A Slip in the White Room

The Venomous Snake

"Are you sure the kidney's a match? I've waited three years for this."

Samuel released my hand and pulled Meredith into his arms. He kissed her forehead. "Dr. Lawson ran the tests. It's a match. I'll give you the healthy body you deserve."

Meredith nodded. When she spoke again, her voice was soft but also a little hurt. "What about her womb? You promised I'd be the only one to bear your family's heir. Your housekeeper told me Rachel's been trying for a baby."

My heart skipped a beat. She even knew something that private?

Samuel's kisses stopped. "Do we have to remove it? I can make her use an IUD."

Meredith stiffened, rejecting the idea outright. Her voice cracked. "So, you really have fallen for her, Samuel. I thought I was the only one for you. If you won't take her womb out, I'm not doing the transplant! Let me die and spend your life with Rachel!"

Samuel sighed softly. "Stop it, Meredith. You're having the transplant. You need that kidney. I won't let anything happen to you." He paused, then added in a gentler tone, "Fine. You'll get what you want, babe."

My heart sank. My soul was hit by a sledgehammer.

Meredith spoke again. "What if Rachel finds out? Will it affect your claim as heir? George did appoint her as your wife."

Samuel soothed Meredith softly, but there was pride in his voice. "It's fine. She loves me way too much to find out. She believes everything I say.

"And the driver's a fugitive anyway. I've smuggled him overseas. If she asks, I'll tell her the rebar stabbed through her kidney and womb. She'll never know it was surgery."

An invisible knife tore through my heart. This whole accident was his idea. He would take away my kidney and womb just for Meredith.

Darkness crept into my mind, their voices fading with it. Just before everything went silent, I heard Samuel murmur gently, "It'll go smoothly, Meredith."

My blood ran cold.

…

My eyes slowly fluttered open, and the blinding light made me squint. The air still reeked of antiseptic. I could feel pain swimming out of the deepest parts of my body, especially my belly.

It felt like something had torn through it.

"You're awake!" Samuel's voice trembled with shock and relief. He clutched my hand, his fingers shaking.

His eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted with guilt and worry. "And I thought you were…" He trailed off and rested his forehead on my hand. His shoulders were shaking.

I could feel his tears drenching my skin. Though warm, it only froze my heart further.

"Rachel, I'm sorry. The rebar pierced your body, and the doctor… The doctor had to take a kidney and your womb away. I… I didn't know what else to do…"

He struggled to speak, every word sounding like it tore him apart. Then, he whispered a promise. "But I'll stay with you, even if we can't have children of our own. We can adopt."