All Chapters of Rejected by Both Families: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

On the fifteenth of every month, Bianca Romano and I traded families.A fertility clinic had switched us before birth. I was raised by the Vitales but carried Romano blood. Bianca was raised by the Romanos but was the biological daughter of the Vitales. When the truth came out, neither family wanted to give Bianca up, so they arranged for us to change homes every month.Bianca belonged to both families. I belonged completely to neither. She had a bedroom, a driver, and parents waiting for her at both estates. I carried a suitcase between guest rooms.Today was another fifteenth.A Vitale driver brought me to the estate, but no car waited to take Bianca away. Romano luggage stood in the foyer, and the guest rooms upstairs were occupied.The housekeeper took my coat. "Mr. and Mrs. Vitale are waiting in the study."Bianca was sitting beside Celeste when I entered. A pale cashmere sweater hung loosely from her shoulders. She wore no makeup, and her face looked thinner than it had the week

Chapter 2

An hour later, I arrived at the Romano estate.Both families had gathered for dinner before Bianca's planned departure for Europe. Her favorite dishes covered the table, and several bottles of champagne had already been opened. No place had been set for me.Bianca sat between Celeste and Helena. Marco was arranging a private hospital suite, while Dominic spoke to a European specialist on the phone. Nico had prepared a schedule for the doctors, nurses, and guards who would accompany her. Dr. Ricci sat nearby, reviewing her travel medications.Five members of our family, one physician, and an entire security team were preparing to make sure Bianca would never be alone.Helena looked surprised when she saw me."Elena, what are you doing here?"I took the notice from St. Aurelia's out of my purse.I placed the notice beside Bianca's treatment schedule."St. Aurelia's stopped my donor screening because my platelet count is dangerously low. They want me to have a bone marrow biopsy tomorrow,

Chapter 3

The next morning, I completed the bone marrow biopsy alone at St. Aurelia's Hospital.Before I left, the hematologist reminded me that my donor clearance had been suspended. He told me to keep my phone nearby because the preliminary results could require immediate treatment.I forwarded that warning to both families. The only response instructed me to arrive at the Vitale family's private club at six that evening.Both sets of parents were waiting in the conference room. Bianca sat between Celeste and Helena, with Nico behind her chair. Dr. Ricci and the family attorney occupied the far end of the table.The attorney placed an agreement in front of me.It required me to cooperate with additional compatibility testing and proceed with the donation if I received independent medical clearance. It also prohibited me from disclosing Bianca's condition or using her illness to approach the press, challenge the custody agreement, or demand additional money from either family.In return for bei

Chapter 4

Less than an hour after leaving the private club, I returned to St. Aurelia's Hospital.The hematologist was waiting for me in an examination room with the preliminary bone marrow report open in front of him."We found a high percentage of abnormal blast cells in your marrow," he said. "Together with your bloodwork, these findings confirm acute myeloid leukemia."I looked at the name and date on the report before asking the first question that came to mind."Would the donation have killed me?""Yes. You should never have been considered an eligible donor."He turned to another page."Your platelet count has fallen below the level at which spontaneous internal bleeding can occur. That includes bleeding in the brain. We are admitting you now and beginning platelet support immediately."I gave him the agreement both families had signed."Dr. Ricci told them the first result could be anemia, an infection, or lack of sleep."The hematologist read the medical section twice."Anemia would not

Chapter 5

As the nurse wiped the blood from my face, I stood beside the bed and watched my hand pass through its metal rail.She placed my phone and agreement in a belongings bag and wrote Elena Vitale on the label. I called to her, but she continued working until my phone rang.Nico's name filled the screen."How much longer are you going to keep everyone waiting?" he demanded when she answered. "Dr. Ricci waited all morning.""This is St. Aurelia's Hospital. What is your relationship to Elena?""I'm her brother. Put her on."The nurse handed the phone to the doctor. After confirming Nico's identity, he said, "I'm sorry. Elena suffered an intracranial hemorrhage today. Despite our efforts, she died at four seventeen this afternoon."A chair scraped across the floor."Let me speak to her.""She has passed away.""She was texting me this morning. Check the name. There are two girls in our family."The doctor repeated my full name and date of birth.Someone asked Nico what was wrong. He told them

Chapter 6

Marco took Nico's phone, read the report, and handed it back before ordering his men to contact Dr. Ricci."Tell him to bring Bianca's complete medical records to the hospital."Bianca reached for Celeste. "Mom, I don't feel well."Celeste steadied her, though her eyes remained on my bed."There are doctors here. Let them examine you.""Dr. Ricci knows my condition," Bianca said, tightening her grip. "I'd rather wait for him."The hematologist returned in time to hear his name. He asked whether the families would help clarify the discrepancies in Bianca's referral.Marco followed him into the office. I went with them, passing through the door as it closed.The doctor opened the hospital's records."Yesterday, we requested the missing pathology report supporting Bianca's diagnosis. Dr. Ricci withdrew the referral shortly afterward."Dominic turned to Bianca. "You came here yesterday?""Only for bloodwork. They wanted a bone marrow biopsy, but I was scared, so I called Dr. Ricci.""What

Chapter 7

Dominic pushed the agreement toward the attorney."Remove the spending limit. I'll pay all her medical bills.""I can arrange to settle the hospital account.""And the inheritance," Marco added. "Put her name back. Restore her share."Helena looked up."She's dead. What can any of that do for her now?"Marco faced her. "You were there when we signed."Helena kept one hand on the desk before turning to Celeste."I thought you would at least look after her. Didn't anyone ask about her results?""Where were you when she went to the hospital?" Celeste replied. "She came to you and asked.""We were all there for Bianca's video consultation."Helena lowered her eyes to the European itinerary beside the agreement.It listed two doctors, three nurses, and someone responsible for every transfer. They had even arranged shifts so Bianca would always have company.I stood beside her and read it. I had needed one person for one morning.Nico spoke from against the wall. "She asked me too."Dominic

Chapter 8

The funeral director needed a photograph of me.Celeste searched her phone. The most recent one was from last Christmas. Bianca stood between our mothers while I was at the edge, half my face hidden behind another guest.Helena sent for the albums. Before I turned eight, there were birthdays, swimming lessons, and pictures of Celeste holding me in the garden. After that, I appeared only occasionally.Nico finally contacted my school and obtained my graduation portrait.I stood alone outside the gates in my cap and gown, my phone still in my hand. When the photographer called my name, I was still expecting my family to arrive.They had gone to Bianca's performance that day.Celeste handed over the photograph, then chose a navy dress from my suitcase. At the funeral home, she held it against my body and realized the hem was too short."She bought that when she was sixteen," the housekeeper said.Celeste sat holding it for a long time before going to buy another herself.On the day of the

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