Chapter 4

The faint click of the lock struck my heart like a heavy hammer. I had to brace myself against the edge of the bed. I couldn't believe Andrew had actually locked me inside my own room.

"Andrew, open the door!"

Furious and frantic, I summoned every ounce of strength I had and pounded on the door, but Owen's harsh rebuke came from the other side.

"Quit making a scene, Sophia! We're only doing this for your own good. You've become a compulsive liar! You're going to spend some time alone to reflect on your wrongdoings!

"We're taking Ellie out tomorrow to get some fresh air and feel better. We have no time to play these stupid games with you."

Their footsteps grew fainter and fainter until they disappeared completely.

I slid helplessly to the floor. The pain in my body suddenly intensified. It hit me then that the painkillers weren't working anymore. I bit down hard on my lip and clutched my stomach, trying to endure the agony the way I had so many times before.

Nevertheless, the pain surged like erupting lava, and every muscle in my body trembled uncontrollably.

"It hurts so much..."

Desperate, I wanted to call for help, but when I reached for my phone, I remembered that it had been taken away.

Right at that moment, cheerful music and bright, happy laughter came from outside my door.

"Ellie, it's time to open your presents." Mom's voice was as gentle as it had always been when she spoke to me in the past.

Only this time, her words weren't directed at me.

"Oh my gosh! This dress is gorgeous, and there's cake, too! Mom, Owen, Andy, I love this surprise! I love you all!" Eliza's voice brimmed with happiness and affection. "But... You've all been so good to me. If Sophia finds out, she'll definitely be upset..."

"Why bring her up?" Andrew's voice was cold. "If she'd get upset over something like this, that just proves we still need to teach her a lesson for being such a spoiled princess.

"Exactly," Owen chimed in. "Don't worry about what she thinks, Ellie. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. Here's a pair of pearl earrings for you. They'll go perfectly with your dress."

With my back against the cold wall, I listened to them take turns soothing her with tender words. A sharp cramp seized my abdomen, and my breathing quickened.

Then my vision went black. My body pitched forward uncontrollably, and I vomited a mouthful of dark red fluid. My body burned feverishly before turning icy cold. Gradually, even the sensation of pain began to fade.

It kept getting harder for me to breathe. Soon, it felt like someone was choking me. Before I collapsed, I remembered Dr. Fleming's warning.

"You must try to avoid emotional distress. Any form of agitation might cause internal bleeding, and you could go into shock and die."

I'd arranged for Dr. Fleming to pick me up tomorrow afternoon, so that I could donate my corneas. It looked like I was going to have to break my promise.

I couldn't stop myself from toppling sideways, my head striking the floor with a dull thud. Light spilling in from beneath the door illuminated my eyes.

All my anger and grievances faded away, leaving me strangely at peace.

For more than a decade, I'd clung desperately to the hope of earning their love and their unwavering trust. Now that I was taking my dying breath, none of it mattered anymore.

I no longer longed for Mom's worried gaze, which was always directed at someone else. I no longer waited for Owen's warm hand, the one that instinctively reached out to help someone else first.

And I no longer yearned for the soup Andrew would spend so much time carefully preparing for someone else.

Every longing and expectation faded along with my consciousness. Everything went quiet and cold.

I closed my eyes and let the darkness swallow my thoughts.

…

The next morning, sunlight flooded the quiet room. There was a click, and the door swung open.

"Sophia, have you reflected on your actions yet?" Andrew's voice was still stern, though his tone had softened ever so slightly.

He raised the gift bag in his hand and continued, "Ellie knows you're in a bad mood, so she specifically asked us to save this necklace for you. Accept the gift and stop fighting with her. Let's put this whole thing behind us."

Andrew waited patiently for a few seconds, but no response came. The room was terrifyingly silent.

Frowning, he walked over to the bed and pulled back the covers, only to find the bed empty. He turned his head and saw me lying behind the door.

"Sophia?" Out of habit, he adopted his usual irritated, impatient tone. "What kind of stunt are you trying to pull this time?"

He reached out to pull me to my feet, but the moment he touched me, he was startled by how cold and stiff my arm was.

The sunlight shifted, illuminating my stiff, deathly pale face.

Andrew froze.