“Ms. Franklin, I’m sorry, but there’s a problem with the kidney…” The voice on the other end made me grip the phone tightly.

“What do you mean?! Didn’t you say the surgery was scheduled for next week? How can there suddenly be a problem?!” I exclaimed, my voice rising in disbelief and anger.

The caller hesitated, realizing things were not as straightforward as they seemed. I hung up furiously and stormed toward the director's office.

The door burst open, and I froze in shock.

The man, who had always been aloof and dignified, was my husband of three years. He was sitting on a leather sofa, holding a beautiful woman in his arms, their posture intimate and affectionate, like a couple in love.

I distinctly heard him say, “Carrie, don’t worry. This kidney will be yours. No one can take it away.”

The words I intended to confront the director with caught in my throat, unable to escape.

At the sound of the door opening, the two lovers and the director turned to look at me.

I clearly saw Jakob instinctively frown and release the woman from his embrace.

The woman looked familiar, and memories of her began to surface in my mind.

She was Jakob’s secretary, Caroline.

My mind was racing with thoughts, but I chose to ignore the couple and focus on the director.

I stared directly at him. “Why is there a problem with the kidney I’ve been waiting for so long?”

I needed a definite answer.

The director scratched his head, glancing between me and Jakob, and awkwardly began, “Ms. Franklin, since both you and Mr. Sutton were searching for a kidney, and seeing that you are married…”

The director was still stammering when Jakob interrupted him. “The kidney is for me. Carrie’s uncle is very ill, and I can’t just stand by.”

“But that’s my kidney!” I nearly shouted. “There should be a priority system! Her uncle’s life matters, but mine doesn’t?”

It was the first time I had ever raised my voice at Jakob. He looked stunned for a moment, then his eyes flared with anger.

Caroline flinched, clearly startled by my outburst. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at me with a pained expression. “Aleah, even if you dislike me and don’t want to save my uncle, you can’t jeopardize your own life just to spite me.”

Jakob quickly caught on, his brow furrowing as his voice grew cold and impatient. “Aleah, this is a matter of life and death. You can’t be unreasonable!”

“I’m not being unreasonable!” I replied sharply. “I’m really sick, and I have the medical records to prove it…”

Before I could finish, Caroline suddenly clutched her chest, her face contorted in agony.

“What’s wrong, Carrie?” Jakob immediately asked, alarmed.

Caroline struggled to speak. “Jake, my heart hurts so much. Am I... am I going to die?”

Even I could see through Caroline’s clumsy performance, but Jakob was completely convinced.

He swept Caroline up into his arms and rushed to leave. I tried to block his path. “I need that kidney!”

Jakob’s gaze turned furious and disdainful. “Carrie has a heart condition. Are you going to just watch her die? Move out of the way!”

He roughly pushed me aside and carried Caroline away.

I lost my balance and fell hard to the ground. Pain shot through my ankle, and tears of pain welled up almost instantly.

The director tried to come over to help me, but I pushed him away, standing up slowly on my own before limping out of the office.

My blood type is rare, and that kidney was my last chance. I would not give up easily.