His Betrayal, Her Broken Heart

n't at home. Ethan had driven me straight from the auction to a private hospital, his hand clamped on my

hallway into a private room. A do

said, nodding respectfull

e. I looked at Ethan, a new kind of fear

e. He spoke to the do

ect match. But Mr. Thorne, I must advise you again, this is highly irregular. Donating a kid

, his voice dangerously low. "She a

e you talking about?" I pulled my arm from

g with my eyes. "He's lying. I

rtable. He glanced from m

auction. I hadn't even read it. I saw my jagged signature at the bottom. The text above it was not about an artifact. It was medical jargon, words I didn

his deception hitting me with the force of a

t even bother to deny it. "Her kidneys are failin

elt a hysterical laugh bubble up in my throat.

ympathetic but their movements firm. They tri

this!" I yelled, my voice echoing

s mine, Ava. The doctors work for me. The consent form is signed. It's happening." He said it so simply, so matter

our first anniversary, had held me close and whispered promises into my ear. It was a strange night. We had

urgent. "But I feel it. We're in some kind of story. And the story wants to hurt you, to make you the t

in. He had looked me right in the eyes

ht it. I will never, ever let anything happen to you. I choose you,

o fight had won. It hadn't just taken his love; it had taken

struggled, but it was useless. They pushed me onto the bed and

an one last time. "Ethan, please.

n, wearing a hospital gown. She looked pale and fragile, but her eyes were bright. She loo

was instantaneous. The cold mask melted away, replaced by an expres

eek. "Are you scared?" h

aning into his touch.

low, reverent kiss, filled with a love and devotion that he used to give onl

d won. He wa

oe," he murmured

syringe. I felt a cold sensation spread up my arm. My st

s eyes filled with a love that was supposed to be mine. The promise was broken.