My Husband Stole My Kidney,Then Died for the Girl Who Was Me

"What's wrong, Fern? You called us over so suddenly—did something happen?"

The four of them sat by the sofa, watching me with worried faces.

I looked at them for a long moment, then told them everything. Benedict's affair. How he'd tricked me into donating a kidney to his mistress.

When I finished, my mother-in-law shot to her feet.

"That animal!"

"How could he do this to you?"

"Fern, don't be upset. I'm going to give him a piece of my mind right now!"

My mother grabbed her arm to stop her, then turned to me with a cautious look.

"Fern, could there be some kind of misunderstanding?"

My father nodded. "Everyone can see how much that boy loves you. How could he possibly cheat?"

My sister-in-law chimed in, disbelief written all over her face.

"Exactly. You're the only woman my brother has ever loved, his whole life."

"He treasures you more than his own life. Why would he cut out your kidney for some other woman?"

I knew they wouldn't believe me.

So I pulled out the photo I'd secretly taken while following Benedict—the one of that girl.

"What if it was her?"

The moment they saw the photo, all four of them went pale. The certainty drained from their faces in an instant.

"How is this possible?"

"Why would it be her?"

My mother-in-law's lips moved soundlessly, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes filled with horror.

My sister-in-law's confident expression crumbled. "So it's her. No wonder he'd do this..."

My parents seemed to collapse in on themselves, their voices trembling.

"It's over. It's all over."

In that moment, the way they looked at me changed. Despair. Pity.

Like they were looking at someone already dead.

That's when Benedict walked in.

He was carrying a bag of roasted chestnuts—my favorite.

Seeing my parents and his mother and sister all gathered there, he froze.

"What's everyone doing here?"

Then, as if figuring it out himself, he answered his own question.

"Are you worried about Fern's health?"

"Don't worry. I've already confirmed with the kind donor—she'll be here first thing tomorrow morning to give Fern her kidney."

"I'll be performing the surgery myself. I'll make sure nothing goes wrong."

Everyone knew he was lying.

But no one called him out.

They just exchanged silent glances and said nothing.

After a long pause, my mother-in-law finally spoke, as if she couldn't hold back any longer.

"Benedict, can't you postpone the surgery?"

He frowned slightly. "Why would we do that?"

"Mom, Fern was incredibly lucky to find a matching donor. If we don't operate tomorrow, someone else might take the kidney. What then?"

My sister-in-law looked like she was about to cry.

"Please, just cancel it. If you don't, you'll regret it. I know you will."

Benedict shook his head. "How could I possibly regret this?"

"Saving my wife's life? I couldn't be happier."

Then he turned to me—I'd been silent this whole time—and his voice softened.

"Honey, you look terrible. Are you feeling okay?"

"Is something wrong?"

Looking at the concern on his face, I felt a tightness in my chest.

"It's nothing."

"I'm just a little scared."

That was the truth.

But it wasn't the surgery I was afraid of.

Benedict smiled gently, his voice impossibly tender.

"Don't be scared. I'm right here."

"Tomorrow, once you're in the operating room, you'll just fall asleep. When you wake up, it'll all be over."

No.

He didn't understand at all.

What that surgery truly meant.

Victoria and Daphne wanted to say something more, but my parents cut them off and hurried them out.

Before leaving, my parents looked back at me.

Their eyes were full of complicated emotions.

Benedict didn't notice any of this. He was completely absorbed in his excitement about tomorrow's surgery.

He was in such a good mood that he personally cooked a whole table of my favorite dishes.

That night, Benedict was more passionate than ever, more eager.

Afterward, he held me tight and fell into a deep sleep, murmuring my name even in his dreams.

Early the next morning, I went to the hospital with Benedict.

Soon, I was wheeled into the operating room.

The moment the anesthesia entered my body, my consciousness began to blur rapidly.

Through my heavy eyelids, I saw Benedict in surgical scrubs, leaning down to comfort me:

"Fern, don't be scared. I'm right here."

"You've always wanted to see the Northern Lights, haven't you? Once you recover, I'll take a long vacation and we'll go together."

"Oh, and that necklace you've had your eye on for so long—I already ordered it for you. You'll have it as soon as the surgery's over."

"And if you're willing... I'd like us to have a baby..."

Listening to him plan our future, I couldn't stop the tears that rolled down my cheeks.

I won't make it.

Benedict.

This ending was already written. I can't escape it.

And neither can you.

The instant Benedict's scalpel broke my skin—

I heard the operating room doors slam open.

Then came a voice, frantic and loud:

"Dr. James, something terrible has happened!"