Chapter 2

I went to a medical donation center to register as a body donor.

The staff member frowned as she looked at me. "Body donation requires consent from your immediate family. Without that, we can't proceed."

Immediate family.

If my parents and Moira found out, how would they react?

A small part of me still hoped they might care. Maybe they would stop me or tell me not to do it.

My hand trembled around my phone. The staff member gently reminded me twice.

I clenched my jaw and called my mom.

It rang for nearly half a minute before someone picked up.

But it wasn't her. It was Doug.

The moment he heard my hoarse voice, he let out a cold laugh. "Are you playing the victim again? Have you forgotten what happened yesterday?"

His tone pulled me straight back to last night.

Dad had just announced he was transferring all his shares in Daniel Enterprise to Doug when my symptoms hit. I couldn't breathe, and blood seeped from my nose and mouth.

I dragged myself out of the living room, barely holding on, and begged them to call for help.

Dad and Moira only frowned. Mom looked at me like I disgusted her.

"Doug's right. You're just jealous. The second we show him any attention, you start pulling tricks to get it back. Didn't you see Doug has a cold? All you think about is yourself. If the donor gets sick, won't that affect you?"

Sure that I was faking, they rushed Doug to the hospital instead.

I lay on the floor, helpless, and used the last of my strength to call emergency services for myself.

The memory faded as Doug passed the phone to my mom.

Her voice, warm just moments ago, turned icy the second she spoke to me. "What now? Today is Doug's big day! Your father's officially transferring the shares."

Laughter from Moira and Doug drifted through the line. I went still for a second.

When I didn't answer, she grew impatient, ready to hang up.

I forced the words out. "Mom… I'm signing up as a body donor. They need consent from the immediate family. Can you…"

There was a brief silence.

Then, her voice dropped even colder. "You know today's Doug's celebration, and you're still pulling this for attention? If you've got the nerve, go donate."

She hung up impatiently after speaking.

I handed over the electronic signature she had just given, ignoring the staff member's stunned look, and signed the agreement.

-

By the time I got home, it was already night.

Doug strode over the moment he saw me, a smug smile tugging at his pale face. "Hey, I heard you signed the body donation papers. Is that true?"

I didn't answer. I moved to go around him toward the guest room when he suddenly grabbed my arm and threw himself backward.

I froze as he hit the ground hard.

"Doug!" Moira rushed out, shoved me aside, and helped him up, her voice tight with concern. "Are you okay?"

Doug shook his head, looking wronged. "It's my fault. Jay thinks I stole Mom, Dad, and you from him. Getting pushed around a little is nothing."

Moira's expression sharpened as she glared at me. "Jay, how can you be this jealous? I'm really disappointed in you."

"It wasn't me. He grabbed my hand! He fell on his own!"

I tried to explain, but my parents had already come out. After hearing Doug's version of the story, my dad didn't hesitate and slapped me across the face.

The sound cracked through the living room, and my cheek swelled instantly.

My mom shook with anger. "How did I end up with a son like you? You want Doug's healthy marrow, and you still make his life miserable. You didn't even show up to his celebration today! No wonder you were raised the way you were. Put this kind of effort into a career, and you'd be rich by now!"

Hearing those words from my own mother sent a chill straight through me.

I didn't tell them I had planned to go, but Doug had stopped me, saying, "If I see you at the party, I'll make sure they throw you out of the house."

Now, seeing me silent, Moira looked at me like I was a stranger.

"Jay, I shouldn't have let Doug get tested in the first place. The surgery's getting closer, and instead of being grateful, you're picking fights with him. I don't even recognize you anymore."

Doug spoke up right on cue. "Mom, Dad, Moira… Let's do the transplant the day after tomorrow. Living with him and dealing with this every day… I'm exhausted."

My parents pulled him into their arms, hearts aching for him.

Moira shot me a hard look. "Happy now?"

Dad added, "Don't think that just because Doug donates his marrow, you'll have us all to yourself. Keep dreaming! We raised him for 23 years. He'll always be our favorite son."

I couldn't look at them anymore. I turned and walked quickly into the guest room, tears finally spilling over.

What I really wanted to say was simple. I didn't want the transplant anymore. I just want one last meal with all of them.

Back when they loved me, the three of them would sit down with me without fail.

But ever since Doug came back, we hadn't shared a single meal.

Their reason was simple: if I was already taking Doug's marrow, I didn't deserve to live better than he did.

Now, I wasn't even given a chance to speak.