“Thanks but no thanks,” I refused.
“Come on, don’t say no so fast.” He chuckled. “I heard you’re trying to find a matching kidney for the Crests’ kid. I’m your friend, Sienna, and I’m a kind man. I don’t mind getting a suitable kidney for the child. All you have to do is ask,” he said casually, much to my surprise.
I frowned. “What are you trying to do now, Armond?”
“Let’s meet up and talk. You raised the child, didn’t you? You can take this risk. You risked your life in Moranta for Anthony, so why not for the child? Is she worth less than your husband? All I want to do is to chat with you.”
I was surprised that he could sound so nonchalant since he was usually a stern man. What is he really like deep down?
My prolonged silence prompted him to speak. “So it’s a no, huh? I feel bad for the poor child.”
“Give me the location.” I took a deep breath. I didn’t know how he would find the kidney, but it was a pressing matter, so I had to give it a try.
He laughed as if his plan had worked. “You are always so loyal, Sienna. I’m looking forward to our meeting, but don’t tell anyone about this, and don’t try to pull any tricks behind my back. Or I’ll make sure your daughter is bedridden for life even if she gets the bone marrow she desperately needs. You know I can do that.”
He said goodbye with a laugh before hanging up. Then, he sent me the location.
I pursed my lips. The city center, huh? And the most bustling place too. I heaved a sigh of relief. If that’s the case, he can’t do anything to me even if he wants to.
Cameron came back with the vitamins after I kept my phone. “Take these vitamins once in the morning and once at night. It’ll help the baby.”
I nodded and put the pills in my bag. At the same time, I was thinking about what to tell her since I want to go out.
The ER’s door swung open, and out came Summer on a gurney surrounded by doctors. Cameron and I followed them into the ward, but Summer was still in a coma even after the doctors had left.
I looked at Cameron. “I’m going out to get some stuff, Mom. Look after Summer for me. I’ll be back in a minute.”
She looked at the time and nodded. “Go on. I’ll look after her.”
I went straight to the location Armond sent me after coming out from the hospital. It was a café near the hospital. When I arrived at the place, Armond was already waiting for me. He gave me a warm smile when we met. “I thought you won’t come.” Then, he called the waiter to take his order.
I looked at him. “Please make this quick.”
He pursed his lips calmly. “So I’m not even your friend now.”
“Do you think we can still be friends after what you did?” I held my anger back. He was no longer my friend from the moment he tried to kill Anthony in Moranta. In fact, he was my enemy since then.
He smiled despondently. “You know I would never harm you.”
“Depends on how you define ‘harm.’” I sneered. “That’s enough of pleasantries. You have plotted ever since we met, but I don’t really care about your reason. Just cut to the chase.”
He pursed his lips and squinted at me. “Very well then. Remember the sandalwood box you promised to give me back in Venria? I took your girls back safe and sound, but what did you do? You gave me a fake box. Do you think I’m an idiot, Sienna?”
I froze for a moment. Oh, so he found out about that. I pursed my lips. “I know nothing about that box. You wanted it, so I gave it to you. I can tell you that my grandma gave it to me, so it’s just something my grandma left me. I have no idea what the content means to you, and I don’t know what you want from it.”
He sneered. “Shifting the blame, are we? Fine. If you don’t want to give me the box, then there’s no meaning to this meeting. Your daughter is on her own now.”
A frown creased my forehead. “I have no idea where the box is right now. It’s always been in the villa and guarded by Anthony.”
He gave me a nod and squinted. “So that means you can retrieve it.”
I frowned again. “I cannot,” I denied.
He chuckled. “Well, the box isn’t the only chip you have, but I wonder if you’ll accept the deal.”
I hesitated for a moment before asking, “What’s your price?”
He pointed at me. “You.”
I frowned at him, flabbergasted and waited for a further explanation.
He smiled. “Haven’t you realized? I’ve been interested in you for a while now.”
I almost spewed the water out, then I stared at him in shock.
He ignored my surprise and continued, “The first time I met you was at J City’s auction. You weren’t exactly beautiful, but you were attractive. Maybe it’s because Anthony was beside you, so I only had eyes for you then. And then the meeting at the cemetery. You probably didn’t know this, but I was the one who sent the guy who attacked you. Anyway, I wasn’t planning to hurt you, and I just wanted to have a reason to talk with you. Fortunately, we got to know each other after that. Then, I wanted to get closer to you, and you gave me a chance. You were in A City then, and coincidentally, you were in my company. Also, you know Savini and that’s one great coincidence. Whatever it is, we got to know each other after that.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “You’re the president of Animus?”
He nodded. “Murphy Corporation has a lot of subsidiaries in A City. Some are just newly acquired, so they aren’t named after the corporation yet.”
I felt a chill running down my spine as I recalled everything that had happened. Then, I grabbed his hand. “So you were the one behind the night I was arrested because of kyanine possession? Those cops are your henchmen?”
He paused for a moment, surprised. “Wow, you’re getting smarter.”
No, I was not. I just remembered seeing him that night at the hotel, and I was falsely accused not long after that. I couldn’t understand why I was the one who was targeted out of everyone there. I thought Savini was behind it, but he didn’t seem surprised when I met him after coming back from Venria alive. And he was all ready for my questioning.
When I thought back to those hellish days, I realized there were a lot of loopholes that couldn’t be explained. Tabitha and Laurel came from normal families, but Nora wasn’t. But even so, Channing didn’t say a word about her kidnap.
I must have looked concerned, but all Armond did was throw me a dark smile. “Are you thinking about the happy days we had in Venria and Western Europe?”
My face fell, and I got ready to leave before the waiter came back with our coffee, but he stopped me. “Your daughter can’t wait around any longer, Ms. Stanhope. Stop throwing a tantrum and take my offer.”
He was smiling when he said that, as if Summer’s life was just a chip for him to play with. Disgusting. I glowered. “What do you want?”
He gave me an eerie look. “Why don’t you start dating me?”
“Are you mad, Murphy? I’m married! And I won’t date you even if I’m not! If you don’t love Nora, then tell her! Don’t make her wait!” The man was not just a hypocrite. He could act like a gentleman, a scheming b*stard, a cold warlord, and a shameless per*ert. Suddenly, I realized I never knew this creature—he’s a demon in human skin.
“I won’t make it hard for you.” Then, he pinned me down on the seat. “Why not give me a chance? If you date me, I’ll get your daughter the kidney that she needs so desperately.”
I glared at him incredulously. He was making the source of kidneys sound like something within his reach. Then, he sat back before me. “All you have to do is nod. I’ll make sure your daughter gets treated immediately.”
I looked at him. He’s already beyond disgusting. Any description is going to be an understatement. I took the coffee the waiter served and splashed it on his face. “Get professional help if you have a mental illness. You’re going to hurt someone sooner or later.”
Then, I left without saying a word. Armond shocked me to my core once again. I had the feeling he could take any human organ he wanted at any time. All he had to do was say the word. That fact alone made him terrifying.
At that moment, Cameron gave me a call to ask me why I was out for so long. I lied by saying that I had gone quite a distance, so I couldn’t get back that soon. In the end, I bought some stuff at a convenience store nearby before going back.
Summer was lying in the bed. She was looking skeletal after the chemotherapy sessions, and looking at her broke my heart. Even so, I couldn’t cry before her, so I forced a smile. “Are you angry with Mommy, Summer? It’s been a while since I last saw you.”
Summer shook her head and held my hand weakly. “No. Grandma said you have a baby in your belly, so you can’t stay here for too long, or the baby’s going to get sick.”
I took a deep breath before holding her hand back firmly. I couldn’t face her because of my guilt. I felt that everything was my fault. If I hadn’t let her go with Jared to W City, she wouldn’t have to suffer that much.
If I hadn’t left for A City, if I hadn’t left her behind with Cameron, I would probably notice something wrong with her. Cameron even called me to talk about Summer’s symptoms, but I delayed her treatment because of my carelessness. I shouldn’t have gotten pregnant either. I always thought I cared and loved Summer with all my heart, but I realized I was only acting out of my selfish desires. I brought her to R Province because I thought it was best for her, then I brought her back to K City and left her alone for the same reason. I brought this suffering unto her.
I felt guilty, and I couldn’t face her because of that.
“What are you thinking about, Mommy?” Summer waved her hand before me, snapping me out of my trance. “I’m not scared, Mommy. Granny told me lots of people fall sick, but everyone gets better if they follow the doctor’s orders.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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