"I agree as well." Wilma raised her hand. "It doesn't matter if Rhea is the real or fake daughter. I'll still love her."

Just like that, the two mothers casually handed out my death sentence.

I hoarsely called out to Mom with determination. I refused to believe that, after all these years, there were no feelings for me. Was our bond really worth nothing more than a mere blood relation?

Perhaps it was my anguished cry that caused her to hesitate, but she remained still for a long moment.

Jeremy frowned and grabbed Mom's wrist, but she gently patted his hand. She turned to face me, her eyes red-rimmed. With a trembling voice, she said, "Faye, Rhea is my flesh and blood—my biological daughter.

"I've waited and loved for her all these years. You must donate your kidney, no matter what."

She took a deep breath and added, "I've already asked. You won't die. You might just be rendered unable to care for yourself. When you leave the hospital, I'll definitely love you and properly make up for everything."

My 20 years of longing had instantly turned to dust at that moment. All I got at the end was, "You won't die."

I laughed in self-despair, cruelly cursing myself, "I can't live on like this. I will definitely die."

Mom yelled at me, terrified, "No! That's impossible! I'll have your brother personally perform the surgery!"

Even if a medical expert like Jeremy tried, he wouldn't be able to save someone who was determined to die.

Dad, who had been silent this entire time, held me up and tied me to the operating table like a lamb awaiting its slaughter.

Jeremy presented the surgery consent form, and Mom quickly signed it.

I lay there, staring at them weakly, up until Jeremy started to wheel me into the operating room.

I blinked and stared blankly up at the ceiling, allowing my tears to slip down my face.

With a forced smile that looked uglier than if I cried, I said, "I can give it to her, whether it's my kidney or my life. Either is fine, but I have one request… I want to have a paternity test done with Mom."

Jeremy frowned, loudly scolding, "What's the point of doing all this? You still want to resist?

"Rhea has suffered for you all these years and hasn't returned to Mom's side for 20 years, yet you dare to make demands?"

She suffered? Who was the one who endured so many years of suffering, only to now be reduced to risking their life?

I only wanted that one answer.

Dad sighed. "It's been so many years. Let's just let Faye know the truth. It's best if we can end it here. Then we can all be united as a family."

Mom spoke up in agreement. "Alright. From now on, don't call me 'Mom' anymore."

I smiled with relief. After over 20 years of effort, it was also time for me to give up completely.

To ensure the surgery's success, Jeremy did not administer a sufficient amount of anesthesia to me.

I could even feel the scalpel slicing through my flesh and the scissors severing my tissues—it hurt so much.

Whenever a person got scared, they would usually instinctively call out for their mother.

But as soon as I opened my mouth, I suddenly snapped back to reality—I no longer had a mother.

Jeremy raised an eyebrow and looked at me. With disgust, he spat out, "I can't believe you're a fake! No wonder you don't look anything like our family! All the affection we gave you was wasted!"

At that, my pupils dilated slightly, and I found his words laughable. I softly said, "Don't be mad, Jeremy. After I get out, I won't call you my brother anymore."

Displeased, he viciously twisted the scalpel. I shuddered in pain, sweating profusely.

He chuckled smugly. "Good! You don't deserve to call me your brother."

The surgery lasted a long time—so long that I felt like I had already died.

After a long while, Jeremy finally closed up the last stitch. He tilted his head and said, "Consider yourself lucky to be alive."

I blinked slowly and said with indifference, "Thank you… Dr. Campbell."

Upon hearing that, he inexplicably got angry. He threw the scissors down and walked out.

I could hear the sounds from outside the operating room. I heard Mom anxiously approaching and asking, "How is Faye?"

Jeremy smirked with disdain. "It was very successful. It's just that her body is too weak. From now on, she'll always be suffering."

Mom murmured, "As long as she's alive… "

"By the way…" She turned to Wilma and said, "Wilma, she wants a mother. I'll return her to you now. You have to treat her well!"

Before Wilma could respond, I suddenly started coughing up blood uncontrollably.

The nurse assisting with the post-op procedures panicked. She tripped and fell to the ground as she scrambled to the door and shouted, "Dr. Campbell, bad news! The patient is hemorrhaging after surgery! And it looks like she might have gotten an infection!"

As soon as she finished, Jeremy panicked. He turned and ran toward me, calling my name loudly.

I heard Mom try to rush in, but she was stopped. She kept asking what was happening.

Amidst the chaos, the nurse from the Genetics Department arrived with the paternity test results. Her voice was full of joy as she repeatedly congratulated them, "Congratulations! These two have been confirmed as mother and daughter!"