Chapter 1
On the third day after my son went missing, Emily's daughter received a heart transplant.
As my rival in love, Emily proudly boasted that her daughter was sure to live a long life, but I recalled the venomous look she'd had when she'd stared at my son's chest.
Desperately, I wanted to know who donated the heart to Emily's daughter, but my husband, concerned about his pride, scolded me in public for making a scene.
Despite this, when I caught a glimpse through the operating room door, I noticed that the child had a birthmark that only my son had.
*****
"Let me in! I need to see the body. That kid has to be my son!" I screamed.
In the hospital, I yelled with loose hair and a look of despair and madness.
A nurse blocked my way, arms folded, her tone sharp.
She said, "I told you. The dead boy is Andrew Kennedy. He's not your son."
"And without the family's permission, you have no right to see the body," she added.
"Sarah, stop causing a scene and acting crazy in the hospital. You're wasting everyone's energy," another nurse snapped.
The other nurses shot me looks of anger.
"I don't believe you. I'm sure that's my son," I cried out.
I stubbornly kept my eyes glued to the operating room, ready to barge in no matter what.
But before I could move, a strong hand grabbed my arm, yanking me back and slamming me against the wall.
Ethan shot me a disgusted look, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Sarah, you look like a lunatic now. Lucas has only been missing for three days. Don't assume he's dead," Ethan snapped.
"As his father, did you even bother asking about him in the last three days?" I asked Ethan, my eyes red from anger.
Ethan rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed.
He said, "I'm not a cop. Is asking about him going to magically bring Lucas back?
"You're just doing all this for my attention, aren't you?
"Congratulations. You did it. Tomorrow, I'll take a day off and stay with you."
"Dr. Cooper's got a big surgery tomorrow. Can you believe he ended up with a wife like her? Talk about bad luck," one nurse sniped.
Once she said that, all the doctors and nurses stared at me with pure disdain, whispering and pointing.
I managed a twisted smile, feeling completely dead inside.
Honestly, Ethan and I really did love each other back then.
We were college mates, and he chased after me like crazy in our senior year.
After we graduated, we got married. He said he was busy with work and needed me to keep things together at home.
So I quit my job and devoted myself to taking care of him just like he asked.
For six years, Ethan threw himself into his work, focused on climbing the ranks, and ended up as the youngest department head at the hospital.
But then, after one business trip out of town, he came back with his old flame Emily White and her daughter.
Emily's little girl was born with a bad heart. Once, I heard Emily laugh and say, "Well, since Lucas is so weak, maybe he should just give my daughter his heart." She made it sound like some sick joke.
I could still remember that serious look in her eyes.
"I'm begging you, Ethan. Please let me see the body. That's my son, I have to know," I pleaded.
I knew the only thing Ethan truly cared about was his precious reputation, so I put on the most humble, pleading act I could manage.
Ethan's face shifted slightly, and he blurted out, "Alright, just one look."
"No," an elderly voice suddenly rang out.
Emily came over, gently supporting an old man whose eyes were red from crying.
He said, "My grandson always cared so much about his face, but the accident ruined it.
"He wouldn't want anyone to see him like this."
Ethan's face turned cold.
He said, "That man over there is the donor's grandfather. Obviously, the boy inside isn't Lucas.
"You really need to stop with these wild fantasies."
I bit my lip so hard that it started to bleed.
I knew I wasn't imagining things.
Call it a mother's instinct, but I was sure my son was in there.
Emily was crying with tears streaming down her face.
She said, "Sarah, I know you don't like me, since I'm Ethan's childhood sweetheart, and now he's the one leading the surgery on my daughter.
"All that stuff you did to make things hard for me before, I've let it slide.
"But my daughter is dying! Heart transplants should happen within four hours. The sooner, the better. It's been delayed for so long.
"Please let Ethan do the operation. I'm begging you!"
She was crying so hard her voice broke, and then she crumpled to the floor, still begging.
The doctors and nurses nearby shot me even meaner looks, whispering that I was a crazy woman.
They said, "She can't hold a candle to Emily. No wonder Dr. Cooper can't stand her."
Back then, words like that might've torn me apart. But now, I honestly couldn't care less.
Truth is, by the time Ethan got tangled up with Emily, any love I had for him was long gone.
The only thing that kept me from filing for divorce was Lucas.
"Let me see the body, just once!" I insisted.
Ethan spat, "Are you done losing your mind? I never thought you'd be so petty and cold-hearted.
"You used to be so gentle when I first met you. How did you become someone I hardly recognize?"
Ethan's impatience was written all over his face now.
He added, "I told you many times. There's nothing going on between me and Emily. She saved my life when we were kids. I'm only helping her out to repay that debt.
"Emily is a million times better than you. If I were actually into her, do you seriously think you'd still be here?"
The more he talked, the more furious he got. Suddenly, Ethan slapped me across my face with all his strength.
I hit the floor hard, and my cheek instantly began to swell.
Ethan didn't even glance at me. Instead, he rushed over to Emily, gently pulling her up from the floor, concern written all over his face.
"She's just been a housewife too long. Now she's paranoid," Ethan said.
But when Ethan finally looked up and saw my swollen cheek and bloody lips, he paused, and for a moment, regret flashed in his eyes.
He regretted losing control in front of everyone and hitting me.
Now his reputation was toast.