Chapter 1

I walked out of the hospital clutching my test results, my stomach twisting with relentless pain.Dr. Emmett Henderson's words still echoed in my ears.I had late-stage stomach cancer. At most, I had six months left.His eyes had been full of pity. He felt sorry for me, dying so young.But I was strangely happy.When I got home, I shut myself in my room. By the time I woke again, it was already the middle of the night.The pain in my stomach was unbearable. I forced myself out of bed and felt my way to the kitchen in the dark, looking for something to eat.There was nothing. Of course, there wasn't. Why would they ever save any food for me?Maybe they'd forgotten I still lived here. I was used to it after all these years.Without a word, I pulled out the pasta I'd hidden away and made myself a bowl. Pasta wasn't allowed in the house because my sister, Elina Spencer, didn't like it.But ever since I was little, it had been the one thing I could rely on to fill my stomach whene

Chapter 2

The crash of my bedroom door being forced open snapped me out of my thoughts.Before I could react, a slap landed across my face. My cheek swelled almost instantly."Felicity, have we been too easy on you? You actually locked the door and refused to come out!" Dad's furious voice rang in my ears.I stayed where I was, numb, with no desire to move."Robert, what are you doing? Feli still has to get her makeup done." Mom ordered a housekeeper to bring an ice pack for my face.See? From beginning to end, neither of them cared whether I was in pain."Feli, come on. We need to get downstairs and do your makeup. We're running out of time."I let her pull me out of the room, repeating the same thing to myself.Just this once. After today, I'd finally be free.Once the party began, I stood onstage looking out at the guests below, my stomach churning uncontrollably."Today, I have an announcement to make. My daughter will be marrying the heir of the Carter family, Nathan Carter, three

Chapter 3

Before I lost consciousness, I could actually hear the panic in their voices.Then another voice came from outside the room."Mom! Dad! I'm back!"When I woke again, I was lying in a hospital bed. There wasn't a single person beside me.Of course. Elina was back. Who would care about me now?But why wasn't Nathan here either? Maybe something had come up, and he'd had to leave."Miss Spencer, your condition has gotten worse since your last visit. If you agree to treatment, we may be able to give you a few more months."Dr. Henderson had tried to persuade me to undergo treatment when I was first diagnosed with stomach cancer.I'd planned to refuse, but now Nathan and I were going to get married soon.What if a miracle happened? What if I could actually get better?It didn't matter if I didn't have a family. I still had Nathan."Okay." I agreed to treatment. My first round of chemotherapy was scheduled for a week later.When I returned home, the dining room was filled with liv

Chapter 4

The day a housekeeper brought me my meal, she told me that Elina and Nathan were getting engaged.One by one, they started coming to see me.Mom was the first."Feli, Nathan and Eli have always loved each other. If it hadn't been for..."I cut her off, "If she hadn't disappeared three years ago, I never would've had a chance with him in the first place. Is that what you're trying to say?""Felicity, don't worry. I will find someone even better for you someday.""No need. I wish them a long and happy marriage."Elina came next. "Felicity, did you really think you could take everything from me? It's pathetic. I've been gone for three years, and you still couldn't take my place."Nathan is nothing but a dog I've trained. All I have to do is crook my finger, and he comes running. I don't love him, but I'm not going to let you have him either."With no one else around, she finally dropped the act."Did you give those photos to other people?" I demanded angrily."Oh, you mean thos

Chapter 5

When I woke up in the hospital again, my bedside was crowded with people."How could she possibly have late-stage stomach cancer? Doctor, could this be a misdiagnosis?""Doctor, this can't be right. My daughter is so young. How could she possibly have late-stage stomach cancer?""You must have made a mistake. Run the tests again."Dr. Henderson cut them off, "Miss Spencer does have late-stage stomach cancer. She was diagnosed three months ago."Mom staggered backward as though she'd been struck. "No... That's impossible. It can't be. If she was this sick, why didn't she tell us?""Mom, don't believe it. Think about this. Felicity must have gotten Dr. Henderson to lie to you." Elina gripped Mom's shoulders and shook her."Get away from me! You're the reason Feli went hungry all those years! You're the reason she developed stomach problems in the first place! It was you! Get out!" Mom shoved Elina away and pointed at the door."Mom, no! I don't want to go!"Mom raised her hand a

Chapter 6

"Okay, okay. We'll go home. Feli, we'll take you home." Mom burst into tears of relief.She and Dad rushed around taking care of my discharge paperwork.Once we were in the car, I said, "I want to go to Grandma's house."I'd never understood why I always felt so uncomfortable in the Spencer house.Now I did. It had never felt like I belonged there. Grandma's house was the only place that had ever truly been home."Feli, it's so far away. Why don't we wait until you're better, and then we'll take you?""No. I want to go now. If you won't take me, I'll go by myself!" I said firmly.In the end, they gave in and took me back to Grandma's house. The little house had fallen into disrepair after being empty for so many years, and the yard was overgrown with weeds."Feli, why don't we stay at a hotel tonight? We can visit your grandmother's grave tomorrow.""No. I'll stay here by myself. As for you two, you can leave." I slammed the door in their faces and ignored their calls from out