"You agreed to it?" A sharp pain pricked at my heart. I could not believe what I was hearing.

David looked uneasy. "Jasmine, as her sister, you want her to get better too, right? The fortune-telling master said once she's married, Emma's health will recover quickly! And it's just for show. It won't affect our relationship. You're still Betty's mom, my wife. I'd never betray you."

Before I could say anything, our daughter grabbed my hand and looked up at me pleadingly. "Mom, Godmother Emma's been really sad lately. She cries alone all the time... Please let Dad help her, okay?"

I froze.

Yes, years ago, despite my protests and tears, they insisted on making Emma our daughter's godmother.

Even my daughter was closer to her than to me.

As I looked at this so-called family, my eyes welled with tears, but I forced them down.

One was the man I had loved for years. The other, the child I had risked my life to bring into the world.

In their world, Emma was family. I was just the 'overly emotional' mother.

I looked at David calmly. "Alright. As long as it makes you all happy."

David's eyes lit up with surprise and delight. He immediately pulled out the divorce papers he had clearly prepared in advance. "Just sign here."

"Mom, here's a pen!" My daughter eagerly handed it to me.

My heart sank. So they had been waiting for this moment.

I signed quickly and handed the divorce papers back.

"As soon as Emma recovers, I'll remarry you right away. Don't worry, you're the only woman I love. And Betty will always be your daughter," said David as he hurried to add his signature.

I felt wronged, but managed a strained smile. I would not live to see that day.

"Jasmine, you're so much more understanding than before. I wasn't perfect either. I'll make it up to you."

"Mom, you're so good to Godmother. I'm proud to have a mom like you!"

I felt nothing but bitter irony. I had still held onto a shred of hope. At this point, though, it was gone.

I turned to go upstairs. Just as I lifted my foot, everything went dark. I could not catch my breath, and collapsed.

I was jolted awake by cold water.

David and our daughter were standing over me. "Mom, why are you pretending to faint again? Mom, you're not even sick, and you keep faking it to trick us. We need to bring dessert to Godmother. Get up, you're wasting time!"

"Jasmine, I've told you over and over—the divorce is just for appearances. I'm not going to leave you. You don't need to fake illness to test me."

Their first reaction upon seeing me collapse was not to call an ambulance, but to accuse me of playing games.

"Mom, you look so healthy. How could you be sick? You're a grown-up, and I'm more mature than you."

Her words pierced my heart.

It seemed the doctor's medication really worked. I did not look sick at all.

Still, in three days, I would be dead.

"I'm fine now. I'll come with you. Emma still needs to sign some transfer papers."

David clearly did not want me going to the hospital, but hearing that some formalities were incomplete, he nodded.

At the hospital, Emma was leaning weakly against the bed, looking pale and frail.

She truly looked more like someone beyond saving than I did.

"Jasmine, you're here!" Emma greeted me warmly. "Jasmine, thank you for believing in me. Once I recover, I'll work hard to take our jewelry business global."

"Yes, Jasmine. Didn't you always love to travel? With Emma managing things, you can travel and still receive dividends from the company. Isn't that wonderful?" Mom beamed with genuine joy.

I smiled too. "Yes, it sounds perfect. So I've decided to transfer all the money in my accounts, and all the properties under my name, to Emma as well. That way, I won't need to worry about a thing anymore."

At that, everyone froze.

"You're not joking, Jasmine? Including the stock that's already gone public?" asked Emma again in disbelief.

I could not understand it. Emma always had her eyes on everything I owned.

Whenever I refused to give her something, she would call me selfish, accuse me of bullying her, saying I was not acting like a proper sister.

I was finally handing everything over to her without resistance, and they still did not believe?

"Jasmine, you've finally grown up. You finally understand how to be a good sister!" Dad was the first to react, praising me. "You two sisters being united and treating each other selflessly, that's all we ever wanted. Now we can finally enjoy our retirement in peace."

That was laughable.

Emma went through all that scheming to take everything from me. Was it really just to lighten my burden and let me enjoy life?

She deceived everyone with her pitiful act and fake kindness.

Suddenly, a sharp tightness gripped my chest, and I coughed twice. A metallic taste filled my mouth. "You're coughing up blood?! Is your throat inflamed?"

Mom noticed the blood on my handkerchief and came over to pat my back.

I wiped the corner of my mouth and asked softly, "Mom, Dad… if I die, would you feel sad?"

The room went quiet. "Who talks like that? Just when you started behaving, you're back to talking nonsense?"

Mom gave me a small slap.

"You look so healthy. It's probably just a sore throat. Take some anti-inflammatory meds, don't be so dramatic," added Dad impatiently.

"Yeah, Mom, look at Godmother's face. She's the one who really needs to take care of her health. Stop being so paranoid." My daughter spoke to me like a little adult, her tone scolding.

"That's right, Jasmine. Stop faking illness to gain sympathy. I've told you so many times. Set a good example for your child. You can't keep lying like this," David chimed in as well.

My eyes reddened, but I still managed to smile. "You really like Emma, huh, Betty? From now on, you'll be her daughter. Let your godmother be your mom."

Betty's eyes lit up. "Then Mommy Emma can take me to the amusement park and to tutoring sessions!"

She jumped into Emma's arms, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and started calling her 'Mommy'.

Betty had not been that happy in a long time.

Everything was different on this day because I let Emma become her mother.

She jumped around calling Emma 'Mommy' repeatedly while David gently stroked her hair.

My parents sat together, watching them with satisfaction.

They looked like one big happy family.

Me? I was just the extra.

I turned away, wiped my tears, and quietly left the room.

There was only one day left before I left this world.

I did not know where to go.

I unlocked my phone. The background had not changed. It was a photo of the three of us at an amusement park.

That day, the sun had been shining. I stood in the middle, holding hands with my daughter and David. We were all smiling like we truly had known happiness.

I drove to that very amusement park, the place from the photo.

The carousel was still there, spinning round as if nothing had changed.

I bought a ticket and sat on the same familiar horse.

The wind blew against my face. I closed my eyes.

For a moment, I could still hear my daughter's laughter… and David warning me, "Be careful."

This time, no one was with me.

I rode alone. A wave of dizziness washed over me. I knew death was near.

I forced my eyes open, but the world grew more and more blurred.

With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and used the last of my strength to dial a number I had not called in years.

Ring…

Ring…

I could not hold on any longer. The phone slipped from my hand, and darkness consumed everything.

In the hospital room, my consciousness returned.

The first thing I saw was Lilith Sinclair's anxious face.

She had been my best friend in college. Back then, she strongly opposed my relationship with David. She said throwing myself into that relationship would not end well.

We once promised to be each other's bridesmaids, yet she did not show up at my wedding.

I should not have disturbed her again, but I truly had no one else I could trust.

"Didn't you say you were the happiest woman in the world? How did you end up like this? Where are your husband and daughter? Why did the doctor say you're dying?" questioned Lilith mid-tears.

Tears slid from the corners of my eyes, but I still smiled.

Lilith always had a sharp tongue and a soft heart. Maybe she was the only one in this world who truly cared about me.

I tried to speak, but I was too weak to make a sound.

I motioned with my eyes for her to bring me my bag.

She pulled out the agreement from inside and skimmed it. Her tears began to fall again.

"Jasmine, this can't be real! You're not going to die!" She collapsed beside me, sobbing without control.

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

Three hours left. Then my life would end.

Suddenly, my phone rang. Lilith picked it up and handed it to me.

It was a voice message from Emma. "Jasmine, after all these years of competing, you've finally given up, haven't you? Your child, your husband, your parents… They've all only ever loved me. You should've realized it long ago. In this family, you were never a match for me."

Lilith trembled with rage. "How can someone be this disgusting?"

I had no response left in me, though.

There was a time when I would have snapped back at her. Now, all I had left was regret.

I regretted everything from the start. I was the one who brought Emma into our home.

I was 10 years old when I went to the orphanage with my parents to volunteer.

That was when I saw her, a girl curled up in the corner, wearing a clean but worn dress, thin as a twig, her eyes full of fear and longing.

All the other kids were fighting over the gifts we brought, but she stayed away like a dirty kitten.

I felt sorry for her. I tugged at my parents' hands and begged, "Let's take her home."

My parents hesitated at first, but seeing how earnest I was, they eventually agreed.

Emma became my so-called 'sister'.

In the beginning, she really was obedient. She would follow me carefully and call me 'big sister' timidly.

I gave her my favorite toys, brought her with me to school, and even changed my birthday wishes to, "I hope my little sister can be happier."

Then, everything changed.

She got top grades, knew how to please teachers, could cry on cue, and always acted sweet and fragile in front of our parents.

Before I even realized it, the people around me began to pull away.

Teachers preferred her. Classmates flocked to her. My parents told me I was 'too sensitive' and that I should just give in to her.

That was when I began to see many of the things she did were 'accidents', or so she claimed.

The new dress I had just bought, she wore to school to show off.

The competition I had spent months preparing for, she suddenly 'replaced' me and walked away with the trophy and applause.

When I confronted her, she did not even hide her smirk. "I'm better than you in every way. I'm the real darling now. I'm going to take everything, piece by piece, and make your world mine."

She was cunning. Ruthless. Everyone took her side.

Looking back, it was all so absurd. From the start, she never came to be my sister. She came to steal my life.

My parents, my husband, even my daughter—they all believed she mattered more than I did.

I admit it. I lost. Completely.

The heart monitor next to me started beeping…

Three minutes left.

"Jasmine! Open your eyes!" Lilith was yelling beside me, holding my phone. "Your mom texted you; she probably sensed something happened to you!"

I forced my eyes open and read the message.

[Jasmine, once Emma is discharged, let her move into your villa. You're going traveling anyway. And don't forget to hire a nanny for the three of them. Emma's not familiar with that area.]

Lilith's eyes reddened at this. She bit her lip, speechless.

Still, I smiled.

It seemed this was all I meant to them: a money machine that still worked.

Even on the brink of death, I was still expected to arrange everything for my 'adopted sister'.

Forget it.

I have spent everything I had trying to please everyone, and in the end, I had nothing left.

Finally, I could let go.

My heart ached. I was too tired. I really did not want to fight anymore…

Lilith cried and kept calling my name, but I could not hear her anymore.

…

On June 18, 2025, Jasmine died in a hospital five kilometers from home. No family by her side. She was only 27 years old.