Chapter 2

I didn't argue with her. I just went to the hospital to pick up my medication.

When I got back, Sienna was waiting for me at the door, a complete change from her usual behavior.

"I know I missed your birthday," she said with a warm smile. "I'm making it up to you tonight. I cooked for you."

I was stunned. In all our years together, she had never once cooked for me.

She knew how, but I always felt bad for her, and we had a housekeeper, so she never had to set foot in the kitchen.

She led me to the dining table, which was laden with a feast she had apparently prepared.

"Try the shrimp. It's your favorite. I had our housekeeper, Maria, pick out the best ones at the market."

A dry, bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Have I ever told you that with my condition, I can't eat shellfish? A single bite could kill me."

Thank God I hadn't let myself feel a flicker of hope. Otherwise, I would be heartbroken right now.

A look of shock crossed her face, followed by a flustered panic. "I'm sorry, I forgot. I thought..."

I picked up a wine glass and took a sip. "Just spit it out. What do you want?"

She had been spoiled her whole life and had developed a sense of entitlement.

She never apologized to anyone except Caspian. There was no way she was doing all this just for me.

Sure enough, her next words were hesitant. "I heard from Caspian that you're a match for his bone marrow transplant, so..."

Her words hit me like a physical blow, carving a hole in my chest that the winter wind howled through.

The unprecedented kindness, the home-cooked meal... it was all for Caspian.

I couldn't hold back my anger any longer. "You know I have a heart condition," I gritted out.

Sensing my refusal, she became agitated.

"Declan, can't you be a little less selfish? The doctor said it's a 50 percent chance of survival. Are you just going to let Caspian die?"

"You can't bear to see him die, so you're willing to gamble with my life? In your eyes, whose life is more important?" I roared, a sharp pain lancing through my heart.

She had never seen me so angry. She looked a little scared.

"I just thought... we can't just let him die," she stammered, then her voice softened.

"Declan, if you agree, I'll marry you right away. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"

I closed my eyes in pain. In that moment, I couldn't understand what I had been fighting for all these years.

I blinked back the tears and stared at her. "It used to be," I said coldly. "But not anymore."

Her eyes widened. "What do you mean, not anymore?"

Just then, her phone rang, shattering the tense atmosphere.

She glanced at the caller ID and answered immediately.

Caspian's pathetic voice came through the speaker. "Sienna, I just threw up blood again. I'm so scared. Can you come be with me?"

A look of panic flashed across her face. She grabbed her coat and headed for the door.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear what you just said," she threw over her shoulder. "You stay here and think about what you've done."

I watched her leave, and all I could think was that I had wasted ten years of my life on a piece of trash.

But it was almost over. Just one more day.