Chapter 5

That evening, Roxy and Linda returned home.

I followed them inside.

My body was still lying in the corner of the living room, covered by the dirty tablecloth.

It had been over twenty-four hours now.

A faint, sickly odor was starting to creep through the apartment.

But Linda had cooked a greasy, heavily-spiced garlic pasta for dinner, and the strong aroma masked the smell of my decay.

Roxy took a screenshot of a new designer bag and sent it to the family group chat.

"Dad, Mom, I want this bag as a reward for getting into the Ivy League."

Harold looked at the price tag. Three thousand dollars.

He frowned. "We just paid the 'donation' fee for your admission. Things are a bit tight right now."

Roxy immediately threw a tantrum, kicking the chair.

"I don’t care! I want it! All the other Ivy League kids have nice things!"

Linda tried to soothe her. "Sweetie, can we buy it next month?"

Roxy’s eyes darted around, and a sinister idea popped into her head.

"Mom, Dad, you know how those rich kids drive like maniacs in the wealthy suburbs near the hills?"

"Since I don't feel pain anyway, what if I stage an accident?"

She grinned excitedly. "I just need to find a street with no cameras, wait for a sports car, and let it clip me."

"Those rich snobs are terrified of lawsuits. They’ll offer a quick cash settlement to keep it quiet. We could get tens of thousands of dollars easily!"

My soul shuddered.

Was this a family, or a pack of demons?

She talked about committing insurance fraud as casually as ordering takeout.

But what was worse was my parents' reaction.

Harold took a drag from his cigarette and actually nodded.

"It’s risky, but doable. Just make sure you pick the right spot so you don’t end up paralyzed."

Linda looked slightly worried. "What if you get a nasty scar? You're a girl, you shouldn't have scars on your skin."

Roxy cast a disdainful glance at the shape under the tablecloth in the corner.

"Why should I worry?"

"If my skin gets ruined, we’ll just have the doctors graft some of Hope’s skin onto me."

"She’s a useless loser anyway. Her skin is perfectly fine. It would be a waste not to use it."

"And if my kidney gets damaged, we’ll just take one of hers."

"I'm the older sister. Why shouldn't she sacrifice a little for me?"

Harold nodded, exhaling a thick ring of smoke.

"True. We've fed and housed her for eighteen years. It’s about time she made herself useful."

Linda smiled, relieved. "Alright, then it’s settled. Just protect your face."

They sat around the table, happily discussing the details of the insurance scam.

They completely forgot that their "living organ bank" was already a decomposing corpse.

After dinner, Roxy was in great spirits.

She walked over to the corner and kicked my body hard.

"Hey, did you hear that?"

"Be ready to go to the hospital and give me your skin when the time comes."

"Stop playing dead, you hear me?"

Of course, there was no reply.

Only a dull, heavy thud as her foot hit my stiffening leg.

Roxy sneered. "Fucking pig. She sleeps like she’s dead."

She turned around and walked out the door to carry out her grand plan.

Watching her leave, my soul felt a surge of anticipation.

Roxy chose a quiet intersection in the wealthy part of town.

There were no traffic cameras, and it was a popular spot for rich college kids to drag race their sports cars.

She hid behind the bushes, waiting like a predator.

I floated in the air above her, silently waiting for the show to start.

Soon, the loud roar of an engine echoed in the distance.

A bright red Ferrari came speeding down the road like a flash of lightning.

A greedy spark lit up Roxy’s eyes.

She took a deep breath, calculating the distance.

She just needed a minor hit, a little roll on the asphalt, and a broken bone or two. The settlement money would fly into her pockets.

After all, Hope would be the one feeling the agony. Hope would be the one suffering through the broken bones.

She was used to it.

For eighteen years, she had abused this link.

From getting vaccines to breaking bones, she had never shed a single tear.

Because every ounce of pain was instantly transferred to her weak, pathetic sister.

The car was close!

Roxy jumped out of the bushes straight into the lane!

*SCREECH—!!!*

The sound of burning rubber sliced through the night as the Ferrari slammed on its brakes, leaving long black skid marks.

But the car was going too fast. It couldn't stop in time.

*BANG!*

A horrific crash.

Roxy was thrown into the air like a ragdoll, spinning twice before slamming hard onto the asphalt.