Chapter 1 One Month Left

The doctor's voice held a trace of pity. "The medication you were taking before had already taken a toll on your liver. Then you underwent a liver donation surgery. Now… if you take good care of yourself, you may have about a month left. I'm sorry. We did everything we could."

I already knew the surgery was risky, but hearing the doctor say it still left me hopeless.

My mind went blank, and the air suddenly felt thin. I forced myself to the window and pushed it open. A blast of cold air rushed in, making me cough violently.

The coughing aggravated the wounds on my hands that still had not healed. Cold sweat and tears welled up at the same time.

I caught my breath and nodded. "Thank you, Doctor. I understand."

I had never been in good health. I could not stay in the cold for long.

Before, Lexi would have immediately shut the window, draped a blanket over my shoulders, and anxiously scolded me for opening it so wide.

But I was dying now. What did a little cold air matter?

As the wind whipped the curtains back and forth, I remembered being rescued from the rival family's basement. My wounds had not even healed yet, and I still had to take painkillers every night just to sleep.

Yet Lexi had brought me my medical records and carefully suggested that I donate part of my liver to Lachlan.

I did not want to donate my liver to Lachlan. Many of the medications I had been taking were hard on my liver, and I could not bear going through a liver donation surgery.

After I refused, Lexi did not say anything. She simply brought me a bowl of chicken soup, saying she had made it especially for me and that I should drink some to build up my strength.

Lexi was a neat freak who had never cooked before. This was the first time she had ever made a meal for me, so I ignored the guilt and pity in her eyes.

Even though I had no appetite, I forced myself to drink most of the bowl.

Then a wave of overwhelming drowsiness came over me.

She took my hand and pressed my finger onto the consent form.

That was when I finally understood that she still wanted to use my liver to save Lachlan.

I used what little strength I had left to grab Lexi's hand and begged her not to make me donate my liver. But she simply brushed my hand away.

"Ryder, Lachlan will be your stand-in someday. He'll save your life. Giving up a piece of your liver in exchange for his life isn't exactly a bad deal for you."