After graduation, I made it through five rounds of interviews into a top architecture design firm. Because I kept working late, Tristram told me to quit, saying all those late nights were bad for my health and would make it harder to get pregnant after we married.
So I switched to a nine-to-five job with no room to advance.
In five years together, every time Tristram said he wanted to marry me, it came with a harsh condition attached.
And every time, so I could marry him, I gave in.
Until now.
I looked him in the eye and said, evenly, "Tristram, I don't want to marry you anymore. Your family is out of my league."
Tristram frowned.
He was about to say something when his phone rang with the ringtone he'd set just for Desiree Galloway.
He answered, glancing at me.
"Fine, got it. I'll bring her over right now."
Something was wrong. I stepped back twice.
He reached out and blocked me.
"Angie, come to the hospital with me right now. You and Desiree are a match. She needs you to donate bone marrow."
I thought I'd misheard. Wary, I asked, "When did I get tested? Why don't I know anything about this?"
Tristram's eyes flickered, and he looked away, guilty.
"A few days ago, when you went in for your physical, I had the doctor run it while you were there. You know Desiree has a blood disease. She's been looking for a donor. I figured you two had the same blood type, so I had the doctor check."
It was absurd. I raised my voice at him. "Desiree has tried to frame me over and over, and now she wants me to save her? In her dreams!"
Tristram's face soured.
"Angie, I did this for you! My mother loves kind-hearted girls. Once you donate to Desiree, when my mother finds out, she'll definitely agree to us being together, and from then on—"
I cut him off, my eyes red.
"Tristram, there's no 'from then on.' We've already broken up!"
I stood and went for my suitcase.
Tristram gave a cold snort and kicked it open.
Clothes scattered across the floor.
He stared at me, vicious. "I don't agree. You think you can just leave?"
The bodyguards tied me up and hauled me to the hospital.
When Desiree saw me, she arched an eyebrow, pleased with herself.
"Angela, looks like we really are fated. Not only do we love the same man, our bone marrow's a match too."
Seeing that nasty smile, I backed away a few steps without thinking.
Tristram grabbed hold of me.
"Don't be scared. Donating marrow is just drawing some blood. It won't kill you."
Desiree curled her lips and mouthed the words at me behind Tristram's back: "You're dead."
A chill went through me.
Thinking of my mother lying in the operating room, I begged him in desperation.
"Tristram, for the sake of the five years we were together, let me go! My mom was in a car accident. They're still fighting to save her. I have to go be with her."
Tristram hesitated for a moment.
Desiree's expression shifted at once. She threw her arms around his and started crying, all soft and pitiful.
"Tristram, Angela has a sister and a brother. Someone will look after her mom. But the doctors say I have two months to live at most. She's my last hope. Can you really stand to watch me die?"
Tristram patted her back to comfort her.
"Don't cry. I'll save you, I promise."
Desiree nestled against him, lifting her tear-filled eyes, her voice gentle.
"Angela, I'm sorry. I made you angry before because I really do love Tristram. But don't worry. As long as you donate this time, I won't fight you for him anymore. I hope the two of you will be happy from now on."
I shook my head as hard as I could.
Only to hear Tristram say to me, "Hurry up and thank Desiree. Once you've saved her, we'll finally get married without any trouble."
I couldn't believe it. I pointed at Desiree and snapped, "I donate my bone marrow to her, and you want me to thank her? I think you're the one who's sick!"
