SEBASTIAN“I’m sorry, Sebastian,” he said, his voice heavy with regret. “You’re not a compatible donor. Your blood type and tissue markers don’t match Callie’s requirements. At the moment, there isn’t a suitable donor available in the system either. And we’re running out of time. If we don’t find a kidney within the week…” He paused, his jaw tightening. “She won’t make it.”My entire body froze. The air around me seemed to vanish. “What do you mean?” I whispered. “There has to be someone. A donor registry… a living donor… something. Anything.”Dr Bennett shook his head. “We’ve exhausted all options in the immediate network. A transplant is her only hope, but unless we find a match soon, her organs will fail completely.”My breath caught in my throat at that moment. Callie… the woman I’d do anything for… was slipping through my fingers.“There has to be another way,” I said, my voice breaking. “You can’t just tell me there’s nothing else we can do!”“I’m not giving up,” Dr Bennett repl
DETECTIVE NORAI let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Are you serious? Lucas, this isn’t some grand romantic gesture. It’s not like donating blood. It’s a major surgery, and… ""I don’t care," he interrupted. "If it means saving her, I’ll do it.""You barely know her medical history," I countered. "You don’t even know if you’re a match.""Then test me," he said, locking his gaze on mine. "If I can help her, I will."I stared at him, trying to gauge his sincerity. This was Lucas, the same man who had murdered, manipulated, lied, and schemed his way through life. And yet… there was something different in his eyes now. Something real."You’re not doing this for her," I said finally. "You’re doing this for yourself. To feel like the hero for once in your life.""Think whatever you want," he replied, his tone calm. "But if I can save her, none of that matters, does it?"I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "You really are something else, Lucas.""Take it as a compliment," he said, his lips
SEBASTIANI was practically floating as I followed Nora down the hallway. A donor. A real donor. Someone willing to help Callie for no price, no strings attached. My heart was racing with relief, and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling, eager to meet the person who could save her life.Nora’s footsteps quickened, and I kept pace beside her. She was focused, and I could see the pride in her eyes. This wasn’t just a case to her. This was personal.She led me to the lab, where the door was already ajar. As I reached for the handle, my mind swam with thoughts of how I was going to thank this stranger, how I was going to explain to them how much their sacrifice meant to us. But when I pushed open the door and stepped inside, my heart slammed into my chest, the blood draining from my face as my eyes locked onto the one person I never expected to see in that room.Lucas.I froze, my body going rigid as the anger surged through me. What the hell was he doing here?Nora stopped beside me, he
SEBASTIANI leaned against the cold wall of the hallway, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. Nora stood beside me, her eyes staring on the door that led to the operating room.The minutes stretched on, longer than they should’ve, each tick of the clock feeling like a hammer against my chest. Callie was in there, under the knife, and all I could do was wait. The thought of losing her… of seeing her fade away had my stomach tied in knots.“She’s going to make it, Sebastian,” Nora said softly, as though she was trying to convince both of us.I didn’t reply. The words felt empty, useless in the face of all the unknowns. Lucas’s involvement was eating at me, gnawing away at whatever peace I might’ve had. I hated that I couldn’t tell Callie the truth, but I couldn’t risk it, not when she was so fragile.I glanced at the door again. The minutes ticked by like hours, and I couldn’t stop myself from imagining every worst-case scenario. What if the transplant didn’t work? What if Callie didn
SEBASTIAN My legs wobbled beneath me, the strength draining out of them as I grabbed the wall for support. I couldn’t breathe; the world felt like it was closing in. My vision blurred, and I could feel my heart pounding violently against my ribs.The doctor turned around, startled by my presence. I didn’t even give him a chance to speak before the words tumbled out of me. “What’s going on? Why did you cover her face?”The doctor looked confused for a moment, glancing back at the bed before realization dawned on his face. “Who? Oh… oh, no. That’s not her,” he said hurriedly, raising his hands to calm me down. “This isn’t Callie. She’s been transferred to another room. Let me take you to her.”Relief slammed into me, but it was quickly replaced by anger. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?!” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.The doctor looked genuinely apologetic. “I’m so sorry for the confusion, Mr Sebastian. It’s been a busy day, and there’s been some miscommunication. Please, fol
SEBASTIAN The chaos erupted in an instant. The police officers stationed outside the hospital room bursted in. “Don’t move!” one of them barked, their guns drawn as they advanced cautiously.But it was too late.Before anyone could intervene, Lucas pressed the sharp tip of the scissors into his neck, his trembling hands steadying for the briefest of moments. The metallic glint caught the light as it disappeared into his skin.Blood split instantly, racing down his neck as he crumbled to the floor.“Lucas!” I shouted as I rushed foward.The cleaner at the corner gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. "Oh my God! Someone get help!" she shrieked, breaking the silence.Nora knelt beside Lucas, her hands trembling as she applied pressure to his wound, trying to stop the flow of blood. “We need a doctor here!” she yelled.I dropped to my knees on the other side of Lucas, my hands hovering uselessly over him. “Why would you do this, Lucas?” I whispered, my voice
CHARLOTTE The color drained from my face as I stared at the man standing in the doorway. My husband’s guard. How the hell did he find me here?“Oh my God,” I whispered. This was a disaster… a complete disaster.The guard didn’t step inside and a smug smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Charlotte,” he began. “I was sent here to deliver a message. Callie has gotten a donor.”The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Donor? No, this couldn’t be happening. Not now.He continued, clearly enjoying my distress. “And Sebastian… well, he wanted me to make something very clear. You’re not to step foot in that house again. He said he wasn’t entirely sure about your involvement in Callie’s kidney problem.”My knees wobbled. The room tilted dangerously as I clutched the doorframe for support.“But,” the guard added with a sharp edge in his tone, “he knows you had something to do with it.”My breath hitched.The guard’s smirk widened. “And if you think about defying his orders, if you as muc
SEBASTIANI buried my head in my lap, my fingers still tightly gripping Callie’s hand as she lay motionless in the bed. Her steady breathing was the only comfort I had left in this hospital room that had been filled with too many emotions, too many complications. I was drained… physically, mentally, emotionally. Lucas was gone. Nora had taken his body away, and I was left with the overwhelming sense that the world around me had become a place I couldn’t control.Lucas deserved what happened to him. His obsession with Callie had put us all in danger. But I couldn't escape the guilt that gnawed at me. Nora had been the one to bring him here, had trusted him to do something noble, something good for Callie. She had believed in him. And now, she would have to face the consequences of all of it. Her boss, her colleagues… they wouldn't see it the way I did. She'd be punished for it, and it was my fault.I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly, trying to block out the images of Lucas, of what had
CALLIEI slapped Sebastian’s chest, the frustration bubbling inside me. “You should’ve just told me all this sooner! You could’ve spared me all the stress and drama.”He winced slightly, “I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you’d be scared. You wouldn’t have agreed to let my guy shoot her. Not here, not today.”I was about to retort when I glanced around, my gaze landing on the guests who still remained eerily silent. My heart tightened with a sudden wave of discomfort. “Wait… have the guests been informed about all of this? About what’s happening?”Sebastian gave me that damn smile of his, the one that made everything seem like it was under control. “Oh, they know. I had to tell them. I didn’t want there to be chaos when it all went down.”I narrowed my eyes. “You’re not serious,” I muttered, lightly hitting his head playfully. "You had to make sure everything went according to plan, even the guests."He chuckled softly. “Callie, you’re the one who’s always thinking things throu
CALLIEMy eyes were locked on Charlotte, blood staining the carpet around her. Why wasn’t anyone else reacting? Then, without warning, the doors burst open.Police officers flooded the room. I didn’t even have time to breathe before Nora walked in. She was followed by two other officers, their hands ready on their holsters.She moved toward Charlotte, her eyes scanning the scene slowly. The entire room seemed to tense as the officers approached Charlotte, who was still writhing on the floor, her hands desperately clutching at her bleeding legs."Charlotte Lawson," Nora’s voice rang out, echoing through the room, "You are under arrest for attempted murder. You’re also charged with the murder of Damon Wright and the murder of your son, Lucas Lawson."My heart skipped a beat. Attempted murder? Who’s Damon? Charlotte let out a painful, strangled scream as Nora and the officers knelt beside her. Her eyes were wide with terror, disbelief written all over her face. She tried to push hersel
CALLIEIt was my day. My fucking wedding day.They were doing my makeup, but I couldn’t stop staring at my reflection. The brushes moved across my face like they were supposed to, but my mind kept drifting, wondering how the hell I had ended up here. This was supposed to be the day I’d dreamed about since I was a little girl, the perfect celebration of love and happiness. But instead, all I could think about was how surreal it felt. Was this really happening? Was I really about to marry Sebastian?The makeup artist was still blending foundation on my cheeks, oblivious to the whirlwind in my head. The soft smell of flowers, the faint noise of voices around me…it all seemed like a dream.How did I get here? How had I gone from feeling like I was losing everything to standing here, about to walk down the aisle with the man who’d promised me forever?I caught my reflection again, my eyes roaming over the dress. It was beautiful, something I never thought I’d get to wear.The past few mon
SEBASTIANI kept my eyes on the road, but my attention was mostly on Callie. She was sitting there quiet, her fingers tapping nervously against her knee. I knew she was still upset about Charlotte… hell, I was too…but this surprise... it was meant to take her mind off things. It was meant to make her forget all about that witch and focus on us.I glanced over at her, and for a moment, our eyes met. I could see the worry still clouding her thoughts, but her lips curled up just slightly. That was all I needed. I wasn’t giving up. I had promised her everything, and I would keep that promise.I loved Callie more than anything. The thought of her standing by my side for the rest of our lives filled me with a sense of pride I couldn’t put into words. But today… today was about proving it. I wasn’t just going to let some meddling woman ruin our joy. Not today. Not ever.I pulled up to the curb, the tires rolling over the gravel, and stopped in front of the building. My heart was racing, my
CALLIEThe bell chimed softly as we stepped into the cake shop, the rich scent of vanilla and chocolate filled the air. The baker, a cheerful woman in her forties with flour dusting her apron, welcomed us with a bright smile.“Good afternoon!” she greeted. “You must be the Thompsons?”“That’s us,” Sebastian replied, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Or at least, soon-to-be Thompsons.”I smiled, still thinking about my wedding dress. I had just bought my dream wedding gown… a simple but stunning straight dress. I couldn’t wait to wear it as I walked down the aisle to marry the man standing beside me.The baker ushered us to a cozy table near the counter, where a variety of cake samples had already been laid out. “Alright, let’s get started. These are some of our most popular flavors. Feel free to let me know if there’s something specific you’d like to try.”We sat down, and I immediately reached for a small fork, eager to dive in. Sebastian, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair
CALLIEI was in the kitchen, still in my pajamas, hair tied up in a loose bun, trying to focus on slicing tomatoes without nicking my fingers.The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and I found it comforting as I hummed softly to myself.I was just about to layer the slices onto the bread when a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind, pulling me gently against a warm chest.“My fiancée,” Sebastian’s deep voice purred into my ear, sending a shiver down my spine, “what are you cooking?”I smiled, not even bothering to turn around. “My fiancé,” I replied, mimicking his tone, “I’m making sandwiches for breakfast.”He chuckled, the sound vibrating against my back. “Sandwiches?” he murmured, his lips grazing my neck. “I don’t want to eat sandwiches.”I paused, raising an eyebrow as I turned slightly to look at him. “Oh? What do you want to eat then?”Sebastian grinned, his dark eyes gleaming mischievously as he leaned closer. “You.”I rolled my eyes, though I cou
SEBASTIANCallie looked at me, her eyes filled with concern. "What's wrong?" she asked gently, sensing the shift in my mood.I let out a deep breath, leaning back in my chair. "Charlotte was released from prison."She blinked at me, clearly not processing the news at first. "What? How? Why?""Yeah," I sighed. "Turns out, they didn’t have enough to hold her. So, she’s free."Callie’s eyebrows shot up, her lips parting in shock. "She’s free? Just like that?"I nodded. "Yeah, just like that. But it’s fine. I’m meeting with Nora tomorrow. We’ll figure this out."She leaned forward, concern etched on her face. "But if she’s out, doesn’t that complicate things? What if she comes after you again?"I smiled, a slow grin spreading across my face. "Charlotte thinks she’s smart, but I’m smarter. I’ve got a plan. A backup plan."She lifted her head. "Backup plan?"I leaned in a little, lowering my voice. "Plan B. It’s time to put it into motion."Callie sat back in her chair, eyes locked on mine
CALLIE The videographer approached us, his camera now lowered. “Congratulations,” he said warmly, extending his hand to Sebastian. “This turned out beautifully. I’ll have the footage edited and sent to you by tonight.”“Thanks, Matt,” Sebastian replied, shaking his hand. “You did an incredible job.”Matt nodded at me with a kind smile. “You’re going to love this when you see it. Congratulations again.”“Thank you,” I said, still slightly dazed by the realization that this entire moment had been documented. As Matt packed up his equipment and walked away, Sebastian turned to me, his hand resting lightly on my back.“Come on,” he said, steering me toward a table set up a few feet away.The table was set with twinkling candles, a crisp white tablecloth, and an array of dishes and wines.I stopped short, taking it all in. “Sebastian… this is incredible.”“I wanted it to be perfect,” he said simply, pulling out a chair for me. “For you.”The music continued to play softly in the backgroun
CALLIESebastian parked the car in a reserved spot, cutting the engine before stepping out. I barely had time to open my door before he was already there, holding out his hand for me like some kind of gallant prince.“Seriously?” I teased, slipping my hand into his as he helped me out of the car. “You’re making me feel like we’re about to walk a red carpet.”He chuckled, his grip gentle as we strolled toward the venue. The pathway was illuminated with fairy lights that twinkled like stars. The soft hum of live music floated through the cool evening air.I glanced at him, shaking my head with a bemused smile. “Sebastian, I don’t understand anymore. Isn’t this just dinner? You’re acting like this is some kind of royal event.”He stopped walking for a moment, turning to face me. His dark eyes softened as he brushed a strand of hair off my face. “It’s not just dinner, Callie. You’ve been through so much lately, and I wanted to give you something... magical. You deserve it.”My heart did t