Chapter 1

Inside the top-floor president's office at the Aksim Group headquarters, the pure black carpet, the cool gray leather sofa, and the abstract painting on the wall worth millions all highlight the coldness and vastness of this business empire.

Serafina sat behind a large walnut desk.

When I pushed the door open, she was listening to the general counsel report on next week's merger and acquisition process, without even looking up. It wasn't until the general counsel left with the signed documents that she finally stopped what she was doing and turned her gaze to me.

Neither of us made the first move to exchange pleasantries. In this office where only interests mattered, the warmth of the past seven years seemed to have vanished entirely.

She opened the drawer, pulled out a neatly bound document, and pushed it onto the large table.

The bold title on the first page, written in black and white, was extremely jarring: "Organ Donation Agreement".

In the lower right corner of the document, a finely crafted Montblanc fountain pen was even thoughtfully placed.

"Sign it." She leaned back in her leather chair, her gaze fixed on the paper. "The surgeon has been arranged,he's at the group's affiliated hospital, and the surgery will begin tomorrow."

Two days ago, her newly engaged fiancé, Kyle, suddenly collapsed at a charity gala and was diagnosed with severe acute renal failure. Kyle is not only the heir to a long-established capitalist family, but also a key figure in Aksim Group's multi-billion dollar acquisition deal next week.

I didn't look at the agreement; I just looked into her eyes: "They've compared tens of thousands of records in the private medical database? Only I'm a suitable candidate?"

“Yes. Your match with Kyle is perfect, so the success rate is the highest.” Serafina explained patiently. “ Theodore , the merger is due next Wednesday. The entire consortium’s cash flow is tied up in it, and he can’t afford to have anything go wrong at this crucial moment .”

“Seraphina,” I called her name, my tone steady enough, “Do you remember that underground parking garage on Newport Street three years ago?”

When I brought this up, she paused in her work, flipping through documents, and her brow furrowed very slightly.

Suddenly , a thug rushed out with a knife. To shield her from that blow, I was taken to the emergency room.

“After that accident, I only have one healthy kidney left.” I looked into her eyes, stating the objective facts as if giving a business presentation. “If I sign this document today and donate my only kidney to Kyle, I will suffer from weakened immunity for the next few decades, or even spend the rest of my life bedridden, undergoing dialysis three times a week to survive. Are you sure you want me to do this?”

Actually , I repaired the damage using the administrator panel shortly after I was seriously injured, but Serafina didn't know that, so in her eyes, I still only had one kidney.

The office fell silent , with only the muffled sound of raindrops hitting the glass and the low hum of the central air conditioning.

Just then, the phone on the table suddenly lit up.

A text message popped up on the screen without any attempt to conceal it. The sender was Kyle: Honey, my back hurts so much. I wish you were here with me.

Serafina's eyes flickered, and she quickly reached out and placed the phone screen-down on the table.

When she looked up at me, the slight panic and guilt she had shown earlier had vanished.

“ Theodore , I know this is very unfair to you, but I have no other choice.”

She walked around the desk, came to me, and gently took my hand, just as she had done countless times during the crises of the past seven years.

"Do you think I really love Kyle? It's just an act. But that's how this industry is. I have to rely on the power of his established family."

She looked me in the eyes and said sincerely, "As long as he gets through this, and once the process is completed next Wednesday and he has the qualifications to ring the bell, I will immediately cut ties with him. I swear."

“Modern medicine is very advanced . I’ll hire the top dialysis team in the entire country for you and book the best private treatment suite in the city center.” Serafina’s thumb rubbed against the back of my hand. “ Theodore , don’t make things difficult for me. For ‘our future,’ please be patient one last time, okay?”

I lowered my gaze slightly, glanced at the phone she had placed face down on the table, and then looked into her eyes.

This isn't the first time she's chosen to ignore my feelings for Kyle .

I listened quietly to the compensation plan she offered, and couldn't help but chuckle: "You can give this plan to Kyle, maybe he can get access to the top dialysis team in the United States."

Serafina looked at me like I was a child: "I don't have time to joke with you right now."

I glanced at the agreement on the table: "What if I don't want to?"

Serafina fell silent.

The silence lasted for a full ten seconds, and in those short ten seconds, I felt a sense of utter boredom.

"Just kidding, of course I'll sign."

I reached for the Montblanc pen on the table and removed the cap.

Over the past seven years, I've reviewed countless business plans for her and signed countless risk-covering agreements on her behalf. This is the last time. The pen tip scratches across the paper, making a soft rustling sound in the silence of the room.

I didn't argue with her at all, nor did I accuse her of being cold-blooded. I simply signed my name at the end. Then, with a "snap," I slammed the pen back onto the table.

"good."

I pushed the agreement that would determine the rest of my life back to her, stood up, and straightened the hem of my suit jacket, which had been wrinkled from sitting. I turned and headed towards the office exit.