Chapter 2

I had donated my kidney over a decade ago.

At that time, both my husband, Xavier, and I were preparing for retirement. He had a shot at a promotion, but his competitor was no slouch.

I discovered unexpectedly that our boss favored Xavier's rival. So, when I returned home to find him burning the midnight oil for the promotion, my heart ached for him. He was surviving on just a few hours of sleep each night.

Then, a twist of fate struck. I received a call from the medical research department.

They reminded me that I had signed an organ donation consent form years earlier. If I were willing to donate a kidney, it would significantly contribute to medical research.

On top of that, the hospital's promotion guidelines stated that those who made substantial contributions to research would be prioritized. Hence, for Xavier's career advancement, I stepped into the operating room.

From that moment on, I lost a kidney.

In the years that followed, no one ever noticed its absence. During my annual checkups, I always went alone.

Xavier and Tobias would simply ask, "Everything okay?"

I would nod in response, and that was the end of their concern. Who could have imagined that there would be a major breakthrough in medicine a year ago?

Queenie's kidney cancer, once deemed incurable, now had a cure.

When Xavier saw the news that day, he couldn't even finish his meal before bolting from the table.

Tobias was equally excited, exclaiming, "Does this mean Ms. Sanders can be saved?"

…

Just like that, Queenie emerged from cryogenic freezing, looking as beautiful as ever. As she gazed innocently at Xavier and Tobias, it ignited their reckless devotion.

Tobias, with tears brimming in his eyes, ignored my presence entirely. "Ms. Sanders, you're finally awake! Do you know my dad waited 30 years for you?"

Meanwhile, Xavier clasped Queenie's hands tightly, his voice trembling with emotion. "Queenie, not a day has gone by in over 30 years that I haven't thought of you!"

I stood frozen in place, feeling as if the breath had been knocked out of me. I couldn't help but wonder what my sacrifices had amounted to.

As Xavier's wife, I had devoted myself to the family for over three decades, transforming from a bright young lady into a weary middle-aged woman.

…

After completing the necessary tests, Xavier turned to me abruptly. "I need to check on Queenie. You should head home by yourself."

His eyes were filled with concern and affection as he added, "She just woke up after 30 years. I'm sure she must feel disoriented. I'm worried she'll be scared if I'm not by her side."

With that, Xavier hurried off, completely unaware of my fever.

My face burned, and the pain in my arm had faded to a dull numbness. I sat alone in the chair, struggling to lift my head.

"Tobias, I think I might be run—"

"Are you trying to fake an illness?" Tobias shot back, irritation lacing his voice. "Mom, stop messing around! You don't even care about Dad!

"For 30 years, he's worked himself to the bone for this family, barely taking a day off. And now that Ms. Sanders has finally woken up, he has a chance to pursue his long-lost dreams and get some rest. How could you think of stopping him?"

His words struck me hard, but I managed to say, "But I'm his wife…"

Tobias scoffed, his tone dripping with derision. "At your age, you're still playing the love card, huh? Don't you feel ashamed? I sure do!"

He then glanced at the clock, frowning. "I need to pick up Poppy. Hurry up and get dinner ready. Make two meals. Since Ms. Sanders can't handle anything heavy, make something light for her."

Having said that, Tobias turned on his heel and left, not sparing me a second glance. He was completely oblivious to the fact that I was shivering on the bench.

…

Later that evening, a phone call from Xavier jolted me awake.

I touched my forehead, relieved to find that my fever had subsided. However, the pain from my fractured arm still throbbed intensely.

As soon as I answered, Xavier's furious voice erupted from the other end. "What's taking you so long? Why hasn't the food arrived yet? Don't you know Queenie can't go hungry right now?

"Harper Jenkins, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Do you really think you can manipulate me like this? Remember. There are plenty of cooks out there. I could hire anyone, and they'd do a far better job than you!"

With that, he ended the call, leaving me staring at my phone in disbelief.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. I jumped up and immediately rushed home.