed into the emergency room and the critical condition notices kept coming one after another, there was still no hope.

Outside the emergency room, Isabella was crying so hard she couldn't even speak.

The doctor came out, took off his mask, and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry. We tried our best."

Isabella rushed into the room. Michael was lying on the bed, barely breathing.

"Michael, it doesn't hurt anymore. Mommy's here," Isabella said softly.

Mason stood behind her, his suit all wrinkled, still clutching the prayer beads he'd gotten from the temple. "Isabella, it's time to let him go."

In the end, Michael went silent in Isabella's arms.

Even Mason couldn't hold back his tears.

He hugged Isabella, telling her he'd done everything he could, that he hadn't even gone to work these past few days, and that he'd begged everyone he could for Michael's sake.

Isabella believed him.

She believed him so deeply that she couldn't even find it in herself to hate him.

Just then, Mason's assistant hurried over and whispered something in his ear.

Mason turned and strode out almost immediately.

Isabella had never seen him in such a hurry.

She gently laid Michael back on the bed, wiped her tears, and followed him out.

At the end of the hallway was another operating room.

Outside the operating room, Mason was holding Nora, who was crying so hard she could barely stand. "Nora, don't be scared. Anthony's going to be okay."

Nora looked up, her voice barely holding together. "Mason, do you think Isabella will hate me if she finds out you gave the matching bone marrow to Anthony?"

"No," Mason said, steady as ever. "Michael's the big brother. He should let his little brother have it. Besides, Anthony's all you have now. Isabella and I can always have more kids."

It was like someone had struck a gong right next to her ear. Her whole head was ringing.

So they had already found a match.

Michael could have been saved.

Her son didn't die because there was no hope. He died because his father chose to give his chance at life away.

Nora was the first to spot Isabella, and her crying stopped for a moment.

Mason turned around, but before he could say a word, Isabella slapped him hard across the face.

The crisp slap echoed, making several nurses in the hallway freeze in place.

"Mason." Isabella stared at him. "You owe me an explanation."

Mason didn't dodge or get mad. He stared at her, like she was a drama queen, always making a scene, always crying, but in the end, she'd go along with whatever he said.

"There's nothing to talk about," Mason replied.

Isabella's hand still tingled from the slap.

Mason said, "Michael's the older brother. He was supposed to give way to Anthony. I knew you wouldn't be able to handle it, so I kept it from you. Now that you know, I'm done lying. Anthony can't die."

"So you were just going to let Michael die?" She grabbed Mason by the collar. "You were really going to let my child die? Mason, he's your son, too."

Mason gripped her hands tightly, his face drawn with exhaustion. "We can always have more kids."

Isabella let out a bitter laugh.

Even she barely recognized the sound.

"Is that all he is to you? Just a broken toy you can replace?" Isabella snapped.

Nora, still sobbing, clung to Mason's sleeve. "Mason, please don't let Isabella blame you. It's all my fault. If my life hadn't been so hard, Anthony wouldn't have had to compete with Michael for the chance to live."

Isabella turned to her, her voice icy. "So you knew all along."

Nora retreated behind Mason, as if seeking protection.

"I didn't know, I swear I didn't," Nora stammered. "The doctor said Anthony had a chance, and I was too afraid to ask where the chance came from."

"Too afraid to ask?" Isabella stepped forward, her eyes burning. "Then why did you just ask if I'd hate you for what you did?"

Nora's lips moved, but no words came out.

Mason stepped in front of her, shielding her. "That's enough. Anthony's still in surgery. Don't make a scene here."

"My son just died," Isabella said.

Mason looked at her. "I know you're hurting."

"You don't know anything," Isabella said, yanking her hand out of his. "If you did, you wouldn't be standing here, protecting the person who killed him."