Chapter 4

The typing results would take two hours.

A nurse wheeled me into a private room, told me to rest, and said they'd let me know when the results came in.

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling hollow inside.

Just then, the door opened.

Mom and Dad came in.

My mom had a smile on her face as she set my phone on the bedside table.

"Meg, it's a match. Sandy is finally saved."

"Surgery is at nine tomorrow morning."

I didn't look at her. I kept my head down, looking at my phone.

She went on.

"Mom knows I embarrassed you just now. Don't worry—once Sandy is better, Mom will definitely make it up to you!"

I looked at that hypocritical face of hers and found it laughable.

She was going to make it up to me?

This was the first time in my life my mother had ever made me a promise.

Seeing that I was unmoved, she sighed and stood up.

"Get some rest first. Mom will make you some soup tonight."

From start to finish, I didn't say a single word.

I thought to myself, forget it.

Once the surgery was over, I'd finally be square with this family.

After they left, my stomach suddenly started hurting, so I took my phone and went into the bathroom.

About five minutes later, the door opened again.

I was about to ask why they'd come back when a man's voice came from outside the door.

"Where's Meg Henson?"

It was Dr. Chavez, the one who'd just done the typing test on me.

What was he doing here?

Just as I was wondering, a woman's voice spoke up.

"I saw the family go out a minute ago. She's probably in the restroom."

"Put the sleeping pills in her cup, and tonight take her to the private clinic."

Dr. Chavez's voice came again.

"Is this really okay? This is a life-and-death thing. Wasn't her result actually not a match?"

She must be a nurse, and probably a young one.

"I've altered the diagnosis, and I've briefed the family. Told them the typing was a success."

"You have no idea how thrilled they were to hear it. Remember, we take people's money to make their troubles go away."

"You just need to do your part. Even if something really does go wrong, they're the ones responsible."

"Did you get the pills in place? Don't let her see them."

After they left, I quietly stopped the recording.

I was completely stunned.

So Sandra didn't have kidney failure at all.

This whole thing was a trap she'd set for me. She'd bribed the doctor.

Putting together everything they'd just said, I couldn't help sucking in a cold breath.

Luckily, it wasn't my time to die—I'd found out the truth.

Coming out of the bathroom, I poured all the water from the bedside table into the sink.

I'd barely set the cup down when Dr. Chavez pushed the door open and walked in, a smile piled on his face.

"Congratulations, you're a match. Let me go over a few things you need to keep in mind."

I pretended not to know anything and nodded at him.

"Where did you go just now? You weren't here when I came in."

I watched his eyes keep sweeping over the water glass on the table, and I couldn't help smiling.

"I just went to the restroom—the room was so stuffy—and when I came back I drank a big glass of water."

He handed me the form in his hand.

"Good. These are the instructions for tomorrow. You can look them over."

"I still have other patients, so get some rest."

I took the form and murmured a reply.

Only when the door closed did I keep my eyes fixed firmly on the spot where he'd left.

Good thing I was quick enough to figure he might come back.

I'd dealt with that glass of water early—otherwise the consequences would have been unthinkable.

I uploaded the two audio clips to the cloud, then called the police task force.

"Hello, I'd like to report a crime. Someone is trying to harm me."

I gave them the address.

I hung up.

I stared at the uploaded audio, the corners of my mouth lifting.

Sandra.

Weren't you so worried I'd steal the family's and Ronnie's affection?

I hope you'll like this little surprise tomorrow.