He Stole My Son's Kidney

I died on that operating table.

Arthur cut my five-year-old son Leo open and took his kidneys to save his bastard kid. Leo died. I died. They threw us out like garbage in the snow.

But I came back.

Back to that same rainy night. This time when Arthur tried stealing Leo's life-saving medicine for that bitch Lily, I slapped her face to pieces.

Outside the OR, Arthur shoved donation papers at me. I laughed and dialed a number I'd buried five years ago.

"Viktor? Your sister needs a favor. Bring your guns."

Explosions echoed through the hospital as my brother walked through the smoke.

"Nobody touches my nephew." His gun pressed against Arthur's forehead.

Arthur was scared shitless: "Jesus Christ... you're a Rockwell?!"

Too bad he figured it out too late.

Serena's POV

"Why... why are you cutting Leo open? He's only five years old!"

"Serena, calm down. Tommy can't wait any longer. Leo can live with one kidney, and I'll spend my whole life making it up to you both."

The sound of the scalpel slicing through skin, the dark red of blood splattering, Leo's weak screams—like rusty nails drilling into my brain.

I jolted awake.

No operating room. No lies from Arthur. Just the familiar crystal chandelier in our bedroom.

I was back. One week before Leo was wheeled into surgery.

"Mommy... I'm cold..."

On the bed, five-year-old Leo curled up in a ball, his little face burning red, breathing rapidly. He looked like a dying kitten, clutching the blanket corner.

I remembered this day. Leo had spiked a high fever, and just as I was about to give him medicine, Arthur would burst in with Lily.

In my past life, Lily had cried about how Tommy and Leo got into a fight, both fell into the lake at Central Park, caught severe colds that could turn into pneumonia, and desperately needed medication.

Arthur blamed it all on Leo, didn't hesitate to steal Leo's life-saving medicine, and locked us in the room for an entire night.

Leo's condition worsened because of this, leaving him so weak that Arthur could easily trick him into going to the hospital for a "checkup"—which was actually for tissue matching, preparing to harvest his kidney.

I touched Leo's burning cheek, tears streaming down. Not this time.

"BANG!"

The front door was shoved open roughly. Heavy footsteps accompanied by a woman's crying.

"Arthur, is this really okay? Taking Leo's medicine... Serena will be mad. Tommy just has a cold, I can take him to the ER..." Lily's voice was sickeningly sweet.

"Don't worry about it, Lily." Arthur said. "Leo pushed Tommy in the water, that's why both kids got sick. Since Leo started it, he can deal with the consequences. Besides, Leo's tough—he can handle a fever. The medicine's in the bedroom."

Footsteps approached.

I took a deep breath, grabbed the prescription medication and inhaler from the nightstand, then picked up the paper knife from the vanity.

Arthur pushed the door open. The moment he saw me, the warmth on his face instantly turned cold.

"Serena, give me Leo's medicine. Tommy needs it now." He didn't even glance at his feverish son on the bed.

Lily peeked out from behind Arthur, her eyes red and swollen: "Serena, I'm sorry. Tommy was playing in the park today, Leo pushed him, and he fell in the lake. Now he's burning up, I'm scared something bad might happen..."

I sneered. The same fucking story again.

"Leo pushed Tommy in the lake?" I stood. "Lily, you sure about that?"

Lily's eyes flickered: "I... I saw Leo do it..."

"Really?" I turned to Arthur. "So you just assume it's Leo's fault?"

"Come on." Arthur waved impatiently. "Leo's the little brother, he should know better. Tommy's sick now, so Leo gives up his medicine. End of story."

Rage surged in my chest. "Did you even ASK what Tommy said to start the fight?"

"Kids fight over stupid stuff—"

"He called Leo a bastard." I said each word clearly. "Said Leo's got no daddy."

Arthur's face changed slightly, but quickly recovered: "Even so, Leo can't go around hitting people."

"Can't hit people?" I laughed bitterly, pointing at Leo on the bed. "Are you fucking KIDDING me right now? Leo's burning up and can barely breathe! But you're worried about that little shit outside?"

"Look, Tommy doesn't have a father..."

"Doesn't he?" I sneered. "What are YOU then?"

Dead silence.

Seven years. For seven years I thought Arthur was just being kind, showing extra care for this poor friend who'd lost her husband. It wasn't until my dying moments in my past life that I learned Tommy wasn't Lily's late husband's posthumous child at all.

"What the hell are you talking about—" Arthur's voice tightened.

"Tommy's YOUR kid!" I moved closer. "You've been lying to my face this whole time!"

"Serena, you're losing it—"

"Losing it?" I laughed angrily. "Then explain why Tommy looks exactly like you! Why you treat him better than your own son! You want a DNA test? Let's do it RIGHT NOW!"

Arthur's lips moved, but no sound came out.

"FINE!" He finally exploded. "YES! Tommy's mine! So fucking what? I'm not gonna let my kid die!"

There it was.

"Get out."

Arthur froze. He'd never seen me like this. His jaw clenched as he stepped forward: "Serena, what's gotten into you? This is crazy! A kid could die!"

"A kid could die?" I laughed furiously, pointing at Leo on the bed. "YOUR son is dying right here and you don't give a shit! But that bastard gets all your attention?"

"Tommy's my son too!" Arthur's face was dark.

"Yeah? Then pick one." I kept pushing. "Leo or Tommy?"

Arthur gritted his teeth: "Tommy's worse off!"

"Then GET THE FUCK OUT!" I pointed toward the door. "Take your bastard and your whore and get out of MY house!"

Arthur raised his hand to hit me.

I dodged and backhanded Lily across the face.

"AHHH—!" Lily screamed as she fell, half her face swelling instantly.

"Serena!" Arthur roared, turning to help Lily.

I slammed the paper knife into the door frame with a loud "CLANG," the blade embedding deep into the solid wood.

"Last warning—get out. Touch Leo's medicine, and this knife goes in your throat."

I stared him down.

Arthur went white. He helped Lily up, shaking with rage: "You psycho bitch! You're gonna regret this!"

They stormed out.

Finally, quiet.

I rushed to the bed, dissolved fever medicine in warm water and fed it to Leo. Slowly, his breathing steadied and the fever broke.

I walked to the windows, watching Arthur's car speed away in the rain.

For this man, I'd left my powerful family, changed my name, played the perfect wife. I thought I'd found love.

Turned out I was just feeding a snake.

I pulled out an encrypted phone I hadn't used in five years and hit dial.

"Serena?"

The voice shook.

"It's me, Viktor." I closed my eyes, tears falling: "I fucked up. Come get me."