The Wife I Refused to Save

ng, and I refus

al corridor believed. That' s what

ital. "Mr. Miller? Your wife, Sarah Miller, has been in a severe car

ding panic, the hollow ache in my chest from a life I hadn't lived yet, a chilling premonition tha

air thick with the smell of antiseptic and fear. My in-laws, Martha and Robert Tho

ere!" she wailed, grabbing my

trying to look strong but failing. "Th

for the woman they were describing. I pushed it down. It wa

us. His name tag read Dr. Alan Reed.

to operate immediately. Sarah has massive in

n carefully neutral. "

edure requires a specialized hemostatic agent and some imported surgical instruments that are

c necessity. The exact amount that would drain my company's operat

he pivot on which my e

" I

in the air,

fused. "What? Mr. Miller, I d

I said, my voice calm an

had burned her. "Ethan! What are you saying

plier tomorrow morning. It' s for a new microchip patent. If I miss that payment, my

my head a thousand times. They sounded

ng in disbelief. "You're comparing your company

e money isn't there. It's allocated. Paying the ho

onster! Sarah is in there bleeding to death, and

ds clawed, but Robert hel

obbing hysterically. "He's let

lease. We'll figure out the money later. Just save her. We c

g to bargain. It was a

rted to cry. She was six years old, with big, innocent eyes that

Mommy goi

It was a clean, sharp pain. I looked

said softly, my voice devoid of the warmt

There is no future if Sarah d

he board," I said, my gaze sweeping over them.

ur wife, Ethan. We gave her to you. Don't you remember your we

d. And I did. I rem

Use the money for Sarah. You can explain to

ime-sensitive contract. No payment, no

ng mine tightly. "Daddy, please. I'll be a good girl.

t, I saw a flash of another child, a son I would have in th

Lily. I'

and backed away, looking at me as if I we

"You have no heart, Ethan Miller. Sarah loved you. She gave up her career for

voice cracking. "When you were starting your company, we g

an they never let me forget, even after I'

hifting again, becoming desperate. "We can figure out ho

out," I lied smoothly. "This

finger at me. "You are garbage. You are less than human

e waiting in the hall were staring, whispering.

one muttered. "He won't

company over her li

tide of judgment, pulling me under, br

he mask of cold indiffere

ching the wrong movie. And th