Chapter 4

I looked around in panic.

Joanne was smiling as she listened to Julian talk, without even glancing my way.

Serena’s eyes swept over us. She paused for a second, then looked away indifferently.

No one was going to help me.

To them, the person being harassed was nothing more than an ugly servant who didn’t matter.

Humiliation and despair swallowed me whole. Summoning every ounce of strength I had, I shoved the woman away.

The moment she stumbled back and loosened her grip, I turned and ran.

Her curses followed me, along with the guests’ mocking laughter.

I rushed back to the servants’ room and slid down the door until I was sitting on the floor.

My hands shook as I clawed at the clothes on my body, tearing at the fabric until my nails split and smears of blood stained the material.

The system’s cold voice sounded in my head.

[Time remaining: 23 hours, 59 minutes.]

Less than one day left.

The birthday song drifted faintly from outside, followed by Julian’s delighted cheers.

I curled up on the cold floor and closed my eyes.

Through the haze, I remembered Serena nestled in my arms, smiling as she made me a promise.

“Asher, every birthday from now on, I’ll make you even happier than you are today.”

But now, I was about to lose even the chance to stay alive.

It wasn’t until after midnight that the noise outside finally began to die down.

I was lying there staring blankly at the ceiling when the door was suddenly shoved open.

Serena stood in the doorway, her face grim.

“Julian’s blood sugar suddenly dropped. He needs a transfusion.”

I stared at her numbly.

“What does that have to do with me?”

Joanne sighed.

“You have the same blood type.

“Asher, that’s still your body. If something happens to it, do you really think you’ll survive?”

They dragged me to the family’s private hospital.

Julian lay pale-faced in a hospital bed.

The moment he saw me, smug satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

As the long needle slid into my vein, he suddenly leaned closer and whispered in my ear.

“One more day, and our bodies and souls will be permanently bound. We’ll never be able to switch back.

“And I have your precious sister and fiancée to thank for that. Once everything is settled, I’m going to marry Serena in your body.”

A metallic taste surged into my mouth. I suddenly coughed up blood.

My vision began to darken.

By the time the blood draw was over, I was so weak I couldn’t even lift a finger.

I had no idea how much time passed before the door opened again.

But it wasn’t a doctor who walked in. It was two strange women, both filthy from head to toe.

One of them grinned, revealing yellowed, blackened teeth.

“Ms. Harper and Ms. Lane told us to take very good care of you.”

“You’re ugly, but with the lights off, I guess you’ll do.”

I desperately backed into the corner.

“No. They wouldn’t do this to me...”

Then Serena’s voice came through the thin door.

“Joanne, are you sure that once his body is violated, his soul will be locked in place and they’ll never be able to switch back?”

Joanne sighed.

“Asher will understand. I’ll make sure he has everything he needs for the rest of his life.

“Once you and Julian are married, I’ll tell everyone Asher is my foster brother. I won’t mistreat him.”

My heart turned to ice. All the strength drained out of me.

I didn’t know how much time passed before the two women finally left, flushed and satisfied.

A few minutes later, Serena and Joanne walked in.

Their faces were filled with fake concern.

“Asher, are you okay?”

Serena looked away, her voice strained.

“We failed to protect you. I’ll find whoever did this to you!”

But there were no tears left in my eyes. Only emptiness.

“I already know everything. You don’t have to wait until tomorrow. I’ll give you exactly what you want right now.”

I bit down hard on my tongue.

Blood instantly flooded my mouth, and the violent pain sent tremors through my entire body.

“Asher! No!”

As darkness swallowed my vision, the last thing I saw was the panic twisting their faces.

Too bad.

They were too late.