Chapter 1

It wasn't until I saw the donor compatibility report that everything finally made sense.

That day, the whole family brought me to the hospital for a checkup. However, it wasn't about me at all.

It was about donating a kidney to Queenie Sanders, Xavier Larson's first love.

What a joke! For over a decade, I had gone to these checkups alone. And now, when someone finally accompanied me, it had nothing to do with my health.

I couldn't believe I had actually felt touched for a moment.

Impatience was etched all over my son's, Tobias Larson's, face.

Tobias shoved me hard, snapping, "Why are you wasting time talking to her? My mom's always so dramatic! We're at the hospital already. Are you really worried she won't go through with the donor compatibility test? We're practically at the door!"

My body slammed against the wall, a sharp pain shooting through my elbow. It was probably a fracture. After all, aging had made my bones fragile.

A nurse quickly steadied me, looking somewhat surprised. "Dr. Larson, she's not young anymore. Are you really going to make her go through with the test?"

"How did you even graduate? What does age have to do with kidney transplantation?" Xavier responded with a sneer.

The nurse's face went pale, and she quietly stepped aside.

The pain in my elbow spread slowly. Right then, Xavier gripped my shoulder, sending a fresh wave of agony coursing through me.

Then, he and Tobias each took hold of my arm as they dragged me toward the testing room. At my age, I didn't have the strength to resist.

As soon as the cold prick of a needle touched my skin, a sense of dread enveloped me. Finally, I confessed the secret I'd kept hidden for years, "Xav, I really can't donate my kidney to Queenie. I only have one. If I give it up, I'll die."

The nurse's hand froze mid-motion. "What now? Should I draw the blood or not?" she asked with frustration.

In the next instant, Xavier thrust the needle into my arm. A hint of mockery flashed across his face as he spat, "Harper Jenkins, you'll say anything to avoid this, won't you?

"I've told you many times—Queenie is the first person ever revived from cryogenic freezing. If the kidney transplant succeeds and she recovers, it'll be a monumental leap for medical science. Your name will go down in history!"

Tobias nodded eagerly. "Mom, quit being so stubborn. You're a doctor. You know we have two kidneys, and donating one won't kill you."

I stared blankly as the blood drained from my body, flowing through the cold tube into another vessel. A buzzing filled my ears, and before I knew it, tears streamed down my cheeks.

But I wasn't lying.

I really did only have one kidney left.