Maeve neither nodded nor shook her head.
"Time is life. Let's get started."
The operating room was already prepped. Nancy lay on the surgical table, her skin a ghastly shade of gray, surrounded by a swarm of frantic doctors and nurses.
At this stage, the anesthesia hadn't been fully administered, leaving her with a thread of fading consciousness.
When she saw Maeve walk in wearing surgical scrubs, heavily pregnant, Nancy's eyes bulged in terror.
"Why are you here?"
Maeve stepped up to the table, a predatory smile curving her lips. She leaned down and whispered directly into Nancy's ear:
"You've used Charlie's heart for two years, and he's sick of serving you. I'm taking it back. As for you... good luck surviving what comes next."
Nancy used the last ounce of her strength to scream, "No—!"
A second later, the anesthesiologist pushed the sedative into her IV, and Nancy's world plunged into absolute darkness.
The artificial heart transplant concluded with flawless precision.
As long as Nancy stopped finding new ways to destroy herself, the synthetic device would keep her alive for at least twenty years.
The day after the surgery, Maeve surgically returned Charlie's heart to his body.
Deep inside the cryo-chamber at The Quiet Garden, Charlie still looked as handsome as ever, though a thin layer of frost now covered his skin.
Andres rested a hand on Maeve's shoulder, his voice gentle.
"His heart is back where it belongs. It's time to lay him to rest. Let him go, Maeve."
Was it finally time to say goodbye?
Realizing she would never look upon his face again, Maeve buried her face in Andres's shoulder and wept quietly.
Andres stroked her hair. "He's gone, but I'm still here. We will always protect you."
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