Nice Try, But No Kidney

Ten years ago, I ditched a high-paying job for my family. A decade later, they asked for my kidney—supposedly for my daughter, Talia. Turns out, the real patient was Hudson's first love's son. They didn't even fake remorse. Hudson sneered, convinced I couldn't survive without him. Talia called me old and fat, acting like I should be grateful to help Bianca's kid. A whole decade of sacrifice, and what did I get? No love. No thanks. Just entitlement. To them, I was nothing but a free, disposable maid. So I walked. No regrets. I rebuilt my life, found a job, and never looked back. Then reality smacked them. Hudson and Talia finally realized everything I'd done. They begged me to come back—but my heart was already stone-cold. In the end, I left the country, threw myself into work, and finally learned what it meant to live. Chapter 1 Six months ago, they told me my daughter, Talia, had kidney failure. That only I could save her. But the night before surgery, I found out the truth—Talia was fine. The real patient? Gabriel, the son of my husband's first love, Bianca Tuck. It was all a lie. A setup. Hudson had planned everything, and Talia—my own daughter—had played along. I was the only fool left in the dark. In that moment, ten years of marriage, ten years of sacrifice, shattered. I slammed the divorce papers on the table. Didn't even ask for custody. I was done. Hudson frowned. "Lying was wrong, but is divorce really necessary? All I wanted was your kidney. You'll live with one—Gabriel won't if he doesn't get a good match." I shut my eyes, exhaled slow, then shoved the papers back at him. "Sign it." Chapter 2 "Luna, you've been a housewife for ten years. You're completely out of touch. Haven't I been the one supporting you?" Hudson sighed like I was the one being ridiculous. "You won't survive without me, so stop this nonsense. "Just show up at the hospital tomorrow and donate the kidney. Don't worry—I won't hold it against you for being half-disabled after surgery. "I'll still send you money every month, take care of you." "You have no right to ask for a divorce!" Talia snapped. "You've lived in our house, eaten our food—you're just a maid! And why shouldn't you donate? Gabriel's losing his life. You're only losing a kidney!" I stared at her, stunned. My own daughter. Saying this. Talia sneered, eyes raking over me with pure disgust. "Look at you. Out of shape, plain, useless. "What man would ever want you after leaving Dad? Even a homeless guy under a bridge would turn you down." She shoved a mirror in my face. "See for yourself! Fat, ugly, pathetic. "You should be honored to donate to Bianca's son. Stop being so shameless!" The woman staring back at me in the mirror—hollowed-out, exhausted—wasn't me. Not the woman I used to be. Chapter 3 "Oh, let me guess—you're about to say you gained weight because you were overworked after having me? That all the meds ruined your body?" Talia rolled her eyes. "Please. You're just lazy. Stop blaming me. Bianca had a kid too—why is she still slim?" And just like that, it clicked. The real reason Talia never let me attend her school events. I used to think she was being considerate, that she knew crowds drained me. But no. She was just ashamed of me. The perfect family I once believed in? Nothing but broken pieces. "Sign the papers, or we'll settle this in court," I said, exhausted. Talia scoffed. "You think threatening Dad with divorce will work? Have you seen yourself?" Hudson let out a frustrated sigh. "Do you really have to make such a big deal out of this? "Fine. Do whatever you want. But you're still coming to the hospital tomorrow. If you don't, don't expect a dime next month. "Oh, and Bianca doesn't like hospital food—make something light for her. You cook all day anyway. One more meal won't kill you." Talia groaned. "I was supposed to have a celebratory dinner with Bianca tonight. What a buzzkill." She shot me a look of disgust. "Let's go eat out. I can't stand pretending to be a sweet daughter to this old woman any longer." Given her words, it almost felt like they and Bianca were the real family—while I was just the outsider. The disposable maid. That night, I packed my things and left for good. Chapter 4 The night I left, I joined a job recruitment group and landed an hourly tutoring gig. My trial lesson was set for 8 AM. After the session, both the kid and the parents were happy. They signed a six-month contract on the spot. Stepping out of their house, I switched on my silenced phone—99+ missed calls from Hudson. For a second, hope flickered. Ten years of marriage. Was he actually worried about me? I called him back. Before I could say a word, Hudson's voice exploded through the speaker. "So now you're pulling a runaway stunt? Gabriel's transplant is TODAY! Get to the hospital NOW, or I'll freeze all your bank cards! Let's see how long you last without money!" Talia's voice chimed in. "Get back here and take care of me and Dad! KNOW YOUR PLACE!" Just like that, any hope I had shattered. "I see." Hudson's tone shifted slightly. "Good. Then get back here—" I let out a cold laugh. "No, I finally see the truth. You never once saw me as a person. Hudson, I don't owe your first love's son my kidney. "And let me remind you—I married you, I didn't sell myself into servitude. I am not your maid. Or Talia's. "Sign the divorce papers. Custody of Talia is yours. If you refuse, I'll sue." I ended the call and blocked his number. Chapter 5 Half an hour later, Hudson froze all my bank accounts and even changed his phone number—just to gloat. [So, struggling without money? Come back now, and I'll forgive you! The house is a mess with no one to clean it!] Pathetic. That house wasn't my home anymore. I wasn't going back. With what little cash I had left, I got a new number and rented a tiny shared apartment way outside the city. The commute was brutal—four hours a day—but I threw myself into my tutoring job, relearning the skills I'd abandoned years ago. Two days later, just as I reached my student's neighborhood, Hudson and Talia ambushed me at the entrance. "I heard you're working as a tutor here," Hudson said, frowning. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is for me? Quit and come home. Taking care of me and Talia is your real purpose in life." Unbelievable. My voice stayed flat. "Did you sign the divorce papers?" "Divorce?" He scoffed. "Are you still not done with this tantrum? You abandoned your own child to tutor someone else's? Talia's schoolwork has been neglected for a week—she's already falling behind!" "Exactly!" Talia glared at me. "Some kid named Micah Johnston took first place, and I dropped to thirty-sixth! I've never been out of the top three before! Everyone at school is laughing at me! This is all your fault! I'll never forgive you!" I let out a short laugh. Like I needed her forgiveness. Could it pay my bills? And this wasn't even my fault. Micah Johnston... My student. So, my work was already paying off. A slow smile spread across my face. Chapter 6 When I wouldn't budge, Hudson suddenly switched tactics. He popped the trunk and pulled out two designer handbags and a jewelry set. "Look at these. Do you like them? Come on, don't be mad. Let's go home." I didn't say a word. After a beat of silence, he sighed. "Gabriel's condition has gotten worse. Bianca cries herself to sleep every night—it's heartbreaking. Luna, you're a mother too. How can you just stand by and let her lose her child? Just help her. It's only a kidney." And there it was. The sudden kindness was never for me. Bianca left Hudson years ago when he had nothing. I was the one who stuck around, drained my savings, and spent a decade building a life with him. I actually believed he loved me back. But his heart had never been mine. The second she returned, he forgave everything. And I lost before I even got to fight. A wave of disgust twisted in my gut. Without another glance at him or Talia, I turned and walked away. Chapter 7 Two days later, Micah's parents got sick and asked me to pick him up from school and take him to the hospital. At the school gate, I ran into Talia—along with Bianca, who had come to pick her up. One of Talia's classmates spotted me and snickered. "Talia, your maid is here to pick you up again!" Maid? So that's what she told people. The kids turned to Bianca, eyes lighting up. "Wow, your mom is so pretty!" Talia lifted her chin, smug. "Of course. My mom's the best." Bianca smirked, then mouthed at me: 'You're a failure. Even your daughter looks down on you. She doesn't see you as her mother at all.' Chapter 8 Just then, Micah sprinted out of the school, grinning as he threw himself into my arms. "Ms. Lanford! You're picking me up? Thank you!" He unzipped his backpack, pulling out an empty container. "The cookies you made were amazing! My classmates couldn't stop talking about them—they ate every last one! "You're a great teacher, an amazing cook, and so kind. Everyone's jealous I have you as my tutor!" I smiled, ruffling his hair. But just as we turned to leave, terrified screams ripped through the air. Chaos erupted. My head snapped around—there, by the school gate, a man wielding a knife was attacking people at random. "Help! There's a murderer!" Adrenaline hit. I scooped Micah into my arms and ran. Behind me, Talia's panicked screams rang out. "Bianca! Help me!" I glanced back. She was on the ground, the knife-wielding man closing in fast. Bianca? She was already gone, bolting for her own life without a single glance back. Talia turned to me next. "Fat woman! Come back and save me! If you do, I'll forgive you!" I didn't stop. Holding Micah tight, I kept running. Chapter 9 Minutes later, the police arrived and took down the attacker. Once things calmed, I took Micah to the hospital—only to run into Talia being brought in by the authorities. Her arm was slashed, and both Bianca and Hudson were hovering over her. "Why did you run and leave me behind? And why did you push me before you ran?!" Talia screamed, hysterical. "I trusted you! I was so good to you! How could you do this to me?!" "I..." Bianca hesitated for half a second before throwing herself into Hudson's arms, sobbing dramatically. "Hudson, I was terrified! Gabriel still needs me—I couldn't afford to get hurt! I didn't do it on purpose! "Talia, please forgive me! If you don't, I might as well die—" Hudson pulled her close, his face full of sympathy. "That's enough, Talia. Stop overreacting. You're fine, aren't you? "Bianca already feels awful, and Gabriel's still sick. Do you really want to push her over the edge?" Talia looked ready to explode, but his sheer stupidity left her speechless. With nowhere to direct her anger, she just broke down crying. Then Bianca spotted me passing by. "Talia's mother was there too," she sniffled, covering her face. "I thought a mother's bond was unbreakable, so of course she'd save Talia! "How could I have known she'd run off on her own? If I had known, I never would've left Talia behind!" Immediately, all eyes snapped to me—sharp, accusing. Hudson stormed over, face twisted with rage, and slapped me. The force sent me to the ground. A sharp ringing filled my ears as the world spun. "You worthless wench! Talia is your BIOLOGICAL daughter! Bianca has Gabriel—if she didn't save Talia, fine, that's understandable. But you? How could you abandon your own child and run for your life?!"