Charles''s grip tightened on the voluntary donation agreement. Adam had hit him where it hurt most. But Charles quickly buried the pain and regret about Charlie deep within. Right now, he needed to get Adam to sign so Sandy could have her surgery.


    "Adam, we''re talking about Sandy here."


    "That little maniptor, there''s nothing to discuss. The kidney''s mine-I''ll donate if I want to, and I won''t if I don''t. Let me say this onest time: whether she lives or dies is none of my concern. Don''te looking for me again. I''m not donating."


    "If she dies, it''s because her mother''s actions have finally caught up with her."


    Sandy, at just seven, was already showing signs of being twisted. If she grew up, she might be even more vicious than Dahlia, turning into a real menace. A toxic presence in society.


    "If the heavens take her early, it''s divine justice, getting rid of a problem for society!"


    "Adam, don''t make me force you!" Charles''s face turned icy cold.


    "Do you n to take my kidney by force, Mr. Jenkins?" Adam wasn''t afraid of Charles. The kidney was his, after all. What could Charles do-drag him to the operating room?


    Charles looked at the defiant Adam. His phone vibrated, Dahlia''s name shing on the screen. He didn''t answer; he already knew what she''d say. Sandy couldn''t wait any longer. If Adam didn''t donate his kidney, Sandy wouldn''t make it. He had no other choice.


    "I won''t break thew," Charles said, his voice cold and firm. "But, Adam, think about the consequences of defying me."


    "What do I have to fear? I''ve already lost my ability topete. What more can you do? Threats won''t work on me, Charles!"


    Adam was an orphan. He had nothing Charles could leverage.


    "Is that so?" Charles''s tone was chillingly indifferent. He looked deeply at Adam, his voice calm yet icy. "You don''t care about yourself, but what about Evelyn?" The words were t, but they held a threatening chill.


    "Charles, how dare you! Are you even human?" Adam erupted, his eyes burning with anger. How could he even say such a thing?


    "For Sandy to live, there''s nothing I wouldn''t dare. If Sandy doesn''t survive, Evelyn will never know peace again!"


    "Don''t count on Brooks to protect her. You know if he could, he already would have."


    "If you don''t believe me, try it. If Sandy dies, Evelyn''s future will be ruined by your actions. As long as I''m around, she''ll never stand a chance in the design industry again!"


    Adam''s chest heaved with anger. He stared hard at Charles, trying to see through him. Hadn''t Charles shown signs of caring for Evelyn? He thought Charles genuinely wanted to make amends and start over with her. Even if Evelyn could never forgive him or give him another chance.


    But now!


    Adam didn''t dare to gamble. After all, he had seen firsthand how much Charles loved Dahlia and her daughter. How deeply Charles cared for Sandy. He couldn''t risk Sandy dying because he refused to donate a kidney. He couldn''t be sure if Charles would truly retaliate against Evelyn.


    When you care, you hesitate. The more you care, the less you dare to gamble. He couldn''t imagine what would happen to Evelyn if she


    couldn''t continue as a design ne


    Being the best designer was not only Evelyn''s dream but also Charlie''s hope. Evelyn might fall into a dark ce again, with her depression resurfacing. He couldn''t be certain if Evelyn could fight through it again. Those painful days of battling depression-he had been by Evelyn''s side, more aware than anyone of


    how hard she fought to stay alive. He truly couldn''t risk it.


    Filled with hatred, he looked at Charles, searching for any sign of deceit. But there


    was none. He was serious.


    "Sign it." Charles lost his patience. He ced the voluntary donation agreement and a pen in front of Adam.


    Adam eventually picked up the pen, opened the agreement, and found the donor''s section.