Chapter 1

Before I died, my parents would scold me every single day.

Mom always blamed me for holding back her career advancement.

"If I hadn't gotten pregnant with you by accident, I would've been the department director ages ago," she said.

Dad always blamed me for his business failures.

"Ever since you were born, everything I invest in just goes down the drain. You're nothing but bad luck," he complained.

They only ever loved my older sister, saying she was just like them—bookish, quiet, and gentle.

But me? I was like some wild, unruly child, always jumping around, getting into fights, and making them lose face.

"This unwanted, useless burden. If only we'd aborted her back then, our family would be perfect," my parents always sighed.

In the end, I really did die, just like they always wanted.

*****

Early that morning, after giving it everything I had, I finally got my hands on the key intel, which was enough to bust all the drug dealers in one go.

But the price was that my cover at the bar was totally busted.

Luckily, I got the intel out before things went south.

Before my fellow cops could get there, those dealers tortured me in every way imaginable.

First, they hacked off my arms and legs, leaving me a mutilated husk. Then they started slicing off my flesh, bit by bit, making sure I stayed alive through it all.

I clenched my teeth so hard to keep myself from screaming that I ended up shattering them.

Finally, I heard the blaring of police sirens.

Once the dealers were all taken down, my captain, Daniel, rushed in and pulled my mangled body into his arms. That tough, stoic man just broke down, sobbing, "Lucy, I'm so sorry. We were too late."

"Don't close your eyes. Stay with me, okay? The doctors will fix you," he begged, his voice cracking right next to my ear.

I barely managed to open my bloodied eyes and whispered, "Captain, donate whatever's left of me. If any of my organs are still good, let someone else have them.

"And also, don't let my parents know I died."

After I said that, a faint smile appeared on my face, and feeling satisfied, I let my eyes close for good.

Soon, I was rushed to the hospital.

But as soon as I arrived, I drew my final breath.

Honoring my last request, the hospital removed my corneas and gave them to my sister, Brianna.

Brianna had been waiting forever. If she didn't get those corneas soon, she was on the verge of losing her sight for good.

And the one holding the scalpel, leading the surgery, was Mom.

She bowed respectfully over my body with the nurses, expressing their gratitude for my gift.

Then, keeping her composure, she pulled back the sterile sheet and glanced at me.

Even after years in medicine, having witnessed all sorts of tragedies, she couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath at the sight before her.

She said, "This kid's only twenty-four. So young.

"This poor girl suffered so much. If her parents saw her like this, they'd probably break down in tears."

She couldn't help but mumble softly behind her mask.

My soul drifted above, and hearing her words, I wanted so badly to ask her a question. Mom, if you knew this was me, your own daughter, would your heart still ache for me?

But I was already dead, and that question would never leave my lips.

The surgery went perfectly, and my parents and Brianna couldn't hide their happiness.

Dad turned to Mom and said, "I heard the donor was around Brianna's age? What an amazing kid."

Brianna was my sister's name. They put a lot of effort into picking this name.

My name was Lucy, quite simple.

Mom answered, "Yes, she was so young. The police brought her in. She probably died in the line of duty."

"Such a pity. But her parents must be so proud of her," Dad added.

"If only we knew who she was, we could pay our respects at her grave and show our gratitude," they both said wistfully.

But then Mom's face turned cold. "Lucy really doesn't even care. Brianna's surgery went perfectly today, and she couldn't even bother to show up.

"Is her shady job really that important? She didn't even call once."

Dad scoffed, his voice dripping with contempt. "A daughter like that is just an embarrassment to the family. It'd be best if we never heard from her again."

Brianna snorted, full of disdain. "Who needs her concern? The farther she is from me, the better."

Suddenly, both Mom's and Dad's phones started ringing, one right after the other.

"Dr. Louis, after a thorough review, you'll be officially appointed as the director of the ENT Department tomorrow," someone said.

Mom's call was from the hospital director himself.

This was the job Mom had been chasing for years.

Dad's secretary called him. "Mr. Harper, we just won the bid!"

This project was everything to Dad. If it went through, his company could finally bounce back from the brink.

After hanging up, Mom and Dad hugged Brianna, practically glowing with excitement. "Brianna, you really are our lucky star!

"See? The moment your surgery was a success, everything just started going our way."

The small hospital room was buzzing with happiness and excitement.