Evening came, and I dragged my exhausted body home.

My fiancé Marcus was in the living room, holding my dog Rusty, playing fetch while video chatting with Celeste.

Maybe it was the effect of the witch's potion, but my steps were steady and strong. They didn't even notice my return.

Marcus threw the ball and turned around to see me. The smile on his face froze for a moment.

"Aria, you're back? How are you feeling today?"

Rusty was a dog I'd brought with me from the countryside. The moment he saw me, he tried to break free from Marcus's arms to circle around me.

It seemed Celeste was determined to leave me with nothing. She wouldn't even spare my wolf companion.

How ridiculous. I was about to die.

Marcus hurriedly hung up the video call, trying to calm the struggling Rusty.

But Rusty ignored him, whimpering as he rubbed against my legs.

This was the only companion I'd brought from the countryside.

From the video screen, Celeste's weak voice rang out again.

"Marcus, does Aria not like me? Even her dog is so mean."

Before I could speak, Marcus was already frowning.

"Aria, Celeste's health is fragile. She can't handle being scared."

"It's just a country dog anyway. I'll have my assistant take it away tomorrow."

Celeste flashed a triumphant smile on the screen.

I lifted my head, my gaze sweeping coldly across Marcus's face.

My stare made him uncomfortable. He looked away.

"Rusty is mine. I'll handle it myself. Don't trouble yourself."

I turned and headed upstairs.

Marcus hesitated, then called after me.

"Aria, there's something I want to talk to you about."

"Celeste's condition—the doctors say it's not looking good."

His voice carried a barely detectable note of pleading.

He pulled me toward the dining room.

On the table was a candlelit dinner spread.

The flickering flames reflected off his handsome face, making him look especially tender.

He pulled out my chair and poured the wine.

"Aria, it's been so long since we've had a proper meal like this."

He raised his glass, looking at me with gentle eyes.

I didn't move.

"Do you remember? Our first date was at a restaurant just like this."

He talked about the past, lost in his memories.

Those moments that once made my heart race now sounded grating to my ears.

Finally, he got to the point.

"Aria, I know asking you to donate your kidney is cruel."

"But Celeste—she became this way because of me."

I paused mid-reach for my wine glass.

Marcus's eyes were filled with pain and guilt.

"She was originally a strong she-wolf, but she's just too kind-hearted. Not only did she suffer a serious injury saving your family, but she also suffered kidney failure saving me.

Three years ago, during the forest patrol mission, if she hadn't pushed me out of the way when that rogue wolf attacked, I would've been the one bitten."

"Her kidneys started failing from the toxins in that bite. I owe her my life."

I almost laughed out loud.

So that was it.

But that day, the one who was bitten protecting him from the rogue wolf was me.

I was the one who got bitten and fell down the ravine.

Celeste had only been waiting at the base camp below. She'd twisted her ankle on her own.

But while I was missing, she stole all my credit.

The same trick she always pulled—just like how she had stolen credit for me saving our family before, now she was stealing credit for me saving Marcus.

My achievements, my injuries—she effortlessly turned them into capital for gaining sympathy.

From that moment on, she'd been scheming to replace everything of mine.

"Aria, you're so kind-hearted."

Marcus gripped my hand, his tone earnest.

"For my sake, please save her, will you?"

I looked at his face, full of deep emotion, and felt nothing but emptiness inside.

"Marcus."

I spoke calmly.

"My kidneys are damaged too."

The pleading expression on his face froze instantly.

"I was diagnosed today."

Last winter, I'd been rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night with severe stomach cramps.

He had held my hand just like this then.

His palms were sweaty, his brow furrowed with worry.

He'd told the doctor to use the best medicine, no matter the cost.

He'd leaned down and whispered comfort in my ear.

"Aria, your health is more important than anything else."

His caring words still echoed in my memory.

Now he was asking me to sacrifice my health to save someone else.

I slowly pulled my hand away.

Looking at the man before me, I suddenly felt like he was a stranger.

The deep affection in his eyes—it had all been an act.

Even his concern had an expiration date.

He seemed to misunderstand my silence, thinking I was throwing a tantrum.

"Marcus, Celeste isn't sick."

I looked into his eyes, speaking each word clearly.

"Her kidney failure is fake. The person who saved you that day was—"

Before I could finish, Marcus's expression darkened.

"Aria, I never thought you could be so vicious."

"To avoid donating your kidney, you'd actually make up such lies to curse her."

I tried to explain. "I saw her eating spicy food with friends at a restaurant. Someone with kidney failure could never do that."

His phone rang.

It was Celeste calling on video.

On screen, Celeste lay in her hospital bed, pale as paper, coughing weakly.

"Marcus, I feel so terrible. Am I going to die soon?"

Marcus's eyes immediately filled with heartache and anxiety.

He hung up the call and looked at me with cold disappointment.

"This is the Celeste you claim was eating spicy food?"

"Aria, you've let me down completely."

My ears rang, and it took a long time to find my voice again.

Marcus sighed with relief. "Aria, I know you feel wronged. But Celeste is your sister. We can't abandon her."

"Besides, it's just a delay. After Celeste dies, I'll give you an even grander mating ceremony."

I stared quietly at the man before me.

This was the man I had once loved deeply.

This was my chosen life partner.

I thought I'd given everything in our relationship, held nothing back.

In the end, all I got was betrayal.

But it didn't matter anymore.

If this was what they wanted, they could have it all.

I lifted my head and looked at Marcus. "Fine. I agree."

Relief washed over Marcus's face. He gripped my hand, his tone utterly sincere.

Looking at him, the last trace of warmth in my heart finally dissipated.

Until this moment, I'd held onto a tiny bit of hope for Marcus.

But now...

Enough. Besides death, I had no other expectations left.

I stood up, ready to return to my room.

Suddenly, a wave of intense dizziness hit me. My vision went black, and I lost consciousness.

As I fell, I seemed to see Marcus's face filled with panic.

I was awakened by the cold.

Opening my eyes, I found myself still lying on the cold floor.

Marcus stood over me, looking at me.

"Aria, can you stop using these methods to get my attention?"

"I know you're upset, but Celeste is waiting for me at the hospital. What's the point of this drama?"

Only then did I realize what had happened.

The witch's life potion I'd injected would make me appear completely healthy for 72 hours.

It seemed the potion was indeed effective.

I used the sofa to help myself stand. "Probably just low blood sugar. I'm fine. I'll go to the hospital with you."

"There are some things that need Celeste's personal signature."

Marcus nodded, without a trace of guilt on his face.

At the hospital, Celeste was propped up in bed, looking at the latest tablet computer.

"Sister, are you really willing to give me the entire studio?" Her tone was mocking, full of showing off.

Celeste's complexion was still somewhat pale, but she looked energetic.

"Sister, thank you for giving me the studio. I'll manage it well and won't disappoint you."

"That's right, Aria. You can just stay home and enjoy yourself, waiting for the dividends. How wonderful."

Mom chimed in with a smile.

I pulled another document from my bag. "Since that's the case, I'll transfer my ancestral estate to Celeste as well."

"From now on, let her handle all these matters."

"Aria, have you lost your mind? Do you know what that ancestral estate means?"

Marcus was the first to grab my arm, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Now it was my turn to feel confused.

In the past, hadn't they always sided with Celeste?

Whatever Celeste wanted, they would find ways to take from me.

If I refused, I'd face endless accusations and harsh words.

So why, now that I was voluntarily giving everything away, did they think I was being unreasonable?

Dad snapped back to reality and looked quite pleased. He patted my shoulder firmly. "That's right. This is how family should be."

On the hospital bed, a flash of panic crossed Celeste's eyes, quickly replaced by triumph.

She struggled to get out of bed, but Mom quickly pressed her back down.

"Don't move. Rest properly."

Celeste leaned into Mom's embrace, looking at me with feigned weakness.

"Sister, thank you."

She paused, lowering her voice so only we could hear.

"Marcus will be mine too, from now on."

I looked at that innocent, harmless face and suddenly found it amusing.

"Are you comfortable using my things?"

Celeste's face instantly turned deathly pale.

She clutched her chest, gasping for air. Tears came instantly.

"Sister... I didn't mean it that way... why would you say such things..."

Mom immediately shielded Celeste behind her, glaring at me furiously.

"Aria! What's gotten into you now! What did Celeste say wrong?"

Dad joined in the accusations. "We thought you'd finally grown up, but you're still this selfish. Stop upsetting Celeste!"

Marcus strode forward and yanked me away.

"What exactly do you want? Won't you be satisfied until you drive Celeste to her death?"

The disappointment and disgust in his eyes pierced through me like a needle, numbing my heart.

I watched as the three of them surrounded Celeste, gently comforting her.

And I stood there like an outsider.

No, I was a dead person about to exit the stage.

Dad, Mom, you've been deceived by Celeste's innocent face for so many years.

Do you really believe she's really dying?

My throat felt terrible. I suddenly turned around and started coughing violently. The tissue in my hand was instantly stained with specks of blood.

"Aria, what's wrong? Do you have a cold?" Mom asked with a frown.

I gripped the bloody tissue tightly. In the end, I couldn't help but look at them.

"Dad, Mom, if I died from illness one day, would you be sad for me?"

But Mom's expression didn't change at all. She just looked at me impatiently.

"Child, you're perfectly healthy. Why are you saying such unlucky things?"

Dad nodded, looking at Celeste with worry. "It's Celeste who needs proper care before and after surgery. We can't be careless about anything!"

"Exactly!" Mom immediately chimed in. "Aria is just under too much stress lately. Celeste is the one who's sick and needs our concern!"

The last ember of hope in my heart was completely extinguished.

When we were children, the whole family went to the lake. Despite our warnings, Celeste insisted on swimming in the deep water.

She quickly got a cramp and struggled in the water, calling for help.

I jumped in and used all my strength to drag her to shore.

When Mom and Dad arrived, they only saw Celeste's pale face after choking on water.

Mom held Celeste and scolded me harshly for the first time in her life.

"Aria, you're the older sister. Why didn't you watch your little sister properly!"

Dad also said I was jealous of Celeste and had deliberately harmed her.

From that day on, they decided Celeste was physically weak, and it was all my fault.

They felt they hadn't protected Celeste well enough, so they had to compensate her doubly.

I became their way to avoid responsibility.

So now, when Celeste wanted my kidney, they thought it was perfectly justified.

It was what I owed her.

There was nothing left in this world worth staying for.

I seemed to see Rusty running happily to my feet.

I unfastened the collar around his neck and said, "Don't you love freedom? Let's go."

I stood up and headed toward the hospital room door.

I turned back for one last look.

They were all gathered around Celeste, caring for her. Not one person looked back at me.

I quietly closed the door and left that suffocating place.

One day left until my death. I was homeless now.

My whole life, I'd lived for others, never truly stopping to live for myself.

Before my body completely gave out, I dialed a number.

Then the world plunged into darkness.

When I regained consciousness, I was in the healing center's emergency room.

I moved my eyes to look at the clock on the wall.

Only 6 hours remained until the end of my life.

Sitting beside me was Ethan Blackthorne, his eyes red from crying.

He was the Alpha of the powerful Central pack.

Years ago, he had been my business partner who supported me in setting up my own healing studio, and the only one who strongly opposed my relationship with Marcus.

He said Marcus and my family didn't treasure me—they were all just using me.

I had a huge fight with him over this and cut off contact.

I knew I shouldn't be bothering him now.

But looking at the entire world, besides him, I couldn't think of anyone else to entrust my final affairs to.

"What the hell happened to you? Didn't you say your studio was expanding, that your future was bright?"

"Didn't you say your family was perfect, that you were about to get married? How did you end up like this! Why are the doctors saying you're dying?"

Ethan's voice was hoarse as he fought back tears. I wore an oxygen mask, looking at him weakly.

We had once made a pact—if I ever couldn't hold on anymore, he would help me clean up all my business messes.

I couldn't speak, so I struggled to lift my hand and pointed to my purse.

Ethan immediately pulled out the transfer agreements from my bag.

He quickly scanned them, his eyes turning bloodshot, but he calmly put the documents away.

Good. The understanding between us was still there.

Only 3 hours left until my death.

I refused all life-saving measures.

After another brief bout of unconsciousness, I woke to see Ethan holding his phone in front of me.

It was Celeste's social media post—her latest update was nine photos.

The center one was a family portrait of her, Mom, Dad, and Marcus.

The caption read: "Thank you, sister, for making this possible. From now on, I'm the family's true princess."

Looking at the photos, Ethan—this Alpha who was known as decisive and ruthless—trembled with rage.

In my heart, only bitter mockery remained.

In my entire life, I had never made a decision I regretted, except for the day Mom and Dad brought me back from the countryside, when I chose to believe in their version of "family love."

I was found in a remote small town.

That day, Mom and Dad came to pick me up in a luxury car, telling me I was the real daughter of the Blackwood pack.

Celeste was the child who had been switched at birth in the hospital.

I followed them home to that magnificent house with pure joy.

The moment the door opened, I saw them instinctively shield Celeste behind them.

The embarrassment, guilt, and protectiveness toward Celeste in their eyes—I still remember it all.

I blame myself for being so desperate for family love back then.

I never realized that from the moment I stepped through that door, I was destined to be an outsider.

Celeste's greatest skill was slowly eating away at everything that should have been mine under our parents' favoritism.

I closed my eyes, and flashes of the first time Celeste took something from me played in my mind.

It was the only keepsake my grandmother had left me—a star and moon necklace.

When Celeste saw it, she cried to Mom and Dad that she wanted it too.

They made me take it off and personally put it around her neck.

From that day on, everything I owned became something Celeste could take whenever she wanted.

Everything our parents had prepared for me became hers instead.

My room became hers.

My parents became hers.

Everything of mine became something she felt entitled to take.

I once confronted Celeste, asking why she did this.

She just smiled and answered:

"Sister, do you think I should be grateful to you? I won't let you steal my life."

"I'm going to take over everything that belongs to you, including Mom and Dad's love, and your fiancé too."

"I love seeing you have everything yet have nothing at all!"

...

I once thought I could prove my worth through my talent and hard work.

I once thought Marcus's love could be my salvation.

I was too naive.

I underestimated twenty years of raising bonds, and overestimated the fragile ties of blood relation.

I lost completely.

But I prepared one final gift for them all.

Before injecting the life potion, I had carefully organized everything—all my medical records, the diagnosis proving my silver poisoning, the timeline of Celeste's deception, and evidence of her stolen credit.

I sealed it all in envelopes and sent them to my parents and Marcus.

Soon, they would know the complete truth, even though it was a truth I had to purchase with my life.

Only 9 minutes left until my death.

My consciousness began to fade, and my vision gradually blurred.

But I could still make out the message Mom had just sent to Ethan's phone:

"Aria, Celeste has some new ideas for the ancestral estate's renovation plans. When you have time, talk to the designer about it."

"Also, Celeste is moving in next week. Remember to clear out your personal belongings quickly. Don't take up space."

Until the last moment of my life, all Mom could think about was Celeste.

So in her heart, I really was just an object that could be discarded at any time.

Fine then...

Ethan seemed to be crying and shouting something in my ear, but I couldn't hear anything anymore.

After fighting for so many years, I was truly exhausted.

Finally, I could get a good night's sleep...

May 20th, Aria Blackwood died at Central City Hospital, age 27.