Chapter 3Everyone Begged For My Forgiveness

I dragged my aching body along the street.

Tears ran down my wounds, and the sting made me quiver all over.

I had no home to go back to and no money on me either. Eventually, I found a park and sat there the whole night.

At 3 a.m., I received a call from Rowena.

“Get home now. We need to talk about your situation.”

I felt a glimmer of hope.

‘Could they have changed their minds?’ I thought.

If they were willing to help me, I would willingly tell them the truth and donate my kidney to Rowan.

If that happened, would I finally receive the love of both families, just like Rowan did?

I jogged all the way back home.

As soon as I walked in, everyone was present, including Frank and Ronnie. However, there was also a notary.

Before I could even speak, Rowena handed me a contract.

“We had a lawyer draw this up. Just sign it.”

The contract listed several clauses.

[I agree that I will not ask for or accept Rowan Hawthorn’s organs for any reason.]

[I agree that I will not inherit any property from either family.]

[My medical bills will be split as follows: Twenty percent paid by Eugene and Rowena Cooper, and eighty percent paid by Frank and Ronnie Hawthorn.]

Frank looked at the contract with a displeased expression.

“Why should our family take eighty percent? It should be fifty-fifty.”

Eugene slammed his hand on the table and yelled, “He’s your biological son! I’m already doing him a favor by chipping in twenty percent.”

“No, he’s not! Rowan is my only son!” Frank replied irritably.

They haggled over me like I was garbage.

The two of them argued for a while and finally decided to add a clause to the contract.

[Should the treatment expenses surpass three hundred thousand dollars, I agree to discontinue all medical care.]

Ronnie looked at me guiltily.

“I’m sorry, Ronan. If we had the means, we’d sell everything we own. We’d even pawn any valuable things we had to get you treated.

“It’s just that Rowan needs a ton of money to study abroad. Felix is also starting high school, which also costs a fortune. I really can’t scrape together any more than that.

“If it comes down to it, I’ll sell one of my own kidneys to pay for your treatment.”

Rowan rushed over to stop her and shot me an accusing look.

“Ronan, that’s wrong. Don’t put Mom and Dad in a difficult position.”

Hearing that, I found it so absurd that I almost laughed.

I stared straight into his eyes and asked him, “Rowan, if you were in my shoes, would you sign this agreement?”

Rowan paused for a moment before he puffed out his chest and said, “Of course! I know how hard Mom and Dad have it. If I got sick, I’d find a building to jump off the first chance I got. I’d never be a burden to them.”

His words touched Rowena and Ronnie. They rushed over to hug him with teary eyes.

Eugene looked at him with a pained expression. When he turned to me, his expression was filled with loathing again.

“Now that’s my son. He’s not like you, who’s trying to drag everyone down with you to save yourself.”

I turned to them and asked, “In that case, let me rephrase my question. If Rowan were the one who got sick today, would you let me give him my kidney?”

Almost instantly, Frank blurted out, “Of course not! At the end of the day, you’re both my sons. What kind of father would sacrifice one son to save the other?

“Just because you’re a piece of trash, doesn’t mean everyone is. Any decent person would be ashamed to say something that vile.”

Hearing this, I nodded with a sense of relief.

“Fine. I hope you all remember what you just said.

“I’ll sign it, but I’m adding one more clause to the contract.

“From this day forth, if anything happens to any of you, do not come looking for me.”