Home / A Lifetime Spent for My Mother's Affection / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of A Lifetime Spent for My Mother's Affection: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

I was six years old the day I met my mother for the first time.After Grandma passed away, Mom pulled up to the cottage in a sleek sedan.A little girl in a fluffy pink dress sat in the backseat.That was Lily Paul, my twin sister.Mom led me inside her sparkling townhouse and pointed to a low wooden stool in the corner."Stand right there," she said. "Don't move. Don't trace dirt onto my clean floors."I stared down at my faded canvas shoes. My knuckles turned white against my frayed pants.It was our sixth birthday.A tiered velvet cake sat on the dining table, stuck with six pink candles.Dad walked in carrying heavy shopping bags. He pulled out a lace-trimmed dress and handed it to Lily.Lily clapped and twirled across the rug.I wanted a new dress too.All my clothes had been hand-me-downs from nearby farms, covered in rough patches over the elbows and knees.I crept over to the glass table. My hand trembled as I touched a white cotton dress tucked inside the bag.Sl

Chapter 2

Maintaining her favor was nearly impossible in this house.Lily was frail. She caught colds and fevers at the slightest drop in temperature.Every time Lily fell sick, Mom’s mood turned sour, and her affection rating plummeted.During the winter when I was seven, Lily played in the snow and developed a harsh cough.Mom spent the entire day sighing in frustration.At dinner, while serving food, I accidentally spilled a single drop of broth onto the tablecloth.Mom slammed her fork onto the table.[Mother's affection rating dropped by 5. Current rating: minus 5.][Mother is considering withdrawing the host from school to perform full-time housework.]Panic seized me. My hands shook so badly that I almost dropped my bowl.I was only a first grader. I had just learned to write my own name.My teacher praised my neat handwriting. I wanted to stay in school so badly."You can't even carry a bowl without clumsy mistakes! What good are you?" Mom snapped, eyes cold and dead. "Eating

Chapter 3

By the time I turned ten, my health was rapidly deteriorating.Back at Grandma's cottage, I used to carry water buckets without breaking a sweat.After trading away twenty-three years of my life, constant dizzy spells settled in.During physical education class, halfway through a short jog, my chest tightened. My vision went completely black.The teacher told me to rest, pointing out how pale and ghostly I looked.When I got home, I told Mom my chest hurt and asked to see a doctor.Mom was slicing apples for Lily. She didn't even glance up."Chest pain? At your age? You're just making up excuses to avoid your chores."Lily was born with a weak heart. You grew up in the country like an ox, what could possibly be wrong with you?"Fold the laundry on the porch, then mop the kitchen."I gripped the doorframe, nodded, and quietly obeyed.I didn't dare press further.If I argued, her affection rating would drop again.Every single drop meant losing more years of my life.I didn

Chapter 4

[Warning! Target affection rating collapsing!][Current rating: minus 50.][Current rating: minus 100.][Extreme resentment detected. Affection rating has hit rock bottom.]Mom lunged at me. She grabbed my collar, slamming my head against the concrete wall."How dare you show your face here?!" she shrieked. "Why did you do this to her?!""The doctor said her heart is failing! She could die any second!"Why her?! Why couldn't it be you in that hospital bed?!"Mom shook me wildly, her eyes wide and bloodshot.Then she saw the folded piece of scrap paper in my pocket.She snatched the drawing, tore it to shreds, and hurled the scraps straight at my face."Who told you to draw this garbage?! You want your sister dead, don't you?! Why couldn't it be you?! Why don't you just die?!"Every vicious word cut straight into my soul.Inside my head, the system sounded a deafening alarm.[Tick-clack-tick-clack!][Target affection has dropped past the minimum threshold.][Due to extre

Chapter 5

Three days.I only had three days left to live.After returning from emergency care, Lily was moved to a private room.The doctors called it an incredible miracle. Her failing heart had somehow repaired itself overnight, and her chronic respiratory weakness had vanished completely.Lily lay in bed with rosy cheeks and steady, calm breathing.Meanwhile, my fingers began to shake uncontrollably.Every step I took felt as if heavy weights were crushing my bones.On the first morning, Mom stayed by Lily's side in the ward.I dragged myself up from the cot and couldn't help letting out a soft cough."Stop that coughing!"Mom stepped into the hallway, her brow furrowed in utter annoyance."Lily just fell asleep. If you wake her, I swear I'll lose my temper."I clamped both hands over my mouth, forcing the rest of the cough back down my throat.Tears sprang to my eyes from the strain."I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to."Mom let out a cold sneer."Get up already. Lily will wa

Chapter 6

The seasonal rain poured heavier with every passing second.The rain soaked completely through my thin school jacket.I ran along the edge of the street, forcing my legs forward.With every breath, my lungs burned, cold, sharp, and raw.Deep puddles flooded the sidewalk, completely covering my ankles.I waited in line for over half an hour to get the bag.The baker saw me drenched and handed me a tissue."Sweetheart, why are you out here alone? No umbrella in a downpour like this?"I shook my head, pushing the tissue back."Thank you, but I'm in a hurry."On the run back, my vision suddenly went black. I fell hard against the stone curb.My right knee slammed into the sharp edge, and my palm ripped open on the gravel.Ignoring the stinging pain, I reached for the paper bag inside my jacket.It was still safe and warm.My right leg buckled under my weight. I limped step by step back toward the hospital.By the time I stumbled into the private ward, my lips had turned blue

Chapter 7

A tiny flame flickered in the dark room."Make a wish, Mom," I whispered.Mom didn't say a word. She clasped her hands together and closed her eyes."I wish Lily stays safe and healthy for a long, peaceful life, free from any suffering."She blew out the candle, plunging the room back into darkness.I knew my time was up.Mom cut a tiny piece of cake, tasted it, and frowned."Too sweet. It tastes completely artificial."She pushed the rest of the cake aside and turned to peel an apple for Lily.I braced myself against the table and forced myself to stand straight."Mom, I'm feeling tired. I'm going to sleep next door," I said softly.Without looking back, Mom replied, "Go ahead. Don't lock the door from the inside. If Lily needs water or help in the middle of the night, I'll call you."I took a step back and bowed deeply to her back."Okay, Mom."I turned and walked into the small, dark room.My sight faded into total blackness.In my final moments, I could hear soft la

Chapter 8

"That's impossible! You're lying!"Mom lunged forward like a madwoman, grabbing the doctor by his collar."She was as strong as an ox! How could she be dead?!"The doctor sighed heavily, slamming the initial autopsy report onto the table.His eyes burned with unhidden rage and contempt."Pull yourself together, ma'am! Strong as an ox? Are you really her mother?!"The autopsy shows severe malnutrition, acute anemia, and multiple old bone fractures that healed improperly!"Her stomach was completely empty except for stomach acid! She was starving!"Most critical of all, she suffered from explosive myocarditis and sudden heart failure, accompanied by a high fever and severe lung infection!"The doctor pointed at the data, his voice trembling with anger."The fever lasted for at least three days! With organ failure like that, the pain would be unbearable for anyone!"Were you parents completely blind?! She was dying, and neither of you noticed?!"This isn't an accident. This is

Chapter 9

The High Judge glared at the Reaper."The Book of Fate is clear. Lily's life was meant to end three days ago!"Why did you bring me this soul instead?! She was fated to live seventy-two years! Her life was meant to bloom into peace, success, and a loving family!"How dare you alter the Book of Fate?!"The Reaper dropped to his knees, his voice trembling."My Lord, please hear me! I committed no fraud!"It was the girl. She willingly initiated the trade, giving up her life to take her sister's place!"Her heart was determined. The contract was signed in blood. I had no power to undo it!"The High Judge froze.He looked down at me standing in the center of the hall.His anger melted into a heavy, sorrowful sigh."Poor child... Why would you do this?"The world is filled with cruel and favor-blind parents. Why throw away seventy beautiful years for love that isn't real?"I knelt on the ice-cold floor and whispered softly."I don't regret it, My Lord."Staying in that house,

Chapter 10

If I returned, Lily would die.Seeing her body, could Mom and Dad truly love me without resentment?Whenever they looked at my face, wouldn't they remember the sister who died because of me?In time, love would turn to hatred again, and guilt would become torture.I didn't want to gamble anymore.I didn't want to beg for anyone's love ever again.I bowed deeply to the High Judge three times."Thank you for your kindness, My Lord. I don't want to go back."Being human is too exhausting, always having to be obedient, sensible, reading every expression, trading my life for tiny scraps of affection."I don't want to be anyone's daughter, and I don't want to be anyone's sister."I don't hate them, but I never want to see them again."The High Judge looked at my resolute eyes for a long moment before letting out a long sigh."Very well... since it is your choice, I grant it."You may enter reincarnation, blessed with a future life of wealth, peace, and freedom from tragedy."I

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