Chapter 1

Zaria Slate felt her eyelids grow heavier after drinking the milk Callum Fenwick gave to her. Her consciousness faded. She had no idea how much time had passed, but she sensed that she was being brought to a place she didn't recognize. Then, she vaguely heard a familiar voice. "Have you lost your mind, Callum? Are you really going to keep Zaria in the dark as you remove her kidney to be transplanted into Cyrene's body?" The voice belonged to Jovan Zyne, Callum's childhood friend. "She's the only one who's a match." Callum's voice was eerily calm. "Cy's life is at risk. She can't wait any longer. As for Zaria, I'll make it up to her. Since she wants to marry me, I'll propose to her after the surgery. I'll guarantee we'll never divorce." Something made of glass suddenly landed on the floor, and Jovan shouted, "No compensation is enough for her kidney! I really don't understand. What kind of spell has Cyrene cast on you? During the earthquake back then, you even sacrificed your legs to save her. "And you lost your inheritance rights for her, only for her to turn around and run off with another man! During those days, Zaria was the one who stayed with you and took care of you! In order to give you injections, she tested them on herself first. Her legs were all bruised up! "To see a doctor, she waited outside a famous clinic for a whole month! Now that Cyrene has returned, she wants you back because she saw that you're on the rise again. After learning that Zaria was pregnant with your child, she cried and made a scene. "You secretly gave Zaria abortion pills and made her lose your first child. Zaria still blames herself for not protecting the baby well enough. She was depressed for three whole months! And now, you're going to give Cyrene her kidney?" "Enough!" Callum roared suddenly. "I know Zaria loves me enough to give up everything. And Cyrene is selfish, materialistic, and vain. But I just love Cyrene! I love her madly!" "And what about Zaria?" "She means nothing! My mind is made up. No one can convince me. I must take her kidney!" The moment these words rang out, Zaria felt the surgical knife cut into her skin. The anesthesiologist had clearly underestimated her resistance to the drugs, as she could feel every bit of pain sharply. However, the pain in her heart was stronger than the physical pain. She felt as though her heart was slowly being ripped apart. She had loved Callum for ten years. From the age of 16 to 26, she gave her youth, her love, and her everything to him. She watched him love Cyrene and go crazy for her. And she was also there when Callum collapsed after Cyrene abandoned him. Zaria stood by him through the darkest days after he became disabled. She endured his irritability and depression. When he lost control, he would shove her to the ground, bruising her knees. But she never complained. She just picked herself up silently and continued to care for him. She thought that one day, he would return her feelings. But it turned out that in his eyes, she actually meant nothing. Ten years. Even after everything they went through together, he still only loved Cyrene. Because of what Cyrene said, Callum made Zaria lose their first child. Cyrene needed a kidney, so Callum secretly took Zaria's kidney to give it to her. Zaria didn't know how much time had passed, but she felt something being forcibly torn away from her body—it was her kidney and the love she had given him for ten years. When she woke up, the room smelled so strongly of disinfectant that it made her eyes sting. "You're awake." A deep male voice came from the door. Zaria tensed as she raised her gaze slowly. Callum stood in the doorway. His figure was backlit, and his tall figure cast a harsh silhouette. He stepped closer. His pants clung to his straight legs. Each step he took seemed to crush her heart. Sitting by her bed, Callum reached out to stroke her face. He brushed away the tears at the corner of her eyes. He furrowed his brows slightly. "Does it hurt?" Zaria looked at him, feeling suffocated. It was as though an invisible hand was gripping her heart. How could he ask her that question in such a gentle tone? After he cut out her kidney with his own hands, how could he sit there as if nothing had happened? How could he still look at her with such concern when he was the reason they lost their child? "What… happened to me?" she asked. Her voice was so hoarse that it didn't even sound like her. "You had a sudden appendicitis attack. The surgery is done." Callum's expression remained unchanged, though he still sounded gentle. Appendicitis? Zaria laughed, and tears rolled down her face relentlessly. He couldn't even be bothered to make up a decent lie. She cried hard, and Callum kept wiping away her tears. But he didn't notice anything strange. He just thought she was in pain and quickly said he'd go find a doctor before rushing out. But once he left, he never came back. Three hours later, a nurse came in to change her dressing. "Mr. Fenwick truly treats Ms. Yorke well. He stayed by her side all night long. And when she said she wanted the food from the old shop in the west end, he immediately drove there himself to get it. He drove through the heavy rain." Hearing this, Zaria couldn't hold back anymore as tears spilled from her eyes again. So, that was why he never came back. He was so sure she loved him and wouldn't be angry at him that he didn't even bother to send a single text to explain his absence. "Callum, am I really that pathetic in your eyes? What makes you think there's no limit to my love for you?" she thought. Zaria looked out the window. Her tears had already dried. The nurse left. Zaria didn't know how much time had passed before she finally reached for her phone. She paused for a second before dialing a number. The call connected, and a deep, lazy male voice came through. "Hello, Ms. Slate." Zaria took a deep breath before asking, "Franklin, would you be interested... in marrying me?" There was a brief silence on the other end. "Did you call the wrong number? I'm not Callum." "I know." Zaria gripped the phone tightly. Her fingertips were turning white. "I'm asking you. I don't want to marry Callum anymore." Franklin Joseph sounded intrigued now. His tone was slow and easy. "Oh? But what makes you think I'll marry you?" Zaria closed her eyes as she replied calmly, "You're Callum's biggest rival. And you have a photo of me on your desk."