A few years ago, my childhood friend, Peter Gibson, suddenly cheated on me and got together with my sister, Cindy. As I was feeling lost in my personal life, things started falling apart at work too.

One night, my boss drugged me and sent me to one of our business partners' bed. Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore and was about to end it all, Shawn appeared out of nowhere.

He was unlike anyone I’d ever known. He told me he was here for me. He smiled so gently, promising to stand by me no matter what. He was the CEO of a major company, yet he’d cook for me, pamper me, and take care of me like I was his world.

When Cindy set me up to take the fall, Shawn was the one who showed the evidence and proved my innocence. Even when I was completely estranged from my parents, he became my safe haven.

However, two years ago, something changed. He fell seriously ill, and even though I had given him my kidney to save his life, he suddenly went mad and fell for Cindy.

He said, “I’m tired of her. She's so gloomy. Cindy, on the other hand, is bubbly, sweet, and knows how to please me. Even when I was in the hospital, she made sure I was comfortable.”

That was when it hit me that the man who once loved me so deeply was now a monster.

Still, I kept thinking that maybe I could win him back. When he told me he loved me in the past, his eyes had shone like stars, so how could I believe he no longer felt that way?

Now… it was too late. If I had died sooner, maybe I wouldn’t have dragged my child into this mess.

Strapped to the operating table, I didn’t struggle like I thought I would. Maybe it was the sedative coursing through me, making me too weak to fight.

Shawn’s smile was cold.

“Good, you’re smart enough to keep quiet. You’ll suffer less this way.” He continued, “Once you donate the kidney to Cindy, I won’t divorce you. Consider it compensation, but you better respect her. Stop bullying her.”

I shifted my wrist. It burned with pain as blood seeped out.

I forced a bitter smile. “No. Let’s get a divorce.”

Suddenly, Shawn grabbed my chin hard, replying, “Playing hard to get, huh? Or are you refusing my kindness?”

I stayed silent, like a lamb waiting for slaughter. I knew exactly what he was upset about. He was upset that I refused the escape he’d offered me.

“Shawn, let’s get divorced. I’ll let you and Cindy be.”

Shawn stared at me coldly, a mocking smile curling on his lips, his eyes filled with mixed emotions.

“I don’t like when you lie to me.”

It was so strange. When I tried to give him what he wanted, he insisted on believing I was lying.

I looked at Shawn, but strangely, I couldn’t see the man I used to know in him anymore.

“You’re not him, are you?”

His eyes weren’t the same.

At those words, Shawn scoffed. “Are you playing dumb now? Tess, I don’t love you. Don’t tell me you think I’m someone else?”

He laughed bitterly. “No matter how crazy you get, you’re donating that kidney to Cindy. Don’t worry. The surgeon is top-notch. You’ll be so grateful you’ll want to thank me.”

His smile was devious, but I was beyond caring. At that moment, I finally couldn’t deceive myself anymore. My Shawn was really gone.

Soon, the doctor wheeled in a cart with medical tools and stood in front of me.

Looking at that familiar face, I realized the “top-notch surgeon” Shawn had spoken of was none other than Peter, my childhood friend. It was the same Peter who, at sixteen, swore that he would love and protect me forever.

He stood there in his surgical scrubs, the cold light from the room reflecting off his hands and shining in my face.

He spoke softly, “If your kidney weren’t the only match, I wouldn’t want Cindy to use it. It’s not good enough. But it’s your good fortune to donate it to Cindy. You should be thankful to her. Do you understand?”

I nodded weakly.

“It’s my honor.”

I stared at Peter, my heart aching. I had always known they were biased, but it still hurt. I couldn’t help but feel so betrayed.

“Do you remember the promise you made to me?”

“You want me to let you go? Not a chance.” He shot me down immediately.

I choked on my words. “Peter, I’m pregnant. I’m six months along. I know you’re an expert in the field. The baby has a chance if it’s born now. Can you… save it?

“I’ll sign anything. After I die, you can use my body for whatever experiments you need.”

Peter lifted the hem of my surgical gown, his eyes colder than the scalpel in his hand.

“Tess, you think you can fool me with those words?”

He paused for a moment and then took my pulse, his expression slightly softening. However, his fingers eventually moved lower, and I felt something wet and sticky.

He laughed cruelly and said, “It looks like it’s gone.”

“Dying isn’t so bad, Tess. At least you’ll die for Cindy, and it won’t be a wasted life.”

“Why?”

I stared at him, numb.

Why? Why did my innocent child have to die for those people?

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, for myself and the innocent child I lost.

“You look so ugly when you cry. Stop, you’re only slowing me down,” Peter said, his brows slightly furrowed.

I looked at him. He hadn’t changed at all, but I didn’t recognize him anymore.

In a haze, memories flooded back. When my parents abused me, it was he who held me and took the blows meant for me. When I was nearly frozen on the balcony, it was him who carried me through the snow, all the way to the hospital. When did he change?

Maybe it was when I mentioned Cindy or it started when he blushed at the sound of her name. Maybe it began when I was pushed to the ground by Cindy, and he asked if she was hurt. Or maybe it all started with every complaint I voiced about Cindy each time she hurt me, and his indifference grew with every word.

I thought I wasn’t good enough until Cindy used her old tricks again. She claimed I had hired a thug to harass her, and just like that, Peter’s affection for me plummeted to nothing.

He didn’t even try to find out the truth. Instead, he beat me half to death and locked me in the bathroom. He stripped me and took pictures of us in “compromising” positions.

I was terrified, but he just looked at me with mockery.

“I won’t touch you. I think you’re disgusting.”

He pulled out the photos he’d taken and showed them to me.

“For being bold enough to hire someone to harass Cindy, you’ll have to face my revenge. I’ve found some men for you. Let’s see how you like the taste of them.”

At that moment, I felt utterly humiliated. I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

I was terrified. The man standing in front of me was once my savior, the one who had pulled me from the depths of despair, but now, he was the one bringing the storm. Yes, he really did hire men to humiliate me.

It was only when I was saved by Shawn, a speaker at a school event, that I got away. His warm suit jacket shielded me from the cold, helping me survive the brutal winter. That was our first meeting. He was my angel, and I carried that memory for years.

With the help of the police, I tried to press charges against Peter, but it was useless because there was no evidence. Worse, my parents and younger sister were spreading rumors that I had always been a troublemaker, trying to seduce men.

My parents even forged reports claiming I had an abortion when I was young. Just like that, the people who hurt me faced no punishment, while I became the scapegoat, the one everyone blamed.

Eventually, I finally got a chance to study abroad. However, the day I received my acceptance letter, Peter tore it up in front of me.

Why? It was because Cindy couldn’t go abroad, so neither could I.

I also managed to pass my graduate exams, but when Peter intervened, none of the professors would accept me. They said they didn’t want a student with a bad reputation.

Later, I worked for a company and was about to be promoted to supervisor when Peter struck again. He hinted to my boss and sent me to an old man’s bed.

Then, Shawn appeared. With him by my side, no one dared to touch me, but it seemed like the world belonged to Cindy. Unsurprisingly, everyone was drawn to her. It was as if loving her was inevitable for anyone who met her.

Maybe it was the effect of the drugs, or maybe I was really on the verge of death, but my heart monitor was erratic, and even Shawn came rushing in.

“What’s going on?” Shawn’s gaze was sharp. “If anything happens now, don’t blame me for being harsh.”

Peter glanced at me, his expression unreadable.

“Maybe she’s emotional from losing the baby.”

“You were really pregnant?” Shawn asked, gently tapping my face, concern in his eyes.

However, he wasn’t concerned for me.

“Tess,” he said, his voice dark. “You better calm down and stay alive long enough to give up that kidney. Otherwise, I’ll let Peter take it out, grind it up, and feed it to the dogs.”

Peter’s smile was wicked. “I was thinking the same thing.”