Part 3Husband Fakes Death for His Mistress

The team from the organ procurement organization arrived within minutes. I put on a heart-wrenching performance. “My husband was always such a kind man. His death was so sudden… I want his life to have meaning, to continue on by helping others.”

The lead doctor grasped my hand firmly. “On behalf of all the families you’ll be helping, thank you. Which organs did you wish to donate?”

I glanced at Ethan and sighed dramatically. “My husband died of a heart attack. So, everything but the heart. I’ll donate his body to medical science, too.”

Ethan physically blocked the hospital bed. “You can’t, Clara! Mark would never have wanted this! He told me specifically! We have to respect his final wishes!”

I dabbed at my dry eyes. “Ethan, I am Mark’s wife. I can make this decision. You and Mark were like brothers, but there’s no blood between you. I think we both know who has the final say here.”

I pressed on, my voice sharp. “Besides, every minute you delay, the organs deteriorate. You’re a doctor yourself. Don’t you want to save lives?”

“He’s right, Dr. Vance. Please, step aside,” one of the donation coordinators added.

But Ethan wouldn’t budge. “I just contacted his mother. At the very least, you have to let Brenda see her son one last time.”

So that’s who he was texting.

I considered it for a moment, then nodded.

Truthfully, I never intended for Mark to be an organ donor. I knew perfectly well that the moment they opened his chest, they’d discover he was alive. My goal wasn’t to expose his fake death—it was to turn his little play into a tragedy with a very real ending.

All of this was just a performance to lure out the other players: his mistress, Jessica, or his mother, Brenda.

I wanted them to watch him die for real, helpless to stop it.

And this whole incident would serve as my alibi when they inevitably tried to turn on me later.