Chapter 4

When I regained consciousness, I was in the healing center's emergency room.

I moved my eyes to look at the clock on the wall.

Only 6 hours remained until the end of my life.

Sitting beside me was Ethan Blackthorne, his eyes red from crying.

He was the Alpha of the powerful Central pack.

Years ago, he had been my business partner who supported me in setting up my own healing studio, and the only one who strongly opposed my relationship with Marcus.

He said Marcus and my family didn't treasure me—they were all just using me.

I had a huge fight with him over this and cut off contact.

I knew I shouldn't be bothering him now.

But looking at the entire world, besides him, I couldn't think of anyone else to entrust my final affairs to.

"What the hell happened to you? Didn't you say your studio was expanding, that your future was bright?"

"Didn't you say your family was perfect, that you were about to get married? How did you end up like this! Why are the doctors saying you're dying?"

Ethan's voice was hoarse as he fought back tears. I wore an oxygen mask, looking at him weakly.

We had once made a pact—if I ever couldn't hold on anymore, he would help me clean up all my business messes.

I couldn't speak, so I struggled to lift my hand and pointed to my purse.

Ethan immediately pulled out the transfer agreements from my bag.

He quickly scanned them, his eyes turning bloodshot, but he calmly put the documents away.

Good. The understanding between us was still there.

Only 3 hours left until my death.

I refused all life-saving measures.

After another brief bout of unconsciousness, I woke to see Ethan holding his phone in front of me.

It was Celeste's social media post—her latest update was nine photos.

The center one was a family portrait of her, Mom, Dad, and Marcus.

The caption read: "Thank you, sister, for making this possible. From now on, I'm the family's true princess."

Looking at the photos, Ethan—this Alpha who was known as decisive and ruthless—trembled with rage.

In my heart, only bitter mockery remained.

In my entire life, I had never made a decision I regretted, except for the day Mom and Dad brought me back from the countryside, when I chose to believe in their version of "family love."

I was found in a remote small town.

That day, Mom and Dad came to pick me up in a luxury car, telling me I was the real daughter of the Blackwood pack.

Celeste was the child who had been switched at birth in the hospital.

I followed them home to that magnificent house with pure joy.

The moment the door opened, I saw them instinctively shield Celeste behind them.

The embarrassment, guilt, and protectiveness toward Celeste in their eyes—I still remember it all.

I blame myself for being so desperate for family love back then.

I never realized that from the moment I stepped through that door, I was destined to be an outsider.

Celeste's greatest skill was slowly eating away at everything that should have been mine under our parents' favoritism.

I closed my eyes, and flashes of the first time Celeste took something from me played in my mind.

It was the only keepsake my grandmother had left me—a star and moon necklace.

When Celeste saw it, she cried to Mom and Dad that she wanted it too.

They made me take it off and personally put it around her neck.

From that day on, everything I owned became something Celeste could take whenever she wanted.

Everything our parents had prepared for me became hers instead.

My room became hers.

My parents became hers.

Everything of mine became something she felt entitled to take.

I once confronted Celeste, asking why she did this.

She just smiled and answered:

"Sister, do you think I should be grateful to you? I won't let you steal my life."

"I'm going to take over everything that belongs to you, including Mom and Dad's love, and your fiancé too."

"I love seeing you have everything yet have nothing at all!"

...

I once thought I could prove my worth through my talent and hard work.

I once thought Marcus's love could be my salvation.

I was too naive.

I underestimated twenty years of raising bonds, and overestimated the fragile ties of blood relation.

I lost completely.

But I prepared one final gift for them all.

Before injecting the life potion, I had carefully organized everything—all my medical records, the diagnosis proving my silver poisoning, the timeline of Celeste's deception, and evidence of her stolen credit.

I sealed it all in envelopes and sent them to my parents and Marcus.

Soon, they would know the complete truth, even though it was a truth I had to purchase with my life.

Only 9 minutes left until my death.

My consciousness began to fade, and my vision gradually blurred.

But I could still make out the message Mom had just sent to Ethan's phone:

"Aria, Celeste has some new ideas for the ancestral estate's renovation plans. When you have time, talk to the designer about it."

"Also, Celeste is moving in next week. Remember to clear out your personal belongings quickly. Don't take up space."

Until the last moment of my life, all Mom could think about was Celeste.

So in her heart, I really was just an object that could be discarded at any time.

Fine then...

Ethan seemed to be crying and shouting something in my ear, but I couldn't hear anything anymore.

After fighting for so many years, I was truly exhausted.

Finally, I could get a good night's sleep...

May 20th, Aria Blackwood died at Central City Hospital, age 27.