My Stolen Kidney, His Shattered World

come back. He

he small table in the garden, forgotten

ed by Marcus in a discreet hotel

very photo, every memento of our ten

s we'd taken, trips where he'd spent more

ll, worn teddy bear. It was mean

me. I clutched it for a moment, then

life was over.

ing, I called

. "I'm resigning from my board seat and any

d silence, then a

ive involvement had ended when Ethan's ambition outgrew his

ng to the dream of what we'd built together, what I'd he

ve ideas, into the early stages of Cole Dyna

m

an I'd hired years ag

Is everything alright? Mr. Co

ng," I said, my voice firm. "My decision

any needs you. Y

y active input for years," I cut her of

re she could p

evered. It fe

almost immed

resigning? What's going on?" He s

Ethan," I said, my voi

ial? About time. I was wondering when you'd come around after yesterday. Don't worr

alking about him. The ar

eard Olivia's voice in the back

to? The doctor said I need complete r

ning for her. Then back to me, hurried, "Look, Amy, I gotta

He hu

ne, a bitter smile

pped up on my social media feed. A can

ing her hand. The caption: "CEO Ethan Cole rushes to the side of bel

the image burnin

again. An unknown numb

It's

s conscience, or w

eed to listen to me. Ethan... he's in the h

. "What h

a shot of her. Ethan stepped in, got shoved. Hit his head, hard. She

a's protector, abandoned by he

ey need to operate, but there are complications from his old injuries... from Yosemite. You're the only one who knows his fu

My miscarriage, orchestrated by Olivia. And now Et

nted me to

on me an hour ago to tend to

s critical. Olivia won't even a

n in my side, the empty spac

elf, the healer, stirred. Or maybe it was

s," I said, my voic

cause Ben asked, and because, perhaps, a t

ining the specific risks and protocols for Ethan's unique physiology

mpty waiting room chair and d

than's, surprisingl

the door slightly ajar. Eavesdr

e of triumph in his voice. "I told you

Because you might have died. Olivia, on the other hand, di

s delicate. Amy understands. She always comes ba

absolute. His arr

e that door, u

d. Favored by fortune, by my foolish love,

avor had j

taking me further from the man who

leaving the hospital. I w