She Discovered Too Late

After a long silence, Sherry Bennett let out a cold laugh. "You really haven't changed. Seven years later, and you're still pretending to be innocent."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked me over. "You're sick? What kind of illness needs surgery?"

I smiled faintly. "Stage-four glioblastoma. Brain cancer."

Then. I glanced at the donation papers beside me. "I figured my organs would do more good saving people than rotting underground."

Something flickered across Sherry's face, but it vanished almost instantly, replaced by that same icy look. "Cut the act. Do you think playing pathetic is going to make me feel sorry for you?"

Her gaze swept over the small hospice room, taking in the peeling walls, the worn folding chair, and the dying flowers by the window.

"So life didn't work out after you left home?" she mocked. "If you hadn't done those disgusting things back then, maybe you wouldn't have ended up like this."

I lowered my eyes to look at my hands. They were so thin now that every bone showed clearly beneath my skin.

I said nothing.

"Landon…" She said my old name again, softer this time. For once, her voice cracked. "Are you really that sick?"

I looked at her without blinking. "Why do you care, Ms. Bennett?"

Her face tightened. "Because I'm your sister."

"No." My voice stayed calm. "Your brother died seven years ago."

Her face went pale with anger. "You really hate me that much? After everything that happened, are you seriously pretending you weren't the one who—"

"Enough." I cut her off before she could finish. "You didn't come here to dig up the past. So, say what you actually came to say."

She opened her mouth, then hesitated. For once, Sherry Bennett had nothing to say.

I gave a soft laugh and said calmly, "Let me guess. Mason needs a new liver, doesn't he?"

Sherry didn't answer.

She didn't have to. The way her eyes avoided mine already told me everything.

I leaned back against the hospital bed and laughed under my breath. "So, that's it. After seven years, he finally remembered he had an older brother."

Then, I looked at her. "So, today, you came here to ask for my liver?"

"Not ask," she corrected sharply. "It's your duty. You agreed to donate before, and Mason needs you again now. He's your brother."

I stared at her, almost amused by how ridiculous she sounded. "Sherry, when you kicked me out seven years ago, why didn't you remember I was his brother then?"

"That was your own fault!" she snapped. "If you hadn't done those horrible things to Mason, if you hadn't framed him, I never would've kicked you out."

Her voice shook with fury. "You're still lying. Still acting innocent. You think disappearing for seven years erased what you did?"

I slowly closed my eyes as numbness spread through my chest.

Even now, she never doubted him.

To her, I was always the villain.

"Please leave," I said tiredly. "I need to rest."

She suddenly grabbed my shoulder hard enough to hurt. "Listen carefully. Mason needs your liver."

I opened my eyes and looked at her calmly. "Then he can wait for someone else. My organs are already promised to strangers."

Her whole body shook with anger. "How can you be so heartless? Mason saved my life back then. Without him, the Bennett family wouldn't even exist today. And you're nothing but an ungrateful parasite."

I didn't answer. I only turned my head toward the window.

"Landon, let me make this clear," she said coldly as she released me. "If you refuse to save Mason, I won't let you have peace. I'll use every connection and every penny the Bennett family has to keep you alive."

Her voice dropped lower. "You'll spend the rest of your life wishing you were dead."

I listened to her threats without feeling anything at all.

I simply replied, "Do whatever you want."

She stared at me for several long seconds before turning and walking out.

The door slammed shut behind her.

I lay alone in the hospital bed as silent tears traced cold paths down my cheeks.