2: 2
Grace took the call and glanced at me.
"Fine, understood. I'll bring him over right now."
Something in me went cold. I took two steps back.
She reached out and blocked me.
"Morton, come to the hospital with me, now. You're a match for Theodore Sanchez. He needs your bone marrow."
I thought I'd misheard. Warily, I asked, "When was I ever tested? Why don't I know anything about it?"
Her eyes flickered, and she looked away, guilty.
"When you went for your checkup the other day, I had the doctor run it while they were at it. You know Theodore has a blood disease. He's been searching for a donor. Your blood types matched, so I asked the doctor to try."
The whole thing was absurd. I raised my voice at her. "Theodore has framed me over and over, and now he wants me to save him? Dream on!"
Grace's face soured.
"Morton, I'm doing all of this for you! My family and the Sanchezes go back generations. Once you've donated your marrow to Theodore, my mother will find out, and she'll definitely agree to us being together. After that—"
I cut her off, my eyes red.
"Grace, there is no 'after that.' We already broke up!"
I stood and went for my suitcase.
Grace gave a cold snort and kicked it over.
Clothes spilled across the floor.
She stared at me, her voice vicious. "I haven't agreed. You think you can just leave?"
Her bodyguards tied me up and hauled me to the hospital.
When Theodore saw me, he raised an eyebrow, pleased with himself.
"Morton, looks like we really are fated. Not only do we love the same person, our marrow's a match too."
Something in that smile made my skin crawl, and I backed away without thinking.
Grace pulled me still.
"Don't be scared. Donating marrow is just drawing a little blood. It won't kill you."
Theodore lifted the corner of his mouth, and behind Grace's back he mouthed at me: You're dead.
A chill ran through me.
I thought of my mother lying in the operating room, and I begged Grace in despair.
"Grace, for the five years we were together, please let me go! My mother was in a car accident. They're still fighting to save her. I need to be with her."
Grace hesitated for a second.
Theodore's expression shifted. He took her hand and looked at her, wounded.
"Grace, Morton has a younger brother. His mother has people to look after her. But the doctors said I have two months left at most. He's my last hope. Can you really stand by and watch me die?"
Grace patted his back, soothing him.
"Don't be upset. I'll save you, I promise."
Theodore leaned into her arms, his eyes rimmed red, and said to me gently,
"Morton, I'm sorry. I gave you trouble before because I really do love Grace. But don't worry. As long as you're willing to donate your marrow this time, I won't fight you for her anymore. I hope the two of you are happy from here on out."
I shook my head, frantic.
Then I heard Grace say, "Hurry up and thank Young Master Sanchez. Once you've saved him, we'll finally be able to get married."
I couldn't believe my ears. I pointed at Theodore, furious. "I donate my marrow to him, and you want me to thank him? I think you're the one who's sick!"
Grace sighed and gripped my hand tightly.
"Morton, stop being so difficult. Someday you'll understand everything I went through for you."
Two doctors stepped forward, and a needle of anesthetic went into my neck.
I passed out. When I woke, I found myself alone in a hospital room, and right on schedule a doctor came in and injected me with something.
In the middle of the night, I thrashed on the bed in pain, and then I heard two people talking in low voices at the door.
"God, of all the people this Morton could've crossed, he had to cross the Sanchez heir. Let me tell you a secret. That match report was forged by Theodore. His marrow wasn't a match at all. The real donor is actually someone else."
"That explains it. His checkup came back showing anemia. He doesn't even qualify for a marrow transplant."
"Shh, don't let anyone hear. Young Master Sanchez is drawing his blood to teach him a lesson. That's what he gets for stealing another man's fiancée."
Their voices faded down the hall.
My mind went blank. I clenched my teeth against the pain cutting through me, and the tears came without a sound.
