His Fiancée Wanted My Eyes, But I Will Steal His Heir

Fiona’s sight wasn’t a lost cause—not yet. The doctor had said that if she was ever going to see again, they needed to find a suitable cornea and transplant it within three days. Otherwise, even the best specialists would call it nearly impossible.

“Is there still no news?” Brodie Wagner asked over the phone as he stepped out of the elevator, his expression tight.

“None,” came the reply from the other end. It was Ray Lawrence, his assistant. “There are two potential donors on the list, but both have eye issues that make them unsuitable for transplant. As for other options, there are none.”

Those other options referred to people who, in desperate financial situations, might consider selling their corneas.

“Brodie, there’s something I’m not entirely sure about. It just seems... strange...” Ray hesitated, leaving the sentence unfinished.

“We’ll talk later. I have something to deal with right now.”

He ended the call abruptly, just as Dr. Zachary Thompson, Fiona’s attending physician, came up to him eagerly.

“Mr. Wagner, you’re just in time,” the doctor said, barely hiding his excitement. “We’ve found a match.”

“Is it voluntary?” Brodie asked.

Leaning in, Dr. Thompson whispered, “A young woman was in a severe car accident. She’s in the ER now. They couldn’t come up with the money, so her boyfriend agreed quickly. I did a preliminary check—everything seems fine.”

“Do you need to meet him?”

“No need,” Brodie replied. “Just tell the ER to do everything possible to save her. The Wagner Group will cover all expenses. Let him know there will be additional compensation after a successful transplant.”

“Understood, Mr. Wagner.”

“When can the surgery take place?”

“The donor needs some pre-op exams. Surgery can proceed once they’re done.”

“Give me a timeframe.”

“About five hours from now.”

“Good. Get everything ready. I’ll talk to Fiona.”

“Understood, Mr. Wagner.”

Dr. Thompson hurried off to make preparations, while Brodie walked purposefully into Fiona’s hospital room.

At the sound of his footsteps, the woman on the bed immediately sat up, reaching out with both hands. “Brodie, is that you?”

“It’s me.” Brodie approached, poured a cup of coffee, and handed it to her. “How are you feeling?”

Fiona’s hands tensed for a moment as she took the cup, but she quickly masked it with a smile, thanked him, and took a sip. “Are you surprised I knew it was you? I know your footsteps. Your scent. Even if I went blind, I’d still know it was you, Brodie.”

“But...” Her smile faded into a frown. “This time, I might actually lose my sight completely. Would you still care for me if that happened?”

Brodie took the cup back from her hands. “We found a cornea. You’ll have surgery in five hours. Soon you’ll see the world again.”

“Really?” She gripped his hand with excitement. “I’ll really get to see you again? That’s wonderful. Absolutely wonderful...”

Gently pulling his hand away, Brodie said, “You need to stay calm with the surgery approaching. Do you want something to eat?”

Fiona withdrew her hands and, out of his sight, clenched them into fists. Her sharp nails almost pierced her palms. She resented Brodie’s detached demeanor. If not for that—and if Ariel hadn’t come back—she wouldn’t have felt compelled to take such drastic steps and end up in this dreadful situation.

“Yes,” she replied, feigning delight.

Fiona knew that if she remained silent or refused, Brodie would simply turn back to his work without questioning her.

“What do you want to eat? I’ll grab it for you.”

“Never mind, then. I don’t want you to leave,” she pouted.

“I’ll call in an order.”

Satisfied with his response, Fiona enjoyed a meal with him. Perhaps because of her upcoming surgery, when she expressed nervousness and asked Brodie to stay with her until it was over, he surprisingly agreed.

While one rested as instructed by the doctor and the other was absorbed in work, a sense of unspoken harmony settled over them. However, less than an hour before the surgery, an unexpected call shattered the calm.

“Hello, Mr. Wagner. I’m from the management at your Maple Grove estate. Are you at home right now?” The voice on the other end sounded urgent.

“Maple Grove?”

He repeated the name in confusion, momentarily forgetting which of his properties it was.

“Yes, the vacation villa halfway up the Alps.”

Brodie’s expression changed instantly as he remembered he had left Ariel Reed locked up there.

“No, I’m not. What’s happened?”

“Your house caught fire. We’ve called the fire department. Could you come as soon as possible?”

A fire? What on earth was that woman up to now?

“I’m on my way,” he replied swiftly, heading for the elevator. “How bad is the fire?”

“Details are unclear at the moment. Our team is en route.”

“There’s someone inside. Ensure her safety at all costs, and update me immediately.”

Ending the call, he raced toward the parking garage. That woman had completely lost her mind!

He slammed his palm against the steering wheel in frustration, fuming at every red light. Fortunately, just as he neared the city limits, a call came through reporting that the fire was contained and the person inside was safe. Otherwise, he was sure he would have run a red light, unable to contain his rage.

Approaching the villa district, another call informed him that the fire was extinguished and Ariel was safe, escorted away by the firefighters.

Assuming they mistook Ariel for an intruder, he was ready to clear it up. But the hesitant explanation from the estate manager made it clear he had misunderstood the situation.

“Your wife claimed you two had a fight and... she was locked inside. She said she had something urgent to do, hence the extreme measures.”

His assumption that Ariel had been desperate enough to set the place on fire was completely wrong. She had, once again, found a way to escape.

Brodie let out a dry chuckle at the irony. Ariel Reed never failed to defy his expectations.

He called Ray Lawrence, instructing him to locate Ariel, and with a swift turn, headed back to the hospital.

Before he even left the city, Fiona was calling repeatedly, distressed to find him gone. Dr. Thompson also called to inform him that Fiona, upon learning the cornea donor was a living person, was refusing the surgery. He needed to return promptly.

It didn’t take long for Ray Lawrence to report back.

“The fire department didn’t know who Ms. Reed was, so they intended to take her to the police station. Should I arrange to have her picked up?”

“No.” Brodie’s eyes glinted with cold resolve. “Tell them to lock her up.”

Though surprised, Ray Lawrence set about carrying out his orders without question.