Chapter 1

My sister got sick, and my husband forced me to give her my kidney.

I'd been malnourished since childhood—even drawing a vial of blood could nearly kill me.

But my husband said, "Your life or death means nothing to me. Vera is the one I truly love!"

Only then did I realize—he'd loved only my sister all along!

I looked at my parents standing nearby. They were calm and indifferent, not caring at all.

I watched helplessly as my husband signed the consent form, then Mom tied me down on the operating table while Dad personally picked up the scalpel.

Powerless to struggle, I made one final request: I want a divorce.

My husband agreed. He wanted me to give up hope.

But later, when I developed a post-surgical infection and forgot everything, he completely fell apart.

When I opened my eyes, Garrett Sawyer stood before me.

I tried to sit up, only to discover my arms were strapped tightly to a hospital chair!

Before I could process what was happening, Garrett suddenly spoke:

"After all these years together, it's time you repaid me!"

"I need you to save Vera."

My heart seized with panic. "Garrett... what are you talking about?"

A cold voice came from beside me: "He's telling you to give your kidney to Vera."

Only then did I notice—my sister Vera and my parents were also here!

A while back, my sister was diagnosed with a serious illness. Shortly after, Garrett took me to get a physical exam.

And ever since we were young, Garrett had been... no, he'd always been lukewarm toward me, but with my sister—he treated her like she was more precious than his own eyes.

A terrible suspicion became clearer and clearer in my mind.

Would he sacrifice my life for my sister?

I still didn't want to believe it. I resisted desperately:

"What does that have to do with me! I'm your wife!"

"How can you force me to donate a kidney?!"

But Garrett looked at me and let out an inexplicable cold laugh. "What kind of wife are you? Vera is the one in my heart."

"You're just a trophy wife!"

I froze. I understood each word individually, but strung together they made no sense.

What did he mean that Vera was the one in his heart?

After all these years of marriage, he still couldn't let her go? Then what was I?

My sister looked confused too. She turned to look at Garrett.

Garrett smiled at her tenderly.

The nylon zip ties binding my arms grew tighter and tighter, already cutting into my skin and drawing blood.

But seeing Garrett smile at her hurt even more.

Like someone had taken a knife and split my heart open.

Garrett stood up. "I didn't want to say it, but Vera is sick. I can't keep silent anymore."

He walked over to my sister and carefully took her hand, cradling it like a precious treasure.

"Vera is the one I love! You're just my wife in name only!"

"If you hadn't stolen the position of eldest daughter, why would I have ever married you?"

My head buzzed like I'd been struck. I shook my head frantically.

"No... that's absolutely impossible!"

Garrett said, "What's impossible?"

"You don't believe me? I only married you back then because you were close to Vera—I could always see her!"

I bit down hard, crying and screaming without restraint, my voice cracked with grief.

"Garrett, Garrett... I was wrong. Did I make you angry again?"

"Don't say that—I'm your wife!"

I begged him desperately:

"Look at my hands, I'm bleeding..."

"Hold me please, it hurts so much..."

But Garrett looked at me coldly, disgusted and resolute as he shouted:

"Don't call me that! It disgusts me!"

"I never wanted to touch you. Every time I see you, I feel like I've betrayed Vera!"

I opened my mouth, my voice unsteady. "But last night you... you took me out for cake..."

That was the tender moment I'd dreamed of for so long.

Why take it away so quickly when I'd only just received it...

I collapsed on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

The heart I'd been trying so hard to warm up for so long—it had almost gotten warm.

But reality struck me like a thunderbolt: "So what?"

"You're not as important as Vera."

"Besides, it's just one kidney. I already asked—you won't die."

Seeing no hope of rescue, I suddenly turned to my sister. "Vera, save me!"

My sister was especially upright and kind. She would never accept...

But the next second, what she said shattered my world!