Chapter 3

Without hope, the agony of dialysis was magnified a thousand times.

Every time my blood circulated through that cold machine, I felt my life slipping away bit by bit.

But the final straw that broke me was my parents’ next visit.

They didn't come to comfort me. They came to take.

"Sophie, Chloe's post-op recovery is costing a fortune," Eleanor said, getting straight to the point. Her tone left no room for negotiation.

"The supplements, the private nursing, the physical therapy—she needs the absolute best."

"We need you to give us your savings so we can cover Chloe's bills."

That money was what Thomas and I had painstakingly saved since our wedding.

It was our absolute last hope, the money we intended to use to seek medical help abroad.

"No," I squeezed the word out of my throat. "That is my life-saving money."

Richard’s face darkened instantly. He barked, "Sophie, how can you be so incredibly selfish?"

"We raised you! What's wrong with helping your sister out now?"

"She is your flesh and blood! Once she’s fully recovered, we’ll have the time and energy to worry about you!"

"Worry about me?" I felt like I had just heard the most ridiculous joke. I burst into a fit of laughter, though tears kept streaming down my face.

"When have you ever worried about me? Where were you when I had a fever so high it almost turned into severe pneumonia?"

"Where were you when I was being bullied at school? Now you’ve stolen my kidney, and you want to rob me of my last chance to survive?"

Furious at my confrontation, Richard stepped forward, trying to grab my phone to force a PayPal transfer.

Thomas immediately shielded me, blocking Richard.

"Step back! Show some respect!" Thomas growled.

The room fell into utter chaos. Eleanor was screaming at the top of her lungs, throwing the most disgusting insults at me.

Richard shoved Thomas hard. In the scuffle, I was knocked aside by a brutal force.

My frail body crashed heavily onto the hard floor. A sharp, agonizing pain erupted in my abdomen.

Seeing me fall, they froze for a split second. But then Eleanor said coldly, "Stop acting, Sophie. A tiny bump doesn't hurt that much."

Realizing they had crossed a line, they cursed under their breath and hurried out of the room like I was some kind of plague.

Lying on the freezing floor, I felt the very last ounce of warmth in my body drain completely.

This so-called family was a joke. And I was the punchline.

It was time to wake up.