Chapter 3

I bit my lip hard, refusing to speak, but Melissa's nails dug deep into my flesh.

Wincing from the pain, I finally spat out, "Expensive stuff. The pricier, the better!"

Once she headed into the kitchen, I looked around the house, desperately trying to find a way to escape.

Before long, the doorbell rang. Elliot was standing at the door in a well-tailored casual suit, looking naive and youthful.

Melissa welcomed him in with a smile.

He put on a deep voice to thank her before finally noticing a whole extra person sitting in the room. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Melissa quickly explained on my behalf, "He's here to help me win you over. I figured he would know your tastes best."

Though disgust flashed in Elliot's eyes, he still forced a deeply moved expression. "Mel, you're so thoughtful."

Once we sat down, I didn't hold back, stuffing my face with air-freighted lobster and king crab.

Elliot, however, was frantically typing away on his phone until it suddenly rang loudly.

"Hello, Mom? Don't panic. What's wrong?

"What? I'm on my way."

After hanging up, he suddenly dropped to his knees right in front of me with a loud thud. "Dariel, Eddie needs another kidney transplant. You have to help him. You can't just watch him die!"

My mind went completely blank.

I remembered that after the previous surgery, the doctor said Eddie had recovered perfectly and wouldn't relapse.

"You're a match too. Why don't you donate yours?" I asked.

But Elliot acted as if he couldn't hear me. He repeatedly slammed his forehead against the floor. "Dariel, I'm begging you! Please save him."

Heartbroken by the sight, Melissa pulled him up from the floor and held him tightly in her arms.

Then, she glared at me with pure rage. "You're so selfish!"

With that, she dragged Elliot out of the room, though she didn't forget to order her bodyguards to keep a tight eye on me.

I was locked in a room on the third floor. No matter how hard I pounded on the door, it was useless.

Finding a heavy trophy, I smashed it against the window without hesitation.

As I looked down from the third story, my legs went weak. I shut my eyes tight and jumped.

But luck wasn't on my side.

I hit the ground hard, breaking several ribs. The pain was so agonizing I could barely breathe.

Just then, Melissa walked over.

Instinctively, I cried out for help, "T-Take me to the hospital."

But her voice was utterly frigid. "You're not going anywhere. You're staying right here to give Eddie your kidney."

I stared at her in disbelief, tears streaming down my face. "I only have one kidney left. If I give him this one, I'll die."

"Yeah, I know."

A cold emptiness washed over me. "And this is your way of making it up to me?"

"I'm sorry. I can't bear to see Elliot sad. Just consider it another thing I owe you."

I lay trapped in that bed for several days. While my physical injuries slowly improved, my life was ticking away.

Waiting around just to die filled me with absolute despair.

Five days later, Elliot walked into my room alone. Seeing me pinned helplessly to the bed, he burst into a cruel laugh.

"Dariel, since you're about to die anyway, I might as well tell you the truth. The person who needs the kidney is actually someone Eddie hit with his car. Quite a coincidence, isn't it? They just happen to be a perfect match for you."

My tears fell uncontrollably. "Haven't I treated you guys well since we were kids? Why are you doing this to me?"

He glared back at me viciously. "You can blame Melissa for that. If she were actually a cripple, I would've let you have her. Too bad she isn't. So, I want them both!"

I closed my eyes in deep sorrow.

Elliot reached over and unbuckled my restraints.

I got up and followed slowly behind him.

The moment we reached the doorway, I shoved him out and slammed the door shut, locking it instantly.

Picking up the gasoline I had hidden by the bed, I poured it all over the floor and struck a match, setting everything ablaze.

Elliot banged frantically against the door from the outside. "What are you doing? You can't die! I'm calling Melissa right now!"

My detached voice echoed from inside the room. "I've already called the cops. If you don't want Melissa to find out you two have been playing her, you'd better pray I burn to ashes!"

Sure enough, the noise outside stopped instantly.

Standing in the middle of the raging flames, I threw my head back and laughed out loud.

Finally, I was going to be free.

Goodbye to this world that was never kind to me.