Series 3–Love turns to ashes–Chapter 18
“Miss Swanson, are you sure you want to donate all your organs except for your heart? Your artificial heart is failing, but there’s still time to replace it. Are you certain you don’t want to wait?”
“No need to wait. I’ve made up my mind. My heart can keep beating for five more days. After that, you can come and collect my body.“”
When Karen said this, her gaze was resolute, carrying the air of someone ready to embrace death. Her determination left the staff member slightly stunned. It was the first time she had encountered someone so eager to die.”
It wasn’t that Karen was unwilling to replace her failing artificial heart, her body was simply too weak to endure another major surgery.
Seeing her unwavering determination, the staff member said no more and handed her an agreement, signaling for her to sign.
Without hesitation, Karen wrote her name on the paper, then slowly walked out of the hall.
She had barely taken a few steps when a Bentley pulled up in front of her, blocking her path. The next second, two men in suits stepped out of the car and grabbed her without warning.
“Miss Swanson, Mr. Greene wants to see you. Please come with us.“3
Before Karen could react, they shoved her into the car.
Ten minutes later, she was pushed into a private lounge.
The room was crowded with men and women, drinking, laughing and indulging in pleasure. The atmosphere was lively, yet tinged with an
unmistakable sense of wildness.”
No matter how wild the crowd got, no one dared to disturb the man sitting in the center. His status was so powerful that he could control everything with just a flick of his fingers. No one would risk offending him.
Yet, the man who was known for being ruthless and indifferent was now patiently peeling an orange for the woman beside him, his gaze filled with undisguised tenderness.”
Karen was shoved in front of him and the next second, she was forcibly pushed to her knees.
“Mr. Greene, we’ve brought her.”
Jason didn’t even pause his actions. He carefully fed a piece of the peeled orange to Rebecca before finally turning his cold, piercing gaze toward Karen.
“Didn’t your dad tell you to stay by Rebecca’s side and take good care of her? So why were you missing for a full three hours today?” His voice was laced with icy disdain. If something happened to Rebecca, could you afford the consequences?
Karen opened her mouth to explain, but was interrupted by Rebecca, who spoke in a considerate tone, “Jason, don’t be angry with my sister. She was just upset when she heard about our arranged marriage and felt unwilling, which is why she left me. After all, you two were once lovers. If it weren’t for her choosing to become the Swanson Family’s adopted daughter because she found your family too poor, she would have been your fiancée instead of me. It’s normal for her to feel imbalanced now that I’ve become the one in your life, Jason, don’t blame her…”
Those words undoubtedly reopened the deepest wound in Jason’s heart. His face darkened and he leaned down, grabbing Karen’s wrist, forcing her to meet his gaze. His voice was cold as he questioned, “Karen, what makes you think you’re entitled to feel imbalanced? Have you forgotten what you did to me back then?”
The countless needle marks on Karen’s wrist flared with pain and she winced, her face paling. Yet, she forced herself to maintain a calm facade and replied, “Those things are in the past, Mr. Greene. Why are you still holding onto them? I’ve already forgotten. Now, I just want to live my life as a daughter of the Swanson Family.”
She lied to Jason. She would never forget what she had done to him all those years ago because it wasn’t just a wound for Jason. It was the beginning of her nightmare.
When she was five, her parents divorced. Both of them only wanted her younger brother and no one wanted her. It was Halley who took her in, treating her like her own daughter. Jason also treated her like a sister, loving and caring for her
But despite all the affection, they ultimately had no blood relation. Over time, as they spent more time together, different feelings began to emerge. Eventually, at the age of eighteen, they secretly confirmed their relationship and dated for three years.
Their relationship was incredibly strong and they had sworn that they would be with each other for life. At that time, the Greene Family’s financial situation was poor, but Jason always gave the best of everything to Karen, treating her like a precious gem. Halley was very supportive of their relationship and they were a happy and harmonious family.R
However, their happiness was shattered when Halley was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. The doctor informed them that surgery had to be done immediately, or there would be no hope left. That’s when their world came crashing down.
The money needed for the surgery was an astronomical sum for Karen and Jason at the time. Even if they worked day and night, they still couldn’t save even a fraction of it. They simply didn’t have enough money to afford the treatment for Halley.
In their moment of despair, Karen’s father, Rowan, approached her with a proposal He told her that his daughter had fallen ill and only Karen’s blood could save her If she agreed to donate her blood to his daughter, he would arrange for the treatment of Halley.
But that was not all. He made an even more outrageous request, one that ultimately pushed Karen into an abyss
1:20 PM c
