Barrett's hand, clutching his phone, suddenly clenched tightly, choking on words he couldn't bring himself to say.

The hospital director's voice continued on the other end: "It's best to perform the heart donation within twelve hours of the donor's passing. I'm sorry, but it's been too long now. Definitely too late."

Barrett glanced sideways and saw Zoe watching him from the bed, her eyes brimming with barely concealed hope.

He couldn't admit the truth to himself - that he had really destroyed the heart compatible with Cosmo.

Lost for words, he tried to deflect the blame onto the hospital: "Even if the donor passed away, why didn't you preserve their...