Chapter 3
Noelle stood frozen at a corner of the corridor. So, Hector had only returned that day for Ian’s bone marrow. He’d claimed he was taking Ian out for fun, but it was actually a lie—he wanted to force Ian into the operation! He was willing to give up Ian’s life in exchange for Micah’s!
She couldn’t hold herself back anymore. She barged into the waiting area before the operating theater and screamed, “Hector Yarrow! You brought Ian out just to trick him into donating his bone marrow?”
Hector turned to look at her icily. “Don’t act like a madwoman here.”
“Me, a madwoman?” Noelle trembled violently as her tears fell. “Ian adores you! He draws you every day and calls your name even in his sleep! He’s only five, yet he’s been collecting bottles and giving out flyers with me just to help you ‘repay your debt’! Yet here you are, giving up his life in exchange for Lindsey’s son’s health!”
“It’s just a bone marrow transplant. It won’t kill him.” Hector’s voice was eerily calm. “Micah has leukemia, and he can’t wait any longer. That’s a person’s life we’re talking about.”
“What about Ian, then?” Noelle grabbed him hysterically. “He’s only five, and you tricked him into signing the consent form! Are you even worthy of being his father?”
He grabbed her wrist, looking steely. “Don’t force my hand, Noelle.”
She struggled to break free, but bodyguards appeared out of nowhere and subdued her. Just then, the operating theater’s doors flew open, and a nurse ran out. “Both children are hemorrhaging! Micah has a rare blood type, and we don’t have enough blood in the blood bank!”
Hector’s expression shifted. He whipped around to look at Noelle, his gaze sharp. “Your blood type is Rh-negative.”
Her eyes widened. He continued, “Donate your blood now. Go!”
“Dream on!” she cried shakily. “That’s Lindsey Sutton’s child! Why should I—”
“Do it, or Ian isn’t getting a blood transfusion, either.” Hector cut her off, sounding venomous. “I call the shots over the hospital’s blood supply.”
Noelle felt like she’d been struck by lightning. He was threatening her with Ian’s life.
She stared at him for a long time before suddenly laughing. At the same time, tears streamed down her face. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
The process of getting her blood taken was long and torturous. The nurse looked at Hector hesitantly after extracting 600cc of blood. “Mr. Yarrow, her life will be in danger if I extract any more…”
“Don’t stop.” He looked at her emotionlessly.
Noelle’s face was as white as a sheet, and her vision was turning spotty. Still, she bit her lip hard, refusing to make a sound.
She had to save Ian. Even if they took every drop of her blood, she had to save her child.
Before losing consciousness, she heard Hector say to the nurse, “Give Micah the blood first.”
…
The first thing Noelle felt when she woke up was coldness.
“Mommy!” Ian threw himself into her arms, sounding like he was on the verge of tears as he cried, “It was so painful! I was so scared I wouldn’t see you again!”
She held him close, her tears soaking his collar. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I couldn’t protect you.”
He wiped her tears clumsily. “Don’t cry, Mommy. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Her heart twisted painfully, but she forced a smile. “Let’s leave once I can be discharged, okay?”
“Where will we go?”
“Somewhere without Daddy.”
Ian nodded. “Okay! When are we leaving?”
“In three days.”
Just then, the ward door swung open. Hector stood there, looking stormy. “You’re leaving? Where to?”
