Chapter 3

After the doctor left, Lily came over crying, "Olivia, it's okay if you don't want to donate your kidney, but don't go as far as to fake a test report just to curse yourself!

"Look how worried Mom and Dad were because of a lie—that's really unfair to them."

Her show of concern painted me as the ungrateful daughter.

Mom's and Dad's faces were grim. Disappointment radiated from them like a cold wave.

Ever since the doctor exposed the report as fake, they hadn't uttered a single harsh word—just stared at me with quiet disgust; they didn't even find it worth their effort.

If I weren't their flesh and blood, I was sure they'd have walked away and cut me off entirely—discarding me like some scheming stranger.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I was wrong. I won't go back on my promise to donate."

It was what they wanted to hear. And in saying it, I tacitly admitted to forging the report.

But what did denial matter now?

I'd already resolved to leave behind a good impression when I died. So I played the role of the sensible, repentant daughter as best I could.

Hearing my words, everyone relaxed.

"Olivia, thank you." Lily sniffled, grabbing my hand. "But if you don't want to, that's okay too. No pressure. I'm not afraid to die. When I'm gone, just take good care of Mom and Dad."

She continued, voice trembling with emotion. "I know you've always hated me for stealing Mom and Dad's attention since we were little. That's why you didn't like me and bullied me.

"Once I'm gone, you won't have to worry about their love anymore. Just promise you'll grow up and stop upsetting them."

"When I'm gone," she went on, "no one will help you cheat on your exams. You'll have to study hard. I finished your thesis these past few days. You'll just have to put your name on it and you'll graduate.

"And that oil painting Mom and Dad gave me for my birthday—you've always liked it. It's yours. And the private fund they set aside for me—I signed the transfer papers. You only need to sign it, and it's yours too."

I froze. Each "gift" was a public reminder of my supposed sins—cheating on exams, thesis forgery, theft of gifts, and avarice of others' possessions.

Every single one was a fabricated reason for Mom and Dad's hatred. These were her lies, her actions—she copied my answers, stole my thesis, and desired my things.

I didn't do any of it.

But it didn't matter now. The truth would reveal itself after my passing. I didn't want to argue anymore.

Meanwhile, Mom and Dad were crying uncontrollably beside me. It was as if Lily were the one on death's door. But I was the one dying tomorrow. Not her.

"Lily, don't cry," Mom said, pulling her into an embrace. "You won't die. We've offered a high reward to find a matching donor. Olivia may be selfish for refusing, but we won't let you die."

Even Dad, usually unreadable, had red, tear-filled eyes.

And Ethan, the ruthless and decisive head of a mafia family, also had tears in his eyes.

They were all grieving Lily's death, a death that hadn't even happened yet. Meanwhile, no one seemed to notice my own impending demise.

I bit my lip. And then, to prove my sincerity, I took out my phone and recorded a video.

"July 26, 2025. I, Olivia Larson, voluntarily donate my kidney to Lily Larson. No one forced or pressured me. This is my genuine choice."

They finally looked at me.

Mom sighed and spoke gently, though with disappointment in her voice. "Olivia, don't use tricks to gain our attention anymore, okay? Your father and I love you a lot. But if you persist with this behavior, we can't avoid disappointment."

I bit my lip and nodded.

Tears blurred my vision, but I could still see Lily's triumphant smile.

Once the surgery was scheduled, they left.

That night, as pain from the brain tumor tore through my body, I swallowed another bottle of painkillers.

Meanwhile, Mom, Dad, and Ethan were with Lily, comforting her. They had found her the best surgeon to make sure everything went smoothly.

On the third day, as Lily and I were wheeled into the operating room, I asked the one question that haunted me.

"Mom, Dad, if I die, will you miss me?"

"Nonsense," Mom replied with a sigh. "It's just a transplant, Olivia. You won't die. Don't say that. You're the elder sister. Be strong. Don't be afraid. Look how brave Lily is."

Ethan held my hand. "I ordered your favorite soft pink wedding dress. After surgery, the designer will take your measurements. At our wedding, you'll be the most beautiful bride."

I smiled and touched his face.

This was my farewell.

Tears streamed down my face, and a silent thought echoed. "Ethan, there won't be a wedding for us."

As the doors to the operating theater closed, I kept my gaze fixed on the three people I loved most; I wanted to commit their faces to memory.

Once these doors closed, I knew I would never see them again.

As anesthesia dulled my senses, the world around me faded away.

My death was declared at precisely 10:00 pm, as indicated by the wall clock.

And the email I'd scheduled—containing every recording, my medical history for the past six months regarding my brain tumor, and the message from a friend confirming Lily's collusion with the doctor to fake her illness—was sent successfully.