"Mr McCarthy, your mother's critically ill.' Dr Manning went straight to the point. 'Her respiratory and cardiovascular systems are shutting down. Her renal functions are deteriorating. But the worst part is her heart."

Austyn clenched his hand.

'She's suffering from myocardial depression, which affects the right side of her heart. It leads to decreased systolic performance. She's "

'Bottom line?!

'The bottom line is, she needs a heart transplant, as soon as possible."

Austyn closed his eyes. "How long does she have without a transplant?

"I'm afraid she's not going to survive past this month.

Austyn's eyes shot open.

He glowered at the doctor. The money I give you each year is enough to build half a dozen medical centres just like this one. It's been five years."

Austyn took over the responsibility of paying for his mother's care as soon as he had the means.

He knew Charlotte didn't want to continue to depend on Henry's largesse

"We are deeply grateful for your generosity, Mr McCarthy. But you have to understand, sometimes it's-

Austyn cut him off. 'For millions of dollars each year, I only have one request-help my mother get better. You have failed to deliver."

The doctor mopped sweat from his forehead. 'Mr McCarthy, we are doing the best we can. But research takes time, and MODS is not a simple disorder. The exact pathologic mechanism of MODS is too complex-' "Do you have any other solutions, besides a transplant?"

"We've given her diuretics to reduce the amount of fluid in the body, vasodilators to reduce the heart's workload, and digoxin to help her heart beat. But the drugs are just buying us time. A transplant is the only solution."

To prove he and his team had not been slacking off, the doctor produced a thick stack of diagnosis and treatment records.

The more he talked, the more depressed Austyn grew.

He couldn't sit still and was itching for a cigarette.

Dr Manning was still talking when Austyn stood up abruptly.

He yanked off his tie and unbuttoned his suit jacket.

He left the doctor's office and found Kai waiting outside.

Ralph was nowhere in sight.

"You got smoke? Austyn asked.

Kai proffered a pack of Camel Turkish Gold.

Austyn extracted one cigarette and held it under his nose, inhaling its nicotine scent.

Mr Hewitt Is The Most Compatible Organ Donor

Kat friched hima cup of espresso from the cafeteria downstair

Austyn downed it in one pulp.

He went into a restroom to winch his face and collect his thoughes

When he came to the doctor's office, he had regained his composer.

th" he asked without preamble

Dr Manning nodded. 'And that's the best case scenario without a tramplant. The worst case is in werk.!

Austyn felt as if there was a giant boulder pressing down on his heart, making it difficult to breathe

Dr Manning pulled open his drawer and produced a white

La white ring binder.

Austyn didn't need to look insile to know what it wa

He was the one who gave De Marning that binder a year ago.

It contained the medical history of a patient, followed by the pesults of an immunological test

The results of tissue typing wror encoungling-

The last ten pages were the results from a series of laboratory tests, to assess the patient's farmatsingical system,

elcelera

12

clotting mechanism, baseline ladney function,

"Maccarthy, my team have kept looking, but this arustus the mo

He pushed the folder across the table.

most compatible organ donor we have seen to date"

The crossmatching, the antibody screen, the chest X-ray and the Ek Everything was A OK. I think it's time I bring the donor on board Charlotte McCarthy needed more than just a liart transplant to survive, though that remained the priority for now She also needed a new kidney, a new liver, and a pancoras.

Eventually, she might also need a lung transplant.

Dr Manning had never seen one patient whose organs matched up so well with Charlotte's

But after Mr McCarthy gave him the binder a year ago, he never heard anything more about the donor

Frankly, he couldn't understand why Mr McCarthy, who seemed so eager for his mother to get well, would be dragging his feet on the isspe Granted, a multi-organ transplant had its dangers.

was Charlotte's only shot at surviving beyond this month.

There were issues of acute rejection and post-surgery complications, but the transplant w Austyn's hands, hidden under the desk, trembled.

He didn't want to look at the binder, but neither could he tear hi

tear his res away from it.

"We've kept up with the changes in the organ donor database.Dr Manning looked straight at him. 'There are now over a hundred and sixty million people registered. But Mr Hewitt remains the most compatible donor we've seen so far. It's not an exaggeration to say he's one in a million, or rather, one in a hundred million.' The doctor's voice was gentle but firm. "Mr McCarthy, time is uning out. You have to make a decision soon. If a heart transplant is to go ahead, I need to start putting together a team of surgeons.today."

He stared at Austyn. Do I have your permission to go ahead?"Text content © .

Austyn trudged back to the cu

He promised to give Dr Manning an answer by the end of the day

He had six hours left to make his decision,

He changed into another isolation gown before heading into the intensive care unit.

The next serond, he marched towards the bed with his hand clenchell.

The sound at his footsteps startled the two men in the room

Sebastian short his feet, trying to intervene. "Young Master"

'Fok of!' Austyn showed him aside and punched Henry in the face. Histatherstaggrondbackastep.

Stop!

He lurked dnum and saw churlette with her eyes open.

Charlotte sänggled to sit up in bed

Mr Hewitt is The Most Compatible Organ Donor

The breathing tube had been removed from her mouth.

Austyn tried to restrain her. 'Mom, don't move.'

Charlotte was panting after having just said one word. She gasped for air.

She

Austyn reached for the call button.

'No.'Charlotte touched his hand.

'Mom, you need to be seen by a doctor.

'L..I'm fine. Her voice was scratchy. "It's good t to see you."

Austyn hugged her shoulders gently, afraid of touching the needle in her arm.

Charlotte patted his shoulder. 'You shouldn't hit him. He's your...your father."

Austyn held back his anger. 'I won't, 1 promise-Will you please just lie down and stay still?' Charlotte made an effort to smile, but she was too weak to move the muscles in her face. Austyn arranged the pillows on the bed to support her back.

Charlotte held her son's hand. 'I'm fine. Will you give me a...a moment alone...with_with him?"

Austyn's face tumed grim. I'm not leaving you alone with him!

'Don't...don't worry. He can't...he can't hurt me."

Austyn didn't budge.

Charlotte squeezed his hand weakly. 'He won't daredo anything to to me, not while

You shouldn't talk. Save your strength."

-while you are here.' Charlotte smiled feebly at her son. "Please?"

Austyn pursed his lips

He could feel the heat of his father's stare on his back

Henry McCarthy was dangerous.

Austyn did not want his mother to spend even just a minute alone with the man.

But Charlotte pleaded with her eyes,

After a long while, Austyn relented.

He placed Charlotte's wrinkled hand back under the quilt and stood up.

He shot a warning glance at Henry before leaving the room.

'Sebastian, leave us,' Henry ordered.

The majordomo left quietly and closed the door behind him.

Silence retumed to the ward

The only sound in the room was the beeping of the monitor.

Charlotte raised her head and got winded just because of that simple action.

She had to squint her

eyes to see clearly.

Henry Morany had aged another five years, though Charlotte had seen him less than twelve months ago.

Despite his slightly hunched shoulders and deeply lined face, he still gave off the same mensel

"We have been married for more than thirty years!

Charlottes

Thope You Bot in Hall ini Etemiy

I Hope You Rot In Hell In Eternity

Charlotte had to passe after every sentence to catch her breach.

have hated you. Oh, how much I have hated you. More than once, I wanted..I wanted to kill you."

Henry said nothing.

He remained standing and fastened his gaze on Charlotte's bloodless and gaunt face.

"But now, I don't have much time left. I will soon be released from your clutches."

came into her eyes.

Aglimmer of something akin to joy ca

t will soon be free of you, forever tasked Austyn to leave leave the room because I have. I have something to say to you.'

Hey stood straighter.

*Henry McCarthy, I will never. I will never ever forgive you. I hope you rot..not in hell for etemity.'

Charlotte was seized by a violent coughing tit.

The monitor next to the bed started beeping urgently.

Henry did not move.

He showed no reaction to his wife's curse.

Fifteen seconds later, a doctor and two nurses rushed inside.

Henry refused to leave the room.

'Call Timothy Lowe. Tell him Henry McCarthy's here."

Dr Lowe was the CEO of Sunway Medical Centre

'Please don't agitate the patient further. Her heart can't handle too much stress The doctor had to relat

Henry McCarthy was one of the biggest sponsors for the medical centre,

The doctor couldn't afford to antagonise him.

Henry just pointed to the door.

The trio of medical staff had to leave.

Henry tumed his attention back to Charlotte, who had been given a sedative.

Her breathing returned to nomal

Henry stepped forward and book hold of her hand.

Herbony fingers were twig-

'Hell can wait,' he said. 'You're not going to die. I won't allow it."

Charlotte tried to pull back her hand but she was too weak to move,

Hernose was scrunched up in disgust

'I would have let the rim Reaper take me years ago if not for... She glanced towards the door, but Austyn has a wife now. He will soon have his own family. I can let go, finally,

She glared at h Henry defiantly. 'You can't keep me.

'I can, and I will.' Henry caressed her sunkumcheek You of all people should know what I'm capable of

Charlotte recoiled at his touch. Don't!"

She shrankback. "Just leave me alone! I want to. I want to die in peace!!

Henry placed a finger to her lips. 'Shh. Don't worry, you're not going to die anytime soon. Just close your eyes and rest. Everything will be all right when you wake up. You are going to get that heart, I promise."

Charlotte raised her trembling hand slowly,

Henry saw her movement but made no effort to stopher

She mustered all her strength and slapped him in the face.

Henry's cheekstung.

He touched the spot where she slapped him.

food to see you've still get some strength left in you. And spunk"

Charlotte was panting-

Henry straightened up.

He smiled at her. "You don't get to decide when you die. A thiuty-year marriage is way too short, I think we've still got another thirty years ahead of us. Charlotte's lips quivered.

Hope You Hot in Heil in Eternity

Her entire body shook

"Get..get out!"

Austyn finally pushed his way past Sebastian and kicked the door open.

'Mom." He went to charlotte, whose face was sheet white.

"Tell him to.. to leave.!

Austyn nodded.

He drew himself up

p to his full height and squared his shoulders.

He stared down at Henry, who was half a head shorter. "You have thirty seconds to disappear'

Sebastian frowned.

This was not the way a son should speak to his father.