Chapter 2

I was not clueless. I could feel my body wasting away day by day, like a flower withering, all its life slowly drained out.

"I know, Dr. Luther," I said, forcing a smile as I looked up at him. "But I'm still short on the surgery costs."

James fell silent. He looked at me, his gaze holding emotions I couldn't decipher, sympathy, maybe, and a touch of helplessness. "How much do you still need?"

I told him the amount. It was everything I'd saved up. It used to be enough, but now, it was not enough.

He let out a sigh, pulled a hospital admission form from his drawer, and started filling it out.

"I'll get you a bed first. We'll figure out the money later, but you have to promise me. Call your family today and have them come in to handle the paperwork," he said.

He handed me the form, his eyes burning into mine. "Emily, this isn't a joke. This is your life."

I took the thin piece of paper, but it felt like it weighed a ton.

If my family found out this, they would tear into me again, accusing me of faking just to avoid the wedding. Maybe they would think I was unlucky to them.

I clutched the paper and walked out of the doctor's office. In the noisy hospital corridor, I dialed my mom's number.

The phone rang for a long time before she finally picked up. In the background, I could hear the chatter of people and a salesperson's enthusiastic pitch.

"Hello? What is it? I'm with Olivia, picking out wedding dresses. I'm busy," my mom said impatiently, her voice full of irritation.

"Mom, the doctor said I need to be hospitalized right away," I said, my voice shaky.

"Hospital? Are you deliberately making things hard for me? I told you. The hospital just wants to scare you and take your money.

"Your little problem will go away if you just rest. We don't have a single cent left. Everything went to Olivia's wedding," she snapped.

Olivia's voice came through the phone. "Mom, who is it? Hang up already. Come help me pick. Does this one look good?"

"Coming," my mom replied right away, and then quickly said into the phone, "Alright, stop calling me.

"Can you stop being such a bother? Hurry up and come home. Olivia can't handle all the wedding dress stuff by herself."

The call ended abruptly.

I stood there, clutching my phone, feeling like I'd been hollowed out in an instant.

Sunlight streamed in through the corridor windows, warm as ever, but all I could feel was a bone-deep chill.

When I got home, Olivia was standing in the middle of the living room, right in front of the mirror, dressed head-to-toe in a dazzling white wedding gown.

With lace, sparkly gems, and a train that seemed to go on forever, she really looked like royalty. She was basking in my parents' compliments, soaking up every bit of their attention.

"Olivia, you look gorgeous, like some fairy straight out of a storybook," my mom gushed, her eyes practically disappearing from how much she was smiling.

"Yeah, her fiancé hit the jackpot," my dad said, nodding with satisfaction.

No one even glanced at me. I drifted through their little bubble of happiness, invisible, and slipped back to my room without a sound.

The next morning, my mom barged into my room before I was even awake.

She was holding a bank card, her face set in a way that left no room for argument. "Emily, transfer all the money from your card to this one."

I froze. "What money?"

"Don't play dumb with me," my mom snapped, her patience gone. "All that money you've saved up from your gift money and part-time jobs. Isn't it all in your account?"

It hit me like a punch to the gut. That was the money I'd scraped together over more than ten years, bit by bit. It was my surgery fund, my life-saving money.

"Mom, I-I can't," I stammered, my voice trembling.

"Why not?" my mom shot back, her voice rising. "Olivia's fiancé's family gave us so much for the wedding. We can't send her off with a shabby one. How will she ever be able to show her face at her in-laws' place?

"You're her sister. Can't you do something for her happiness for once?"

It was always about Olivia. To Mom, my life was worth nothing compared to her happiness.

"It's just for now. Once the wedding's done, I'll return it to you," she said, her voice softening as she started playing the sympathy card.

"Both of you are my daughters; you're both precious to me. Look, I know you're sick, but Olivia's future matters more right now. Do you really want to see her embarrassed in front of her new family?"

I looked at her, feeling nothing but absurdity. I was always the one to sacrifice.

"Mom, that money is for saving my life," I said, each word coming out slow and heavy.

My mom's face turned ugly in a flash. She glared at me, her eyes practically dripping with hatred.

"Yeah, right, saving your life. Sounds good, doesn't it? You're just selfish. You can't stand to see Olivia happy. How did I end up with such a heartless, cruel daughter?" she snapped.

Her words hit me like a bunch of frozen knives, stabbing right through my chest.