My husband, Damon, was a man reborn. He claimed his survival hinged on the happiness of another woman, Ivy – the designated heroine of this twisted plot. But he swore his heart belonged only to me, that he’d never betray me. *Never.* When I learned he had only three years left to live, I mustered every ounce of courage. I wanted to have a child with him, a precious piece of our love story, a future we could hold onto. The very day I found out I was pregnant, I was ambushed on my way home, snatched by kidnappers. They tortured me for three days and three nights, then dragged me onto an operating table. In my darkest, most desperate moment, I heard Damon’s voice from the doorway, mingling with the doctor’s. “Mr. King, are you really going to harvest your wife’s organs? Everyone in our circles knows how devoted you are to her. Are you truly doing this to her?” Damon’s voice was strained, laced with a barely concealed pain, but his words cut deeper than any knife: “Willow will be taken care of. Losing an organ won’t affect her life. But Ivy… if she loses an organ, she’ll fall gravely ill, even die. Once Willow fulfills her role in this plot, standing in for Ivy, I promise I’ll make it up to her a thousand times over!” The words slammed into me like a physical blow, a lightning bolt of pure, devastating truth. As the doctor walked in, I closed my eyes, consumed by despair.
“This woman is tough as nails, still fighting after three whole days! My damn legs are practically jelly, hahaha!” On the dissection table of that shady clinic, countless men came and went. They’d injected me with some kind of drug, pinning me down so I couldn’t move an inch. All I could do was lie there, enduring the mechanical, repulsive acts of those vile men. “Where’s the doctor? Didn’t they say we were supposed to harvest her organs after we were done? Where are they?” Amidst the chaos of voices, I faintly heard Damon’s voice again. “Once they’re finished, go in and take the organs, just like I told you!” The doctor’s voice trembled. “Mr. King, please, let’s just stop. Your wife has suffered enough already…” “No!” Damon’s voice was firm, unwavering. “In the original story, Ivy was first assaulted, then had her organs harvested. Every step must be followed, no exceptions!” Hearing that, my world shattered around me. Damon and I had been married for three years, our love as vibrant as ever. That very morning, when I left for the clinic alone, Damon had insisted on driving me, warning me about the ‘unsafe’ backroads. I thought he was worried. Now I know he was just making sure those monsters didn’t miss their target. Another man climbed off me. My limbs were shattered, my body completely ravaged. I was at the absolute limit of my endurance. Suddenly, a sharp pain tore through my lower abdomen, an uncontrolled spasm that ripped through me. “What the hell is this?” The doctor rushed in from the doorway, taking one look and gasping. “This… she’s *pregnant*?!” “…” The room fell silent. Even the kidnappers, who’d been laughing hysterically moments before, seemed stunned by the sight. My baby… it was gone. It had left my body. Even the animals who had relentlessly tortured me for three days fell silent. But my own heart was filled with a soul-numbing grief, so profound it left me utterly numb. Only tears streamed freely down my face. When I first learned Damon only had three years to live unless Ivy was happy, I had desperately focused on my health, drinking countless cups of vile-tasting herbal teas, all to ensure I could conceive this child so smoothly. Now, this child, who had only just arrived – I’d only found out about him a few days ago – was ripped away from me in such a brutal, horrifying way. “Why did you stop?” Damon’s voice came from outside, confused by the sudden silence. He must have thought the special drug he’d injected me with made me deaf, because he spoke without any attempt to hide his words. The doctor’s voice was shaky, almost filled with pity. “Mr. Ki-King, your wife… she…” “Enough!” Damon’s impatient voice cut him off. “Don’t tell me what she looks like now! I don’t want to hear it! It’ll kill me!” “Your wife is in a critical condition, Mr. King. I believe we should terminate the plan and provide immediate medical assistance.” the doctor advised. Damon was silent for a moment. Just as I thought his heart might finally soften, his voice returned, colder than ice. “Start the organ harvesting. Begin with the heart!” The doctor froze, dumbfounded. “The heart? Mr. King, that’s impossible! Without her heart, your wife…” “Of course I know the heart is vital! Do you think I don’t feel pain? She’s my lover!” Damon roared, his voice filled with a performative anguish. “But it *has* to be done to this extent! If Willow doesn’t take this hit for Ivy, Ivy will be on the brink of death, and then *I* will truly die!” “If I die, who will give Ivy happiness?” “Just take the heart! Ivy’s sister needs it, and the other organs must follow the plot. Once it’s all over, I’ll immediately bring people to rescue her and send her to the hospital for an artificial heart transplant.” Damon’s voice was calm, steady, as if he’d planned this all out long ago. The doctor sighed, motioning for his assistant to bring out the professional tools. My soul was trapped, screaming silently within my broken, exhausted body. But the sharp blade sliced into my chest regardless.
Damon’s plan went smoothly. I had no strength left to fight, not even a tiny bit. The doctor took my heart and left with his team. I tried with every last ounce of will, but I couldn’t move my hands, chained to the table. All I wanted was to touch my baby at the very end of my life. Even though he was no longer in my body, even though he was just a blood clot now… He was my baby! I just wanted to touch him, to tell him not to be scared. A monstrous wave of grief drowned me. My wrists strained against the restraints, leaving only raw, bloody streaks. Damon had told me before that after he was reborn, he needed to protect the story’s heroine. Only if she was happy could he continue to live. But he’d also said I was his one and only, that when it came to anything *within* our relationship, he would always be loyal to me. It was only for things *outside* the scope of our love that he would try to ensure Ivy’s happiness. I had trusted him so completely. I never imagined he would go to such lengths for Ivy. Even without a heart, it felt like a thousand knives were tearing through my chest. Just then, the door burst open with a bang. Damon appeared, frantic, his eyes red-rimmed. “Willow! My Willow, I’m so late! Oh God, your chest…” My body remained limp, showing no signs of consciousness, but he didn’t stop his performance. He clutched my hand, tightly, then barked orders at the people behind him. “Spare no expense! Find those who hurt my Willow, make them pay!” “And immediately find the world’s top specialists! Give Willow the best artificial heart! If she doesn’t live, I’ll make you all regret it!” My soul was calm, numb. Only hatred surged within my empty chest cavity now. I hated that man. I was rushed to the hospital. Just as Damon had promised, the world’s top artificial heart team began my treatment. During this time, my broken limbs and ravaged body also needed treatment. It was three months before I, barely clinging to life, was finally transferred from the ICU to a regular room. Damon stayed by my side day and night, never leaving, showering me with care. When the doctor said I would never be able to have children again, Damon teared up, his voice filled with feigned sorrow. He gripped my hand, repeating, “It’s all my fault, Willow, all my fault! I didn’t find you in time! I don’t care that you can’t have children anymore. I promise I’ll be good to you!” In the past, I would have gently told him not to shoulder all the blame. But *he* cared? What right did he have to care? Everything was *his* doing! Just seeing him made me tremble with rage. So, I pretended to sleep every day, refusing to look at him. Once my condition stabilized, more visitors began to arrive. And finally, one day, I saw the person I least wanted to see. “Damon, darling, I’ve come to see you.” It was Ivy. “I was so heartbroken to hear about Willow. You must have been so sad, unable to sleep, Damon. I brought you some ginseng soup.” Ivy held out a thermos. Damon took it. “Thank you. I’ll feed Willow first, then I’ll drink it.” “Ginseng soup is most effective when hot.” Ivy’s soft voice chimed. Damon hesitated for a moment, then relented to Ivy. Damon always said that when it came to our relationship, he was loyal only to me. He claimed that even when he occasionally helped Ivy, it was only to make her a little happier, all so he could stay with me for a few more years. But look at the way he gazed at Ivy – with such tenderness. I used to lie to myself, convincing myself he treated her well only to extend our time together. But looking at him now, who was the person he truly longed to stay with? After finishing the ginseng soup, Damon received a call from the doctor and left in a hurry. The room was suddenly empty, save for Ivy and me. Ivy smiled, pulling up a chair beside my bed, and fiddled with my IV line. “Are you awake, Willow?” I opened my eyes and stared at her, emotionless. Ivy’s smile was sickeningly sweet. “I heard you had quite the… pleasure, Willow. Served by a dozen strong men for three days and three nights. To survive that? You really have nine lives!” “Nine lives, indeed. As long as I’m alive, you’ll never be Mrs. King, will you? That must be agonizing for you, right?” I’d always known Ivy had feelings for Damon, but I’d never exposed it, hampered by the fact that Damon needed to appease her to survive. Sure enough, at my words, Ivy’s expression darkened instantly, as if I’d struck a nerve. “What’s so great about you, a woman with an artificial heart? Do you know, your heart was given to my ‘sister’ by Damon? And actually, I don’t even have a sister. I just mentioned it casually, and Damon dug out your heart for me.” I remained unmoved. My heart was already gone; whether it went to her or to a dog made no difference to me. Seeing my lack of reaction, Ivy continued, “Just two days ago, I got into Iris’s dance company. Damon introduced me.” I froze. Iris’s dance company was world-renowned, and they had plans to recruit one American dancer this year. Before the accident, they had contacted me. Even after I told them about my pregnancy plans, they hadn’t withdrawn their offer, saying they would keep the spot open for me. Dance was my dream. Even though I loved Damon so much, I had only quietly postponed this dream for the sake of having a child. How could Damon give *my* place to Ivy?! “That spot belongs to me!” I tried to sit up, but Ivy looked at me like I was the most pathetic creature on earth. She pulled out my IV line and all the other life-sustaining machines. “Willow, look at your shattered limbs and your fragile, artificial heart. What makes you think you can compete with me? Not just this spot, but Damon too, he’ll be mine. Just you wait!”
Ivy left, and Damon didn’t return. I didn’t want to die, but Ivy had disconnected all the wires of my life support. Without the machines, my life would quickly fade. I struggled, trying to press the nurse’s call button, but my broken limbs couldn’t even manage that simple movement. By the time the nurse found me during her rounds, I was once again in critical condition, barely clinging to life. My situation rapidly deteriorated. The specialists who had previously treated me had left after my condition stabilized, and the doctors at this hospital, despite their best efforts, couldn’t maintain my vital signs. “Where’s Mr. King? Get him here now! The situation is critical, he needs to sign the critical illness notice and contact the specialists!” “And we can only begin rescue efforts once a family member signs and acknowledges the risks!” “Mr. King seemed to be dropping off Ms. Ivy earlier. Ms. Ivy said it was hard to get a cab from there, so I assume Mr. King drove her himself.” Hearing the conversation outside the room, my mind went blank. I didn’t want to die. I struggled, “Call him, tell him to come back…” The doctors seemed to realize. “Quick, call him!” Only my phone had Damon’s number, so they used it to dial. The call was answered quickly, but after the doctor explained my situation, Damon’s voice was utterly devoid of emotion. “I’m taking Ivy home right now. I don’t have time to come back and sign anything.” The doctors were stunned. Taking a casual friend home versus his wife’s life – wasn’t the choice obvious? “Mr. King, you might not have heard clearly. Someone just stopped the machines. Your wife’s artificial heart is failing, and the risk is extremely high. If we don’t act now, she could die at any moment! We need the contact information for the specialists you had before, and you need to come back! This is about your wife’s life!” Damon’s impatience grew even more obvious. “Stop playing games with Willow! Ivy just left her room, and she was perfectly fine. How could she suddenly be critically ill?” “And when Ivy came out, she even had two slaps on her face! She had enough strength to *hit* someone, but couldn’t reconnect her own life support? Give the phone to Willow.” The doctor hesitated, then placed the phone near me. I barely had the strength to speak. “Damon… save me…” Silence stretched on the other end of the line. It lasted so long that I thought Damon had heard the weakness in my voice. But when he finally spoke, it was a condemnation. “That’s a terrible act, Willow. I know you’re jealous. Why I’m good to Ivy… if others don’t know, how can *you* not? I’m doing this so we can stay together for even longer, you understand, don’t you?” “No… it’s not… I really…” “Stop playing games, Willow. Be good. I’ll come back to you once I’ve dropped Ivy off. She’s a girl, it’s not safe for her to walk alone at night. Wait for me, I’ll be back soon.” I was bewildered, helpless, my heart turning to ashes. Why would he misunderstand me? In the past, when he was good to Ivy, had I ever been jealous? I was truly dying… “Damon!” The urgent desire to live made me call out his name, stopping him from hanging up. “Please come back, please save me. I need you right now… please…” Tears streamed down my face. My desperate plea, stripping away all dignity, only bought me less than five seconds of silence from Damon. Suddenly, Ivy’s voice came through the phone. “I’m sorry, Damon. Maybe I should just go home by myself. I feel so bad that Willow misunderstood and put you in such a difficult position. Just pull over, I can walk… it’s fine, nothing bad will happen in broad daylight.” Damon’s voice filled with tenderness. “Just sit still, don’t move when the car hasn’t stopped… Willow, be good. I know you’re fine. I’ll be back to you very soon, just half an hour.” Damon hung up, leaving me and a silent resuscitation room. I wanted to live, but he thought I just wanted his company? I truly didn’t want to die, but what could I do now? Overwhelmed by anger and despair, I suddenly coughed violently. All the machines attached to me shrieked frantically. The medical staff rushed over. Even without a signed consent, they began resuscitation efforts. But what was the use? My artificial heart was failing. I was dying. I gripped one of the doctor’s hands. “Tell Damon…” Damon had just arrived at Ivy’s house when a sudden chill ran through him, as if he’d lost something incredibly important. And the chill deepened. Ivy was showing Damon her dance outfits. “For the Iris company performance, I’ve got a few options. Which one do you think looks best, Damon?” Damon barely glanced at them. The growing dread made him restless. He suddenly had an overwhelming urge to see Willow. He didn’t know why, just a sudden, urgent need to see her. Just then, his phone rang. It was a doctor from the hospital. “Mr. King, I’m sorry to inform you. Your wife’s artificial heart just failed. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. She has passed away.” Damon shot to his feet, his face etched with disbelief. “What did you say?!” Ivy jumped, flinching back. “Damon? What’s wrong?” Damon’s fear exploded. He felt it was a lie, yet an unsettling premonition gnawed at him.
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