Chapter 4

"Emily, don't be afraid. I'm here. I've always been here," Alex said, his voice trembling with tears.

He held my hand so tight, and that's when I realized—somehow, I'd grabbed a piece of broken glass and cut my wrist again.

Bright red blood pooled across the floor, looking just like the wedding ribbons from that day.

Panic-stricken, he scooped me up and rushed me to the hospital.

All the frantic commotion faded, and things finally calmed down.

I lay quietly in the hospital bed, with my parents sitting by my side, worry etched on their faces.

Even Ethan, who'd never really been close to me, showed up in the room.

My two best friends were there too, holding flowers and keeping watch over me.

Alex carefully held the cup to my lips, making sure I drank some water.

It felt like I'd gone back to those four peaceful years after I got out of the hospital.

Back then, I was the Grant family's only little girl—no need to please anyone, and nobody out to hurt me.

Everyone was happy, like a real family.

Just as I was soaking in that fleeting happiness, Alex suddenly spoke.

"Emily, you're pregnant," Alex said.

I stared in shock, my hand instinctively going to my stomach, unable to believe it was true.

I burst into happy tears, looking at Alex. "It's our baby."

But Alex's face hardened as he slid an abortion consent form toward me.

"Emily, you can't keep this baby. You have to get rid of it," he said.

I felt like I'd been plunged into a freezing pit, barely able to believe what I'd just heard.

"Wait what did you just say?" I stammered, my voice trembling.

My mom couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed my hand, pleading with me, tears streaming down her face.

"Emily, your heart is a match for Sophie's. Please, save her—just this once, okay?"

I stared at everyone in the room, my skin turning ghostly pale. "What are you talking about?"

Rachel didn't mince words. "Emily, your parents told us the truth. You were only born because Ethan had a heart problem.

"You were always meant to be the one who gave him your heart.

"But Sophie stepped up and gave hers instead. You got to live those extra years in good health—years that should've been hers.

"So isn't it about time you gave her back what you owe?

"You were already a perfect match, and now you go and get pregnant? Seriously, could you make things any messier?"

A metallic taste filled my throat, and I could barely recognize the people standing in front of me.

Jessica, who'd been silent this whole time, handed me a pen and whispered, "Emily, please, just sign it. Sophie's heart is hurting again."

I looked at Alex. "This is your own flesh and blood. Are you really going to turn your back on your own child?"

Then I turned to my parents. "This is your own grandchild. Are you really going to make me get rid of it—just for Sophie?"

Alex's voice was flat, like he didn't care at all. "Emily, we'll have kids again someday."

I suddenly jumped out of bed, crying, "Alex, you lied to me! You're already married to someone else. There's no way we'll ever have kids together again!"

Remembering the child I lost, I gritted my teeth and held my stomach as I hurried downstairs.

Baby, this time, I swear I'll protect you.

But when I reached the stairwell, I found myself surrounded by a group of bodyguards dressed in black.

These were the very people my parents and Alex once hired to keep me safe.

Now, they're the ones standing in the way of my escape.

I cried out, begging, "I'm pregnant. Please, I'm begging you, let me go."

Not a single one of them listened to my pleas.

Someone behind me slammed a club into my lower back.

I tumbled down the stairs.

Blood instantly poured out beneath me.

Alex set the club aside and picked me up, carrying me into the operating room.

"Emily, don't blame me," he said.

"You wouldn't sign, so the baby could only be lost in an 'accident.'

"Don't be afraid. Once you're better, we'll go ahead with the heart transplant. I'll make sure you get the best artificial heart money can buy."

"Alex, it's bad! Sophie's heart is failing fast. She can't hold on much longer," someone shouted.

"If we don't do the transplant now, she's going to die," another voice added.

Alex froze. "But Emily can't—"

My parents cut him off. "Alex, we only have two daughters. If only one can survive, who will you choose?"

After a long silence, Alex said calmly, "Save Sophie."

That last shred of hope I was holding onto was completely crushed.

The lights in the operating room flickered on and off. As I came to after the anesthesia, I could feel a weak heartbeat inside me—one that wasn't mine.

The doctor told the nurse, "Tell the family the surgery was a success."

With every ounce of strength I had left, I grabbed the doctor's sleeve. "Three hundred thousand dollars in cash, under the locust tree at Villa No. 1 in the west suburbs."

"Miss Grant, what do you need me to do?" the doctor asked.

"Help me fake my death," I said.