Chapter 1
Charlotte Whitmore’s biggest regret in life was falling for her guardian.
At ten, Charlotte first met Elias Delaney after losing her parents in a tragic accident. The tall, broad–shouldered man embraced her with a promise: “I’ll always keep you safe, kiddo. That’s a promise.”
By fifteen, when mean girls at school cornered Charlotte in the bathroom, it was Elias who stormed in, his federal badge flashing. “Apologize to her. Now.” His voice left no room for argument as the bullies mumbled their sorries.
At eighteen, Elias nearly died during a classified operation. Against medical advice, Charlotte donated part of her liver to save him. While he was recovering, she impulsively
kissed his lips, not realizing his eyes had fluttered open.
There was no fairy–tale moment. Only shock in his eyes and months of awkward distance
afterward.
Years passed until Scarlett Yates–Elias’s college sweetheart–developed kidney failure. When tests showed Charlotte was the only compatible donor, Elias appeared at her
apartment for the first time in months.
“Name your price,” he said flatly, standing in her doorway. “Whatever you want, it’s yours. Just… help Scarlett.”
Charlotte’s silence spoke volumes. Three days later, Scarlett died during what should have
been a transplant surgery.
Elias didn’t cry at the hospital. He didn’t break down. He simply nodded when the doctor delivered the news, as though he’d expected it all along.
But at Scarlett’s funeral, Elias did something unthinkable. He distributed photocopied pages from Charlotte’s teenage diary to everyone in attendance–family, friends, colleagues from the University of Michigan–exposing her childhood crush and teenage fantasies about him.
“Thought you all should know who really killed Scarlett,” he announced to the shocked
mourners.
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Chapter 1
On Charlotte’s birthday, she woke to a cloth pressed against her face. She later found herself bound in an abandoned warehouse, surrounded by strange men while Elias
watched from the shadows.
“Don’t worry,” he called out, voice dripping with contempt. “I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last woman on earth. You’re nothing but trash to me.”
As Charlotte was slipping into unconsciousness from the pain, Elias dumped ice water over her head. Through swollen eyes, she watched him approach, knife glinting in his hand.
“This is for Scarlett,” he whispered, blade descending.
Then darkness.
When Charlotte opened her eyes again, she was back in her apartment, staring at Elias in
her doorway, asking her to donate a kidney.
She had a second chance.
“Charlotte, please.” Elias’s voice broke as he stood in the sterile hospital hallway. “This
kidney might not mean much to you, but Scarlett will die without it.” He ran his hand through his disheveled hair. “Name your price. Anything. Just say yes.”
His desperate plea snapped Charlotte back to reality.
She was reliving this moment–the exact day when she’d refused him before, triggering a
nightmare that ended with her broken body and his knife. Last time, she’d said no because
her body had already sacrificed part of her liver for Elias years earlier. The medical risks
had been too great.
But now, with the clarity of hindsight, Charlotte understood the brutal truth: refuse or
accept, her path led to death either way. At least this way, she could repay her debt to the
man who’d raised her after her parents died. After this, they would be even.
“I’ll do it,” she said firmly, her voice steadier than her hands.
Elias froze mid–sentence, clearly caught off guard by her immediate agreement.
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The transplant specialist beside him frowned deeply. “Charlotte, I need to be absolutely clear about this,” he said, switching to his authoritative doctor voice. “Donating a second organ after your previous liver donation creates serious complications. The mortality risk is significant. You understand that, right?”
Charlotte nodded. The risks didn’t matter anymore. Death was preferable to remaining in
Elias’s orbit.
After she signed the consent forms without hesitation, Elias visibly relaxed. He’d expected resistance, bargaining, or manipulation–not this calm acceptance.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice softening slightly. “Like I said, whatever you want in
return–it’s yours.”
Charlotte met his eyes directly. “I want one thing: legal emancipation from the Delaney family. I want my name removed from all family documents. Complete separation.”
Elias’s expression shifted from gratitude to suspicion. “You’re serious?”
He’d clearly expected her to leverage this situation–perhaps demand his hand in marriage or some other emotional ransom. Her request to sever ties completely blindsided him.
“Dead serious,” Charlotte replied coldly.
Elias studied her face, his eyes narrowing. “What’s your angle here, Charlotte? Cutting ties with the family won’t magically create something between us,” he said harshly. “Let me be crystal clear: there will never be anything between us. My heart belongs to Scarlett. Only
Scarlett. Not you. Never you.”
Charlotte’s gaze didn’t waver, though something flickered behind her eyes. “I’m well aware.”
The memory of her previous humiliation remained raw. This time, Charlotte had no intention of loving Elias. She only wanted to get as far away as possible.
Elias continued staring, sensing something different about her but unable to identify what
had changed.
Before he could press further, a weak voice called from the hospital room. “Elias?”
He immediately rushed inside, Charlotte following at a distance, her expression carefully
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neutral.
Scarlett lay in the hospital bed, her once–vibrant features now gaunt and pale. She coughed weakly, tears gathering in her eyes. “Stop pressuring her, Elias. I know she doesn’t like me, and I don’t blame her for not wanting to donate.”
Before she could continue, Elias grabbed her hand, his face lighting up. “Scarlett, she said yes! Charlotte’s going to donate. You’re going to be okay!”
Scarlett fell silent, her gaze darting to Charlotte. Her expression hardened suddenly. “What did she demand in return? Did she ask you to marry her?”
Before Elias could answer, Scarlett lunged forward with surprising’strength and slapped Charlotte hard across the face.
“You manipulative bitch!” Scarlett gasped, clutching her chest as monitors began beeping.
“He’s your guardian! How desperate and pathetic can you be?”
She turned to Elias, tears streaming. “If you agreed to marry her, I swear I’d rather die right
now!”
As Scarlett’s breathing grew more labored, Elias pulled her into his arms, completely ignoring Charlotte’s reddening cheek.
“Baby, calm down,” he murmured. “I love only you. I’ll only ever marry you. That was
never on the table.”
Charlotte touched her stinging face, a bitter smile forming as she quietly backed toward the door. In the hallway, she couldn’t help overhearing their continued conversation.
“She already gave you part of her liver,” Scarlett said softly. “Taking her kidney too–isn’t that dangerous for her?”
Charlotte paused, feeling a flicker of something–hope, perhaps–only to have it immediately extinguished.
“Scarlett, honey, you know I don’t give a damn about anyone but you,” he replied matter–of–factly. “Everyone else can live or die–I just need you to get better. That’s all that
matters.”
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Chapter 1
Outside the hospital, Charlotte leaned against the cold brick wall, took three deep breaths, and pulled out her phone. She dialed Professor Allen’s number.
“Professor? It’s Charlotte Whitmore. That Peace Corps position in Tanzania you mentioned…
I’d like to accept it. How soon can I leave?”
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