Chapter 3

After what Xena did to Fiona, things in the Xander family finally started to change.

Xena used to be the first person everyone fussed over at the dinner table.

Now, whenever something expensive was served, Mom pushed it toward me first.

“Dolly, eat up.”

With tears in my eyes, I helped myself to a piece of lobster.

I wasn’t touched.

It just looked really expensive.

Dad started trying to make it up to me too. Jewelry, limited-edition handbags, black cards. Expensive gifts kept showing up in my room one after another.

Fiona was even more dramatic.

She used to look at me like I owed her money.

Now she looked at me like she owed me money.

“Dolly, want some water?

“Dolly, have some fruit.

“Dolly, Xena’s glaring at you again. Want me to glare back?”

I patted her on the head.

“Good girl. I’ll knock twenty thousand off your protection fee today.”

Fiona’s eyes welled up with gratitude.

Meanwhile, Xena had been completely pushed aside. She sat at the far end of the table, looking paler by the day.

Only Ethan remained firmly on her side.

“Xena’s just terrified of losing this family. She’s been with us for eighteen years. A few security videos can’t erase everything we’ve shared with her.”

I lowered my head and added another charge to my price list.

“Ethan, emotional damage caused by blatant favoritism. Forty thousand.”

Ethan slammed his fork onto the table.

Then one night at dinner, Xena suddenly grabbed her side and collapsed into Ethan’s arms, her face deathly pale.

A medical report slipped from her clothes and fell to the floor.

Ethan picked it up.

His eyes immediately turned red.

“Chronic kidney failure?”

Mom’s spoon clattered to the floor.

The whole family rushed Xena to the hospital that night for another round of tests.

The doctor looked over the results and sighed.

“It doesn’t look good. She should get a kidney transplant as soon as possible.”

Xena shook her head through her tears.

“No. I won’t do it. I can’t hurt Dolly.”

That was what she said.

But her eyes kept drifting toward me.

Ethan immediately turned to me.

“You’re around the same age as Xena. Get tested and see if you’re a match.”

I blinked.

“Ethan, we’re not even related.”

“She got this sick because of you!” he shouted, his eyes red. “You can live with one kidney!”

Even Mom started to waver. She took my hand.

“Dolly, I know this is asking too much of you, but Xena is still the daughter I raised.”

Dad was silent for a long moment before speaking quietly.

“If you’re willing to save her, I’ll give you anything you want.”

At that point, all I could think was, “Oh my God, these people are insane. Can they stop with the drama for five minutes? Is anyone in this family normal? I swear, the world might as well end.”

Fiona was the only one who stepped in front of me, crying even harder than I was.

“No! Why should Dolly have to give up a kidney?”

I stared at her back and, for once, felt genuinely touched.

When I first came home, Fiona had been the one who went after me the hardest.

But at least when she was being an idiot, she was completely upfront about it.

That somehow made her a lot more likable than the adults who knew exactly what was going on and still chose to play dumb.

For once, my heart softened.

Then I raised my hand.

“Fine.”

Everyone froze.

I smiled.

“One kidney for half the Xander family fortune. Fair enough, right?”

Dad went pale.

Mom stared at me in disbelief.

“Dolly, do you even have a heart? We’re talking about someone’s life!”

I corrected her.

“Her life, not mine. Getting sentimental costs kidneys. Talking money is safer.”

Ethan gritted his teeth.

“You’re heartless!”

“Thanks. Insulting me costs twenty thousand.”

Dad closed his eyes.

In the end, he reluctantly agreed and had the lawyers draw up the agreement that very night.

Xena lowered her head, but I caught the flash of pure excitement in her eyes.

I was thrilled too.

Seriously, it was just one kidney.

One kidney for half the Xander fortune? That was the deal of a lifetime.

It was such a bargain, even my dead relatives would’ve risen from the grave to applaud me.

I’d already planned exactly how I was going to spend the money after the surgery.

First, I’d buy ten apartment buildings and live off the rent.

Then I’d have a custom-made electric wheelchair covered in solid gold.

After that, I’d spend my days cruising around, walking my dog, and enjoying the good life.

Unfortunately, just when I thought I was about to hit the jackpot, someone swooped in and ruined the deal.

An hour before the surgery, Mr. Zimmer suddenly rushed in with two specialists.

“Sir, the surgery can’t go ahead.”

Dad’s expression darkened.

“What happened?”

Mr. Zimmer placed a stack of documents on the table.

“Miss Xena’s medical records are fake. Her original physical exam results show that her kidney function is completely normal.

“The chronic kidney failure diagnosis was fabricated. Someone bribed a doctor to alter her electronic medical records.”

The room went dead silent.

The fragile, pitiful look on Xena’s face finally cracked.