Chapter 1

I had been on the donor registry for three long years, and my turn had finally come.

But just because his childhood best friend said she "wanted to see what a cornea looked like," my fiancé went behind my back and authorized the hospital to transfer them.

Of course, his precious childhood friend "accidentally" dropped the medical transport cooler. The preservation fluid leaked, the vial shattered, and the corneas were completely ruined.

Livid, I screamed at him for his sheer stupidity.

He just shrugged, utterly indifferent. "So what? The blind bat who needs the corneas is your mother anyway. Why should I care?"

I laughed.

I forgot to mention one tiny detail: the blind person currently waiting in the operating room for that transplant... was his own mother, whom he had sworn to cherish and protect.

Three years ago, I registered on the organ donor list. After waiting over a thousand days, I finally got the call from the hospital.

"Miss Vance, we have a matching pair of corneas. We can schedule the transplant for next Monday."

Thrilled, I immediately called my fiancé, Liam Miller, to share the amazing news.

But every single call went straight to voicemail.

I assumed he was buried in work. But when I opened Snapchat, I saw Liam had posted two new stories.

"Back to where our youth began."

"Revisiting the fields of our childhood. The scenery is the same, and so is the person by my side."

The attached photos showed him and his childhood friend, Lily Brooks, posing closely together.

Clenching my jaw, I snapped him: "Too busy to pick up my calls because you're out on a date with her?"

Thirty minutes later, Liam finally replied.

"Chloe, stop being so petty. Lily and I haven't seen each other in forever. We're just catching up. If you keep annoying me, I'm blocking you."

I sent another text.

"The hospital just called. The corneas are ready."

A minute later, his reply popped up.

"Stop bothering me. Lily and I are busy right now."

This wasn't the first time Liam had started a fight with me over Lily. He had blocked me countless times before. Once, it was because I accidentally chipped a mug Lily had gifted him. Another time, it was simply because I pointed out that Lily's behavior was a bit too flirtatious for a "friend."

"Throwing another tantrum?" my best friend, Avery Davis, asked, patting my shoulder. "Liam is a terrible boyfriend. The fact that he's willing to lash out at you for another woman proves he doesn't love you. Chloe, stop humiliating yourself for him."

I let out a weary sigh.

"I know. But my grandfather is breathing down my neck about marriage. If I don't get engaged by the end of this month, I'll lose my entire inheritance."

Right now, Liam was the only viable candidate I had. We had been dating for three years, and we were just one step away from the altar.

"You said you needed to go to the hospital, right? Get in. I'll drive you," Avery said.

Before I could open the passenger door, my phone rang. It was the head surgeon.

"Miss Vance, is there a change of plans for the cornea transplant? I'm calling to remind you that corneas are extremely delicate during transport. Even a minor bump can ruin them, making the surgery impossible."

I froze.

"Transport? What do you mean?"

"Your fiancé came to the clinic and checked them out himself. He had all the paperwork signed under your name."

My blood ran cold. So that was what Liam meant by being "busy." He had intercepted the corneas!

Without a second thought, I spammed Liam's phone. After more than a dozen calls, he finally picked up, sounding absolutely furious. "Chloe! Are you insane? Stop spamming me! You're being incredibly annoying!"

"Where are the corneas?!" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. "They are incredibly fragile! Send me your location right now. I'm coming to get them."

"Oh, those?" Liam's tone instantly became relaxed, even smug. "Too late. Lily accidentally knocked the cooler over. The vial shattered, and the glass actually scratched Lily's hand. If you have some free time, come over and clean up the mess. I'm taking Lily to the clinic to get her hand bandaged."

A wave of pure rage surged through me.

How could he talk about something so crucial with such utter indifference?

"Liam! Do you have any idea who those corneas were for—"

"Yeah, yeah. Your blind mother, right?" Liam cut me off. "You've already waited three years. What's another five or ten? Besides..." He chuckled, his voice dripping with malice. "I always hated how overbearing mothers-in-law can be. It's actually great that she's blind. At least she won't be able to stick her nose into my business anymore. I've gotta go. Bye."

The call ended.

My fists clenched so hard my knuckles turned white. My chest heaved as I tried to process his sheer cruelty.

But after a minute of breathing, a dark sense of amusement washed over me.

Why was I even mad?

This wasn't my problem.

When the truth came out, Liam would be the one labeled a monster. After all, the person lying in that hospital bed waiting for the transplant... was his own mother.