Chapter 4

She had forgotten that she was the one who had begged for it to give me luck.

I forced a bitter smile. “What if I’m dying too?”

Ava panicked instantly. “What are you talking about? What’s wrong with you? Are you sick?”

I was about to tell her that I only had two days left to live.

However, Henry beat me to it. “Finn, just because everyone is caring for me since I’m sick doesn’t mean you can pretend to be sick too. It makes everyone worry. Besides, pretending to be sick works once or twice, but three times is too much. We aren’t fools who fall for your tricks every single day.”

My focus was entirely on Henry, and by the time I realized what was happening, Ava’s palm had struck my cheek hard.

Pain spread across my face, and my ears rang. However, the physical pain was nothing compared to what she said next.

“Finn, you’ve gone too far! You’d wish death upon yourself to win my favor? Fine! Go ahead and die then! It’d be better if you were dead anyway. I’m sick of being with someone as twisted as you for all these years. I’m done. When you die, I’ll just move on to someone else!”

I swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my mouth and said, “Alright. Then I wish you two a long and happy life together.”

Furious, Ava knocked over the leftover food she had brought for me, spilling it all over the floor. “Fine! Don’t eat it. You can die right now! Once you’re dead, I’ll celebrate your death with a bang!”

Henry pretended to comfort her. “Ava, don’t say things you don’t mean out of anger!”

Then, he pushed a plate of shrimp toast toward me. “Don’t make Ava upset, Finn. Come on, eat your breakfast.”

I shook my head. “I’m allergic to seafood.”

Henry let out a sneer. “Allergy? That’s just an excuse for being a picky eater. You’ve been a picky eater ever since you were little, and that’s why you have such poor health.”

Hearing that, Ava raised an eyebrow. “If he tells you to eat it, eat it. Save us from watching you pretend to be sick all day.”

When I refused to eat it, Ava made Henry pin me down while she stuffed the entire plate of food down my throat.

Before long, red rashes broke out all over my body, and my breathing became excruciatingly labored. I collapsed onto the floor as my consciousness slowly faded away.

…

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. The small hospital room was packed with people. My parents, along with aunts, uncles, and various relatives, had all gathered inside.

Ava hung her head low. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know your allergy was so severe.”

Mom pulled Ava aside and said, “Finn, the doctor said Henry can be saved. As long as you donate your bone marrow to him for a transplant, he will live.”

Only then did it click as to why so many people had come today. They wanted my bone marrow.

I looked at Henry and his perfect complexion. He looked far healthier than I did. He didn’t look at all like someone with a serious illness.

This terminal illness of his was clearly faked.

“I won’t do it.”

Dad roared at me, calling me an unfilial son, while Mom sobbed hysterically.

“Must you insist on killing your own brother?”

Everyone pointed their fingers at me and lectured me, as if refusal alone made me Henry’s killer. However, I was already used to it, and I no longer cared. As long as I didn’t sign the consent form, they couldn’t force me to do it.

Ava, who had been pushed aside earlier, pushed her way back through the crowd. “Mom, if Finn doesn’t want to do it, don’t make him. It’s his decision to make, so please stop forcing him.”

I stared at Ava in shock. It felt as if the girl who used to protect me had finally returned. As long as she stood by my side, I didn’t care what anyone else around us said.

Ava argued fiercely with my family on my behalf, and when she couldn’t convince them, she quietly snuck me out of the hospital.