Chapter 1

My husband, Roderick Tingey, who was a hospital director, went behind my back to save his first love, June Smart, who was suffering from kidney failure.

While I was knocked out for heart surgery, he actually stormed into the operating room and ordered someone to take one of my kidneys without even asking me.

I begged him to stop, telling him I had a serious heart condition and couldn't survive back-to-back major surgeries.

But he just sneered at me with a look of utter contempt. "I knew you'd come up with some pathetic excuse to keep June from getting better. That's exactly why I chose this moment."

He ignored my pleas, had my kidney removed, and just walked away.

In the end, I suffered multiple complications after the surgery and died a tragic death right there on the operating table.

*****

I died on that cold operating table, watching as Roderick gingerly carried my kidney and turned away, taking it to June's operating room. He couldn't even bring himself to give me one last pitying look.

As tears slipped from the corners of my eyes, my vital signs flatlined completely.

My soul trailed behind Roderick as he anxiously paced the hospital hallway, waiting for the light outside June's operating room to finally go out.

The moment the doctor stepped out, Roderick practically lost it and dashed over.

"How is she?" he demanded.

The doctor pulled off his mask and nodded, visibly relieved.

"The surgery went really well. Luckily, the kidney got here just in time," he said.

Roderick finally let out a sigh of relief, but then a panicked nurse's voice called out from behind him.

"Mr. Tingey, Mrs. Tingey suffered severe bleeding in her chest during the surgery. We couldn't save her," the nurse stammered.

Her voice was trembling.

Roderick's face twisted with anger. He pointed at the nurse and started yelling.

He said, "How much did Samantha pay you? How dare you team up with her to lie to me? She's strong as an ox.

"She only scheduled her surgery on the same day as June's just to get my attention. She is always competing for attention. If she really died, she totally deserved it!"

Then Roderick turned his attention to the nurse who'd brought the news.

He said, "This hospital isn't a charity. If you're willing to take Samantha's money and lie to me today, you'll probably take bribes from patients' families next. Get out of here.

"Don't blame me. Blame that selfish, manipulative woman, Samantha.

"Go tell Samantha that if she has any conscience left, she should come over and apologize to June. If it weren't for her, June wouldn't even be in the hospital!"

My chest tightened with pain, both from my heart and from the injustice.

June triggered my heart condition, forcing me into surgery. But somehow, in Roderick's twisted logic, it was all my fault that June ended up in the hospital.

He never believed me.

The nurse went ghostly pale, trying to explain herself, but Roderick dismissed her with a wave of his hand and had someone escort her out.

June was pushed out of the operating room, and when she caught sight of Roderick, she managed to pull a faint smile onto her pale face.

"Roderick, I was so scared. Thank goodness you were here. Where's Samantha? Is she still upset with me for taking her kidney?" June asked softly.

Roderick's eyes, which had been gentle just seconds ago, went icy with hate as soon as he heard Samantha's name.

"If it weren't for her, you wouldn't be suffering at all. Taking her kidney is nothing. Honestly, even if she traded her life for yours, she'd deserve it," he said coldly.

I caught a barely noticeable smirk on June's lips, but she fluttered her lashes, all innocent, looking like she was about to burst into tears.

"Honestly, I have no idea why Samantha suddenly acted like she wanted me gone. But I don't blame her. Maybe she's just terrified of losing you," June whispered.

Roderick let out a cold snort.

He said, "Don't even bring her up. Marrying her was the worst mistake of my life. Just remembering those years with her makes me want to puke.

"Now she's out there faking her death with the nurse, putting on some pathetic act. If she really died, I'd be throwing a party."

My heart completely turned cold.

Just as he wanted, I was truly gone.