My Husband Sacrificed My Mom For His First Love

Three days after my mother disappeared, I received her organ donation contract. Her heart, kidneys, and corneas were all marked. At the bottom, the authorized signature was my husband Xavier Knights. I rushed home to confront him, but he sounded as calm as if he were discussing dinner. She was going to die sooner or later. Instead of letting her rot, it is better to use her to save someone with real value.

I shook with a rage so violent I could not speak. His phone lit up with a message from his first love Jessica. It was a selfie from her recovery room. Xav, the doctor says my recovery is perfect. I can finally see your face again. In the photo, she flashed a peace sign, white gauze taped near her eye, her smile sweet and triumphant.

Three years ago, when she had kidney failure, Xavier borrowed my entire life savings. Two years ago, when her eyesight failed, he complained that my mothers illness drained our finances. For Jessica, he exploited my dying mother. I gripped the donation papers until they crumpled.

Xavier glanced at me and lit a cigarette. Your mother suffered while alive. I helped her find peace. You should thank me. He flicked ash into the tray. Jessica is discharged next week. Prepare a generous gift for her recovery.

I let out a soft, humorless laugh and pulled out my phone. I dialed a number I had not called in six years. Christian, I need a divorce. Can you help me?

...

"Where are you? I'm coming with my men right now."

Christians deep, urgent voice crackled through the receiver.

I gave him the address and hung up.

Xavier drove me to the hospital.

The doctor looked at me, hesitating for a long moment before offering a quiet, sympathetic condolence.

My steps felt incredibly heavy as I walked down the corridor, finally leaning against the cold, sterile white wall outside the morgue.

The blood in my veins felt as though it had frozen solid.

The medical examiner pushed open the heavy steel door.

A sharp, pungent wave of formalin mixed with the metallic scent of blood washed over me.

"Family, please identify the body."

The white sheet was pulled back just a fraction.

It was my mother, whom I had spent three agonizing days and nights searching for.

Her deflated chest and abdomen had been hastily stitched back together with thick, black thread.

Her eye sockets were deeply hollowed out, resembling two dried-up, empty wells.

The examiner handed me a copy of the surgical records.

Under the authorization line, Xavier's signature was written in a bold, sweeping scrawl.

My stomach churned violently.

I clamped my hand over my mouth, rushing to the trash can in the hallway and dry-heaving.

The stomach acid burned my throat, and hot tears splashed onto the cold linoleum floor.

A tissue was suddenly held out in front of my face.

Xavier stood there, half-bathed in the harsh fluorescent light.

He was wearing a perfectly tailored grey suit, carrying his usual scent of expensive sandalwood.

Clinging to his arm was Jessica, who was dressed in a pristine white patient gown.

The corner of her eye was covered with clean medical gauze, and her lips were curved into a delicate, helpless pout.

"Gwen, please don't blame Xavier."

Jessica leaned her fragile body against his shoulder.

"Your mother wandered off into the wilderness. By the time the search party found her, she was already brain-dead."

She raised a hand, gently touching the edge of her bandaged eye.

"Xavier said that your mother always adored me when she was alive. He knew she would want me to have her eyes so I could keep looking at this beautiful world."

I stared at the gauze on her face.

Those were my mothers eyes, violently carved out of her body.

Three days ago.

Xavier had dismissed my mothers private nurse under the guise of taking her to the park for some fresh air.

He had returned alone that night, casually claiming she had wandered off and gotten lost.

I had searched for her in the pouring rain for three days and three nights like a lunatic.

Meanwhile, he was sitting in a sterile operating room, keeping vigil over his first love during her transplant surgery.

"You left her in that unmonitored wilderness on purpose, didn't you?"

I forced myself to stand upright, leaning against the trash can for support.

My fingernails dug so deep into my palms that beads of blood began to seep out.

Xaviers brow furrowed.

He pulled back the hand holding the tissue, slowly smoothing the cuff of his sleeve.

"Gwen, your mind is always so incredibly twisted."

His voice was entirely devoid of emotion.

"Your mother had severe Alzheimer's. Even if I had watched her twenty-four hours a day, she only had a few years left anyway."

"Now, her heart is beating in someone else's chest, and her corneas have allowed Jessica to see again."

He reached out, wrapping his arm around Jessica's waist.

"The continuation of life is a beautiful thing. Why can't you see that?"

I lunged forward, swinging my hand to slap him across the face.

But my wrist was caught in mid-air, gripped in a vice-like hold.

My bones let out an ominous creak under his pressure.

"Have you thrown enough of a tantrum?"

Xavier's eyes turned icy.

"A hospital is not the place for your hysterics."

With a harsh shove, he threw me off balance.

I fell hard onto the cold floor, the contents of my purse scattering across the linoleum.

A crumpled ultrasound sheet drifted through the air, landing right at the tip of Xavier's leather shoe.

The printed numbers of the gestational sac were clearly visible.

I scrambled to reach for it.

But Jessicas foot stepped onto the paper first.

"Oh, what's this?"

She deliberately ground the heel of her shoe into the paper twice before slowly drawing her foot back.

A dirty, black boot-print now covered the page, completely obscuring the words early pregnancy.

"Gwen, are you pregnant?"

Jessica gasped, covering her mouth in exaggerated shock.

Xavier glanced down at the soiled paper.

His eyes didn't show a single flicker of warmth.

"Since you're pregnant, stay home and behave yourself."

He pulled a black card from his wallet, tossing it onto my lap.

"I'll have my assistant handle the funeral arrangements."

The sharp plastic edge of the card swiped across my cheek, leaving a thin red scratch.

I looked at the card on my lap and let out a broken laugh.

"Xavier, you bribed the medical examiner to falsify the brain-death report so you could illegally harvest her organs."

I looked up, my teeth clenched so hard they nearly shattered.

"I'm going to the police."

Xavier looked down at me as if I were a petulant child throwing a useless fit.

"Suit yourself."

He turned around, carefully shielding Jessica as they walked toward the exit.

"But you might want to think it through first."

He stopped, casting a cold glance over his shoulder.

"If you're locked up in a cell, who is going to sign the authorization form to cremate your mothers body?"

Jessica turned back, offering me a sweet, mocking smile.

"Gwen, once I'm discharged, I'll be sure to visit your mothers grave and burn some incense for her."

...

The automatic lights in the hospital corridor flickered twice before dying completely.

I sat alone outside the morgue for the entire night.

By the next morning, Xavier's assistant arrived, handing me a thick stack of legal documents.

"Mrs. Knight, Mr. Knight says that if you sign this voluntary donation confirmation form, the deed to the historic family cottage will be officially transferred back to your name."

That cottage was the only piece of property my father had left behind.

It was the place my mother had cherished most in the world.

Years ago, when I chose to marry the penniless Xavier, I had severed all ties with my wealthy family.

To help him launch his startup, I had sold all my stocks and personal assets.

The only thing I had refused to touch was that historic cottage.

And now, Xavier was using it to blackmail me.

If I signed this paper, his illegal organ harvesting would be completely wiped clean in the eyes of the law.

"And if I refuse?"

I didn't take the pen.

The assistant adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his voice professional and detached.

"Mr. Knight said that if you refuse, he will sell the cottage to developers this afternoon. They plan to level the entire property to build a golf course."

A thick, metallic taste rose in my throat.

I closed my eyes.

I remembered that freezing winter years ago.

Xavier's company was facing bankruptcy, and his creditors had chased him to the edge of the river.

I hadn't hesitated for a single second before diving into the icy water to save him.

The extreme cold had ravaged my body, and the doctors had warned me that I would likely never be able to bear children.

I had stayed awake outside his ICU room for three days and three nights.

But when he finally woke up, Jessica was sitting by his bedside in dry, warm clothes, weeping beautifully.

From that day on, Xavier treated Jessica as his savior.

No matter how many times I tried to explain the truth, he simply brushed it off as petty jealousy.

And now, the miracle child I had finally managed to conceive was something he couldn't care less about.

I snatched the pen from the assistant's hand and scribbled my name across the page, the metal tip tearing through the paper.

That afternoon, I dragged my exhausted body back to the cottage.

When I pushed open the carved wooden gate, my heart shattered.

The ancient trees in the courtyard had been violently chopped down, and several workmen were trampling over my mothers prize orchids as they hauled furniture out of the house.

"What do you think you're doing?"

I rushed forward, shoving one of the workers away.

Jessica, wearing a vibrant red dress, stepped gracefully out of the front door.

She was casually tossing a small green object in her hand: my mothers vintage jade amulet, something she had worn close to her heart every single day.

"Oh, Gwen, you're back," she purred, walking down the steps.

"Xavier said the air here is wonderful for my recovery."

She gestured to the workmen.

"I thought the garden looked a bit too plain, so I'm having them tear out all these boring plants to put in red roses."

My eyes locked onto the jade amulet in her hand.

"Give that back to me."

I lunged forward to grab it.

Jessica stepped back, raising her hand to hold the amulet high out of my reach.

"Gwen, don't be so stingy."

"Your mother is dead anyway. Keeping her old junk around will only bring bad luck to the house."

She opened her fingers.

Clack.

The priceless jade amulet struck the cobblestone steps, shattering into a dozen pieces.

I froze, the last thread of my sanity snapping.

I threw myself forward, delivering a stinging slap to her face.

"Who do you think you are!"

Jessica let out a sharp cry, collapsing onto the sharp fragments of jade, her palms instantly sliced open and bleeding.

"Stop!"

Xavier's furious roar echoed from the gate.

He stormed into the courtyard, grabbing my shoulder and shoving me away with terrifying force.

My lower back collided violently with the edge of the stone table.

A sharp, white-hot agony shot up my spine.

Xavier carefully scooped Jessica into his arms.

"Xav, I just thought the amulet was pretty and wanted to look at it," Jessica sobbed against his chest, her tears flowing freely. "I don't understand why Gwen is so angry."

Xavier looked up, his eyes filled with a lethal coldness.

"Gwen, have you completely lost your mind?"

I clutched my agonizing lower abdomen, cold sweat drenching my back.

"She broke my mothers amulet," I gasped, my voice trembling violently as I pointed at the broken jade. "That was the only thing my mother left me."

Xavier glanced at the green shards on the ground, his frown deepening.

"It's just a piece of stone. I'll buy you ten more."

He turned, carrying Jessica toward the gate.

"This cottage has already been transferred to Jessica's name."

He stopped, without even turning his head to look at me.

"Pack your bags and get out immediately."

...

The dull ache in my abdomen rapidly intensified.

I felt a warm, thick liquid begin to trickle down my thighs.

I gripped the edge of the stone table, my knuckles turning stark white.

"Xavier," I called out, my voice so weak it was nearly swallowed by the wind.

"I'm pregnant."

Xavier's footsteps paused.

He slowly turned around, his gaze falling onto my skirt.

The brilliant red stain was rapidly spreading.

His eyes lingered on the blood for barely a second before returning to their usual detached coldness.

"Gwen, playing the same pathetic trick twice is just sad."

He let out a dry, mocking chuckle.

"You're actually desperate enough to make up a pregnancy just to get my attention?"

Jessica whimpered in his arms, shivering.

"Xav, I'm scared."

"Let's go. My hand hurts so much."

Xavier tightened his grip around her, never looking back at me.

"Clean up the courtyard yourself," he threw the final command over his shoulder, walking out of the gate.

The roar of his car engine gradually faded into the distance.

My legs gave out, and I slid down the side of the stone table onto the ground.

My blood stained the stone patio, mixing with the shattered fragments of my mothers jade.

The pain felt as though a thousand hot needles were tearing through my organs.

With the last of my fading consciousness, I dialed emergency services.

When I finally opened my eyes again, I was greeted by the sterile white ceiling of a hospital room.

The scent of antiseptic filled the air.

The nurse was changing my IV drip. Seeing me wake up, she let out a quiet sigh.

"You're awake."

She avoided my gaze.

"We couldn't save the baby. Your body was already severely weakened. I'm afraid it will be very difficult for you to conceive again."

I listened to her words in absolute silence.

There were no tears.

I couldn't even feel the weight of my own grief. I felt like an empty, hollow shell.

The door was pushed open.

Xavier walked in, looking immaculate in his tailored suit.

The nurse quietly gathered her tray and slipped out of the room.

He pulled up a chair and sat down beside the bed, looking down at my pale face.

"The doctor said you had a miscarriage."

His tone carried no trace of sorrow, as if he were reviewing a routine business report.

I turned my head to look out the window at the gray, overcast sky, remaining silent.

"Jessica suffered a mild concussion from your slap."

He picked up the medical chart at the foot of my bed, flipping through it idly.

"A person who just had major surgery shouldn't be subjected to that kind of stress."

He tossed the chart back onto the table with a dull thud.

"The loss of this baby was probably a blessing in disguise."

"Don't bring your bad luck around her."

I slowly turned my head to look at him.

I stared at the face of the man I had loved with every fiber of my being for seven years.

For him, I had abandoned my family, my pride, and my future.

And all of it had been dismissed as a blessing in disguise.

"Get out," I whispered, my voice raw and dry.

Xaviers brow furrowed, clearly taken aback by my coldness.

"When are you going to fix that miserable attitude of yours?"

He stood up, adjusting his tie.

"Stay in the hospital for the next few days."

"I've already sent workmen to begin renovations on the cottage."

"Tomorrow, I'll have my assistant deliver your mothers ashes to the suburban cemetery."

He checked a message on his phone.

"Jessica wants some soup from the uptown diner, so I'm leaving."

Just as he reached the door, he paused.

"The hospital bill has been taken care of."

"Don't call me."

The door clicked shut, cutting off the noise from the hallway.

I reached down and ripped the IV needle from the back of my hand.

Blood immediately welled up, dripping onto the clean white sheets.

I slid off the bed, my legs trembling like paper.

But I couldn't fall.

I had to get my mother. I couldn't let her ashes fall into the hands of those monsters.

I changed into my clothes, leaning against the wall for support as I slowly made my way out of the hospital.

The autumn wind was freezing, biting deep into my bones.

I waved down a cab.

"Take me to the South Hill Crematorium."

...

The air inside the crematorium office was damp and heavy.

I dragged my aching legs to the front desk.

"I'm here to collect the ashes of Evelyn Pierce."

The clerk flipped through the registry, a look of hesitation on his face.

"The ashes of Evelyn Pierce were collected by her family ten minutes ago."

My entire body went rigid.

"Who took them?"

"A Mr. Knight. There was a very elegant lady with him."

I turned and ran toward the exit.

As I burst through the glass doors of the lobby, I saw Xavier's black luxury car parked by the curb.

Jessica was holding the dark wooden urn in her bare hands, tapping her manicured fingers playfully against the lid.

"Xav, the psychic said that if we bury these ashes in the old dried well of the estate, it will ward off our bad luck and bring us wealth."

She smiled up at him, her eyes bright with malice.

Xavier opened the passenger door for her.

"Whatever makes you happy."

"Don't you dare touch her!"

I screamed, throwing myself forward and snatching the urn out of Jessica's hands.

Jessica gasped, stumbling backward.

Xavier caught her quickly, his eyes flashing with lethal fury.

"Gwen, have you not embarrassed yourself enough today?"

I clutched the heavy urn to my chest, my body still raw from the surgery, standing purely on adrenaline and hatred.

"This is her ashes!"

I glared at him.

"When she was alive, you drained her blood and stole her organs."

"And now that she's dead, you want to use her ashes as a stepping stone for this woman?"

Xavier's face darkened.

He lunged forward, his hand clamping around my throat, slamming me hard against the car door.

"I don't need a child like you telling me what to do."

The grip on my neck tightened, cutting off my air.

My face burned, and I clawed desperately at his iron wrist.

Jessica stood nearby, a cruel, satisfied smirk playing on her lips.

"Xav, the way she's glaring at me is terrifying," she whimpered, pretending to shrink back.

Xaviers grip tightened further.

"Drop the urn."

His voice was a low, menacing growl.

"Never," I gasped through my teeth.

Jessica stepped forward, reaching out to pry my fingers off the wooden box, one by one, her sharp nails digging deep into my raw flesh.

"Gwen, your mother loved me so much. I'm sure she'd be happy to protect me."

With a violent wrench, she tore the urn from my grip.

Crash.

The heavy wooden box slipped from her hands, striking the concrete pavement.

The wood split open, and a cloud of gray-white ash spilled across the dirty ground, catching in the wind.

The world went silent.

"Mom!"

A primal, agonizing scream tore from my throat as I fought my way out of Xavier's grip.

I dropped to my knees on the cold concrete, desperately clawing at the dust, trying to gather the scattered ashes back together. But the wind was too strong, carrying her away from me.

"Please... don't leave me..."

I sobbed, my tears mixing with the gray dust on my face.

A sharp high heel suddenly came down on the back of my hand.

The pointed heel punctured my skin, pinning my hand to the pavement.

Blood immediately pooled around the gray ashes.

"Oh, my goodness, I'm so sorry!"

Jessica squealed, grinding her heel deeper into my flesh.

"The wind was just so strong, I lost my balance."

Xavier stood by, watching me grovel in the dirt without a single ounce of pity.

"Get her out of here," he ordered his men.

Two burly bodyguards stepped forward, grabbing my arms and dragging me away.

The violent movement tore open my surgical wounds, and a fresh wave of blood began to seep through my trousers.

The guards shoved my face down into the dirt, holding me pinned against the scattered ashes.

My vision began to blur, and darkness crept in at the edges of my sight.

Xavier brushed a speck of dust from his sleeve.

"Dump her somewhere far away. Don't let her ruin Jessica's mood."

But just as the guards prepared to drag my limp body into the shadows, the screech of burning rubber sliced through the quiet air.

A sleek, black Rolls-Royce swerved sharply around the corner, blocking Xavier's car.

The heavy door was kicked open.