Love Won't Overstay Its Welcome

In the third year of her marriage to Anthony Lancaster, Simone Nolan is still the envy of every woman in Avenport.

"Mr. Lancaster treats Mrs. Lancaster so well! Last time, she just coughed once, and he immediately gave her a full physical."

"She married the nation's most authoritative doctor, after all. May I be this blissful in my next life!"

Simone smiles, long used to the nurses' chatter. She's about to push the door open when she hears an argument inside. She falters.

"Mr. Lancaster, are we still going to terminate Mrs. Lancaster's pregnancy later? This is already the third time!"

"I've already told you that whenever Simone gets pregnant, an abortion has to be performed, no matter how many times."

Anthony's cool voice pierces Simone's ears. Her face instantly becomes ashen.

"But why? She has always wanted to have your children."

Anthony's tone is icily sharp. "It's because of that surgery three years ago. I removed one of Simone's kidneys and gave it to Winona."

It was the third year of Simone Nolan's marriage to Anthony Lancaster. Even after three years, she was still the envy of every woman in Avenport.

"Mr. Lancaster is so good to Mrs. Lancaster! He immediately ran a full-body checkup on her when she just coughed once."

"She did marry the country's best doctor, after all. I wish I'll be as lucky as she is in my next life!"

Simone smiled. She'd grown used to hearing the nurses say these things. She was about to go see Anthony for her routine prenatal exam when a heated argument from the room made her falter.

"Mr. Lancaster, are you sure you want to terminate Mrs. Lancaster's pregnancy later? This will be the third time!"

"I've told you this—no matter how many times it happens, Simone's pregnancies must be terminated."

Anthony's indifferent voice seemed to pierce Simone's eardrums. The color drained from her face; she could hardly believe what she'd heard.

"Why? She's always wanted to have your children." His assistant, Calvin Moss, sounded agitated.

Anthony fell silent for a while. When he spoke again, his voice was icy. "It's because I removed one of her kidneys and gave it to Winona in that surgery three years ago. She can't ever have children in this lifetime, or she and the baby will die together."

Simone's mind went blank at his words. All that remained in her ears was a piercing ring. She staggered backward and accidentally bumped into a vase by the door. It made a clear sound.

Anthony's sharp gaze cut toward the doorway. "Who's out there?"

Calvin stepped out to check, but he saw no one. "There's nobody outside, sir. Probably a stray cat."

…

Simone had no idea how she had left Lancaster Hospital. She stumbled along the street, and her world spun as she heaved with dry retches.

"Anthony Lancaster, so you really do love Winona Stone…" She slid to her knees and thought of the first time she'd met Anthony.

Four years