Blurb：
A mother’s five-year search for a heart donor ends in unimaginable tragedy. Renowned cardiologist Gabriel Turner abandons his own daughter Annabelle Turner mid-surgery, leaving her chest cut open on the operating table. Assistant Tyler Rotwell reveals Gabriel took the compatible heart meant for Annabelle to save Suzanne Byron’s son – a decision based on a misdiagnosis. The ultimate betrayal comes when Suzanne Byron’s social media shows her dog Oscar devouring the heart that should have saved Annabelle. As Rhea faces her daughter’s cold body in the morgue, Gabriel’s callous disregard and Suzanne Byron’s cruel post push a grieving mother toward revenge. Will Gabriel Turner realize his fatal error when he returns to find only Annabelle’s ashes?
Content：
My daughter, Annabelle Turner, was diagnosed with hereditary heart disease. I spent the past five years searching for a compatible heart donor for her.
Now, I finally found one.
Right before Annabelle is sent into the surgery room, my husband and renowned cardiologist, Gabriel Turner, tearfully makes me a promise.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll make sure Annabelle gets a shot at life again.”
Yet halfway through the surgery, Gabriel suddenly leaves in a hurry without giving any explanation.
I stumble into the surgery room and see Annabelle lying on the operating table, covered in blood. Her chest is cut wide open, laid bare for all to see.
Tyler Rotwell, Gabriel’s assistant, stammers out, “Dr. Turner said that Anna can still hold on a little longer, but Ms. Byron’s son can’t.
“Dr. Turner took the heart that was meant for Anna and left”
I immediately break down and repeatedly call Gabriel’s number, but Gabriel never answers a single call, not even when Anna’s blood has completely dried
While settling my daughter’s post-mortem affairs, I happen to see a newly posted update on Gabriel’s childhood friend, Suzanne Byron’s social media.
“Turns out it was just a misdiagnosis,” was what the caption read. “In that case, let’s give this useless little thing to our good boy Oscar as a treat!”
The video attached depicts Suzanne’s dog Oscar tearing into the heart that was supposed to be donated to Annabelle.
As I turn to look at Annabelle’s cold body, the last shred of love I have for Gabriel starts crumbling apart.
By the time Gabriel finally remembers Annabelle, whom he left on the operating table, only an empty bedroom and an urn containing her ashes would greet him
Chapter 1
I signed Annabelle’s death declaration form two hours later and helped the doctor wheel her body into the morgue.
As late as it was, Gabriel gave me a call just then. The sound of loud music filled my ears the moment the call went through. He seemed to be in a good mood as he asked loudly, “What’s with all the calls, Rhea? Does Annabelle miss me already?”
I ground my teeth and cut him off with an angry yell. “Why did you leave halfway through Annabelle’s heart surgery? You promised me you would make sure Annabelle got a new chance at life, Gabriel Turner!”
Gabriel grew silent for several seconds over the call.
He then said in a nonchalant tone, “I’m sorry, Rhea. I’m at fault for leaving Annabelle there, but I couldn’t delay my leave as Suzanne’s son was in critical condition. Don’t worry, I’ve already gotten a new heart donor for Annabelle. We’ll arrange for her surgery in two days”
Two days?
Did Gabriel even remember how he’d abandoned Annabelle on the operating table with her chest cut wide open, leaving her to bleed out?
I began saying, “Gabriel, Annabelle is already”
“Gabe! Robby says he’s feeling unwell again. Hurry up and check on him!” Another voice sounded over the phone.
“Whatever it is that we need to talk about, let’s wait till I’m home first. Bye now,” Gabriel said.
“Gabriel Turner!” I yelled.
But the call had already ended, leaving only a dial tone in my ears.
As I gazed at Annabelle’s pale little face, a sense of weakness overcame me, and I crumpled to the floor. Though the morgue’s temperature was in the negative, cold sweat never stopped running down my back.
The chill they brought seeped right into my heart.
Annabelle’s last words seemed to echo in my ear.
“Mommy, Daddy said Ms. Byron’s son was in a worse condition than I am, so Daddy needed to go and save him. I can definitely be strong and hold on until Daddy’s back
“Please don’t be angry at him, Mommy”
It was Annabelle’s beloved ‘Daddy’ who’d abandoned her right when she was in the most critical state.
Gabriel was the most skilled and powerful cardiologist in his field. He was able to accurately diagnose a patient based on a single report of theirs.
Hence, I refused to believe that he would miss Suzanne’s son’s misdiagnosis. He’d just been trying to show off in front of the woman he loved.
In the past, I would’ve chosen to ignore something like this, yet Gabriel’s actions had led to Annabelle’s death this time.
I groggily took out my phone and gave my father, Anthony Vaughn, a call.
His voice was filled with heartbreak as he heard my sobs. “I’ll be returning to the country in three days, Rhea. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure those scoundrels pay for what they did.”
After hanging up the call, I clutched Annabelle’s body tightly in my arms and cried my heart out.
Annabelle was never one for fanfare, so I only invited close friends and family for her funeral.
Chapter 2
The funeral attendees who knew Gabriel were all shocked that he wasn’t present. Gabriel was known for loving his daughter dearly. They called his number, but only I knew that he’d never answer any of these calls.
Sure enough, Gabriel didn’t once turn up at the funeral, even after it came to an end.
I held back the sorrow in my heart and held Annabelle’s cold, lifeless hand one last time.
Maybe it was a good thing that Gabriel wasn’t here to interrupt Annabelle’s funeral. He was a heartless, good-for-nothing monster, after all
Right before Annabelle was laid to rest in the ground, a cemetery staff member suddenly ran over to me.
He looked incredibly upset as he clutched my hand and said in a trembling voice, “Something bad’s happened, Ms. Vaughn! Someone is causing trouble at the plot you chose for your daughter’s burial!”
It felt like a jolt of lightning had struck me.
I immediately stumbled over to the cemetery plot. The moment I arrived, I saw Suzanne standing there, gesturing and yelling at the staff members.
“What is this? I’ve already had a medium determine that this burial plot is the best one for my dog, Oscar. If any of you interfere with Oscar’s burial, you’re dead meat!”
The staff members looked helpless as they explained, “I’m so sorry, miss. Someone’s already reserved this burial plot. Plus, it’s only for human burials. It wouldn’t be appropriate for your dog to be buried here.”
“It’s not up to you to decide what’s appropriate or not. I want you to call whoever it was that reserved this plot and have that person come over right now,” Gabriel said coldly to the staff while consoling Suzanne. “We can compensate that person for this plot.”
He then snapped. “Well? What are you waiting for? Get me your manager!”
She grew bolder with him backing her up.
She curled up in his arms before slapping one of the staff members. “Didn’t you hear us? Either let us speak to your manager, or call the person who reserved this plot over! Or else”
“I reserved this plot,” I said. Slowly walking out of the crowd, I headed toward Suzanne and Gabriel.
Gabriel shoved her out of his arms the moment he saw me before coming toward me.
I saw the faint panic in his eyes as our gazes met.
“What are you doing here in the cemetery, Rhea? Why aren’t you looking after Annabelle in the hospital? Oh, did you just say you reserved this burial plot? Why do you need it?”
I looked at Gabriel, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes. “How dare you still mention Annabelle at this point? This burial plot is for her”
“Gabe, come and take a look at Robby! Why does he look so pale?” Suzanne cried out suddenly.
The panic in Gabriel’s eyes dissipated instantly. He went over to Robert Quinnthat would be Suzanne’s sonwithout hesitation.
While checking up on Robert, Gabriel gently consoled the boy. “Don’t be scared, Robby. I’m here.”
Suzanne smiled smugly before slowly walking toward me. Though she had a provocative look in her eyes, she still spoke in a faux apologetic tone.
“I’m so sorry, Rhea. I didn’t know you’d reserved this burial plot. You don’t look like you need it now, so why don’t you let Oscar have it?
“Oscar sadly passed away after eating something that it shouldn’t have had the other day. Lookeven Robby is so upset that he’s gone pale.”
“Scram!” I spat out.
Seconds later, Suzanne’s loud and theatrical sobs filled the air.
Gabriel instantly straightened up and marched over.
There was a coldness in his tone that I’d never heard before as he said, “I know you’re upset about what happened with Annabelle, but that had nothing to do with Suzanne. You saw how pale Robert was. Don’t you have any sense of empathy, being a mother yourself?”
Turning to the staff members, he instructed, “My wife is forgoing her reservation of this burial plot and letting Ms. Byron have it instead. Go and handle”
“No! Get the hell away from here, Gabriel Turner! Take your whore and that little bastard of yours and leave!” I snarled.
Gabriel slapped me harshly across the face right after I spoke. “That’s enough, Rhea! I’ve tolerated your antics for long enough!”
Chapter 3
“Where is your humanity? Neither you nor I can utilize this burial plot right now, so what’s wrong with giving it to Suzanne?” Gabriel yelled.
Unable to suppress my rage any longer, I grabbed him by the collar and screamed, “Because I reserved this plot for Anna! Your daughter Annabelle has died! She died on the operating table because you abandoned her halfway through her surgery! How could you be so heartless, Gabriel Turner?”
The cacophonous atmosphere of the cemetery fell silent after I yelled that to Gabriel’s face.
Gabriel turned to look at the burial plot in a daze. However, he quickly composed himself and even sneered at me.
“You have taken your lies to a new low. I’ve only left home for two days, and you’re using our daughter’s alleged death to scare me?
“Do you take me for a fool, Rhea? Robert was still talking to Anna last night, yet you’re telling me Anna’s already dead? Can you please use some logic before coming up with your lies?
“Forget it, I don’t want to waste my time arguing with you. Since you’re my wife, you have to follow my words. We’ll let Suzanne have this burial plot.”
Gabriel then instructed the staff members by saying, “Process the plot transfer paperwork now!”
Two minutes later, the staff member came over to me with an uncomfortable expression. He then placed the documents in my hands. “Please sign here, miss.”
I immediately tried to tear the paper to shreds, but Gabriel was faster. He rushed over and kicked me in the stomach.
He then took out a small blade and cut my thumb open with it. Once my thumb was drenched in blood, he forced me to stamp it on the paperwork.
I glared furiously at him, eyes bloodshot. “You heartless, fucking bastard, Gabriel Turner! Do you remember that you promised my father when he handed me over to you at the altar? You”
Gabriel slapped me across the cheek again before I could finish talking.
“Stop threatening me with that damned father of yours. We’re in civilized society, Rhea. You think I’d still be scared of him?
“I’ve put up with you for way too long, Rhea Vaughn. If you hadn’t given me a daughter, I would’ve turned my back on you long ago! You wretched, vulgar woman!”
Gabriel then violently kicked me aside. Wrapping an arm over Suzanne’s shoulder, he held Robert’s hand before leaving without turning back.
It was all because of Suzanne’s dog that Gabriel had decided to reveal his true colors. He seemed to have forgotten that my father was the reason why he was now successful. I might as well retract his support system if he did not want it anymore.
On my way back from the cemetery, a rare occurrence happenedGabriel rang me up.
His tone was awkward and questioning as he asked, “Could you please send me a video of her? I haven’t seen Annabelle in days, Rhea.”
“Sure.” I hung up the call before he could finish speaking. I then sent him one of Annabelle’s videos from when she was still alive.
Gabriel swiftly replied with a voice message. He now had a much more relaxed tone.
“Good girl, Rhea. Now you’re being a good wife. Don’t throw jealous tantrums from now on, okay? Your tantrums frightened Suzanne and Robert earlier. Robert’s birthday is tomorrow, so I’ll only come home once the celebration is over.
“One more thing, what happened earlier at the cemetery isn’t over yet. You have to come to Robert’s birthday party tomorrow and beg Suzanne for forgiveness. You two will be seeing each other more often from now on, so it’s best not to make things more awkward”
“Alright. I’ll go.” I calmly agreed.
My answer caught Gabriel off guard. He then sent another voice message with a delighted tone. “That’s great, Rhea. I love it when you’re so kind and forgiving. See you tomorrow.”
After hanging up the call, I took one last look at the empty room before me. I then turned and left, having no more attachment to it all.
Goodbye, Gabriel.
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