Chapter 5

Mrs. Sterling's face froze. She looked away awkwardly, not answering.

Mr. Sterling was silent for a moment, then finally spoke. But every word was a dagger twisting in my gut.

“Since you asked, I'll tell you the truth. Ten years ago, we discovered Tiffany wasn't our biological daughter. But we'd raised her for so many years, we'd already accepted her. We even legally changed her name to Tiffany, ensuring she'd remain the Sterling family's true daughter forever.”

“But then, your mother was diagnosed with kidney failure and desperately needed a transplant. That's why we had to find you. Your match was perfect.”

“We gave you life. Your mother needs saving now, and it's only natural for you to give her a kidney in return. It's your responsibility, one you can't escape.”

His words cleared the fog, revealing the harsh truth.

The supposed longing and guilt I saw at our first meeting were all fake.

This reunion was a cold, calculated scheme from the very beginning.

They had two biological sons, and Tiffany, whom they'd coddled for twenty-one years.

But they couldn't bear for any of those children to donate a kidney.

So, they set their sights on me, their biological daughter for whom they felt no affection.

They found me back, simply because I was the one they could sacrifice without hesitation.

I looked up at them, my eyes filled with nothing but sarcasm:

“You have two biological sons, don't you? Their matches must be highly compatible too.”

The faces of the five Sterlings instantly changed.

Mr. Sterling immediately scowled, pointing at me and snapping angrily:

“Nonsense! Your brother is the Sterling family heir, and your younger brother is still a child. How dare you even think of them?!”

Mrs. Sterling whirled around, glaring at me with a savage fury, as if she wanted to tear me limb from limb:

“They're men! What if losing a kidney ruins their health for good?!”

“Jade, how can you be so malicious at such a young age, wanting to harm your own brothers?!”

Tiffany quickly stepped forward to support Mrs. Sterling, feigning understanding:

“Mom, it's just a shame I'm not your biological daughter, otherwise I'd gladly give my life to save you.”

The Sterlings looked at me with even greater contempt.

Brandon stepped forward, pulling an organ donation agreement from his jacket, and promised:

“Jade, donating a kidney is your second test to join the Sterling family.”

“As long as you sign this agreement, from now on, you'll be a real Sterling.”

“A 'Sterling family member'?” I scoffed, my voice dripping with defiance.

“I never wanted to be a Sterling in the first place!”

“I'll never donate that kidney!”

With that, I turned to leave.

“Stop!”

I ignored the angry shouts behind me. But just as I pulled open the clinic door, two bodyguards blocked me.

They roughly dragged me back, forcing my hand to sign the agreement.

Then, I was bound hand and foot and dragged into the operating room.

The doctor picked up a needle for anesthesia, but Tiffany immediately shrieked to stop him:

“No anesthesia! She thinks she's so tough? If she dares to cross the Sterlings, she deserves a lesson!”

The doctor paused, looking uncomfortable, and instinctively glanced at Mrs. Sterling.

“But... operating without anesthesia, she'll die of pain!”

Mrs. Sterling immediately sneered, her voice harsh:

“If she dies of pain, it's her own fault! She wasn't obedient, so she'll pay the price. We'll take responsibility for anything that happens, just do it!”

The gleaming scalpel slowly approached, about to pierce my skin.

I stared desperately at the stark white ceiling, trembling uncontrollably.

Just then, BANG—a deafening crash!

The heavy operating room door exploded inward.

A sleek, roaring motorcycle burst through the door, engine screaming, and skidded to a halt beside the operating table.

My adoptive mother, Seraphina Rossi, ripped off her helmet, hurled it, and it precisely struck the scalpel from the doctor's hand.

My adoptive father, Jax Walker, kicked over the lead surgeon, his eyes bloodshot as he scanned the room, roaring:

“Who the hell dares lay a hand on my daughter?!”