I'm an immortal—blessed with a fate that attracts endless wealth.

Every time someone tried to kill me for money, I ended up inheriting a massive fortune—it was as if the universe compensated me with riches.

Over the years, I've amassed billions.

But I'm tired.

I've been murdered in countless ways, over and over again. Now, even the thought of living exhausts me.

To me, money was just a string of cold, meaningless numbers.

The only way to break this curse of immortality... was to find someone who truly loves me—not my money.

Through lifetimes of searching, I finally found him.

He didn’t care about my wealth. But he didn’t love me either.

Instead, he took a scalpel—and carved through my flesh.

——

I lay on the cold operating table, staring at the surgical lights above.

Reflected in their glow was the horrifying image of my abdomen, sliced open and blood-soaked.

Another new way to die.

But this time, the pain was unbearable. Agonizing, soul-searing pain. So intense I couldn’t even scream.

I bit down hard, trying to force out a sound.

“Santiago... Is it money you want? You know I have more than enough. Just name your price—I’ll give you anything.”

He shook his head and gently brushed a trembling hand through my hair.

He kissed my forehead, and tears rained down onto my cheeks—yet not a trace of warmth could be felt.

“I don’t want your money,” he said hoarsely. “I love you. Your money is just a bonus. It’s you I care about.”

I laughed—bitterly.

My limbs trembled violently from the pain.

He hadn't used a drop of anesthesia. He said he was going to remove my organs, and drain every last drop of my blood.

And this was what he called love?

I couldn’t understand it anymore.

If he wants me dead, why not give me a quick death?

"Santiago," I choked out, "How much do you want? Or tell me—what is it that you really want? I’ll give it to you. Just make it quick. Don’t hide behind the excuse of ‘love’ while torturing me."

But Santiago refused to budge, still murmuring how much he loved me.

Loved me?

I didn’t even know what part of me he claimed to love.

Then, five minutes later, the door opened, and they wheeled in someone else.

It was a young beautiful woman. Her skin was pale and flawless, like porcelain. But she was unconscious.

They placed her on the table right beside mine.

I watched in horror as my freshly drawn blood was pumped into her body. Then a group of reticent doctors came in.

Without wasting another second, they cut her open as well, beginning the surgery.

She seemed gravely ill.

One by one, they removed several failing organs from her body.

And then they turned to me.

Piece by piece, they harvested the exact organs she needed—straight from my body.

That was when I finally understood Santiago’s true purpose.

I froze, and a single tear escaped the corner of my eye.

“Who is she?” I choked out a question.

Santiago didn’t answer. He just looked at her with a tenderness I had never seen in his eyes.

“Santiago! Answer me!”

Snapping back to the present, he finally took my hand and began to explain.

“Her name is Elizabeth. We were high school classmates—seatmates for three years. We promised we’d go to the same university, build a future together. After graduation, we planned to marry and start a family.”

“But fate was cruel. Right after college, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. Her organs began deteriorating rapidly. The doctors gave her five years at most. There’s no cure anywhere in the world.”

Taking a deep breath, he continued, “I couldn’t just watch her die. I couldn’t let the girl who stood beside me through all my youth die like that. So, I came up with this plan.”

I stared at him, stunned. Then I let out a bitter laugh. “All the doctors in the world couldn’t find a cure, and you think replacing her organs with mine will help? If it were that simple, wouldn’t the doctors have suggested it long ago? Why wait until now?”

Santiago understood exactly what I meant.

He suddenly turned to look at me, his gaze locking onto mine—resolute, yet disturbingly cold.

He stared at me for a long while before letting out a faint sigh and finally speaking.

“Catalina, I know your secret.”

“I know you’re immortal.”

His words stunned me.

And at that moment, everything made sense.

So he really didn’t care about my money—But he didn’t love me either.

I thought this lifetime was my chance. That maybe, just maybe, I’d found someone who loved me for who I was, and I could finally break this curse.

But in the end, it was all for nothing.

Santiago’s coldness was terrifying.

Even now—seeing me disemboweled, my flesh torn apart and soaked in blood—he could still stand calmly at my side.

He held my hand, his thumb gently stroking my palm like a lover, while I fought to stay conscious from the overwhelming pain.

And still, Santiago kept talking about his and Elizabeth’s hardships.

“I’ve taken Elizabeth across the country, and begged countless renowned doctors. But nothing worked. She has endured so much—she’s cried in my arms more times than I can count. Only I truly understand the depth of her pain.”

“I made her a promise—I will save her. I have to. I can’t watch her fade away. She’s the sun in my world. Without her, everything turns to darkness.”

“Catalina, after I found out what you are, I had a feeling—an unshakable belief—that you could save her. That you were the key to changing our fate.”

So that’s why he didn’t even use anesthesia?

That’s why he lied to me for three whole years?

He spent three years pretending to love me, just to get close, gain my trust—so he could harvest my organs to save her?

How could he?!

For the first time, I lost control in front of him.

I screamed, I cursed, I called him every vile name I could think of.

Yes, death has long been a regular guest in my life.

To me, dying was almost a routine.

But not like this.

Not used like this.

I could have accepted it if he was after my wealth.

But this—this betrayal? This reason?

The pain overwhelmed me—body and mind. My limbs twisted unnaturally, convulsing violently.

Santiago pinned me down, his strength was frightening.

And still he spoke, as if trying to soothe me—but every word out of his mouth was twisted beyond recognition.

“Catalina, just hold on a little longer, okay? You’ve died so many times—you’ve endured all kinds of pain. This one is no different. Just bear with it, and it’ll be over soon.”

“I know you’ve always been searching for a way to break your immortality. This time, I’ll help you. And you’ll help me. We’ll both get what we want, isn’t that perfect?”

“You help me save Elizabeth, and I’ll help you end your cursed immortality. I promise I’ll keep loving you. I’ll never forget you. And through her, you’ll live on in a different way. Isn’t that beautiful?”

I stared at him, my vision swimming with tears and blood.

I bit down so hard I tore through my tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Santiago panicked—worried I might bite my tongue and end it all.

So without hesitation, he shoved his hand into my mouth.

“Don’t be afraid, Catalina. Be good, don’t be afraid. I’m here with you. Just hang on a little longer. The doctor said the pain is worse without anesthesia, but it will increase the chances of organ compatibility. It’s almost over, okay?”

For a moment—just one insane moment—he looked so gentle, so sincere that I almost thought I was on a delivery bed, giving birth to our child.

But I knew better.

It was all a lie.

I laughed bitterly, all the trust I had in people evaporating in that instant.

I sank my teeth into his hand, hard.

Then I spat blood in his face and growled, “If you know I’m immortal,

Then you should know what happens when someone takes the flesh and blood of an immortal.”

“I’m warning you—stop this while you still can. Because the consequences..."

"You won’t be able to bear them.”

The moment I screamed that final warning, pain overwhelmed me—and I blacked out.

I didn’t know how long I was unconscious.

When I woke up, I found myself submerged inside a giant tank.

Over the centuries, I’ve died countless times. But I always come back.

Exactly twenty-four hours after each death, my body revives. Whether I’m buried in freezing water, sticky mud, or the filth of the sewers, as long as the world hasn’t ended, even if I’m reduced to ashes—just a speck of dust—I will come back.

This time, I had been placed in a tank filled with formalin.

My hollowed-out corpse floated inside like some grotesque exhibit.

Little by little, I began to awaken again even though my body was still paralyzed.

Then I heard Santiago’s voice—cold, indifferent.

He was nearby.

The lid of the tank had already been lifted, and he’d looked at me once.

Through the reflection in his eyes, I caught a glimpse of myself—and recoiled in horror.

My once 170-centimeter-tall frame had been brutalized, curled into a shriveled mass, barely half its original size.

Every usable organ had been harvested, and they now belonged to Elizabeth.

Santiago seemed pleased—so pleased that his voice actually lifted with excitement.

“She shouldn’t be able to resurrect now, right? In this state... there’s no way."

"There’s nothing left but blood, bones, and a head—nothing useful remains.”

The doctor who performed our surgeries nodded in agreement.

“It’s unlikely she’ll revive. And there’s nothing left for scientific research either. So, what should we do with the remains?”

Santiago hesitated only a moment before answering decisively.

“To be safe, cremate the body. Scatter the ashes in all four corners—north, south, east, west. Make sure she never comes back again. Only then can Elizabeth safely inherit her fortune.”

I didn’t know what kind of doctor this man was—but he seemed disturbingly capable.

Not only had he operated on both Elizabeth and me, he was also now helping Santiago dispose of my body with the same casualness someone might use when throwing out a dead cat or dog.

With “my case” neatly settled, they turned their conversation into Elizabeth’s recovery.

Santiago’s tone turned almost giddy. His eyes sparkled—brighter than I’d ever seen them before.

“As expected, an immortal’s organs are different. I thought Elizabeth would need a long recovery, maybe suffer through a difficult transition. But by the second day, she was full of energy!”

“Her body adapted quickly, and her wounds healed rapidly. She’s vibrant, full of life! Honestly, even I was shocked!”

“I’ve already discussed it with Elizabeth. In three days, we’ll move on to the next step.”

The next step?

How funny. He never mentioned that to me.

I strained to listen, heart pounding. But just then, Santiago’s phone rang.

It was Elizabeth.

Her voice on the line was soft and gentle, almost musical.

She said she was craving strawberry cake—her appetite was great, and her mood was even better.

Clearly, her recovery had gone smoothly, and Santiago was overjoyed.

He spoke into the phone with such indulgence it made my skin crawl.

“You greedy little kitten. You’re barely healed, and you’re already begging for strawberry cake?”

Elizabeth giggled on the other end, her tone coy and spoiled.

“There’s more I want to eat... But you’re not here, so I don’t dare think too much about it~”

Santiago chuckled, lips curled in a fond smile. Sweet nothings spilled out without hesitation.

“Then I’ll come now. Think about what you really want, hmm? I’ll make sure you get everything.”

Their flirtatious exchange was like icy needles to my heart.

And maybe... that’s what triggered it.

My resurrection sped up.

Deep in my chest, I could feel it—Something was breaking through muscle and bone. Something was growing.

My heart was coming back.