Chapter 3

After I got back to my room, I started coughing up blood.

The rejection was hitting full force.

My body was fighting the heart that didn't belong to me. Two forces tearing each other apart inside.

Doctors and nurses rushed in. Chaos everywhere.

By the time Alexander got back, I was already on oxygen.

He thought I was asleep. He grabbed the doctor by the collar.

"How did this happen? How the hell were you taking care of her?"

For a split second, he looked terrified of losing me.

The doctor stammered out an answer.

"Mr. Sinclair, your wife's immune system suddenly started attacking the cloned embryo. "

"Her liver and lungs are failing. We may need to terminate the incubation—"

"No."

Alexander let go of him. Didn't hesitate for a second.

"The heart needs three more days to mature. If we take it out now, it won't function properly. Lily won't be able to use it."

Dead silence.

I lay there with the oxygen mask on, watching him through the haze.

The man who swore he loved me.

When it came down to life or death, he didn't waver for even half a second.

The doctor tried again. "Mr. Sinclair, your wife really can't take much more—"

Alexander cut him off.

"Keep the incubation going. Save the heart."

"Give her the strongest immunosuppressant injections. The best drugs. Whatever it costs, you keep her alive for three more days."

I closed my eyes and let the tears slide down.

He'd just snuffed out the last flicker of hope I had left.

The moment the needle pierced my skin, I made my decision.

For the next two days, Alexander didn't leave my side.

He canceled all his work. Dark circles bruised his eyes.

He wiped my face, held water to my lips, sat up holding my hand through the night.

"Natalie, hang in there. It's almost over."

"When this is done, you can hit me, curse me, whatever you want. Just please, hold on."

I looked at how worn down he was and felt nothing but pity.

He didn't even know I'd heard everything.

He was still dreaming that he'd pull me back from the edge of death and we'd go on being the happy couple.

"Alexander."

I struggled to pull off the oxygen mask. My voice was barely a whisper.

"I want some of that honey walnut shrimp from the place downtown. Fresh out of the kitchen."