Chapter 1
The thing Jessica Lane regretted most in her life was falling in love with her non–relative uncle, Carlson Adams.
She was ten when she first met Carlson Adams. The tall man gathered her into his arms after her parents died, promising to protect her for as long as he lived.
At fifteen, when Jessica was bullied at school, it was Carlson who appeared, making her tormentors kneel and apologize.
At eighteen, Carlson barely survived a mission gone wrong. Jessica ignored the doctors‘ warnings and donated part of her liver to save him.
That was also the day she stole a kiss from him, only to be caught by Carlson himself the moment he woke up.
There was no sweet fairy tale ending–only shock on his face and a cold, widening distance between them.
Later, when Carlson’s dream woman fell gravely ill, Jessica turned out to be the only compatible donor.
The usually indifferent Carlson came to her, with eyes hollow with desperation. He said if Jessica would give up her kidney, he’d grant her anything she asked for. Jessica answered his plea with silence, and Carlson’s dream woman, Laura Main, died on the operating table.
Carlson didn’t shed a single tear. It was as if Laura’s death meant nothing, as if his world had never changed.}
But at Laura’s funeral, Carlson made Jessica’s diaries–filled with a young girl’s secret love–public for everyone to see.}
He nailed her to a pillar of shame, forever branded as the girl who loved her own uncle.
On Jessica’s birthday, Carlson drugged and kidnapped her, locking her in a basement with a dozen brutes and leaving her at their mercy.
He stood by, coldly remarking, “Don’t think I’d ever love you. You disgust me.“)
When Jessica was barely conscious, Carlson doused her with ice–cold water to wake her.
Through her blurry vision, Jessica watched him approach, a knife glinting in his hand.
He brought it down in one swift motion, his said: “This is what you owe Laura.”
When Jessica opened her eyes again, she found herself back on the day Carlson begged her for the kidney.}
“I’m begging you,” Carlson’s voice trembled as it echoed in her ears. “Maybe losing a kidney is nothing to you, but without it, Laura will die.”
“If you agree, I’ll do anything you ask. Anything.”
Jessica snapped back to reality. She had been given another chance.
In her previous life, she’d refused Carlson that day, and paid for it with unimaginable suffering.
But she’d already lost part of her liver for him–how could she risk her life again by giving up a kidney?
Now, reborn, Jessica saw everything with chilling clarity.
If she refused, she’d die anyway. So she made up her mind. She would give him the kidney–as repayment for the eleven years he’d raised her. After that, they’d be even. Nothing left between them.2
With this resolve, Jessica clenched her fists and answered firmly, “I’ll do it.”
Carlson’s next words caught in his throat. The doctor beside him paled and tried to intervene.
“Ms. Lane, are you sure? Normally, we never recommend a second organ donation–it makes the surgery far riskier. It could even kill you.”
Jessica nodded gravely.
She understood the risks. But for the chance to finally break free from Carlson Adams–even if it meant dying–she was willing.
When Carlson saw Jessica sign the consent papers, he finally let himself breathe.
He had worried she might deceive him, never expecting she’d sign so readily, without a moment’s hesitation.
His eyes softened as he looked at her.
“You agreed,” he said quietly. “I’ll keep my word. Name your price–whatever you want.”
