My Husband's Deadly Scheme

The sunshine in Country R was just right, pouring through the hotel window onto my son Simon's smiling face. He had just finished the preliminary round of the piano competition, clutching his trophy and sharing his joy with me. My phone suddenly vibrated, the screen flashing the name "Melvin Carter", and my heart sank without warning. The moment I pressed the answer button, his impatient voice came through, cold as ice. "Sylvia Scott, what the hell are you up to?" I froze for a moment, then instinctively asked, "What's wrong? What happened?" "You seriously still have the nerve to ask?" His voice suddenly shot up in volume. "The confidential courier you ordered was delivered to the school! The whole department is buzzing about it. How am I supposed to hold my head high after this?" Confidential courier? Confusion flooded me. I'd never bought anything like that—let alone had it sent to his university. "Melvin, are you sure you're not mistaken? I haven't ordered any confidential courier." I tried to keep my voice steady. "Mistake? The delivery slip clearly has your name and phone number on it!" His tone brimmed with accusation. "Don't play dumb with me. Just tell me straight—what's really going on!" I took a deep breath, knowing arguing wouldn't help; I needed to see the evidence. "Don't get mad yet. Send me a photo of the delivery slip—maybe someone else sent it by mistake?" There was a pause over the line, then the sound of papers flipping. After a moment, his voice sounded uneasy, his tone softening. "Forget it, maybe it really was sent to the wrong address." He said casually, "It's just a regular human organ transport container. Probably a mistake by the courier company." Human organ transport container? My heart suddenly clenched. I immediately realized it wasn't some wrong delivery, but the new artificial heart I had ordered in advance! I had ordered it to replace the heart donated by my father that was inside Melvin Carter. My father loved me dearly. Before he passed, when he found out Melvin's heart was failing, he didn't hesitate to sign the organ donation agreement. But now, Melvin is treating me like this, even accusing me of something baseless—a "confidential courier." A chill rose from deep within me. I forced down my emotions and tried to say calmly, "If it was sent by mistake, then I'm relieved." "I still have to help Simon prepare for the Final, so I won't talk to you now." "Okay, I'm hanging up." He spoke and hung up without waiting for my response. Hearing the busy signal, I could no longer stay calm. Melvin's reaction was too strange. His accusations were so fierce at first, but after mentioning the "human organ transport box," he suddenly backed off. Something's definitely wrong. I can't wait any longer; I have to go back home right away to figure out what's happening. I opened the ticket app and rapidly booked the earliest flight from Country R back home. I turned to look at Simon; he was still excitedly fiddling with the trophy, completely oblivious to my distress. I walked over, gently ran my hand through his hair, and said softly, "Simon, I have something urgent and need to go home first. I'll come back to be with you for the finals, okay?" Simon's smile disappeared instantly, his eyes filled with disappointment. "Mom, you can't come to the finals with me?" My heart felt like it had been stabbed with a needle, weighed down by guilt—but now I have to go back. "I'm sorry, Simon, I really have something important to take care of." I held him close, whispering words of comfort. "Don't worry, I will definitely be there on time for the Final to cheer you on." Simon hesitated but still nodded: "Then Mom, be careful and come back soon." I nodded resolutely, arranged his lodging and training for the coming days, then grabbed my suitcase and rushed to the airport. The plane drifted through the clouds, and my heart fluttered along, restless and uneasy. I don't know what awaits me when I return home, but one thing is clear—some things must reach their conclusion.