Chapter 2

Joan was waiting for me on the couch, a mole between her brows, her face painted pale like a sickly patient, radiating fake innocence.

Even though I'd never met her before, it was easy to spot her thanks to the way the book described her.

She curled her lips into a mocking smile. "Didn't expect you to run off and hide with Oliver."

No one else was here, so she stopped pretending to be weak.

I plopped down next to her. "What are you doing here?"

She kept grinning smugly. "You didn't know, did you? Oliver likes me, too. The moment I said I was sick and needed you to donate a kidney, he immediately told me your location. Aaron is on his way here, too."

Well, I finally knew why Oliver could never be the male lead.

Her words made me realize I'd gotten the timeline wrong.

I'd forgotten that at this point, Oliver hadn't fallen deeply for me yet. He was just the well-known good guy, someone who never refused a request, especially not from Joan, with whom he already had a connection.

I figured the reason he treated me so well later probably had a lot to do with guilt.

"Drama never ends with you guys," I said, grabbing an apple off the coffee table and taking a big bite. I glanced at Joan and asked, "So, which one do you really like?"

Joan frowned, clearly stumped by the question.

"Let me make it easy for you," I said, setting down the half-eaten apple and propping my chin in my hand as I looked at her. "You're way more into me, right?

"When I was with Aaron, you went after him. When I came to Oliver, you followed me here."

"Please." Joan shot back, rolling her eyes. "If it weren't because I'm sick and need your kidney, who would even care about you?"

"Hey, my kidney is part of me. Aren't you still going to admit that you're into me?" I teased.

"Shut up," Joan shouted, but as soon as she saw Aaron and Oliver at the door, her voice turned sweet in a flash. "Hi."

I threw my hands up at them. "Seriously, does she look sick to you? She's full of life."

However, Aaron just ignored me and went straight for the jugular. "Why did you run?"

"She's faking it," I said.

"You promised to donate your kidney," Aaron said.

"She's faking it. She doesn't even need a kidney," I yelled.

"You broke your promise," he snapped.

"Come on, she's totally faking it. Are you even listening?" I shot back.

"I've got this place surrounded. You're not getting out of here this time," Aaron said.

Classic male lead. He couldn't hear any explanation until he had already inflicted every possible wound on the heroine.

I shot Oliver a pleading look, but he just dodged my gaze. I grumbled under my breath, "Seriously?"

"Aaron, it hurts." Joan started faking it again, and the effort made her sweat, messing up her makeup.

However, it was like neither of the guys saw a thing.

What a perfectly forced plot twist.

I dabbed at the corners of my eyes with a bit of spit for effect and launched into my performance. "Aaron, it's not that I don't want to donate. I'm pregnant with your child."

Joan's sobbing stopped abruptly.

All three of them turned to stare at me, their eyes glued to my slightly rounded belly.

Getting a bit chubby had benefits. Faking a pregnancy was simple. I pushed my stomach out, instantly radiating pregnancy.

Oliver was in total shock, while Aaron frowned in a tight scowl.

I reminded him, "We had sex seven times that night. You didn't bring enough condoms, so we fucked three times without any precautions."

I counted on my fingers, putting on my best bashful act. "Aaron, you really were amazing."

"Aaron, you—" Joan started crying, her tears streaming down.

She acted like she was being betrayed.

Aaron went to comfort her, then snapped at me with a glare. "Shut up."

I wisely kept my mouth shut.

However, in the very next moment, Aaron made up his mind. "Let's get rid of it. You're still young, and you'll have plenty of chances to be a mom. Joan is different. She's dying."

Maybe feeling guilty, he added, "If you want, you can marry me."

Sometimes, when words failed, all one could do was laugh.

Who in their right mind would want marry him so badly that they'd trade a kidney for it?

I turned to Oliver, who'd been quiet this whole time. "So, are you saying I should abort my baby just to give her my kidney?"

Oliver froze for a second, shot Joan a conflicted look, then said quietly, "Iris, I know you're not the type to just watch someone die. If there's anything I can do to help, just tell me."

Fine, not a single sane person in this whole messed-up story.

I didn't bother arguing any further. I just agreed on the spot.

Later, I sneaked into Oliver's room at night.