Chapter 1 Chapter 1

"Are you Max Chase's wife? Your husband suffered a brain hemorrhage and, despite our best efforts, he passed away an hour ago." Half an hour earlier, I received a call from a private hospital near our home and rushed over, only to be greeted with the news of my husband's death the moment I walked through the door. Beside me, my son, Evan Chase, had already been waiting. His eyes were red and swollen as he looked up at me. "Mom, Dad... he's gone." I stared at the figure being wheeled out, covered in a white sheet, and then at my son, devastated beside me. It felt like a dream, unreal and suffocating. In my previous life, seeing Evan like this had broken my heart. Tears in my eyes, I had pulled him into my arms, trying to comfort him. "Don't worry, Evan. Even if it's just the two of us, I won't let you suffer. I promise." But only days after Max's death, the debt collectors had come knocking. That's when I learned the truth—my husband had racked up nearly a million in gambling debt. I kept it all from Evan, not wanting him to worry. Quietly, I sold the house my parents had left me in Bellavaus at a fraction of its worth. I borrowed from every relative and friend I could, just to scrape together enough to pay off the debt. Evan was in his final year of high school, the most critical time for his education, and it was also when expenses were highest. On top of that, he had grown used to spending lavishly, always buying designer clothes without a second thought. My salary alone wasn't enough to cover rent and living expenses. So I took on three jobs, working day and night. I lived off instant noodles and pickles, while making sure Evan had expensive and nutritious food to nourish his body. I even hired him private tutors, each session costing hundreds. Yet, in the end, when I lay on that hospital bed, fighting to hold onto life, I overheard a conversation between my son and a nurse. "The patient is in critical condition. We need her family's consent to proceed with surgery. She has a strong will to live, and there's still a chance she could survive." Summoning every bit of strength I had left, I struggled to breathe, desperate to cling to whatever hope I had of staying alive. But my beloved son of over twenty years, the child I had sacrificed everything for, replied in the coldest voice imaginable, "There's no need. We don't have the money for surgery." Though my eyes were closed, I could hear every movement around me. Why would my son say that? We might not have been wealthy anymore, but I had worked hard for years to rebuild our savings. Just three days earlier, I had given Evan a bank card with 30 thousand dollars on it, to help him with a down payment on a house. The nurse hesitated, sympathy evident in her voice as she asked again, "Are you sure you don't want the surgery? The entire cost won't exceed eight thousand. You could borrow from family and friends to cover it for now." But my son cut her off, irritation lacing his tone. "There's a chance she could survive, but that doesn't mean she will. Why should I waste eight thousand on a surgery that might not even work?" The nurse sighed deeply. Without a family member's consent, the hospital couldn't perform the surgery. I was transferred to the intensive care unit for what they called "conservative treatment," but it was nothing more than waiting for death. Lying there, I couldn't wrap my mind around it—why would my son give up on my surgery over a mere eight thousand? I had sacrificed everything for him. It wasn't until the final moments of my life, during a brief moment of lucidity, that I managed to open my eyes. And there, standing by my bedside, was my son. As the heart monitor began to weaken, I saw a flicker of excitement on his face. He eagerly reported the situation to someone on the other end of the phone. "Dad, she's about to go. You and Aunt Rena should get ready. Bring the money back to the country. "Also, I bought insurance for her worth tens of thousands. Once she's gone, we'll collect close to one million." The voice on the phone was unmistakable—it was my husband's, the same man who had supposedly died six years ago. And the "Aunt Rena" my son spoke of was none other than Max's childhood sweetheart. Unaware that I could still hear him, my son continued, pride evident in his voice as he discussed their future plans. "It's been so suffocating these past few years, having to pretend in front of Mom. If it weren't for her, I'd have flown abroad and lived as a rich heir a long time ago. "But at least her death isn't going to be for nothing. We'll get another one million. I've had my eye on that house in Bellavaus for a while, and now I can finally get it as a bonus." A single tear slid down my cheek as everything became painfully clear. The so-called debts? They were a scheme—a trap orchestrated by my husband and his mistress to cover up their money-laundering operation with fake accounts. And the son I had poured my heart and soul into, the one I had protected even at the cost of my own life, had known the truth all along. He had been their accomplice, working in secret with them. My husband and my son—two of the people closest to me—had plotted against me, leaving not even a scrap of my life unscathed.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Looking at my son's familiar, false display of grief, my heart turned cold. Evan noticed my silence, the sobbing stopping abruptly as he lifted his eyes to meet mine. "Mom?" he called out cautiously. My lips curled into a small, almost mocking smile and I walked over to Max's hospital bed. Without hesitation, I yanked the white sheet off his body. The movement was so sudden that the doctors and nurses standing nearby had no time to stop me. There lay my husband, his face unnaturally rosy. I even caught the slight twitch of his fingers—a detail I hadn't missed this time. It was laughable, really. Such a poorly staged act, yet in my previous life, I had fallen for it so easily. Back then, out of fear of upsetting Evan, I hadn't dared to lift the sheet and see Max's body. I had been too blinded by grief to notice the guilty expressions of the attending doctors standing nearby. I coldly scanned the room, locking eyes with the lead physician. This private hospital was already dubious in its reputation. Now, looking back, it was clear Max had bribed them all, orchestrating this elaborate charade. "Mom! What are you doing?" Evan rushed toward me in a panic. He wasn't mature enough yet, and I saw the flash of fear in his eyes—the terror of his deceit being uncovered. "Dad is already dead. Let him rest in peace. Don't disturb him," he urged, his voice shaky. "There's no peace to be had for the dead," I replied calmly, not bothering to expose his lies just yet. Evan froze, clearly taken aback by my indifferent tone. He had expected a different reaction, one filled with the same blind sorrow from before. "Mom, what do you mean by that?" he asked. I ignored him completely, picking up my phone and dialing the local organ donation agency. "Hello, is this the organ donation office? I have a fresh body here for donation," I said, my voice calm and steady. "Yes, at Valespade Hospital. My husband just passed away. The body is still in good condition. I'd like to sign the organ donation agreement. Please come quickly." Evan's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched me finish the call, utterly speechless. "What organ donation agreement, Mom? What are you trying to do?" His voice trembled with shock. I put my phone down, my expression calm and resolute. "Your father died from a brain hemorrhage, didn't he? His corneas, heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys—they're all still perfectly intact. Might as well put them to good use." It wasn't long before a few staff members from the agency arrived. They had been nearby, and my request had reached them quickly. "Mrs. Chase, is that you? You contacted our office a few minutes ago, right?" one of the staff members asked as they arrived at the scene. I gave them a polite smile and pointed to the hospital bed, where my "deceased" husband lay. "Yes, that's me. The body is right here." The staff looked at me with tears brimming in their eyes, clearly moved. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Chase. Selfless people like you are rare. On behalf of the agency, we are deeply grateful.""It's nothing. My husband was always someone who enjoyed helping others. I'm sure his spirit will be happy to know his body can still serve to help others," I replied. The staff nodded in appreciation. "Time is of the essence. We'll freeze your husband's body for preservation and take him back to our facility to finalize the paperwork. Does that sound alright to you?""Of course, that sounds perfect," I said brightly. As the team began preparing to take Max's body away, Evan suddenly panicked. "Wait! Stop!"

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Evan's face was filled with panic as he spread his arms wide, blocking the hospital bed where Max lay. "No! I do not consent!" he shouted, his voice cracking under the strain. I pretended to scold him, my tone condescending but calm. "This is grown-up business. When did you get the right to interfere, child?" Sweat dotted his forehead as I stood by, watching him with cold indifference. His guilt was written all over his face, and I had no intention of letting him off the hook. "Mom, don't you love Dad the most? How could you bear to let him go without a whole body?" His voice was filled with desperate pleading. But I remained unmoved. "Organ donation is a way to save lives. I'm helping him earn some merit. Who knows, maybe in his next life, he'll be born into a good family," I said, my tone steady. Seeing that his words had no effect, Evan tried to hold his ground, glancing around frantically as if waiting for someone to show up. And then, his eyes lit up. "Aunt Rena!" he called out, his voice filled with hope. I turned my head, and there she was—a woman impeccably dressed, rushing toward us. It was Rena Collins, Max's childhood sweetheart. Inside, I laughed bitterly. I had been right. Rena had been lurking nearby, ready to intervene at a moment's notice. In my previous life, it was Evan and Rena who had worked together to deceive me. I hadn't inspected Max's body carefully then, only taking a brief glance before the cremation. That had been enough time for them to pull off their sinister switch. "Valerie, what are you doing?" Rena asked urgently, stepping in front of me, positioning herself protectively between me and the hospital bed. "What happened to Max?" she cried, tears welling up in her eyes as she threw herself dramatically against the bed, pretending to be heartbroken. "No, I don't agree to donate his organs.""Valerie, how can you be so heartless?" she continued, her voice trembling with false outrage. "Max is gone so suddenly, and you still want to donate his organs? Can't you just let him rest in peace?" Looking at the woman before me, her eyes brimming with tears, I felt a surge of hatred and anger rise within me. Rena had grown up with Max, childhood sweethearts, inseparable until she married a wealthy businessman from a neighboring city. After that, she cut ties with Max. Who would have thought that her rich husband would later fall into the grip of gambling, losing all his wealth, and, worse, turning violent and abusive? After several instances of domestic abuse, Rena could no longer endure it and fled back home. When I had learned of her misfortune, my heart ached for her. I had treated her like my own sister, helping her out whenever I could, sometimes inviting her over for meals, offering her a comforting presence. Little did I know, in the shadows, she and Max had rekindled their sordid affair. As I faced her now, I could see the deceit behind her tear-streaked face. The staff from the organ donation organization, caught in the middle of this unexpected drama, hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. They looked to me with concern. "Mrs. Chase, should we still proceed with the donation?" one of them asked. I cast a glance at Rena and replied calmly, "Of course, why not?""Max's parents passed away years ago. Evan is still a minor. I am his legal wife and the only person with the authority to make this decision." Then I turned my gaze directly at Rena, my tone icy. "As for you, Rena, what claim do you have here? What gives you the right to interfere in my family's affairs?" Hearing my words, the staff straightened, their demeanor shifting. They no longer looked uncertain; instead, they addressed Rena firmly. "Excuse us, ma'am, but please step aside. Don't obstruct our work." Without much effort, they pushed her away, smoothly lifting Max's body onto the gurney. "Wait! Where are you taking Max?" Rena's voice was frantic, her fear palpable, but she couldn't stop them. "We'll be placing him in cold storage for now," one of the staff members explained as they wheeled the gurney away. "Later, we'll transport him to our hospital for the necessary procedures." As the gurney rolled farther down the hallway, Rena and Evan tried to follow, but were held back by others, preventing them from getting close to Max. Panic flashed across their faces as they realized they were losing control of the situation. And then, just when I thought the farce was finally over, the "corpse" could no longer keep up the act. "Cough, cough! Wait—stop! I'm not dead!" Max's voice rasped out.