Forced to Save Her Childhood Sweetheart

Cora's death plunged me into a personal hell.

Sleep offered no escape; nightmares of her collapse and that disastrous wedding jolted me awake. The wounds were too raw to touch, yet Eleanor kept prodding them.

Sleep was no escape; nightmares of her collapse and that cursed wedding yanked me awake. Those wounds were too raw to touch, but Eleanor kept poking at them.

"Give it a rest, Lincoln," she snapped. "This victim act is getting old. Faking Cora's death to guilt-trip me? She'd be ashamed of you."

"You think I'd lie about this?" I pointed at the tombstone, two steps away. "Her tombstone is right there. Go see for yourself."

She glanced at it, her brow furrowing. "You made a fake tombstone just to scam me? That's pathetic."

Her words ignited my fury. She'd ruined my wedding, caused Cora's death, and left me drowning in grief, yet she stood there judging me.

My hand rose, but I stopped short, my upbringing holding me back.

Her face twisted with disgust. "You're lying and trying to hit me? You've changed. Adrian needs a kidney transplant now. Come with me to the hospital and sign the donation form. Then we'll have a serious talk about what you can and can't do."

She grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward her car.

I yanked free, my voice raw. "I've got alcoholic hepatitis and chronic nephritis. I can't donate."

She rolled her eyes. "You're faking those, too, just to avoid helping Adrian? Look, I know I've been caught up with him and kind of sidelined you. I'm sorry, okay? Once he's better, I'm all yours. Can you do this for me?"

I couldn't fathom why she never believed me. I'd told her about my hepatitis, caught from drinking myself sick to secure deals for her. She never listened or cared.

"I'm not donating. Drop it," I said, turning to leave.

Undeterred, she waved over two burly bodyguards. "You don't get to say no. Get him in the car."

I was a desk jockey, my strength no match for theirs. They quickly grabbed me and shoved me into the car.

Eleanor ordered the driver to drive, and I protested, "I'm not going. My body can't take losing a kidney."

She only gave a snort. I tried to leap out the window, but the guards hauled me back, pinning my arms.

"If you've got a shred of humanity, let me go!" I yelled. "You've already killed my mom. Do you want my blood on your hands, too?"

We'd grown up together, shared first kisses, and whispered promises. Even if her love had faded, I thought she'd value my life.

But she just sighed. "It's one kidney. You're not gonna die. Quit acting like a drama queen."

She'd forgotten the night I shielded her from her father's fists, earning a ruptured eardrum. She'd sworn to protect me, but now she was the one cutting me deepest.

I begged and pleaded, but she wouldn't change her mind.

At the hospital, as the guards dragged me through the bustling lobby, I screamed, "Let me go! I can't do this!"

Passersby turned, and I cried for help.

Eleanor's patience snapped. "If you don't want Mike fired or Jake locked up for that fight, shut up and cooperate."

Mike worked at her company, saving every penny for his upcoming wedding. His brother, Jake Fletcher, had gotten into a scuffle defending me from some goons hired by a rival company. The case was still in mediation.

I froze, staring at the woman I'd loved for years. My fists clenched. "I regret ever falling for you."

"It's just a kidney, not your soul," she snorted, not caring a bit.

Her mind was filled with Adrian's well-being. Frustrated, I roared, "If you care about him so much, why did you marry me? I never forced you."

Her face darkened. "Don't be ridiculous. Adrian is like a brother to me. Stop with the jealous nonsense."

She was the one talking nonsense. No siblings would wear matching hoodies, sneak kisses, or pose for wedding photos.

Our wedding was overdue, and we hadn't taken our photos. But when Adrian whined about it, she jumped at the chance.

Her heart belonged to him, and any arguing was futile. I could only blame my own stupidity. Losing my mom and my dignity was the price of my blindness.

A security guard and a couple of bystanders asked if I needed help. I shook my head, defeated.

Eleanor tugged me inside and asked for tests to be done. The doctor happened to be Audrey Hubbard, a high school classmate who'd once had a crush on me.

"Ms. Hamm," she said, holding my chart, "Mr. Ingram has nephritis and viral hepatitis. He's not eligible to donate."

"Nice try," Eleanor scoffed. "Got Miss Ivy League to lie for you, huh?"

Adrian, propped up on his bed, played the saint. "It's fine. If Lincoln's not up for it, let it go. I don't want you two to fight over me."

Eleanor softened. "Don't talk like that. His life is not worth more than yours."

Disposable. That was how she saw me. No wonder my medical records meant nothing.

The hospital was owned by Adrian's family, so Eleanor pulled strings to swap Audrey for a new doctor, who shared a knowing look with Adrian and glossed over my conditions, fast-tracking me to surgery.

When Eleanor stepped out, Adrian leaned in with a smirk. "You're her boyfriend, so what? I bought a couple of hamsters for ten bucks, said I want a pet wedding, and she ditched you. I faked kidney failure, said our kidneys matched, and she strong-armed you to donate. A broke nobody like you can't compete with me. Losing your mom was too easy."

I'd known he despised me, but faking his illness? That was a new low.

"You want Eleanor? Go for her. Why destroy me and my family?" I demanded, my voice cracking with rage.

He didn't answer. Instead, he slapped himself hard and wailed, "Lincoln, I never meant to steal her. Please, stop hitting me. I'm too sick for this."

Eleanor burst in, shielding him, and slapped me. "How dare you lay a hand on Adrian?"

Blood filled my mouth, and I stared at her incredulously.

She'd sworn she hated anyone who hit their family. Her dad's fists taught her that. Yet here she was, striking me for Adrian.

Her eyes flickered, avoiding mine. "Touch him again, and you'll get worse than a slap."

I fought to stay calm. "He admitted he faked his illness and tanked our wedding on purpose. I've got it recorded."

I reached for my phone, and Adrian cowered in fear.

But then, Eleanor snatched it and smashed it to the floor. "Enough with your lies!"

Every tender moment we'd shared dissolved under her betrayal. A chill settled into my bones, my teeth chattering with rage and hurt.

Worried I'd hurt Adrian, she had orderlies strap me to a bed. I ate, slept, and relieved myself there, my hatred for her burning brighter than ever.

Vile traitors could never be forgiven.

Soon, they wheeled me into surgery. My body was already a wreck, and a year of grinding myself down with work and wedding stress made it worse.

The surgeon, following Adrian's orders, botched the procedure. I flatlined and was rushed to the ICU.

That was when Eleanor finally panicked.

Once I was stable in a regular ward, she hovered by my bed, muttering, "It's just one kidney. How did you end up in the ICU?"

"Because he's got nephritis and hepatitis, and his body was too weak for your stunt. Proud of yourself?" Mike snapped.

I'd called him, not trusting Eleanor or this hospital. He gently lifted me into the wheelchair, his face etched with worry and anger.

He had brought Cora's death certificate, cremation papers, and my medical records.

I hurled the papers at Eleanor's face. "You turned our wedding into a joke, made me a laughingstock, killed my mom, and nearly killed me. What did I ever do to deserve this?"

The papers grazed her cheek, leaving tiny marks before fluttering to the floor. She scooped them up, her face draining of color.