Chapter 10: The Secret Buried Beneath the Transplant
The garden suddenly felt colder.
The kind of cold that doesn’t come from the weather.
The kind that comes when someone says a sentence your mind refuses to accept.
I stared at Jasmine.
“What did you just say?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Keisha…”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You don’t get to say something like that and then pause.””
She swallowed.
“Terrence wasn’t only dealing with kidney failure.””
My hands tightened around the wheels of my chair.
“What else was he dealing with?””
Jasmine looked around the empty garden.
Like she was afraid someone was listening.
That made my heart race even faster.
“Before the transplant, Terrence was being investigated.””
“For what?””
She looked at me.
“Fraud.””
The word landed quietly.
But it felt louder than a scream.
I stared at her.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
I searched her face.
For years, Jasmine had been the person I called when everything went wrong.
The person who knew every argument.
Every fear.
Every dream.
She knew the story of my marriage better than anyone.
Maybe that was why her betrayal hurt differently.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Her eyes dropped.
“Because I didn’t have proof.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Proof?””
I pointed toward the hospital.
“My husband betrayed me, my family hid things from me, and now you’re telling me you stayed silent because you needed proof?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
I shook my head.
“Everyone says that.””
The words came out heavier than I expected.
“Everyone keeps saying they were protecting me.””
Jasmine wiped her face.
“I know how it sounds.””
“No.””
I looked at her.
“You don’t.””
She stepped closer.
“I found out three months before your surgery.””
I froze.
“Three months?””
She nodded.
“Terrence came to me.””
My stomach tightened.
“He came to you?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She hesitated.
“He wanted advice.””
“About what?””
Jasmine looked away.
“About how to handle the money.””
My chest tightened.
“What money?””
She took a deep breath.
“An investment company he was involved with.””
I stared.
“Terrence doesn’t own an investment company.””
“He did.””
The words made no sense.
“He told me he was building something.””
Jasmine nodded.
“He told a lot of people that.””
A horrible thought entered my mind.
“What does this have to do with his kidney?””
Jasmine’s expression changed.
“Everything.””
She reached into her purse and pulled out a small envelope.
“I found this after he asked me to delete some files.””
I didn’t take it.
“What files?””
“Financial records.””
“Why would you have them?””
“Because I refused to help him.””
The garden went silent.
I looked at the envelope.
“Why give this to me now?””
“Because I thought the transplant would change him.””
She looked ashamed.
“I thought when someone receives a second chance, they become grateful.””
A painful smile crossed my face.
“I thought that too.””
Jasmine handed me the envelope.
Inside were printed emails.
Messages.
Documents.
I scanned the first page.
My name wasn’t there.
But Terrence’s was.
The date was eight months before surgery.
The same time Monica said the affair started.
I read one sentence.
*The donor situation changes everything. Once the procedure is complete, the financial pressure disappears.*
My hands went numb.
Financial pressure.
Donor situation.
I looked at Jasmine.
“What does this mean?””
She whispered:
“Terrence was drowning in debt.””
I stared.
“But he never told me.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Jasmine’s eyes filled.
“Because he believed your kidney would solve more than his health problem.””
A sick feeling moved through me.
“Explain.””
She looked at the hospital building.
“He had life insurance.””
I already knew.
“But not just that.””
My heartbeat increased.
“What else?””
Jasmine hesitated.
“He had debts tied to his business.””
“And?””
“He believed if something happened to him, the insurance money would cover everything.””
I stared.
“Are you saying he wanted me to donate because…”
She shook her head quickly.
“I’m not saying he wanted you to die.””
I swallowed.
“But?””
“But he thought the transplant would protect his future.””
The words were almost worse.
Because maybe Terrence didn’t see me as someone to sacrifice.
Maybe he saw me as a solution.
A resource.
Something valuable.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Detective Miller.
*We found additional evidence. Come to the hospital security office immediately.*
I looked at Jasmine.
“Did Terrence know you had this?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Then why are you still here?””
Her face changed.
“Because I owe you the truth.””
I looked at her.
“Truth doesn’t undo damage.””
“I know.””
“Then what does?””
She whispered:
“Stopping the person who started it.””
I frowned.
“What person?””
Jasmine looked toward the hospital entrance.
“Keisha…”
Her voice dropped.
“There’s someone else involved.””
My stomach sank.
“Who?””
She hesitated.
Then said:
“Someone who had access to every document.””
I waited.
“Someone who knew exactly how to make Terrence look innocent.””
My blood went cold.
“Who?””
May you like
Jasmine looked directly at me.
“Your attorney.””