Chapter 2

I struggled to my feet, enduring the sharp pain, and landed a hard slap right across Lucas's face.

"You actually hit me over her? Have you forgotten who paid off your massive student loans and covered your rent every single month, you ungrateful leech? We are over. Go be with your precious Chloe."

Lucas's smug face completely dropped the second I said the words "we are over."

"What is wrong with you, Serena? Chloe is like a sister to me, and you're going to marry into my family anyway. What's wrong with helping her out? I'm just trying to get you two to bond."

I smirked, ice in my voice. "Do I look like an idiot to you? We're broken up, so I don't need to bond with your family or accommodate your 'sister' anymore."

With that, I grabbed my coat and turned on my heel.

Losing his mind, Lucas spat venom at my back.

"Who else could ever put up with your self-righteous bullshit? All you ever do is flex your family's money and look down on everyone else. You're going to die alone!"

A dry laugh escaped my lips.

When Lucas was maxing out my black card on designer suits and custom Rolexes, he certainly didn't care about my "flexing."

I pulled out my phone, immediately revoked his authorized user card, and shot a quick text to my family's private banker to print out every single transaction statement.

He thinks my money is an insult? Perfect. He can pay back every single dime of that insult.

Still feeling uneasy, I went straight to the staff locker room, locked my smart ID badge inside my locker, and double-checked the keypad lock before leaving.

Surely Chloe wouldn't be able to get her hands on my credentials now.

That night, my phone rang. It was the ophthalmology department.

"Dr. Vance, your test results are back."

My vision had been getting increasingly blurry over the past few weeks, so I had gone in for a full workup.

Dr. Reynolds said, "Your congenital corneal dystrophy has rapidly progressed, causing severe detachment. We need to remove your corneas immediately."

I shuddered.

Noticing my distress, Dr. Reynolds added, "We're doing everything we can to place you on the priority donor waitlist, but you need the excision right away to prevent further infection."

After hanging up, I called my parents and explained the situation.

My mother immediately comforted me, promising that our family would use every resource to locate a matching donor.

I couldn't sleep a wink that night. The next morning, when I arrived at the hospital, I found my locker forced open. My smart ID badge was gone.

A dreadful feeling washed over me.

I immediately called the chief of surgery.

"I've made up my mind. I'll undergo the cornea removal today. I can't afford to wait any longer."

When I told my parents, they immediately arranged four top ophthalmologists to oversee the procedure.

Two hours later, I was lying on the operating table. As the anesthesia kicked in, I looked directly at the overhead camera and smiled.

Five hours later, I woke up to pitch blackness.

Panic surged through me as I reached out, but a warm hand caught mine.

"Serena, you're awake. How are you feeling? Are you in pain?"

Hearing my mother's trembling voice, relief washed over me.

"I'm alright, Mom. Everything's just dark right now."

My mother wrapped her arms around me gently.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. We've already reached out to global donor networks. The doctors said once we find a match, you can have the transplant in three months and fully recover."

I nodded. As she carefully helped me sip on a high-nutrient supplement drink, she asked softly, "Why were you in such a rush to do the surgery today?"

I paused, then smiled.

"I just wanted to get it over with before things got worse, so I can start recovering sooner."

She nodded in understanding. By evening, I asked if I could get some fresh air.

The doctor agreed, provided I returned within an hour for a dressing change.

Supported by a nurse, I walked slowly toward the hospital courtyard garden.