His Plaything

Austyn’s smile vanished. His heart felt heavy in his chest. ‘Mom, there’s something I need to tell you.’ ‘What is it?’ Charlotte sat up in bed. ‘You sound so serious all of a sudden.’ ‘My wife…Her father is Leland Hewitt.’ ‘What?’ Charlotte gripped the receiver. ‘He’s…he’s the donor you picked.’ ‘Yes.’ Charlotte’s lips trembled. She didn’t know what to say. Life was so unfair. Why must this happen to them? To her son? She wasn’t by his side seven years ago, but she knew how deeply Austyn was hurt by Deborah and Liam’s betrayal. After so many years, he had finally moved on. He was just learning how to love again, but of all people, why must it be Leland Hewitt’s daughter? Charlotte closed her eyes. ‘Austyn, we should give up. I—’ ‘No!’ Austyn couldn’t bear to hear the rest of her sentence. ‘I’m not going to give up. I’m not going to watch you die. Never.’ Charlotte was about to say something when a knock came on the door. Her doctor came into the ward. ‘Mrs McCarthy, your five minutes a