Chapter 2

I leaned against the cold wall and made my way to a bench in the hallway, sinking onto it.

Suddenly, a pair of stylish high heels appeared right in front of me.

I knew it was Nina standing there.

Even though she was sick, Nina was still rocking a gorgeous dress and flawless makeup, staying in a VIP hospital suite—all arranged by Edward.

Thinking about it, I felt a bit sad for myself.

Back when I was hospitalized for IVF treatment, I just wanted to swap the hospital gown for my own pajamas, but Edward told me not to be so dramatic.

He had stopped loving me long ago. I just kept lying to myself, again and again.

When I looked up, Nina was staring at me, not looking away for a second.

She raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Allison, how could you show up at the hospital dressed like that? Don't forget, Edward is a shareholder here. You're embarrassing him."

As she spoke, she flipped her hair. "But at least you know what matters to Edward. Right now, the only shot you have at keeping him around is to give me your kidney."

Just then, I felt my babies kick for the very first time. The sudden movement caught me off guard.

I held my belly with both hands, cherishing the tiny lives growing inside me.

Seeing I wasn't responding, Nina shoved me with obvious irritation.

"Didn't you hear me? Who are you putting on a show for, holding your belly like that? You're lucky that I'm willing to accept your kidney," she snapped.

"And those two little bastards never should've existed in the first place," she went on, "Edward promised me..."

I jumped to my feet and slapped Nina across the face, cutting her off mid-sentence.

"You two disgust me. No way I'd ever hurt my babies for someone like you," I said. "Want my kidney? Dream on."

Nina's face, already drained of color, turned even paler.

She just stood there, frozen for a few seconds, totally not expecting me to hit her.

Then she suddenly burst out shrieking hysterically, "Allison, how dare you hit me?

"You've been stealing Edward from me for five years. You owe me your kidney!"

As she tried to slap me, I caught her hand and sent her crashing to the floor.

"Listen up, I don't owe you a damn thing. I've seen homewreckers like you since I was a child. You shameless bitches don't deserve a place in this world," I spat.

When I was a child, my dad, the man I once loved most, cheated.

His pregnant mistress moved straight into our home.

I watched my parents fight over and over.

Because of my father's affair, I lost the happy family I once had.

My mom couldn't bear the heartbreak and eventually passed away.

That was why, when I grew up, I married Edward without hesitation—the man who swore he would love me for the rest of his life.

Even when getting pregnant felt impossible, I kept pushing myself through IVF, all for the chance to finally have the family I'd always dreamed of.

Just then, Edward rushed over, drawn by Nina's sobs.

He saw her sitting on the floor, pitiful and helpless. Without even asking what happened, he shoved me aside and ran to her. "Nina, what happened? Can you get up?"

Then he shot me a furious glare.

Nina wiped her tears and clung to his arm like she'd lost her mind.

"Edward, what am I supposed to do? I made Allison mad, and now she won't give me her kidney," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm scared. I don't want to leave you."

Then, right in front of him, she turned to me and begged, her face full of desperation. "Allison, please. I don't want to die. Please save me."

While Nina was begging me, Edward held her tightly in his arms.

"Don't be afraid, Nina. I'm here for you. I won't let anything happen to you," he said.

I couldn't stand watching their drama, so I turned to leave. But Edward grabbed my hand, stopping me cold.

"Allison, who said you could leave?" he said. "If you want to walk out, you'd better apologize to Nina first."

I raised an eyebrow and sneered, "You're holding another woman in front of me, and you expect me to apologize? Edward, could you be any more shameless?"

Edward clenched his fists, the veins on his forehead standing out.

We'd been together for five years—I knew that look. He was beyond pissed.

Nina struggled to her feet and clung to Edward's arm. "Edward, it's fine. I don't need Allison's apology as long as she agrees to give me her kidney."

Normally, when Edward was furious, nothing in the world could calm him down. But with just a few words from Nina, all his fury disappeared.

He didn't even glance at me. In front of my eyes, he scooped Nina into his arms and carried her back to her hospital room.

It felt like my legs had turned to jelly as I stumbled out of the hospital.