Chapter 3

The heart transplant was a success. After six hours, it began beating anew—this time within Evelyn Snow's chest.

As soon as Lucas Ryan exited the surgery room, he made his way directly to Evelyn's recovery area.

He stood beside her bed, observing her tranquil slumber. Only then did he exhale deeply, feeling the tension leave his body.

Once he was confident Evelyn was in stable condition, Lucas headed back to his office. He collapsed into his chair and reached for his phone, only to find the display empty—no texts, no missed calls.

It felt odd. I used to bombard him with messages throughout the day, sharing every trivial aspect of my life—my meals, my work, my daily experiences.

But Lucas never replied. Not even once.

He gazed at his phone for a moment, then accessed his contact list. His finger lingered over my name before he paused, but eventually, he initiated the call.

The phone rang repeatedly, the mechanical sound piercing the quiet, until it cut off automatically. There was no one to answer on the other end.

Exasperated, Lucas set the phone down, opened our previous conversation, and recorded two voice messages, his annoyance evident: "Claire, you've already agreed to end our marriage. Whether you pick up or not won't alter my decision."

"And don't think that playing coy will make me change my mind."

I observed him send the messages in anger, a faint, bitter smile crossing my face.

"Lucas Ryan," I whispered softly, "if you loathed me this much, why did you ever marry me?"

But it was irrelevant now. The wife he detested had perished in today's tempest.

He would never have to deal with me again.

For the first time, Lucas's messages vanished into nothingness, unanswered. I disappeared from his life, silently and without a trace.

Yet, he didn't search for me. He presumed I was being difficult, hiding because I opposed the divorce. He was so convinced of this that he never questioned my absence.

Meanwhile, my lifeless form remained unclaimed in the hospital's morgue.

It wasn't unexpected. After all, I had no family.

Raised in a group home, I had no relatives to call my own. My sole notable achievement in life was securing a place at one of the nation's leading design institutions.

And, of course, becoming Lucas Ryan's wife.

During our college years, Lucas wasn't just a standout in medical school—he was the epitome of success. Top academic performer, incredibly attractive, and seemingly unreachable, he was the object of every girl's desire on campus.

Even at my school in another part of town, everyone had heard about the perfect romance between Lucas Ryan and Evelyn Snow.

I first laid eyes on him at a joint event between our universities.

He stood out in the crowd, wearing an expertly tailored suit that exuded wealth and sophistication. He conversed with natural charisma, surrounded by people who appeared drawn to him like moths to a flame. His presence was so captivating, it was almost overwhelming.