The storm outside raged on, thunder crashing and wind howling.
Inside the Carter apartment, Emily Anderson was on her knees, clutching James Carter's leg like her life depended on it.
"Please, James, I'm begging you—let Oliver go. He's only eight, just a kid..."
Her bangs were wet with sweat, hair in a mess, clothes crumpled. She looked completely out of it, desperate.
James cast her a cold glance and kicked her away without hesitation.
"Donating a kidney to my son? He should feel honored."
Emily felt like her chest had been ripped open. He was really planning to make her little brother give a kidney to his illegitimate son?
"No, you can't! Oliver only has one kidney after the accident—he won't survive this!"
She crawled back, clutching his foot again, tears dripping onto his leather shoes as she cried out loud.
"James, you can't do this. He made you a birthday card, sang for you... It's been five years—even if he were a stray dog, you'd still have grown attached. How can you do this to him? Please, I'm begging you..."
James flinched slightly, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
But just as quickly, he pulled his foot back, letting her slump to the floor.
"He should've died five years ago!"
His voice was cold as ice. He crouched down, grabbed her by the chin hard.
"Because of him, I lost my mother. I lost my unborn baby. This... is karma."
Emily's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what she was hearing.
She knew he blamed her.
But they'd been in love for years. He even agreed to let Oliver move in with them after everything happened. She thought—maybe—he'd finally let it go, maybe he believed her by now…
"But you...," Emily's voice shook, "you didn't really hate him that much. You kept the gifts he made for you..."
James's face tightened, his grip on her jaw turning bruisingly firm.“I let you bring your little brother into this house for years just for this moment. If Ethan hadn't been born with kidney issues, you really think I would've let him stay that long? A life for a life. You and Oliver owe me—and Sophie.”
All the light drained from Emily's eyes.
So James had allowed her baby brother to live here... just to use him someday?
Her mom had begged her to take care of Oliver before she passed. And now? She'd walked him right into hell, with her own hands.
“No!” she cried, shaking her head desperately. “If you wanna blame someone for your mom, blame me! Oliver was only three—he didn't even know what was going on!”
Smack—
A hard slap landed across her face. James's tone was so calm, it was terrifying.
“You don't get to bring up my mother.”
Emily's cheek burned, swelling instantly, her ears ringing. James's voice cut through.
“Emily, blood must be paid with blood. You should've known the day my mom died how this would end.”
She collapsed on the floor, drained. Deep down, she'd always known.
Still, she hadn't left him. She'd moved in with him again, even knowing he'd had a kid with Sophie.
She'd waited. Held out hope. And this—this was the price she paid.
“James, I never meant to hurt your mom! It was an accident...” Her voice cracked with sobs.
He scoffed coldly.
“Excuses. Doesn't matter. You two are getting what you deserve.”
The rain outside lashed harder at the windows, rattling like tiny hammers.
At the door, Lucas Harris stood waiting. James stepped right over Emily without even looking back.
The headlights blinked on in the yard. Snapping out of it, Emily bolted after him, throwing herself in front of the car like a woman possessed.
“James! Don't go—please, don't do this to Oliver!”
James's expression only grew colder.
“Move.”
His voice wasn't loud, but she heard every word perfectly.
“No!” Emily shook her head, tears mixing with the rain.
“If you're gonna take my brother's life, you'll have to run me over first!”
She stood there in the storm, helpless against the machine but refusing to back down.
James's chest tightened. His jaw clenched, hands balled into fists at his sides, eyes darkening.
"Sir, if we wait any longer, Ethan might miss the surgery window..." Lucas said quietly.
James looked away, his face like ice.
“Drive.”