The first thing I felt was pain. My whole body ached as though I had been crushed from the inside out. My head throbbed with every shallow breath I took, my lips dry, my throat parched. Somewhere above me, a faint beeping echoed in rhythm with my heartbeat.

I tried to open my eyes, but the light was too harsh. Instead, I let my ears guide me. There were voices—faint, muffled, but familiar.

“Doctor,” Paulo’s voice. Sharp. Cold. “Do it. I don’t want that child.”

My heart froze.

The doctor hesitated, his voice low but firm. “Mr. Santos, the baby survived the crash. It’s a miracle. Why would you want to end it?”

“Because I don’t want an heir coming from her.” Paulo spat the words as though I was poison. “I already have an heir—from my wife. She’s not even my wife. That marriage was fake. Just lie to her. Tell her she lost the baby. Do it.”

The doctor’s voice sharpened, incredulous. “Mr. Paulo, I will not falsify medical records. The baby survived the crash. It’s a miracle she and the child are both alive. To end this pregnancy deliberately would be murder.”

There was silence, a heavy pause—then another voice cut in. My brother. Cold, businesslike.

“Doctor, don’t argue. Just keep her alive for now. She still hasn’t signed the merger papers. We need her. After that, she’s useless.”

My heart clenched so violently I thought it might stop. So that was all I was to them. Not a sister. Not a wife. Not a mother. Just a signature on a line.

A rush of cold swept through my veins. My fingers twitched weakly, desperate to move, desperate to scream, but darkness swallowed me before I could.

When I woke up again, it was quiet. The world blurred, but I forced my eyes open. A nurse hovered beside me, adjusting the IV.

“You need to rest,” she said softly, pity in her eyes. “You lost the baby. I’m sorry.”

Her words pierced me like a blade. Lost the baby. No. No, that wasn’t true—it had to be the dream, the nightmare I had overheard before. But the way she said it, the sympathy in her tone…

It wasn’t a dream.

It was real.

A sob broke from my chest. I hadn’t even known I was pregnant, hadn’t had the chance to feel joy, to dream of life. And Paulo—he had killed it. My child. Our child. Just because Leah was carrying his, I was nothing to him.

My mind reeled back to the day he told me he loved me, that he would make Leah pay for running, that together we would build a life stronger than betrayal. I had believed him. I had built my life on his promises. And now, all I had was ashes.

The door creaked open.

Paulo walked in, his expression painted with forced worry. “Olivia… I’m so sorry I was late. How are you feeling?”

I stared at him, bile rising in my throat. There was a time when words like that would have given me butterflies, but now I saw them for what they were: empty lies. I pushed him weakly, my voice hoarse. “Where were you? I called you. Over and over. Where were you?”

He sighed, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve. “I was busy with work.”

“Work?” My voice cracked. “I needed you. Our baby. I lost the baby because you’re not even—”

“Enough!” His mask slipped, his eyes flashing with annoyance. “You’re angry now because you lost the baby and you want to blame me? Why me? It was your fault. You were careless. You killed our baby, Olivia. You!”

I couldn’t breathe. My lips trembled as I shook my head. He said it so easily, twisting the knife deeper into wounds he had carved.

Before I could answer, the door swung open again.

“Please don’t fight!” Leah’s voice, sweet and pitiful. She entered with flowers and a cake in her hands, her belly already showing. “My sister is suffering, Paulo. Don’t make it worse.” She turned to me, her eyes gleaming. “I’m sorry, sister. I’m here now. Please, forgive me.”

She placed the flowers and cake on the table. The sight was laughable. I couldn’t hold it in—I laughed bitterly, grabbed the flowers, and hurled them back at her. The cake crashed against the wall.

“You think forgiveness is that cheap?” I hissed.

Behind her, my two brothers stormed in.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” one of them barked. “She came here to apologize and you treat her like this?”

“I don’t need her sorry,” I spat. “I don’t need any of you. Just leave me.”

My other brother’s lips curled into a sneer. “What an evil woman you are. Maybe Leah was right all along. You framed her, didn’t you? You drove her away. You ruined everything.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. Framed her? Again? Always me, the villain in their eyes. Always me, the scapegoat.

Rather than wasting my breath, I turned my face away. “Leave. All of you.”

Paulo scoffed, his voice dripping with mockery. “How dramatic. Fine. If you don’t want us, then don’t call for help. Handle everything alone. Don’t expect us to lift a finger.”

He walked out, Leah on his arm, her face half-hidden by a smirk.

My brothers lingered long enough to deliver their final blow.

“Don’t miss the merger, Olivia. You’ll sign everything to us—the inheritance, the company. It’s time. You’re useless now. At least you can do something right before you disappear.”

Then they too were gone.

Silence descended, broken only by my ragged sobs. I curled into myself, clutching the emptiness of my stomach, whispering apologies to the child I never got to meet. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

That night, I lit a small candle by my bedside. Its flame flickered, fragile, like the life taken from me. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I whispered goodbye.

But grief hardened into resolve. I reached for my phone, my hand trembling, and dialed my lawyer.

“This is Olivia,” I said, my voice raw but steady. “I’ll attend the merger as planned. Let them think I’m handing everything over.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the lawyer replied cautiously. “And in reality?”

“In reality,” I whispered, fire igniting in my chest, “prepare fake documents. The real transfer will go to Cameron Evans. Every share. Every piece of inheritance. I’d rather burn it all than let them steal it.”

The hours crawled by like years.

I spent the whole day in the hospital, yet not once did anyone come. No Paulo. No Leah. Not even my brothers. Only the nurses shuffled in and out, adjusting my IV, checking my vitals, telling me to rest as though rest could silence the storm inside me.

By the time the nurse handed me the discharge papers, my chest ached—not from my injuries, but from the hollowness of it all. They hadn’t even pretended to care.

I clutched the papers and pushed through the hospital doors, the evening air cool against my skin. I had taken only three steps outside when a hand grabbed mine.

“Olivia.”

I froze. Paulo.

He looked ragged, shadows under his eyes, but his grip was still as firm as a chain. “Leah needs you,” he said without preamble. “The doctors think she has a kidney problem. She needs a donor. You might be a match.”

For a moment, I just stared at him, the words circling my brain like vultures. Then I yanked my hand free. “No. I will not do it. I don’t care about her kidney. I don’t care about any of you.”

His jaw hardened. “You don’t have a choice.”

I laughed, sharp and bitter. “Don’t I? This is my body. My life. I decide.”

Paulo leaned close, his breath hot and foul. “Then choose. Donate to your sister, or I’ll end your mother’s treatment. You know she’s hanging by a thread. You know she needs that medicine. And if you refuse…” His eyes gleamed with cruelty. “She dies.”

My stomach churned. “How evil can you get?” My voice cracked. “You would use my mother’s life to force me?”

“Yes,” he said coldly. “So do it.”

Before I could scream, before I could protest, my brothers appeared, flanking me like guards. They each gripped an arm, steering me back into the hospital. My words fell on deaf ears, drowned out by their muttered orders. The world blurred until I found myself in a sterile room, my blood drawn, tubes strapped to my arm.

“Just a test,” one brother muttered.

Leah was there too, pale and fragile, her eyes brimming with tears. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean for it to be like this. I—I hid because I was sick, Olivia. I didn’t want anyone to know.”

“Sorry?” My throat burned. “You disappear for years, destroy our family, and now—now you come back, and I’m the one who has to pay for it?”

She opened her mouth, but Paulo’s glare silenced her. My brothers tightened their grip, one of them growling, “Shut up, Olivia. Don’t make this harder.”

Something cold pressed into my skin. My world spun. Darkness swallowed me whole.

When I woke up, I was in hospital clothes, thin and scratchy. A nurse stood by my bed, smiling kindly. “Good news. You’re a match. The surgery is scheduled in three days.”

“No…” My voice cracked. “I don’t want this.”

“You’ll save your sister’s life,” she said softly, as if that justified everything.

Tears burned behind my eyes. “No, no, this isn’t right. There must be another option. Another donor—”

Before I could finish, the door burst open. Paulo, my brothers, Leah.

“You don’t have a choice,” Paulo said, voice like ice. “Stop being selfish. Stop making this about you.”

Selfish. The word carved itself into my chest.

I turned my face away, refusing to let them see me break. My only escape was silence.

When they left, I pulled out my phone with trembling hands and typed a single desperate message to Cameron: Save me. They’re forcing me into surgery. Please.

I hit send, my tears falling onto the screen.

Later that evening, I wandered down the hall, searching for one thing—one person who reminded me I wasn’t completely alone.

Mother. Her room was quiet, the steady beeping of the monitors like a fragile heartbeat. She lay still, her face pale, as though carved from porcelain. I sank into the chair beside her bed and took her hand, my tears spilling freely.

“Mother…” My voice trembled. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I thought I could handle this. I thought I could save us. But they’re destroying me piece by piece.”

Her hand didn’t move, but I clung tighter, pressing my forehead against it. “I promise you, I’ll fight now. I won’t let them win. Not anymore.”

I stayed there for what felt like hours, whispering prayers, apologies, promises—until faint voices drifted in from the hall.

I froze.

Paulo’s voice. Low, assured. “Don’t worry, Leah. You’ll be saved. The operation will fix everything.”

Leah’s weak voice wavered. “But Olivia—”

Paulo cut her off. “Forget her. Once the surgery’s done, once we have what we need, we can dispose of her. Say something went wrong with the kidney. An accident. No one will question it.”

My blood turned to ice.

They weren’t just going to use me. They were going to kill me.

I stumbled back into Mother’s room, clutching her hand as though it could keep me tethered to life. “Did you hear that, Mama?” I whispered. “They want me gone. Just like Father. Just like everything else they’ve taken.”

Tears blurred my vision. “I won’t let it happen. I’ll fight. For you. For me.”

The next morning, a nurse slipped quietly into my room, her eyes darting nervously toward the door. “Miss Olivia,” she whispered, “I’ve arranged for your mother to be moved tomorrow. Someone important asked me to keep it quiet.”

My heart stopped. “Who?”

“Cameron Evans,” she murmured. “He said he’ll see you tomorrow.”

Relief crashed over me like a wave. Cameron. My last chance.

I nodded, clutching the nurse’s hand. “Thank you. Thank you.”

She gave me a small smile. “Just hold on, Miss Olivia. Just two more days.”

Two more days.

I looked at the ceiling, at the sterile white lights above me, and whispered a vow through my tears. “Two more days, and I’ll be free. They’ll regret everything they’ve done.”

When I opened my eyes the next morning, the first thing I saw was a silver tray perched on the side table—breakfast in bed. Toast, eggs, a steaming cup of coffee.

And Paulo.

He stood at the foot of the bed, a smile painted across his lips. “Good morning,” he said softly, as though last night’s cruelty had been nothing but a bad dream. “I… I’m sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

I sat up slowly, my body heavy with the ache of yesterday’s tears. My gaze lingered on the tray, then on him.

He walked closer, setting the tray on my lap. “You have to understand, Olivia. Your sister needed help. Leah apologized already. All I wanted was peace—for everyone. For this family.”

Peace. That word stabbed at me, sharp and hollow.

But I didn’t argue. Not today. What was the use? I simply nodded, lifting the fork and eating in silence. If this was the last time Paulo wanted to play the role of a caring husband, I’d let him. Let him pretend. Let them all pretend.

For the last time.

As I ate, I couldn’t help but remember the days when I used to be sick, years ago. The scent of broth, the creak of my bedroom door, and Paulo’s voice, low and gentle, came back to me as though the years had folded in on themselves.

“Olivia,” he had whispered, sitting on the edge of my bed. His hand was cool against my fevered forehead. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you. Always.”

I had been so young, so desperate for comfort, that I clung to his words like they were gospel. “You promise?” My voice had been hoarse, trembling.

He had smiled, tucking the blanket tighter around me. “I promise. Forever. No matter what happens.”

My brothers had come in then, one carrying a tray of soup, the other waving a storybook like it was some great prize.

“You’re not alone, Olivia,” one of them had said, patting my hand. “We’ll always be here. That’s what family does.”

“Yes,” the other had chimed in. “Even if Leah caused trouble again, don’t worry. We’ll protect you. You’re the good one, the strong one.”

And I had believed them. Every word.

I remembered smiling weakly through my fever, whispering, “Thank you… I’m so lucky.”

Now, sitting at the table years later, the memory curdled inside me. What a fool I had been. Their promises were nothing but lies dressed as love, comfort that rotted into betrayal.

Now I knew better.

“You’ll need strength for tomorrow,” one of my brothers said as he walked in, his eyes scanning the breakfast tray. “The transplant is set. You can’t risk being weak.”

“Yes,” the other added, handing me a folder. “And you also need to sign these.”

My heart stilled. “Sign… what?”

“Documents. Company papers. It won’t take long.”

“Can it not wait?” I asked quietly, my fingers tightening around the fork.

“No,” Paulo said firmly. His tone left no room for negotiation. “What if something happens during surgery? We can’t risk it. Sign them now.”

I hesitated, staring at the stack of papers. Then, slowly, I nodded. My hand shook only slightly as I scrawled my name across line after line.

They smiled—relieved, triumphant. And just like that, they left me alone.

They had what they wanted. But it didn’t matter. I wasn’t giving them my kidney and company. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

The hours stretched endlessly, silence wrapping around me like a shroud. I sat by the window, staring out at the fading sun, when my phone buzzed. My heart leapt at the name flashing on the screen.

Cameron.

I answered with shaking hands. “Hello?”

His voice was steady, calm, like an anchor thrown into a storm. “Olivia. Listen carefully. I’ll pick you up in the middle of the night. Meet me on the rooftop. Do you understand?”

Tears blurred my eyes. “Yes.”

“I won’t let them harm you again,” he continued. “And your mother—she’s safe. I’ve already arranged for her transfer.”

Relief crashed over me, so sharp it nearly knocked the breath out of me. “Thank you,” I whispered. My voice cracked. “Cameron, thank you. In return… tell me to do something. Anything. And I’ll do it.”

There was a pause. Then, his voice, low and sure. “Just marry me and give me an heir.”

My breath caught. My heart thundered in my chest.

I closed my eyes. “I’ll see you tonight,” I whispered. Then I hung up, holding the phone to my chest as though it were my last lifeline.

But when I lifted my gaze, I froze.

Leah stood in the doorway, her hand clutching a bouquet of flowers, a sweet smile painted across her pale face. “Olivia,” she said softly. “I just wanted to thank you. For agreeing to be my donor.”

I clenched my fists. “Stop faking it. What is it you really want, Leah?”

Her smile twisted, turning cruel. A laugh slipped from her lips, delicate and venomous all at once. “What else, sister? I want you gone from our lives. Completely. So how about you just die?”

Her words sliced through me like a blade. But I didn’t flinch. Not anymore.

“Don’t worry,” I said quietly, standing to face her. “You’ll never see me again. So be happy.”

I slid the ring off my finger—the one Paulo had given me, the one that marked me as his wife. I pressed it into her palm, closing her fingers around it.

“Here. Take it. After all, I was never the wife. You are. Be happy as his wife, then.”