No Kidney for You, The Reborn Bride

Six months after donating a kidney to my fianc, I caught him in bed with my best friend.

I was beyond furious, demanding answers.

I gave you my kidney! You said you'd rather die than have me risk myself, and this is how you thank me?

Mark, my fianc, just shrugged like it was no big deal.

Come on, don't you get it? It's called playing hard to get, babe. If I didn't act like I was sacrificing everything, would you have been so quick to give up your kidney?

My heart shattered, and I told him I wanted a divorce right then and there.

Before he could even agree, Jessica, my "best friend," sneered.

"Divorce? Please! That would make Mark look like a total jerk who kicks a girl when she's down!"

Mark chimed in, saying he'd rather die than go through a divorce.

Even though I fought with everything I had, those two got away with everything and had me murdered!

Then, I woke up.

I was back in the doctors office, the day I got the match results.

This time, I smiled sweetly at Mark.

"Okay, honey, whatever you want. If you don't want my kidney, then I won't give it to you."

...

"This is amazing, Ashley! You're a perfect match for Mark! Four out of six!"

"It's a miracle. You and Mark have been together for so long, you finally get to do something for him! Once he's all healed up, you can finally get married! He and his mom will treat you like gold for this. You'll be a hero!"

Jessica, my best friend, was practically jumping up and down, babbling non-stop.

Under normal circumstances, I should be ecstatic.

Instead, I was standing there frozen like a deer in headlights.

Because I realized, I'd been given another chance.

I'd given my boyfriend, Mark Collins, my kidney, and we'd gotten married.

But after the wedding, Mark and his mom treated me like crap.

Every little fight, they'd bring it up.

You think we owe you because you gave him a kidney? Well, let me tell you, you offered, we never asked you to do it!"

"You used your kidney as blackmail to make me marry you. You should have seen this coming!"

I wrote it off as Mark and his mom misunderstanding me.

I figured things would get better with time.

But instead, I found Jessica and Mark doing the deed.

Finally seeing Mark for who he really was came at a steep price.

But I'm not one to let sunk costs hold me back.

The first thing that came to mind was getting a divorce.

Then Jessica gave me a look that screamed guilt before speaking.

Mark, youre sick, what about our child if you divorce?"

So those two, along with his mother, Carol, ganged up on me.

They shoved peanuts down my throat, even though they knew I was deathly allergic to them.

I was slowly suffocating, and they were standing there smiling, and calculating how my money could change their lives.

I almost wanted to throw Jessica out the window.

Before I could react, Mark's angry voice barked out, "I told you, I don't want your kidney! Why would you go behind my back and get tested?"

I was speechless.

How could I have been such an idiot in my past life?

Thinking about it, I couldn't help but laugh.

Mark only had eyes for Jessica, but he saw me laughing.

He got even more pissed off. "What are you laughing at? You think you've won? You think just because you're a match, I'll automatically take your kidney?"

"Let me make one thing clear: Even though we've been dating for years, I've never loved you. I've only been with you for your money!"

"I don't want your kidney. I know you'd hold it over my head forever, forcing me to stay with someone I don't love."

"You can't buy me with your kidney. I'd rather die!"

Hearing those familiar words, I had to laugh.

Mark had said the exact same thing last time.

But I was such a love-struck fool that I'd convinced myself he was just saying it to protect me.

I thought he was being selfless and didn't want me to get hurt.

I ended up begging and pleading, with help from Jessica and Carol, and finally got him to agree to the transplant.

I sighed. "You're right, Mark. You're the patient. We have to do what you want. You don't want me to donate, then I won't."

"Don't be mad. You're already not feeling well, what if you get even worse?"

I faked a tear and wiped it away.

Mark and Jessica looked shocked.

Mark was speechless.

Jessica chuckled awkwardly. "Ashley, if I didn't know you better, I'd think you were serious. That was some pretty... uh... masterful manipulation."

Mark spat out, "Playing hard to get!"

"Ashley Collins, you're disgusting! Who are you trying to fool? You think I'll break down and beg you to save me now that you're saying no?"

"You're wrong. I'd rather die than have a kidney from someone I don't love inside me. Cut the crap. I know you better than you know yourself."

Mark kept going, not letting me get a word in edgewise.

I tore up the match results and the surgery request form.

I sincerely said, "You're right. I regret getting tested without your permission!"

"Listening to you, I've had an epiphany!"

"I swear, I won't donate. And I believe you when you say you don't love me, that you're only after my money!"

"I'm okay with breaking up. From now on, we're just friends."

I turned to leave, but Jessica grabbed my arm. "Ashley, stop it! Apologize to Mark!"

Mark, still smug, said, "Let her go. The further she goes, the better!"

I played along and left, but I didn't go far.

I stood outside the door listening.

Sure enough, Jessica said, "Mark, did you come on too strong? Ashley seemed serious. What if she really doesn't donate?"

Mark was confident. "At first, I thought she wouldn't. But when she said she wanted to break up, I knew she was bluffing!"

"She loves me. You know it, I know it, she knows it!"

Mark was right about that.

I did love him.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have given him my kidney in the first place.

I would have just gone through with the marriage after he said all those mean things.

Jessica seemed worried. "Mark, maybe you should dial it back a bit. Ashley's not the sharpest tool in the shed. She's dumb enough not to realize what's been going on with us!"

"Maybe she's dumb enough to believe you and let you die!"

Mark hesitated. "What do I do? I can't ask her to donate now. That'll ruin our plan. The plan was for her to beg me to take her kidney. After the wedding, we'd divorce her and take half her money!"

"If I ask her to donate now, I'll be at a disadvantage when we're splitting the money."

They whispered back and forth for a while.

Finally, Jessica said, "Here's what we'll do. I'll record you saying you said those mean things because you didn't want her to suffer."

They agreed and started acting.

I got bored and left.

I got home and told the housekeeper to pack up Mark's stuff.

I wanted to ship it to his and his mom's crummy apartment.

As I was packing, I realized I'd bought most of this stuff.

Since we were breaking up, I was taking it all back.

I'd rather give it to a homeless person than to that murderer.

While I was packing, Jessica waltzed right in.

I forgot to change the code.

I hadn't confronted Jessica yet, so I just smiled. "Jess, perfect timing! I'm packing up Mark's stuff. One last time, cleaning up his trash. It's just this tiny bag, you can take it with you later, if you want?"

Jessica stared at the black trash bag, cringing. "Ashley, how could you? You're not really going to let Mark die, are you? You can't be so cruel!"

I rolled my eyes and said, "You know me, Jess. I love him, but he doesn't love me. I can't force it. I have to respect his decision."

Jessica, seeing I wasn't kidding, pulled out her phone. "I didn't want to show you this, but listen to this recording."

"Mark said this after you left. It'll change your mind."

I snatched the phone and deleted the recording. "I know what he's going to say. I don't want to hear it. Please stop trying to convince me."

"If you keep trying, we might not even be friends anymore."

Jessica was shocked by my words.

After hesitating for a moment, she grabbed the trash bag and left.

Before she did, she warned, "Think about it. Mark loves you. He's just afraid of hurting you. That's why he said those things."

The only reply she got was the sound of my door slamming.

After cleaning up, I went to the bank.

Now that I was alive again, it wasn't just about getting even.

I needed to fatten up my bank account.

After I did that, I went home feeling relaxed.

Mark, Carol, and Jessica were there.

The housekeeper looked embarrassed. "Miss Collins, I didn't want to open the door, but..."

I knew how smooth those three could be.

I didn't blame the housekeeper, so I let her go back to her room.

As soon as she left, Carol slapped the table. "Get on your knees! Who said you could tear up Mark's surgery request and the match results? Do you know how much trouble you've caused?"

"You're Mark's girlfriend. You've been together for years. You're basically married. It's your responsibility to save him. Why are you refusing?"

"What do you want? Do I need to get on my knees?"

Mark just stared at me coldly, not saying a word.

But I could see the panic in his eyes.

I didn't say anything.

Dealing with these people, the best thing to do was to give them the silent treatment.

Seeing that I wasn't talking, Jessica spoke up. "Aunt Carol, Ashley wants to donate. She's just worried Mark will dump her after she loses a kidney. She just wants him to propose!"

Carol sneered. "So that's how it is. Fine, I'll do it for Mark. He'll marry you after he recovers!"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Are you deaf? I said I'm not donating, and we've broken up. Why are you here?"

Hearing those words, Mark stared at me for a long time.

When he realized I was being serious, he panicked.

He couldn't care less about playing hard to get.

He shot to his feet, his voice shaking. "I didn't want to say this, but since you're misunderstanding me, I'll tell the truth. I didn't want you to donate because I love you!"

He couldn't bring himself to admit he was wrong.

He looked at Jessica for help.

Jessica got the message and said, "I told you, Ashley!"

"Mark said those mean things because he didn't want you to get hurt! He'd rather die than have you give him a kidney, worried about how it'd affect you!"

"Mark's dying for you! Are you really going to let him die?"

I smiled. "Is that so? Why's he okay with it now? Is he not worried about my health anymore?"

Jessica was angry.

Mark said, "I'm still young, and I want to spend my life with you. Losing a kidney might hurt your body, but losing me will break your heart!"

"For you and my mom, I have to do this."

Mark pulled out a ring, and you could tell that it was a low-quality cubic zirconium.

He dramatically knelt down. "Ashley, I promise I'll never treat you any different because you had one kidney. I'll be there for you, I'll depend on you.

"Ashley Collins, will you marry me! I'll love you forever."

Seeing Carol smirking like I was the lucky one, and Jessica faking tears, I couldn't keep acting.

"Mark, I wanted to give you my kidney. I didn't want you to die young, but I've changed my mind. Everyone has their own fate!"

"You want to live and take care of your mom, and I want to stay healthy and be with my parents."

"Let me make one thing clear. You were the one who chased after me, begged me to be with you. I didn't force myself on you, so you can get over yourself and just move on."

Mark was stunned. "How could you do this to me? I don't even care that you only have one kidney."

I rolled my eyes. "I have two kidneys. I'd only have one if I gave it to you. I'm not giving it to you. You're dying, so you're in no place to judge me."

Carol was furious.

She tried to hit me.

I wasn't going to let her.

I dodged her attack and she went flying out the door, tripping over her own feet.

I closed the door while Mark and Jessica were helping her up.

Those three shouted at me for a few minutes, then left.

From their look, I knew this wasn't over.

Two weeks later, I was stuck in my apartment.

Mark, Carol, and Jessica, along with a bunch of news reporters, were standing outside my door, ready to use public opinion to force me to donate.

As soon as I opened the door, Carol fell to her knees and started crying.

"Ashley, please save Mark."

I'd been busy the last two weeks.

This was just what I needed.