THE SOVEREIGN RISE OF THE ABANDONED HUSBAND

Sir, your organic post-op recovery meal has arrived."

Ethan Sterling, who was wearing the uniform of a premium hospitality courier, knocked on the door of the VIP suite. He instinctively pressed his left hand against his side feeling pains on his stomach.

It had only been three weeks since his major surgery. He shouldn't be lifting heavy things, but he needed the money.

Three weeks ago, Chloe had walked through the front door crying her eyes out. She was holding a folder full of medical papers.

"Ethan, it's my dad," she had sobbed, shoving the folder into his hands. Her whole body was shaking. "His kidneys are failing. The doctor said if he doesn't get a transplant right now, he only has two months to live." She covered her mouth, looking at him with desperate eyes. "I asked everyone in my family to get tested. None of them are a match. Nobody is... except you."

Ethan had flipped through the pages. He saw lab results and hospital forms with a doctor's signature he didn't know. Chloe told him the doctor's name was Dr. Halloway. She said they were using a private clinic to keep the news quiet because her family business was well-known. Ethan had no way to double-check any of it. But back then, he had no reason to doubt his own wife.

"There has to be another way," Ethan had said. "Can't we put him on a donor list?"

"There is no time, Ethan!" Chloe had cried, dropping to her knees right in front of him. She grabbed his hands tight. "Dr. Halloway said your blood type and markers are a perfect match. He said it's a miracle. If we wait for a donor list, my dad will die. I know this is a huge ask. It's your body. But you are his only chance. If you don't love me enough to do this, I understand. But I can't just watch my father die knowing you could have saved him."

Ethan remembered how fast everything happened after that. They went to a private clinic instead of a regular hospital. The mental health check felt like a joke. A nurse who worked for Dr. Halloway just rushed him through the paperwork, telling him where to sign.

At the time, Ethan thought it was weird. He knew transplants usually took months of waiting and testing, but they were doing his in just a few days. Every time he hesitated, Chloe would start crying again. So, he kept telling himself: She's just terrified for her dad. This is what you do for love.

The Pierce family had always wanted Julian Montgomery, someone they think was rich enough for their daughter, but Chloe still chose Ethan anyway despite his poor status.

The doors of Suite 999 at the Elysium Medical Resort opened. This was a seven-star medical hotel for the super-rich. Normally, delivery guys weren't allowed past the lobby, but the person who ordered this meal had paid extra for door delivery.

The door opened, and Ethan froze in pure shock!

He did not know the man lying on the luxury bed inside.

However, the beautiful woman in a silk robe standing next to the bed, peeling grapes, was Ethan’s wife, Chloe Pierce!

Clang!

Ethan dropped the expensive thermal food container onto the floor! Gourmet soup and medicinal herbs spilled all over the tiles.

Just a second ago, Ethan was wondering what kind of rich person ordered delivery to a seven-star resort. He never expected to run into his own wife!

Looking at the mess on the floor, the man on the bed looked irritated. He was just about to yell when he noticed Chloe’s shocked expression.

"Ethan! You… Why are you here?!" Chloe exclaimed, her face turning pale.

The man on the bed lay back down comfortably as he smiled back at ethan. "Chloe, so this loser delivery guy is your husband? Haha, if I knew your husband worked for this app, I would have ordered room service instead."

Even though he just got caught with another man's wife, the man wasn't flustered at all. He knew Ethan was just a live-in son-in-law who had zero status in the Pierce family.

Ethan looked at Chloe, his eyes full of rage and hurt. "Chloe! We’ve been married for three years! I cooked every meal for you, washed your clothes, and took care of your family like a servant just so they can finally approve us. I never complained! You didn't even let me hold your hand because you said you were a traditional woman. But today, you... why are you doing this?!"

Chloe’s panic disappeared, replaced by a cold, arrogant look. She walked toward the door and crossed her arms.

"Ethan, don't shout here. Do you know who this is? This is Julian Montgomery, the heir to the Montgomery Real Estate Group! His family is worth billions!"

"Julian just had a major surgery and needs to rest. Don't cause a scene."

Ethan looked past her at Julian. Suddenly, his eyes widened. He noticed a fresh surgical scar on Julian’s left flank. It was in the exact same spot as his own.

The terrible truth hit Ethan like a lightning bolt.

"Your father..." Ethan’s voice trembled. "You told me your father was dying. You said you needed my kidney for him!"

Julian burst out laughing. "Your kidney? Haha! Ethan, you really are an idiot. Your father-in-law is perfectly fine. It was me who needed a kidney match, and your wife gave yours to me!"

Chloe didn't even look guilty. She shrugged and said, "Ethan, let's be realistic. You're just a useless delivery guy. Julian is a billionaire who can help my family business. Your kidney is put to much better use inside him than inside a loser like you."

"You stole my organ for your lover?!" Ethan yelled, his fists clenching so hard his nails dug into his skin. "So when you said you love me instead of choosing him, it was just so you can harvest my kidney for your lover?"

Julian sneered from the bed. "Hey, watch your tone. At first, I was going to report you for ruining my food. But since you gave me a good kidney, I’ll give you a five-star rating instead. That is, if you get on your knees and apologize to me right now."

Instead of apologizing to Ethan for ruining his life, the cheater wanted Ethan to apologize to him!

Ethan expected Chloe to say something, but she just nodded. "Listen to Julian. Apologize to him and clean up this floor. He is not someone a delivery boy like you can afford to offend. I'll have my secretary send twenty thousand dollars to your bank account tomorrow as compensation. That's more than you make in a year anyway."

Ethan was furious. 'You two betrayed me, stole my flesh, and now you want me to kneel and apologize?!'

'There is no justice in this world!'

Ethan took a step forward, his eyes full of murderous intent. Julian flinched and pulled the blanket up in fear.

Chloe immediately blocked Ethan, shouting, "Ethan! Look at how dirty and shabby you are. You don't belong in a place like this. Get out before I call security!"

Ethan looked at the woman he loved for three years. He slowly lowered his fist. "Chloe, I hope you never regret this day."

With that, Ethan turned around and walked out.

Behind him, Chloe yelled down the corridor, "Marrying a garbage loser like you is the only regret I have!"

Her loud voice was heard in the hallway, cutting deep into Ethan's heart.

As soon as Ethan walked out of the resort gates, his phone started ringing. He took it out and answered automatically. "Hello, this is premium delivery service."

An old, authoritative voice, Ethan’s new mentor assigned by his grandfather answered from the other side.

"Young Master Ethan, your three-year poverty and character training experience with the Pierce family ends today."

"Your next task is to take over the family business. Your grandfather has just bought the Vanguard Apex Group for three hundred billion dollars in cash and appointed you as the Supreme Chairman."

Ethan’s face remained completely calm. Any other person would have gone crazy with joy, but Ethan was different. "Okay, I understand."

The old man continued, "The Patriarch wants to know how your wife is doing. Do you want to bring her into the Sterling family so she can inherit a portion of our billions?