Chapter 7
"She's been focused on having a baby, so she kept delaying the kidney transplant. Now that she's upset with me, there's no way she'll give me her kidney," Ellis sobbed, her whole body shaking.
"Maybe I only have a few months left," she choked out.
Dylan looked over the test results, his heart aching as he wrapped his arms around Ellis.
"Don't worry. I'll talk to Amina. We'll stop trying for a baby for now. Your life matters most," he said gently.
Jaxton nodded in agreement.
"Ellis, we're going to save you, no matter what," he promised.
When I heard Dylan ask me to give up my kidney, I was shocked to my core.
I'd just had my cast taken off today and was finally about to leave the hospital.
My body and soul were still a mess, and each word from Dylan cut deeper than any wound I'd ever had.
"Amina, we can think about having a baby later. Just save Ellis first," Dylan urged.
"Mom, Ellis can't die. She's really pitiful," Jaxton said, his voice trembling.
I packed my things, indifferent.
"I'm not doing it," I said coldly.
Dylan's expression shifted, his face clouding over. He reached for my hand, but I pulled away without hesitation.
"Amina, you've always been so kind. This isn't just anyone. It's your own sister you're saving," he pleaded.
I stared him straight in the eye, enunciating every word.
"I told you, I'm not willing," I said, my voice cold and unwavering.
I tried to push past him, but he forcefully blocked my way, refusing to let me leave.
"Amina, if you don't agree, I'm not letting you leave," he said, his voice firm.
"What do you want from me?" I shot back.
Jaxton pulled some papers and a pen out of his bag.
"Dad, hurry up and hold Mom down," he urged.
Dylan held me down, grabbing my right hand and forcing it to grip the pen.
"Amina, just sign it!" he demanded.
I struggled desperately, lashing out and kicking Dylan.
Jaxton lunged forward, pinning my foot down and refusing to let go.
"Dad, I've got her! Hurry, hold her down!" he shouted.
Dylan hit me in the back of the head, and my barely healed wound split open, blood trickling down again.
Everything went blurry as I lost consciousness.
Dylan forced my hand to sign the papers, scribbling my name without hesitation.
"Amina, I'm sorry. Someday, I'll make it up to you!" Dylan said.
"Doctor, the donation form is signed!" he called out.
As I slipped into unconsciousness, it felt like my soul had already fallen into hell.
If God was watching, I'd gladly suffer through every torment in the next life, just to drag them down to hell with me!
Ellis and I were stuck together in the operating room, my head freshly bandaged.
"You lost!" Ellis said, arms crossed as she looked at me.
"Yeah, I lost. Completely," I replied.
I stared blankly into space, feeling like just a failure.
"Miss Bradley, since you haven't changed your citizenship, even if you got married in Grelland, you can still get a divorce through the local court," the lawyer had explained to me.
I remembered the divorce papers the lawyer sent me. It was all over now.
I took a cab home by myself.
I put away the divorce papers, the miscarriage report, and all the evidence of his affairs in a drawer.
I grabbed a suitcase and packed a few clothes and my important documents.
Ellis and I had both grown up in an orphanage. Now that I was leaving, there was no one to say goodbye to, no one to miss.
I took all my photos with me, but left behind every gift Dylan had ever given me.
I dialed the international number saved in my phone. The witch's voice came through, strangely lazy, almost mocking.
"Miss Bradley, I knew you'd call. Are you calling for the medicine?" she asked.
I went silent for a couple of seconds.
"Never mind. Wrong number," I said, hanging up.
If there really is a God out there, let Him be the one to judge him.
I don't want blood on my soul.
Dylan and Jaxton stood outside the operating room, clutching bouquets, and had been waiting for hours, anxiety written all over their faces.
Dylan couldn't help but remember six years ago, when I was rushed into the operating room.
My water had broken, and I was bleeding out. Everything was chaos.
"Amina, just hold on. The doctor will be here any minute," Dylan said.
I was in labor for nearly 23 hours, and Dylan waited outside the door for a whole day and night, never leaving my side.
When Dylan finally saw Jaxton, he cried his heart out, unable to hold back his emotions.
"Amina, you've suffered so much. I swear I'll be good to you for the rest of my life," he sobbed.
What we had back then was real, but so is the betrayal now.
Dylan couldn't help but sigh, feeling bittersweet.
"When your mom comes out, we really need to make it up to her. She's had it so tough," he said, guilt heavy in his voice.
Jaxton nodded seriously.
"Mom's definitely going to be heartbroken. When she gets out, I'll make it up to her," he said, remorse clear in his voice.
"When I grow up, I'll donate my kidney to her!" Jaxton blurted out.
The operating room door opened, and Ellis stepped out.
"You? Are you okay?" Dylan blurted out, completely taken aback.
Ellis's eyes were red, acting all hurt.
"Amina wouldn't do it. She just took off," Ellis said.
"What?" Dylan blurted out, totally shocked.