Part 3You Took My Kidney for Your First Love. Why Mourn Me Now?

"Please, Claire. Stop worrying and trust me this once," Julian nearly begged.

Claire held firm. "But what if Diana asks you for a divorce? If I ruin your marriage, I'll never forgive myself."

"That won't happen." Julian shook his head. "She loves me too much to leave."

They looked like a pair of star-crossed lovers torn apart by cruel fate.

With every word, the truth fell into place.

After returning from abroad, Claire had learned that she had end-stage kidney disease. She needed a transplant to survive.

Her blood type was rare, making a compatible kidney nearly impossible to find. Julian had searched tirelessly, but every lead had fallen through.

Meanwhile, Claire grew weaker by the day.

Then Julian secretly arranged compatibility tests for Claire and me. When the results showed that I was a match, he set his sights on my kidney.

The failed investments, the debt collectors, the threats...

None of it had been real.

I smiled bitterly.

Julian was right about one thing.

I loved him deeply.

When he told me he was bankrupt, my first instinct was to stand by him.

I sold everything I could and did whatever it took to raise money. I juggled five jobs at once and accepted any work that paid.

Julian had never been stingy when it came to providing for Ella and me. I had taken that as proof that he cared about his family. So I believed I should stand by him through thick and thin.

A week earlier, Julian had asked me to sell one of my kidneys.

At first, I refused.

The very next day, debt collectors dragged him away and threatened to cut off one of his fingers if he didn't pay.

After I managed to get him released, he stood on the balcony late that night. He claimed he couldn't take it anymore and wanted to end it all.

That was when I finally gave in.

But now I knew the truth.

It had all been an act.

Julian, who normally had no patience for anyone, spent nearly half an hour coaxing Claire before she finally agreed to the surgery.

As she was wheeled into the operating room, Julian never took his eyes off her.

I had never seen him look so worried.

He was supposed to stay with me through my surgery. But then one phone call came in, and he rushed off. I walked into that clinic alone, and the surgery ultimately cost me my life.

The difference between being loved and being unloved had never been clearer.

As Julian waited anxiously outside the operating room, his phone rang again.

My name flashed across the screen.

Diana.

This time, he didn't reject the call.

After two seconds of hesitation, he answered.

"Dad, Mom..."

The moment the call connected, Ella's tearful voice came through.

But before she could finish, Julian interrupted her in a flat voice. "Ella, there's nothing Dad can do. Stop calling me."

He sighed impatiently.

"I know you feel sorry for Mom, but Dad is working hard, too. I'm earning money and trying to pay off our debts. Once I'm back on my feet, I'll buy you a new piano."

The lies came out without the slightest hint of shame.

I used to feel sorry for him.

Now I only felt like a fool.

We had been married for eight years, yet I had never realized what a good actor my husband was.

Ella cried harder. "I don't want a new piano. I don't want anything. Dad, please come home."

Julian grew irritated. "Ella, why can't you be more understanding? Do you really want to see Dad beaten to death because I can't pay what I owe?"

"I don't..."

"Then be a good girl. Mom will wake up in a few hours, so take care of her until then. I won't be home tonight. Tell her for me."