"I'm so done with Madilynn. She's nothing but a burden. Honestly, I wish she had died in that earthquake when she was ten, so she couldn't continue to be a problem.

"Can you believe she tried to compete with you for the heart? What a schemer!"

Jettson didn't even try to hide the disgust on his face.

My sister, Melissa Baughen, snuggled up against his chest and grinned triumphantly. "If Madilynn hears this, she'll come after me again."

Jettson's expression turned icy, and his tone filled with disdain as he replied, "She won't dare!

"So what if she finds out? We've been kind enough to take care of her all these years. A loser like her should be grateful! If she had any sense at all, she'd just disappear."

I froze in place.

A sharp pain pierced my chest, stealing my breath for a moment.

Had I not stumbled upon this today, I would have gone to my grave without ever knowing that chilling truth.

I bit down on my pale lower lip, wanting to rush over and ask why they'd treated me like that.

But when my gaze fell on the critical condition notice in my hand, I suddenly smiled.

When I saved Jettson ten years ago, I never expected him to repay me with marriage.

If I'd known all this earlier, I wouldn't have risked my life to have his child.

And I definitely wouldn't have kept telling myself over and over again that he loved me.

But none of that mattered anymore.

After all, I was dying.

Melissa swayed a bit.

Panic and worry flashed across Jettson's face, and without thinking twice, he scooped her up and rushed her back to the ward.

I trailed behind them and saw my parents hurriedly grab the doctor. "Doctor, my daughter isn't feeling well again! Can you check on her?"

The doctor said she was fine, and the three of them finally let out a sigh of relief.

Only then did they notice me pressed in the corner.

Jettson shot a cold glance at the report I was holding and asked, "What did the doctor say?"

I gave a faint smile and replied, "Everything's good."

For the first time, Jettson explained himself, "Things were really urgent back then. Missy couldn't wait any longer. And I couldn't just stand by and watch her die."

My mom hesitantly asked, "Madilynn, you're not going to be mad at us, are you?"

When I didn't respond, she snapped at me. "Madilynn, you are so heartless! Missy's your sister!"

My dad also turned his anger on me. "Enough already! Ever since you got back, this family hasn't had a moment's peace. You've been fighting with Missy over everything. And now it's her life! Can you stop this already?"

My five-year-old son, Oliver Ackrigg, was furious, too. He slammed his head into my stomach and kept hitting me with his tiny fists. "Bad woman! It's all because of you that Melissa ended up in the hospital! I don't want a bad mom like you. I want Melissa to be my mom!"

Their harsh words cut into me like shards of ice.

I stumbled back and bit my lip hard to steady myself through the pain.

Once they were done letting it all out, I gently shook my head.

"I'm not mad. The doctor said we'll hear some good news in seven days."

I paused for a moment. My voice came out hoarse. "And it will be good for all of us."

Everyone let out a sigh of relief, and the mood lightened right away.

Jettson's furrowed brows relaxed. "I told you, your heart's been weak for 18 years, but it hasn't gotten worse. You're definitely going to be okay.

"Just hang in there a bit longer, and we might even find a better match for a heart donor."

My dad wrapped the quilt around Melissa, pride spreading across his face. "Missy truly is the family's lucky charm. Without her, you wouldn't have made it until the heart donor arrives in seven days. You should be thankful to her."

My mom handed Melissa a sliced apple and shot me an annoyed look. "Unlike some jinx who caused a scene at the hospital over heart problems, embarrassing the Baughen family!"

Jettson glanced at me with my head down, and I saw a flicker of sympathy in his eyes.

"That's enough! Mom, Dad, let's drop it."

I suddenly looked up at him with hope shining in my eyes.

But what he said next felt like ice-cold water pouring over me.

He added. "Let's not let these little things get in the way of Missy getting better."

I let out a sarcastic laugh.

I thought, "Of course. How could he ever stand up for me?"

All his kindness and favoritism were always just for Melissa.

I casually grabbed a handful of candies from the table and handed them to my son, then smiled and asked, "Do you really want Melissa to be your mom that badly?"

He froze for a second before nodding.

There was a time when I wouldn't let him have too many candies.

But since I'd been so strict with him, he ended up disliking me even more.

I patted his head one last time, then chuckled softly. "Alright, from now on, Melissa will be your mom."

Everyone went silent in shock for a moment.

Then suddenly, everyone started saying I finally got it together and grew up at last.

I didn't say anything back.

I just quietly walked out of the ward.

Because deep down, I knew no one wanted to see me anymore.

And if I stayed even half a minute longer, Melissa would probably start feeling sick again, and the whole family would blame me once more.

I dragged my tired body back home.

As soon as I walked in the door, I noticed Jettson had gotten home before me.

He was telling the maid, Lillian Finch, to toss my stuff out of the master bedroom.

My clothes were just thrown on the floor, trampled like trash, and even my underwear was stained with some weird substance.

Jettson said, "Missy just had surgery not long ago and needs someone to take care of her right away. If she's in the master bedroom, it'll be easier for me to keep an eye on her from the next room."

I forced a numb smile at that.

His favoritism for Melissa was totally obvious now.

Lillian shot me a disgusted look, but didn't stop what she was doing.

"You can stay in the utility room instead. Do you really think some country bumpkin can suddenly become a big deal?

"I suggest you get real and pack your things quickly. Stop thinking you can keep taking advantage of other people's kindness every single day..."

"Fine." I cut her off mid-sentence.

Lillian paused for a second. Normally, I would've argued with her forever.

But today? I just went along with it.

Because I was feeling so weak, it took me a whole five hours to move my stuff into the utility room.

Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore and collapsed onto the narrow, dusty, moldy bed and sank into a deep sleep.

Before long, someone kicked the door open.

"Madilynn, my wounds need to heal. So, you go make some soup!"

Melissa ordered someone to pull me up from the bed.

I nodded because I remembered what happened last time I said no to Melissa.

They forced me to my knees on a floor littered with broken glass and made me bow and apologize to her all night long.

I scrambled up in a sorry state and rushed straight into the kitchen.

The first time, Melissa slapped me hard across the face. It burned like fire spreading across my skin.

"Are you trying to scald me alive?"

The second time, she smashed a spoon against my forehead, making it bleed.

"Do you want to choke me with salt?"

The third time, she purposely spilled chicken soup on her own wrist and let out this high-pitched scream.

Jettson rushed over without thinking twice, pulled her into his arms gently, and protected her like a shield.

Melissa's eyes were red, and her face looked so hurt. "Madilynn... do you really hate me that much? If I'm bothering you this badly, I can just leave... Why do you have to make it so hard for me?"

"Jett, don't blame Madilynn. She's probably still upset because I took her heart. It makes sense for her to hit and yell at me. As long as she can feel better..."

Jettson shot me a fierce look, his voice icy enough to chill my bones. "If you love wasting food so much, then you're not eating tonight!"

That night, as expected, the kitchen was empty.

I licked my dry lips and stuck my head under the sink to catch some tap water in my hands, gulping it down desperately.

The moment the cold water slid down my throat, a sharp pain pierced my heart.

I doubled over and started coughing violently and painfully until blood pooled on the floor.

I cleaned up the blood and went back to lie down in the utility room.

When I woke up again, Jettson was there, gently wiping away the cold sweat from my forehead with a worried look on his face.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a fever? What would Oliver and I do if something happened to you?

"Does it still hurt?"

He carefully put a Band-Aid on the cut on my forehead and blew softly on it.

His tone was sweet and caring now—as if he wasn't the same guy who punished me last night.

Just then, the housekeeper rushed in, looking really worried.

"Mr. Ackrigg, Ms. Baughen isn't feeling well. Can you please go check on her right away?"

Jettson didn't think twice. He shook off my hand and took off running.

I let out a little laugh to myself. What was I even expecting?

Before long, the door swung open with a loud bang.

Jettson grabbed me by the neck tightly, his voice icy as he shouted, "Did you post that online?

"You're spreading rumors that Missy seduced her own brother-in-law! And you even shared photos of us online! What are you trying to do? Do you hate her that much?"

I just didn't have it in me to argue back. I closed my eyes and waited for everything to end.

Honestly, guilty or not, I'd be blamed either way.

But then he let go of me. His tone changed unexpectedly. It softened a bit and had this hint of panic. "Missy just had a heart transplant. She can't handle any stress right now. Go apologize to her immediately, and we'll put this behind us."

I replied calmly, "Okay."

He froze for a moment. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't quite figure out.

In the past, I would've definitely started yelling back at him.

But now? Even if I wasn't at fault, I no longer had the strength to explain.

"I'm really sorry."

I kept my head down, and my voice was low.

Melissa chuckled lightly, walked over to me, and sneered. "Oh, come on, thanks for enduring all that pain just to carry a baby for me. Didn't Jett tell you? The son you risked everything to bring into this world. He's actually mine and his.

"He didn't want you to suffer through childbirth, so he used your womb instead. Only someone as clueless as you would be thrilled about raising another person's kid!"

It felt like all the strength had been sucked out of me. I just stood there frozen.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I suddenly threw up blood.

So I'd been completely in the dark this whole time.

Hearing the noise, Jettson rushed in like he was on fire, panicking as he scooped me up into his arms.

"Madilynn! What's wrong? Don't scare me! Please be okay!"

I couldn't stop coughing, and blood kept trickling from my mouth.

Tears filled his eyes as he wiped the blood from my lips, his face etched with worry.

The next moment, Lillian walked in holding an empty ketchup packet and said angrily, "Seriously, Mrs. Ackrigg? How could you use ketchup to scare Mr. Ackrigg and Ms. Baughen?"

I froze as I thought, "Ketchup? I hadn't even touched any!"

Before I could say anything, Jettson—who was just worried about me a second ago—turned around, pushed me away in disgust, and yelled furiously, "Madilynn! You're still so manipulative! You even used ketchup to get sympathy!"

Out of nowhere, Oliver jumped in and started hitting and kicking me. "You liar! You don't deserve to be my mom at all! Just get out of my house!"

I looked around at the four people facing me. Their eyes were full of pure hatred.

Even my phone was buzzing like crazy. It was my parents sending a ton of voice messages back-to-back, cursing me out.

Right... this wasn't home for me anymore.

Jettson took a deep breath like he'd made some big decision and said coldly, "I really thought you'd changed for the better. I was even planning to throw you a belated wedding as an apology. But it looks like you'll never change!

"If that's how it is, then let's end these online rumors. Missy will be the bride instead."

I smiled weakly and replied softly, "Okay."

As the odd one out here, I should know when to disappear.

I forced myself to stand up. My body shook slightly as I stumbled step by step out of the Ackrigg's residence.

I had only taken a few steps when Jettson, out of nowhere, came running after me.

He grabbed my hand, his voice softening up a bit, even sounding kind of respectful. "Honey, I know you've been through some tough stuff lately.

"Missy and I aren't what you think. Everything I did was to help her get better soon, and it's for you too. She's your sister after all.

"Once you get that heart transplant in seven days, we'll head over to Ireland to register our marriage and have a wedding.

"I heard they don't allow divorce there. After that, you'll be able to stick by my side forever.

"Weren't there like 100 things in that little notebook about what you wanted to do with me?

"Let's kick things off today. How about we go catch a movie?"

Before I could say anything back, he lifted me into the passenger seat.

We had just hit the highway when Jettson got a phone call and quickly pulled over.

He looked worried and tense. "Missy just fainted. They said it might be a heart rejection reaction. I need to head back right away.

"Madilynn, why don't you go ahead? I'll catch up with you once I've sorted this out."

Standing outside the car door, I stared at him and asked, "Jettson, did you ever like me even a little?"

All I got in response was the sound of the car speeding away.

I felt abandoned in that highway tunnel, discarded like trash.

My vision started to blur and fade, and before I knew it, I collapsed hard onto the ground.

In my last moments here, I thought I heard an ambulance coming.

I also saw a bunch of people rushing toward me with worried looks on their faces.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I smiled softly.

It hit me then—there were still folks out there who cared about me.

The hospital kept calling Jettson, but no one picked up.

Not until the 44th call did Jettson finally answer, sounding annoyed, and snap at the caller.

The doctor on the other end took a moment before speaking in a pretty cold tone, "I'm really sorry to tell you this, but Madilynn was pronounced dead ten minutes ago. She signed a body donation form while she was alive. Please have her family come to Johns Hopkins Hospital to take care of the relevant confirmation procedures."