chapter 6

With that single condition, I struck their most sensitive nerve; color drained from my in-laws’ faces as though the words themselves had sliced them open.

Margaret snapped, “Absolutely not. Colin’s money is yours too, and you still own a company—you are hardly short of cash.”

I stood my ground. “If you want my kidney, then hand back every penny.”

The younger onlookers rallied to my side. “She’s right,” one of them said. “At least guarantee either her health or her money.” Another scoffed, “What are you, vultures trying to pick the bones clean?”

They had tried to trap me with moral guilt and the weight of the crowd, so it was only fair that the same crowd now turned its judgment on them.

Autumn’s brow tightened, panic flickering behind her polite mask, and she shot a frantic glance at George and Margaret. George cleared his throat and announced, “Fine. We will give you the money.” The couple shuffled forward on trembling legs.

Outside the ward, the trio thrust the Kidney Donation Consent Form into my hand. “Sign,” George ordered.

I lifted my hand and pushed the paper back. “Not until Colin transfers his assets to me,” I said.

Margaret sighed. “Colin is in the ICU. He can barely move. Wait until he recovers, and we will transfer everything.”

Autumn nodded quickly. “Vivian, we always keep our word.”

This performance I put up was only meant to reclaim what is mine. Did they still think my heart beats for Colin? Donating first would be signing my death warrant. All I wanted was the money and for them to choke on their deceit.

I took out my phone and spoke quietly into it. “Bring the documents I gave you to Riverside General Hospital right now.”

Margaret eyed me with open suspicion. “Who are you calling?”

I ignored her and walked toward the ward.

Normally, the ICU allowed only a quick look through a tiny window. After I filed the request, the private ward opened to me.

The moment I stepped inside, I flung myself onto Colin’s bed, elbow digging hard into his ribs. “Darling,” I cried.

He bared his teeth in pain yet forced a frail smile. “Why have you all come?”

I slapped his chest again, savoring the way he clenched his jaw to keep from yelping.

Autumn, distressed, hurried forward to pull me off. I raked my nails across her forearm without even looking.

Tears streamed down my face in perfect agony, and Autumn could only clutch her arm and bear it in silence.

My lawyer, Rupert Chesterton, arrived just in time, unfolding the contract for the transfer of Colin’s assets.

Colin stared at me, stunned. “Viv, you want my assets?”

“I do,” I said through tears. “Sign them over to me, and I will sign the Kidney Donation Consent Form this very minute. Mom and Dad have already agreed.”

George and Margaret bristled, though they forced a placid smile. “Viv, why the rush? Do you think we’ll cheat you?”

Rupert and I sat side by side, both pretending the heavy foundation smeared over Colin’s cheekbones was invisible. I let out a slow, tremulous breath and said, “Darling, I’m ending this pregnancy for you. The doctors warn I’ll never carry another child. I have to protect my future, but you love me—you’ll sign, won’t you?”

As soon as I emphasized “never carry another child,” a calculating gleam flashed through Colin’s eyes. Without children, everything would be his the moment I died.

I remained unyielding. After a moment of weighing the odds, Colin shot a glance at Autumn standing behind me, then took the folder.

Rupert and the notary watched while Colin scrawled his signature. “The flat, the car, and the three million in the account now belong to Vivian Shaw,” Rupert intoned.

I folded the documents against my chest and felt the smallest breath of relief.

Every piece of it belonged to the Shaw family; Colin would not touch a single cent.

Margaret shoved the Kidney Donation Consent Form into my hands and said, “You’ve got the money, so sign now and head straight to the clinic to end the pregnancy.”

I studied the recipient’s name, then signed without hesitation. “Don’t worry, Mum. I’ll remove the baby right away,” I assured her.

Monica Mansfield, the obstetrician and my mother’s longtime friend, had already agreed to help. If they could bribe Leonard to forge records, I could just as easily use my network to fool them.

I emerged from the operating room pale as paper.

Margaret was waiting and immediately tried to drag me toward the renal ward. “Hurry up. I’ve booked the operation for tonight—you’ll be finished before dawn,” she hissed.

I tore free, tears pattering onto the tiles. “I’ve barely completed an abortion, and you want my kidney next?”

I raised my voice deliberately so everyone in the corridor could hear.

A passerby gasped, “My goodness, she’s just had an abortion. How can anyone ask her to donate a kidney? That woman is heartless. No real mother would treat her daughter-in-law like this.”

Accusatory fingers jabbed at Margaret. Her face turned a furious crimson, and her choked-back anger looked almost comical.

Clutching my abdomen, I feigned weakness and said, “I need time to recover first. We can discuss the kidney after I’m healthy again.”