9
Sarah froze.
There was only one artificial heart surgery in
the country, Michael’s.
Artificial heart recipients need daily
medication. Without it, they’d die quickly.
Michael had been faking it, pretending to take
his medicine to guilt her.
She frantically grabbed a doctor,
“What artificial heart surgery?”
The doctor, thinking she was a patient,
advised,
“It’s risky. The patient donated his heart to
his wife and received an artificial heart. He didn’t come for a checkup or medicine in eight months. It’s probably… If you can wait, consider another donor.”
Sarah felt stunned. The doctor left.
Michael emerged, seeing Sarah.
He pulled her to the NICU, pointing at the baby, crying,
“It’s my fault! My mother didn’t know he’s allergic to seafood. She gave him fish soup. He’s all red and itchy.”
I watched Michael.
I knew how cruel he was.
I knew how cruel he was.
This allergy was his doing.
He did anything to win Sarah over.
The baby was weak from traveling and the
allergen.
Usually, Sarah would soften and focus on the
baby.
But Sarah just hummed and scrutinized Michael,
“Michael, you have monthly checkups for your
artificial heart. Didn’t you go this month?”
Michael panicked,
“It was your due date, so much going on, I didn’t have time. I’ll go later, it’s fine.”
Sarah said noncommittally,
“Did you take your medicine today? You
seem agitated, is your heart bothering you?”
Michael feigned taking medicine.
Sarah snatched the bottle.
Bang!
Michael knocked it out of her hand, sobbing, “Sarah, our baby’s life is at stake, and you’re asking questions? Do you think I’m faking it?
Fine, I’ll get a chest x–ray, prove my
innocence!”
He ran out.
Sarah, conflicted, followed.
The x–ray showed an artificial heart.
The doctor said he was dying, maybe a
couple of months left.
Sarah felt guilty,
“I’m sorry, Michael. I’ll give you 20% of the
company as compensation. The baby will
inherit it too.”
I frowned.
Michael had someone forge x–rays, no
wonder Sarah believed him.
Michael’s eyes lit up,
“I don’t need anything, just your love for me
and the baby…”
Sarah said she needed to go out and have a lawyer prepare the transfer documents.
But Sarah called someone.
I couldn’t hear the conversation.
The hospital director rushed in, checked the computer data, and said sternly,
“Ms. Johnson, I can confirm that Michael’s
heart is his own. The forged x–ray, I’ll deal with those involved.”
