Chapter 3

3

I woke up in a hospital bed.

My phone was exploding with notifications. The video of my humiliation was all over the internet.

My mother's nurse, Mrs. Miller, called me in a panic. The nursing home was kicking my mother out because the bills hadn't been paid.

Gideon!

He actually cut off her funding.

I struggled to get up, but the door swung open.

Gideon walked in.

"You're awake?"

I glared at him with pure hatred. "Gideon, did you stop paying for my mother's care?"

He nodded. "You signed the papers, but you haven't turned yourself in to the police yet."

"Lyra, I'm out of patience."

"Go to the station today, or your mother sleeps on the street tonight."

I shook with rage. "You promised you'd look after her!"

"I did," he sneered. "But I can change my mind."

"You're in no position to negotiate with me."

I grabbed a glass from the bedside table and threw it at him.

He leaned his head to the side, and it shattered against the wall.

"Still so stubborn," he said, shaking his head. "Maybe your brother is having too easy of a time in prison."

"Don't you dare!"

"What can't I do?" He leaned over me. "Don't push me, Lyra."

I looked at his face―the face I had loved for seven years.

"Gideon, did you ever actually love me?"

He straightened his tie and spoke casually.

"I did. But so what?"

"Susannah is back. You were just a replacement. It's time for you to leave the stage."

A replacement.

Everything finally made sense.

"Fine. I'll turn myself in," I whispered, my heart turning to ash.

"But you have to guarantee the safety of my mother and brother."

"Deal."

Gideon turned to leave.

Just then, my phone rang. It was the prison.

"Is this the family of Lucas Linden?"

"Lucas was involved in a prison fight. He's in critical condition. Get to the hospital now."

My mind went blank. It felt like a bomb had gone off.

My brother was dying!

I sprinted out of the room and hailed a cab to the hospital.

When I arrived, the surgery light was on.

I grabbed a doctor. "How is he? Lucas Linden!"

The doctor shook his head. "It's bad. Internal bleeding and massive blood loss. He's O-negative, and the blood bank is empty."

O-negative. The universal donor, but rare.

I had the same blood.

"Take mine! I'm his sister. I'm a match!"

Just then, another doctor rushed out.

"We have a problem! The patient has organ failure. He needs an immediate liver transplant!"

A transplant? I froze.

"I'm his sister! I can donate!"

A commotion broke out at the end of the hallway.

Gideon arrived with a squad of bodyguards.

I ran to him like he was my last hope.

"Gideon! Lucas is dying! He needs a transplant and blood! Please, help him find a donor, please…"

Before he could speak, Susannah ran out from behind him and pushed me away.

"Gideon! I feel so dizzy… I can't breathe…"

She went limp and fell into Gideon's arms.

Gideon caught her instantly, his face full of panic. "Susannah! What's wrong?"

"I… I think my anemia is flaring up. The doctor said I might need a transfusion…" she whimpered.

I stood there, paralyzed.

Anemia?

Susannah was also O-negative.

Gideon looked at me, his eyes turning cold and ruthless.

He pointed at me and spoke to his guards. "Take her. Draw her blood and keep it on standby for Susannah."

I couldn't believe my ears.

"Gideon! My brother is dying! He needs that blood and a transplant!"

"You want me to give my blood to Susannah? She just has anemia!"

Gideon carried Susannah away without looking back.

"Lyra, Susannah has always been frail. I won't risk her health."

"As for your brother… let's just say it's in God's hands."

"Gideon, maybe we should give the blood to her brother first, I'll be okay…" Susannah whispered from his arms.

"You are the only one who matters," Gideon interrupted.

I tried to charge at them, but the guards pinned me down.

"Gideon! You can't do this! That's a human life!"

Gideon stopped and looked back one last time.

"Lyra, remember your place."

"You and your brother's lives combined aren't worth a single hair on Susannah's head."

"If you keep screaming, I'll tell the doctors to stop the resuscitation right now."

I went numb.

I watched him carry her into a VIP suite.

The guards dragged me toward the blood donation room.

A sharp pain hit the back of my neck, and everything went black.