Chemo #99: My Wife Never Showed Up

From the back cover

Winston Shaw has spent three years fighting kidney cancer, and his wife Rebecca Walsh has missed his chemotherapy session for the ninety-ninth time. When he finds a stranger's post about winning a lover's heart with a kidney, the photo shows a couple kissing in Targon, and the woman bears a small heart-shaped scar identical to Rebecca's.

Winston posts the marriage certificate and the photo, then calls Rebecca. She accuses him of being desperate to take Theo Bardot's kidney, while Theo pleads for more time. That night Rebecca arrives at the hospital with Theo, transfers her shares to him, and strikes Winston when he points out the pendant Theo wears, the wedding gift that was once his. His physician, Dr. Wes Glenwood, tells him he has about a month left, and Winston chooses to stop treatment.

Returning home, he finds his beloved dog Coco bound and wounded. Rebecca stands with Theo, carrying baby supplies, and when Coco barks, Theo demands the dog be dealt with. Rebecca wrenches Coco from Winston's arms as he kneels and begs.