Cayley stood frozen for a moment before she exploded in anger. “You’re unbelievable! I told you Wilson is dead! What part of ‘dead’ don’t you understand?”

My parents initially reacted with anger, but their expressions shifted to confusion when they heard Cayley’s grave tone. She clearly was not joking.

Besides, I had been unreachable for far too long. That was completely out of character for me.

My parents exchanged panicked glances. Despite their growing unease, they maintained their composure and snapped, “Don’t you dare spread such lies, you little trash! You two must’ve quarreled, and now, you wish him dead because you’re upset! Where is he? Tell him to come home right now!

“Look, we all know what this is about! He’s just afraid we’re angry about him refusing to donate his kidney to Toby. Tell him to stop this childish act, bring the money home, and we’ll forget this ever happened.”

Cayley let out a bitter laugh at my parents’ cruel words.

As I listened, overwhelming grief consumed me. I had always believed that, no matter what, they still loved me in their own way.

I was their biological son after all. But in this moment, the truth became painfully clear.

They had never loved me. What mattered to them was the money and resources I could provide.

I cried dismally as I stood there. I was utterly speechless.

Upon hearing Cayley’s voice on the phone, Toby put on a pitiful act. “Cayley, it’s all my fault! I never meant to get sick and make things harder for Wilson. Please don’t blame Mom and Dad.”

Cayley gritted her teeth furiously and said, “You people are truly something else! You leeched off him while he was alive, and now that he’s dead, you still won’t let him be. Your whole family is nothing but parasites!”

My parents flew into a rage when they heard her insult them. “Who do you think you are? You’re just an outsider! This is our family business! Put that ungrateful brat on the phone right now!

“Don’t think that hiding him will save him! We’re his family! He can never escape us!”

They waited for Cayley to respond but were met with only eerie silence. They exchanged confused glances.

Why had Cayley, who sounded ready to fight them moments ago, become completely quiet?

Only I knew she had been rendered speechless by my family’s outrageous behavior.

I watched as she sighed wearily. Her face had aged a decade overnight from the grief of my passing.

Tears welled up as my heart ached. I felt guilty that my family had dragged her into this.

After a few seconds, Cayley rubbed her temples and said, “Why would I lie about this? You have the doctor’s number, right? Call and ask him. One phone call is all it’ll take to confirm the truth.”

She then ended the call deliberately. She had decided to cut ties with my family completely.

The dial tone echoed sharply in the silent room.

Mom hesitated before she said, “Should we… call the doctor?”

Dad said in anger, “Fine! Let’s call! I’m not afraid of him! I only held back to spare Wilson the shame of his lies being exposed. But if he wants to fight, I won’t protect him anymore!”

With that, he quickly dialed the doctor’s number.

“Hello. I wanted to inquire about your patient, Wilson. What’s his current condition? When was he discharged?”

He flashed Mom a triumphant glance, already savoring the moment my deceit would unravel.

The doctor fell silent for a few seconds as he tried to recall information about me.

Then, in a puzzled tone, he said, “Wilson? The kidney donor who died during surgery? Aren’t you his family? His remains were released weeks ago.”

The rest of his words blurred into white noise. Only one phrase echoed in their minds, “Died during surgery.”

The glass slipped from Mom’s hand and shattered on the floor.