"Fern, don't be upset. I'm going to give him a piece of my mind right now!"
My mother grabbed her arm to stop her, then turned to me with a cautious look.
"Fern, could there be some kind of misunderstanding?"
My father nodded. "Everyone can see how much that boy loves you. How could he possibly cheat?"
My sister-in-law chimed in, disbelief written all over her face.
"Exactly. You're the only woman my brother has ever loved, his whole life."
"He treasures you more than his own life. Why would he cut out your kidney for some other woman?"
I knew they wouldn't believe me.
So I pulled out the photo I'd secretly taken while following Benedict—the one of that girl.
"What if it was her?"
The moment they saw the photo, all four of them went pale. The certainty drained from their faces in an instant.
"How is this possible?"
"Why would it be her?"
My mother-in-law's lips moved soundlessly, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes filled with horror.
My sister-in-law's confident expression crumbled. "So it's her. No wonder he'd do this..."
My parents seemed to collapse in on themselves, their voices trembling.
"It's over. It's all over."
In that moment, the way they looked at me changed. Despair. Pity.
Like they were looking at someone already dead.
That's when Benedict walked in.
He was carrying a bag of roasted chestnuts—my favorite.
Seeing my parents and his mother and sister all gathered there, he froze.
"What's everyone doing here?"
Then, as if figuring it out himself, he answered his own question.
"Are you worried about Fern's health?"
"Don't worry. I've already confirmed with the kind donor—she'll be here first thing tomorrow morning to give Fern her kidney."
"I'll be performing the surgery myself. I'll make sure nothing goes wrong."
Everyone knew he was lying.
But no one called him out.
They just exchanged silent glances and said nothing.
After a long pause, my mother-in-law finally spoke, as if she couldn't hold back any longer.
"Benedict, can't you postpone the surgery?"
He frowned slightly. "Why would we do that?"
"Mom, Fern was incredibly lucky to find a matching donor. If we don't operate tomorrow, someone else might take the kidney. What then?"
My sister-in-law looked like she was about to cry.
"Please, just cancel it. If you don't, you'll regret it. I know you will."
Benedict shook his head. "How could I possibly regret this?"
"Saving my wife's life? I couldn't be happier."