Chapter 1

The room went quiet for a few seconds.

My brother frowned at me. "What condition?"

As soon as he finished speaking, I heard hurried footsteps in the hall.

My mother pushed the door open, her eyes still red. She'd probably been out there listening the whole time.

"Francesca, if you let Aurora have the transplant, I'll agree to anything you want."

She sat on the edge of the bed and reached for my hand.

I pulled away without thinking.

Her hand stopped in midair, and she looked embarrassed.

I said quietly, "I want you to celebrate my birthday with me."

My brother looked startled. "That's it?"

I looked down at the needle marks all over the back of my hand, and my eyes stung.

They'd forgotten that I hadn't celebrated my birthday since I turned ten, the year Aurora was brought to the estate.

Nine years. Every year on my birthday, something more important came up.

Aurora won a piano competition. Aurora rode a horse for the first time. Aurora was targeted by a rival family and needed someone by her side.

My birthday celebration kept getting postponed until everyone forgot about it.

When I didn't say anything, my father came in and pressed me. "We agree. You've made your decision, so don't back out now. Aurora can't afford to wait. You're signing the consent forms today."

So they'd already prepared the paperwork.

A thick stack of papers was set in front of me. On top was a statement saying I was voluntarily withdrawing from the transplant waiting list.

I stared at the word voluntarily, and my chest tightened.

For three months, they'd taken turns pressuring me.

My mother said Aurora was young and that, as the older sister, I should be more understanding.

My father said fighting over a heart transplant was tearing the family apart. If word got out, it would bring shame on the family.

My brother stopped paying for my treatment and pulled the staff assigned to care for me. He never denied the ridiculous claim that I was stealing Aurora's chance to live.

Now that I'd finally given in, they couldn't wait to make it official.

I picked up the pen and signed page after page.

My brother watched me sign. The tension in his face eased only after I'd finished the last signature.

"We've already made arrangements with a hospital overseas. They should have a suitable heart for you soon.

"Once Aurora's surgery is done, we'll all go with you."

I looked at the critical-condition report on my nightstand and asked quietly, "And if I don't last that long?"

He froze.

Before he could answer, Aurora's faint sobs came through the phone. "Dante, my chest hurts so much..."

He went pale and left the hospital room.

My parents hurried after him.

Nobody looked back. Nobody heard the monitor suddenly start beeping frantically behind them.

By the time the doctor on duty ran in, I was curled up in a ball.

When it was over, the doctor looked grim.

"Ms. Vitelli, your heart function is far worse than your sister's. You were given priority for this donor heart because your condition was more critical. If you turn it down, we can't guarantee when another heart will become available."

I looked up at the white ceiling. "How long do I have?"

He was quiet for a moment. "Conservatively, a month."

A cheer went up outside the door.

My mother's voice came through the wall as she cried with joy. "Aurora, you're getting the heart!

"You're going to live!"

I turned onto my side and pushed my face into the pillow.

My 20th birthday was almost here. My parents had forgotten. So had my brother.

All they knew was that Aurora was going to live.

My phone buzzed. Aurora had sent a photo.

She was surrounded by the three of them, a triumphant smile on her pale face.

"Thanks for giving up your chance to survive for me, sis.

"Oh, and I hear Mom, Dad, and Dante are throwing you a birthday party? Want to guess who they'll choose when it really matters?"