Chapter 3

She looked at me strangely. "Oh my God, how can you still be sleeping? The procedure is about to begin. We need to get to the hospital."

I glanced at the time. Six hours left.

Then I met my mother's anxious eyes, and a flicker of fear rose in me.

"Mom… will it hurt? I'm scared…"

She suddenly turned, her gaze sharper than I had ever seen.

"What did you say? Are you trying to back out?"

I let out a bitter smile. "No. I just… want to have a meal you cook for me after it's over."

She froze for a moment, then immediately put on a smile. "Elizabeth, ever since your dad passed away, I've only had you and Elena. She's been frail since she was little. I'm really afraid that she might…"

"It's okay, Mom. I understand."

After all, she only loved Elizabeth. I was never important.

On the way to the hospital, Elena hooked her arm through mine, leaning close to whisper in my ear, "Mom is mine. Even Kael is mine. Family or love—you don't deserve either."

As soon as she finished, she deliberately shoved me toward the middle of the road.

Instinctively, I grabbed her wrist and ended up dragging her down with me.

Elena let out a piercing scream. In the next instant, Kael appeared at her side, pulling her into his arms to protect her.

I hit the ground hard, my knees scraping open.

Kael held Elena, soothing her, completely oblivious to what had happened to me. Or perhaps he noticed—and simply didn't care.

A hollow smile tugged at my lips as the last trace of hope in my heart finally vanished.

Only after calming Elena did Kael seem to remember me. A flicker of panic crossed his face.

"Elizabeth! Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

I looked at him coldly and said nothing.

He fidgeted, trying to explain. "Elena was a bit too frightened. Everything happened so suddenly—she was closer to me, so I just reacted… You… seem fine?"

I pushed myself up and cut him off sharply. "I'm fine. Let's go. I don't have time."

By the time we arrived at the hospital, I had only two hours left to live.

Before the procedure began, my mother and Kael stayed by Elena's side, comforting and encouraging her.

"Elena, don't be afraid. I'll be waiting outside the whole time. The procedure will definitely succeed—you'll have a healthy body again." My mother spoke to her with tender affection. "When you recover, I'll cook all your favorite dishes."

At that moment, Kael took out a sparkling necklace. "I'll be waiting for you."

Their attention was entirely on Elena. Not once did they think of me—the one who would suffer even more from this procedure.

I thought I had grown used to being ignored. But at the end of my life, watching this scene still felt like knives carving into my heart. So I finally voiced the question that had been weighing on me.

"If I die… will you be sad?"

My mother froze, as if only just remembering I was there. A trace of guilt flickered across her face.

But once she processed my words, her expression hardened with anger.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Who talks about dying like that? After this, you'll just need some time to rest and recover. You've always been much healthier than your sister."

"You'll be fine. You've always been in good health," Kael added gently, taking my hand.

Bitterness filled my chest. When I was gone, he would probably be happy. Then he could finally be with Elena openly, without restraint.

I took one last lingering look at my mother… at Kael… then turned and walked resolutely into the operating room.

The blinding lights slowly dimmed, and the world sank into darkness.

In that final moment, one thought lingered in my mind.

If my mother ever discovered that it was me who had donated her a kidney five years ago… If she learned that my sister had taken credit for it… If she realized how my sister had slandered and suppressed me all these years…

Would she cry for my death? Would she regret the way she had treated me?

But what would regret matter? I wouldn't be there to see it.

If there were another life, I would never want to meet them again.