Chapter 1

1.

I was in the final stages of kidney failure. There was only one matching donor available.

My fiancé, Xavier Hayes, bought out that donor. He wanted to keep the kidney as a backup for my sister, Tiana, who only had early-stage kidney disease.

I didn't argue. I turned down the aggressive, painful treatments the doctor suggested. Instead, I only asked for the strongest painkillers they had.

I only have three days left. After that, I'll finally be free.

During these three days, I finally became the perfect daughter they always wanted.

When I signed over the shares of the company I worked so hard to build to Tiana, my parents beamed. They praised me for finally being sensible.

Xavier wanted to switch the engagement from me to my sister. I nodded and agreed. He let out a long sigh of relief and smiled.

Even when I offered to give Tiana every single asset and property under my name, they didn't find it strange.

They just took it as their due.

"Our Vivi is finally growing up!" they said.

I just gave them a faint smile and said nothing.

I wonder, once I'm gone, will they even remember I ever existed?

As the cold pain medication was pumped into my veins, I felt nothing.

I guess when your heart is numb enough, your body forgets how to feel pain, too.

After the injection, I walked toward Tiana's hospital room.

Before I even reached the door, I heard the sound of happy laughter coming from inside.

My father was skillfully peeling a pear for Tiana, the way he always did for his favorite daughter. My mother sat by the bed, holding her hand and chatting warmly.

The moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere turned cold and heavy.

My mother's voice was sharp with sarcasm.

"Oh, look who it is. The big drama queen who claims she's dying. What's the matter? Are you bringing your little act to the hospital now?"

"Or maybe you're just so wicked that trying to steal from your sister finally brought you some bad karma. Is that why you're pretending to be terminally ill?"

My father stood by, his face like stone.

"What are you doing here? If you're here to try and steal your sister's donor again, forget it. As long as we're alive, we won't let you bully Tiana like this!"

My mother rolled her eyes, her impatience clear.

"I don't know what we did to deserve such a spiteful child. Just get out. You're an eyesore."

Tiana leaned into my mother's arms, looking at me with a smirk. Her eyes were filled with the triumph of a winner.

In the battle for my parents' love, I had never won. Not even once.

In the past, I would have fought with everything I had for just a crumb of their affection.

But I'm so tired. I don't want to spend my last three days fighting for something that doesn't exist.

I cut off my father before he could start another lecture.

"I'm here to tell you that I agree. I'll transfer all my company shares to Tiana, just like you wanted."

Their eyes lit up instantly. They couldn't wait to confirm it.

"All of them?" my father asked.

I nodded slowly. It didn't matter anymore. I only had three days left.

For the first time in years, my mother looked at me with a gentle gaze.

"You're finally showing some common sense. Tiana has always been more talented than you anyway. The company is in better hands with her. You can just relax and enjoy life now."

My father nodded in agreement.

"Exactly. We'll get the papers ready. But don't think you can just slack off. Tiana needs her rest, so you'll need to keep managing things for her until she's better. If anything goes wrong, your mother and I won't hear the end of it!"

Once the transfer agreement was signed, the tension in the room vanished.

My mother actually patted my hand and sighed.

"If you had just been this obedient from the start, we wouldn't have had all those fights. As long as you stay in your place, we're still a family."

I curled my lips into a ghost of a smile but didn't reply.

They only showed me warmth when I stepped aside for Tiana.

I used to stay up at night wondering why they treated me this way.

Now, I don't care about the answer anymore.

Soon, they would get exactly what they wanted.

They would only have one daughter left.