The Price of Love
Jasmine Carter never believed in fairytales, but if she had, this wasn't how hers was supposed to go.
She lay in the hospital bed, the sterile scent of antiseptic and the distant beeping of monitors filling the air. Her body felt weak, drained, but she managed a tired smile when her eyes landed on the man sitting beside her. Luke Caldwell. Her boyfriend—no, fiancé now. The man she had given everything to.
Literally.
"Are you okay?" Luke asked, his voice soft, full of something that almost resembled concern. Almost.
Jasmine swallowed, her throat dry. The surgery had taken more out of her than she expected. "I'm fine," she murmured, forcing a smile.
Luke exhaled, leaning back in the chair. His blond hair was slightly disheveled, and his jaw was lined with the faintest hint of stubble. Normally, he was meticulous about his appearance, but today, he looked... different. Restless.
"You didn't have to do this, you know," he said after a moment.
Jasmine let out a weak laugh. "Are you serious? I just donated a kidney to you, Luke. I think it's a bit late for second thoughts."
Luke pressed his lips together, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. "I just... I don't want you to feel like you owe me anything."
Jasmine blinked. Owe him?
"Luke," she said softly, shifting on the bed, though even that small movement sent a dull ache through her side. "You would have died without a transplant. I had the right match. Of course, I gave it to you."
He didn't respond.
Jasmine studied his face, searching for the warmth she had always relied on. The love that had made her decision so easy. But something in his expression made her chest tighten.
"Hey," she said, forcing a teasing tone, "at least now you're stuck with me forever. My kidney is inside you, so technically, you owe me your life."
She laughed weakly, expecting him to roll his eyes and call her dramatic, the way he always did. But instead, Luke flinched. Flinched.
A small, uneasy feeling settled in her stomach.
Before she could say anything, the door swung open.
"Jasmine!"
Her older sister, Rita Carter, stormed into the room, her heels clicking against the floor. Rita had always been the dramatic one, but today, her dark eyes were sharp with barely concealed anger.
"You're awake," Rita said, her voice tense. "Good. Now, I can yell at you properly."
Jasmine groaned. "Rita—"
"No. Don't 'Rita' me." Her sister crossed her arms, glaring at Luke before turning her attention back to Jasmine. "You actually went through with it? After everything I said?"
Jasmine sighed. She knew this was coming.
"Rita, we talked about this."
"Yeah, we did. And I told you not to do it!" Rita's voice rose, her frustration bubbling over. "You gave him your kidney, Jasmine. Do you even realize what you've done? What if something happens to you? What if you need it later? Did you even think—"
"I love him," Jasmine interrupted softly.
Rita scoffed. "Love? Love doesn't mean sacrificing a literal organ for a man who wouldn't do the same for you!"
"Rita!"
"Tell me I'm wrong!"
Jasmine opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Rita turned to Luke, who had been silent this entire time. "And you. Do you even realize how lucky you are? Do you even deserve what she did for you?"
Luke's jaw clenched. "I didn't ask for this."
Rita let out a cold laugh. "No, you didn't. But you sure as hell took it, didn't you?"
"Rita," Jasmine whispered, her voice tired.
Rita exhaled, shaking her head. "You're unbelievable, Jasmine." She looked at Luke one last time before muttering, "Don't you dare hurt her."
With that, she stormed out.
The silence that followed was thick, suffocating.
Jasmine turned back to Luke, trying to gauge his reaction, but he was staring at the floor.
"She's just worried about me," Jasmine said, forcing a small smile.
Luke didn't answer.
For the first time since she made the decision to donate her kidney to him, a tiny sliver of doubt crept into her heart.
---
One Month Later
Jasmine had expected things to go back to normal after the surgery. She had imagined a future where she and Luke were stronger than ever, where their love was unshakable.
But reality had other plans.
Luke was distant.
It started with small things. Missed calls. Short replies. A distracted look in his eyes whenever they talked.
Jasmine tried to ignore it at first. He's still recovering, she told herself. It's just stress.
But then, one night, he came home late.
Jasmine was curled up on the couch, waiting. She had cooked dinner, made his favorite pasta, even bought a bottle of wine. But as the clock ticked past midnight, the unease in her stomach grew heavier.
When the front door finally opened, she shot up.
"Luke! Where have you been?"
He looked at her, his expression unreadable.
And then, just like that, the words that would shatter her world fell from his lips.
"I need to tell you something."
Jasmine froze. "Okay…"
Luke exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "There's… someone else."
For a moment, she thought she had misheard him.
"Someone else?" she repeated dumbly.
Luke looked away. "She's… pregnant."
Jasmine's entire body went numb.
Her hands trembled as she whispered, "What?"
The betrayal hit her all at once. Like a blade to the chest.
She had given him everything. Her love, her time. Her kidney.
And in return, he had given her this.