Once Upon a Marriage

waiting for a reply from Lucian. The messages stared back at

oise Si

t. Her face was pale, the tight li

anaged, my

His body is rejecting the temporary measures. The kidney implant is ne

pped. "Witho

the clipboard in he

of professionalism and pity. "But we don'

my mind

been trying to reach

tated, her exp

. Do you know of anyone else

d, and my voice

t-I don

ois

etched into his face. He'd been here since I called him earl

g?" he asked, wa

hey're saying there's no time, and Lucian..." I faltered,

jaw tig

Max's bl

nurse replied, g

dn't he

egative.

asped, turn

aid simply. "If I'm

, my voice louder

dy on mine. "Max needs this. It doesn't m

said, shaking my head. "Thi

lity and that makes him mine too. I care

oken until now. My throat tightened as

he nurse. "What

ck compatibility test and prepare

e walking away. I sat down heavi

○°○°○°○

ed floor. The steady hum of hospital machines and the muffled vo

side me, and I snatched it up.

na

o the phone, barely ab

unconcerned, as though I hadn't been de

napped. "He needs the kidney now,

hed au

own life. I can't drop everything e

oment, the sheer selfishne

voice breaking. "Your fles

help you," Lucian inte

re it

ne wen

blurring my vision. Lucian's indifference wasn

ois

ked up to see him standing there, his arm w

quietly. "They've alrea

shed over me in equa

ly. "You don't have to say a

He gave me a small reassuring smile before w

○°○°○°○

window of the waiting room, the city li

ted, unbidde

ears

windshield as Mom struggled to see the road ahead. I was on

lly be hungry" she murmured, glanci

ng headlights of the oncoming car, the deaf

my body, but all I cou

ld me I was lucky to be alive. But I di

ry away as the n

one softer now. "The procedure