Ivanna lay pale on the hospital bed, blood soaking through the bandages on her waist.

The doctor didn't sugarcoat it. "She's crashing. Massive internal bleeding from a ruptured kidney. We need a transplant. Fast. Find a match—if anyone—"

Daniel shoved Noemi forward. "Use hers."

She tried to fight back, but he didn't flinch. He barked at the bodyguards, and they dragged her off.

Blood tests came in. The doctor's face lit up. "It's a match! We can save her!"

Daniel didn't miss a beat. "Use hers. I'm her husband—I'll sign."

And just like that, the first time he ever owned up to being her husband... was to hand her over like a spare part for Ivanna.

"No. I'm not doing it. I don't care who needs it—it's not going to her."

Noemi pushed back, but her body was wrecked. Still, she forced the words out, jaw tight.

No way was she giving a part of herself to that backstabbing snake.

She'd kept quiet for too long. Always scared of hurting Daniel. But now? Screw that.

"I went abroad to find Ivanna. She said no because you were blind. Then she married some foreign guy. She never loved you."

Each word burned coming out, hoping maybe—just maybe—it'd hit him where it hurt.

But then he spoke. And it wrecked her.

"So what? I'd do anything for her. You... everything you do disgusts me."

Her mind went numb. Like someone dropped a brick on her head. Everything inside her just... shut down.

The bodyguards held her down, forced her into a hospital gown, then locked her in a private room. Surgery was in three days.

They took her phone. No calls. No way out.

Two blurry days dragged by.

The night before the surgery, Ivanna strolled in like she owned the place.

"Big day tomorrow, huh? Daniel's finally getting his cornea transplant—from YOU."

She stood there glowing, nothing like the fragile wreck from before.

"How do you even know that?" Noemi forced herself upright, head spinning. "You were never hurt, were you? Why do you even want my kidney?"

Ivanna tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, way too calm. "Oh, I'm sick—end-stage renal failure. Framing you just made scoring your kidney easier."

Noemi shook, rage bubbling up.

"You're wondering how I knew about the cornea donation, right?"

Ivanna smirked, stepped in, and brushed her fingers across Noemi's cheek.

"They typed me overseas. Once you signed that donor form, your info hit the system. And guess what? We're a perfect match. Isn't fate just wild?"

Noemi's jaw clenched. Her eyes blazed.

"So..." Her voice cracked. "So—"

Ivanna finished for her. "I came back for YOUR KIDNEY. Needed it to survive. And the cherry on top? I get the guy who still worships me. Foreign guys? Meh. Daniel always loved ME more."

"You actually threw yourself down the stairs just to frame me."

Even dying, Ivanna gambled like it was nothing.

Ivana grinned. "Who said I was the one who fell?"

Everything finally snapped into place. Every suspicion, every gut feeling—it all made sense now.

Noemi couldn't hold back anymore. She charged forward and slapped Ivanna. Twice.

Her whole body shook, fists clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms.

"So Daniel and I were just your little pawns?"

Ivanna shoved her hard. Noemi staggered—and then felt it. Warmth spreading between her legs.

She looked down. Blood. So much blood.

The bodyguards rushed in, yanked them apart, and hurried Noemi off for a check-up.

The old doctor squinted at the test results, frowning. "Miss, you can't treat your body like this. You're three weeks pregnant."

The grief cracked open, swallowed up by joy. She never thought she could get pregnant.

And now, she had something to fight for.

Noemi clutched the papers and bolted out of the room—only to see Ivanna fake-crying in Daniel's arms.

"Daniel," she sobbed, voice shaking, "don't let Noemi give me her kidney. She went crazy and attacked me. And..." Her lip trembled. "She's pregnant. With your baby."

Daniel's heart sank. His voice came out furious.

"I did everything right, and you still managed to trap me with a pregnancy." He pulled Ivanna closer.

"No, that's not it!" Noemi tried to explain, but the pain hit hard when she moved, tears springing to her eyes.

"Ivanna told me herself—she has kidney failure. I didn't push her. She wants mine."

For a second, his face shifted. Hope flared in her chest—then died as he sneered.

"Kidney failure? Seriously, Noemi? That's your excuse?"

"If you don't believe me, test her again. You—"

"Enough!" His voice cut like a blade. "Even if that's true, you STILL owe her a kidney."

She stopped. No more words, no more strength.

The pregnancy report slipped from her hand.

"Fine. I'll do it. Hand me the divorce papers. I'll sign."

Daniel didn't get what kind of game she was playing. He just nodded for his assistant to hand her the papers.

Noemi breathed hard, eyes closing as two years of chaos flashed through her mind.

Being his wife had always felt like living in borrowed time—like some dream she was never meant to keep.

Now it was over. Time to wake up.

"Goodbye, Daniel."

She signed without blinking and turned, dragging her broken body back toward her hospital room.

Daniel's chest clenched. Sharp and sudden. He grabbed at his shirt, confused.

Why did it feel like something was tearing inside?

He shoved the feeling down. Forced his mind to go blank.

***

The next day, the surgeries went ahead like clockwork.

Same hospital. Three people underwent the operation simultaneously.

Noemi's corneas—straight to Daniel. Her kidney—to Ivanna.

Lying on that freezing table, Noemi felt like her soul was bleeding out.

If she could do it all over again, she wouldn't love him. Not even a little.

Loving Daniel had destroyed her. Left her empty.

There was nothing left to give.

Before the surgery, she'd begged her best friend, Vera Mendoza, to get her out—no matter what.

Even if it meant dying, she never wanted to see any of them again.

***

Outside the OR, Juan stared at the two labeled containers pulled from Noemi's surgery.

One kidney. A set of corneas.

His chest tightened. Every buried suspicion locked into place.

It was Noemi. She'd given his boss her corneas.

He dropped to the ground, breath catching, frozen in shock.

After Daniel's surgery finished, he called out.

"Juan."

Juan stumbled in, eyes down. "Mr. Gomez... your surgery and Ms. Lopez's were both successful."

But Daniel's stomach twisted. He only cared about one thing. "Where's Noemi?"

Juan's jaw locked. He couldn't keep it in anymore.

He dropped to his knees, voice cracking. "Mr. Gomez... Mrs. Gomez gave you the corneas!"

Daniel, usually all ice and pride, completely snapped.

He ripped the IV out and shot off the bed, fists clutching Juan's shoulders.

"What did you just say? WHERE IS NOEMI?!"