I didn’t even look up. “The shelf hit me.”

His hand hovered over mine, shaking. “It… it was chaos. Miya was crying. I thought she got hurt bad. I didn’t mean to leave you.”

I forced a tiny smile. “You did the right thing. She needed you.”

“No, Lesley.” He grabbed my hand tight. His grip was warm, desperate. “You don’t get it. I only treat her well because of her bone marrow. You’re the one I love. Always you. Don’t push me away.”

My eyes burned. “I know. That’s why I didn’t blame you.”

He let out a long breath, relief washing over him. He carefully wrapped my arm, his fingers gentle. “Rest now. I’ll stay. Watch over you.”

For a moment, with his hands on me, I almost believed it was the old days. Back when he never left.

Then the ringtone split the silence.

“Fredrinn…” My twin’s voice, dripping with fake sobs. “I miss you. I’m scared… I can’t find you…”

His face twisted, guilt sharp. “I’ll come right away.”

He hung up and looked at me, torn. “She’s alone in the hospital. She’s afraid. I’ll come back after she sleeps. I swear.”

And just like that, he left. Taking the last warmth from the room with him.

I curled up on the bed, hugging my knees. My breathing was uneven. My chest wasn’t the only thing that hurt. My heart was shattered.

He didn’t come home for two days. At first, I kept checking the clock, hoping I’d hear his footsteps. Then I stopped caring. I swallowed my meds on time, changed the dressing on my arm, and tried to heal quietly in my little corner.

That afternoon, I sat by the window with a book. The sun was warm, but my eyes hurt too much to hold it. My phone buzzed. I picked it up, and her voice poured through.

“Hi Lesley. Guess what?” My twin, sweet as poison. “Do you know Fredrinn risked his life for me?”

I froze. “What do you mean?”

She giggled, like showing off a trophy. “I said I wanted that necklace from the motorbike stunt show. He signed up right away. Didn’t even think. Drove so fast the bike almost flipped. When they shoved him in the ER, do you know what he yelled? My name. Mine.”

My book slipped. I looked out the window. Too bright. My eyes stung. But I didn’t let her hear me break. “So he hurt himself to make you happy,” I said softly.

“Yes,” she whispered, stretching the word. “He needs someone to take care of him now. Maybe you wanna come over?”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “No, Miya. He’s yours, right? You’re the one he chose to get hurt for. Then take care of him.”

She was quiet too long. I ended the call, dropping the phone on the couch like it burned my hand.

The trees outside swayed in the breeze. I stared at them until my eyes blurred. Then I picked up the phone again. My fingers dialed a number I’d memorized weeks ago.

“Hello?” a man answered.

“Hi. This is about the double grave plot, section B, number twelve. I wanted to ask if—”

The door slammed open so hard I jumped, nearly dropping the phone.

“Lesley!”

I looked up. Fredrinn. Pale, hospital gown striped, chest wrapped in thick bandages. Blood soaked through. Lips drained. Eyes burning like fire.

My phone slipped to the floor. “Fredrinn! You should be in the hospital!”

He staggered closer, clutching the door. “Why, Lesley? Why were you trying to buy a grave?”

I forced a little smile, even though my heart had stopped. “Not what you think. Neighbor’s dog died. They asked me to help. That’s it.” I tried to sound calm.

He sagged, face twisted in pain. “Motor crash.”

I rushed to him, holding his arm. “Don’t talk. I’ll take you back to the hospital right now.”

On the ride, his head rested against the seat. His lashes fluttered like a boy too tired to fight. I stared at him, memorizing his face, the way his lips parted when he breathed. My voice trembled so softly only the wind could hear. “This will be the last time I worry about you. After this, I’ll already be in the grave.”

At the hospital, I signed papers, tucked him into bed, adjusted the blanket. He drifted into sleep.

I stepped into the hall, phone in hand, voice calm. “Miya, come here in the morning. I have something important to do.”

Her laugh came faint, light, full of music and chatter. “I’m out, Lesley. I’ll drop by tomorrow. Don’t sound so serious.”

Morning came. She walked in, designer bag over her shoulder, hair perfect. More runway than hospital.

I gave her a small, quiet smile. “You came.”

She tilted her head, lips curling. “Of course. I wanted to see you… though let’s be honest, Lesley. I’ll never donate bone marrow for you. Why would I? You know I only want Fredrinn. I’d rather see you gone.”

“I know, cousin. You wanted me dead. Then take him. Care for him yourself.”

Her eyes flashed. She grabbed my arm hard, nails digging in. Pain shot through me, but I bit my lip and didn’t scream.

The noise woke Fredrinn.

Miya let go immediately, slapped her own cheek, then burst into tears. “Fredrinn! Lesley hit me! She was jealous! Told me to give her my bone marrow while you were asleep! When I said no, she slapped me!”

She cradled her face, sobbing. Her cries shook the room.

My eyes went wide. “That’s not true. Beck, listen to me. She’s lying.”

“Enough.”

Fredrinn ripped the IV out of his arm and stormed toward me. His face was white, eyes wild. He grabbed my arm so hard it burned straight through the skin, then his hand came down.

The slap knocked me to the floor.

My head rang. Warm blood rushed from my nose, dripping onto my clothes.

His voice cracked, sharp and ugly. “Is this who you are now, Lesley? Forcing Miya like that? Couldn’t you wait? Why are you like this? You’re not the Lesley I loved before. You’re disgusting.”

Behind him, my twin covered her mouth, crying softly like she was pure and fragile. But through her tears, I saw it. The curl of her lips. She was smiling.

I pressed my sleeve to my nose. Tears slid down my face, mixing with blood. I didn’t argue. There was nothing left to explain. Nothing left to save.

I stood up slowly, legs shaking, and walked out.

Right before I crossed the door, I heard his voice again. Gentle. Warm. The voice he used to save for me.

“Miya, don’t cry. I’m here now. I’ll protect you. I’ll deal with Lesley after I’m discharged.”

I smiled, bitter and empty, and wiped my tears with the back of my hand.

By the time I got home, my face still burned and my nose wouldn’t stop bleeding. I collapsed on the couch. Everything hurt. I wrapped my hand in a towel and tried to breathe.

Then the doorbell rang.

My heart jumped.

I dragged myself up and opened the door.

It was my mother.

The woman who left me as a baby stood there like time had never passed. She looked smaller than I imagined. Worn down. But when she saw me, she dropped her bag and rushed forward, grabbing me so hard I almost fell.

She cried into my shoulder. “My baby. Lesley. I finally found you.”

My legs gave out. I sank onto the couch with her holding me. Everything felt blurry.

She pulled back, panic flooding her face. “Why are you bleeding? What happened?”

“I have aplastic anemia,” I whispered, pressing the towel to my nose. “I need a bone marrow donor.”

Her face went white. She grabbed my hands like she was afraid I’d disappear. “I’ll give you mine. We’ll go to Europe. You’ll live with me and your brothers. Please, Lesley. Come with me.”

My chest tightened. “You left me,” I said quietly. “You left me and Miya with Grandma. You disappeared. How do I trust you now?”

She froze. “Who’s Miya?”

My throat went dry. “My fraternal twin. You left both of us.”

Her hands started shaking. “No,” she said slowly. “Lesley, you don’t have any twin.”

My head spun. “What are you talking about?”

She shook her head hard, tears falling. “I only gave birth to one child. You. There was no sister. No twin. Whoever that girl is, she’s not your family.”

The room felt like it tilted.

I whispered, “Grandma said we were twins.”

She broke down. “I left you with Grandma alone. I swear. I never had another child.”

My chest felt hollow. Like something had been rotten for years and I was only just smelling it.

“I worked abroad to send money home,” she cried. “I had an accident. I lost my memory. I only remembered last year. I searched everywhere for you. I never stopped being your mother.”

I wanted to believe her. I really did. But my whole life felt fake.

“Let me think,” I whispered. “I need time.”

She nodded like she expected it. She kissed my forehead softly. “Call me when you’re ready.” She left her number and walked away.

I barely had time to breathe before footsteps filled the yard.

Five men burst through the back gate.

Fredrinn’s men.

They grabbed me, threw a blanket over my shoulders, and dragged me outside like trash. I screamed. I fought. My body was too weak. Rain started pouring. Everything was loud, cold, humiliating.

One of them leaned close. “Boss says you sleep outside tonight. Punishment for hurting Miss Miya.”

I banged on the door. “Please. I’m sick. I need my meds. Please.”

They shoved me again. One of them laughed.

Rain soaked me. I started shaking.

My phone rang.

Fredrinn.

I answered with numb fingers.

“Listen,” he said flatly. “Your transplant was scheduled for tomorrow. After what you did, Miya’s too traumatized. She won’t go through with it. Think about your actions.”

The call ended.

Rain mixed with my tears. I curled up on the cold ground, hugging my phone like it was the only thing keeping me alive.

With shaking hands, I dialed the number my mother left.

The line clicked.

“Hello?” her sleepy voice answered.

“M-mom,” I whispered into the rain, teeth chattering. “P-please come get me. I’ll go with you. I’ll go anywhere. Just get me out of here.”

After twenty minutes in the rain, shivering so bad I thought my bones would snap, my mother finally pulled up in a car. She threw a blanket over me and practically dragged me inside. I was half-conscious, teeth chattering, but I felt her hands guiding me, steady and warm.

She drove straight into the city and checked us into some fancy hotel. Five-star, marble floors, chandeliers, people bowing when she walked past. She made me sit on the couch, handed me warm tea, and brushed my wet hair off my face like I was a child. “Rest, Lesley. I’ll take care of everything,” she said. “I’m not the woman you remember. I’m a billionaire now. I can move people like pieces on a board. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”

For the first time in days, I let myself breathe. My chest loosened. I whispered, “Thanks, Mum.”

Later that night, when the suite went quiet, we sat by the window. City lights glowed below us. She told me she could buy influence, make calls, bend the world if she had to. She sipped wine and said, “If you want to disappear, I have people who can make that happen.”

I stared at my shaking hands. “Can you… fake my death?”

“Yeah. Easy. I already know the right people.”

But first, I had to call Beck one last time. I grabbed my phone and dialed Fredrinn five times in a row. The first four went unanswered. On the fifth, his voice came through, rough and annoyed.

“Lesley, what now?”

My throat hurt. “Fredrinn… thanks. For the five years. I just realized—”

He cut me off. “You just realized now? Fine. Come to the hospital tomorrow. Apologize to her. Be decent to Miya. She’s saving your life. You should be grateful instead of acting like the world owes you something.”

Before I could answer, I heard Miya in the background. Sugary, fake concern dripping off every word. “Who are you even talking to?”

“It’s Lesley,” he said flat.

Miya gasped. “Lesley? What does she want now? Is she begging again? Fredrinn, I don’t want drama. I’m scared of her. I slapped me, I’m traumatized. Maybe after a month, once I calm down, I’ll do the surgery. I know she’s jealous. I don’t want you two fighting. I’m sorry.”

“No, Miya. Don’t apologize.”

The line went dead. He hung up. Just like that.

My phone buzzed before I could pull it from my ear. A new message.

“Look who won. Me. Poor Lesley. Your husband doesn’t even look at you. Do everyone a favor. Disappear. That’ll make life easier for all of us.”

I stared at the black screen. My chest burned. No tears. I turned to my mother and whispered, “Do it now, Mum.”

She didn’t hesitate. She pulled out her phone, face unreadable. I watched her make calls quietly. Shadows moved across the city that night. Cars drove empty streets. Envelopes changed hands. My phone ended up somewhere it shouldn’t have.

I didn’t ask for details. Didn’t want to know.

All I remember was tires screeching, headlights flashing, then silence. My phone abandoned, my wedding ring and bracelet planted like proof for someone else to find. My mother’s face calm, staring down at the staged wreck.

By morning, news broke everywhere. “Local woman killed in car crash en route to hospital.” Reporters buzzing, police tape flapping, neighbors crying. No confirmed name, but my phone and ring were shown. Proof enough.

In the suite, the TV glowed. My mother turned it off, hand steady. “It’s done, child,” she said.

I nodded. My chest was full of grief and relief all tangled together. I couldn’t tell which was which.

She handled everything in hours. New passports, new names, a private jet waiting. The concierge packed our luggage quietly, under a fake name. The world bent around her money and certainty.

By dawn, we walked through a silent private terminal. My mother’s hand on my back, guiding me. I looked at the city skyline one last time. My chest tightened, but I turned away and stepped onto the plane.

“Cabin secure. Preparing for takeoff,” the pilot’s voice said.

My mother leaned close. “You okay?”

“Yes,” I whispered, eyes on the dark horizon. “Because when I come back, Fredrinn and that fake twin of mine will pay. Every scar, every drop of blood—they’re mine to collect.”

…

Fredrinn'S POV

I was lying there in the hospital bed, bandages tight on my chest, painkillers barely keeping the fire down. My patience was gone.

“Bring Lesley here,” I barked at my men over the phone. “Drag her from the villa if you have to. I want her here, on her knees, saying sorry to Miya.”

There was silence on the other end. Then one of them cleared his throat. “B-boss… she wasn’t in the villa.”