I was dying soon.

However, both of my childhood friends, who swore to protect me forever, did not realize that.

It was because they were busy throwing a celebration party for their junior from the research lab.

I went through hardships and got infected by this incurable virus to retrieve this special seaweed from the deep sea.

However, that junior claimed that she was the one who got the seaweed!

My childhood friends, whom I had known for decades, believed her.

Due to their accusations, I became the evil senior who was taking credit for a junior’s work.

I wanted to explain, but they said, “Mandy Smith is a good kid. Why would she lie?”

“You’re busy playing tricks and acting like a pick-me girl instead of focusing on your research. Trust me, I’m going to get you removed by our supervisor.”

After I was discharged from the hospital, I left the research lab and disappeared just like they wanted.

However, they started to desperately look for me.

When Brandon Neal and Benjamin Neal walked into the research lab, I was writing a resignation letter.

Seeing that I was the only person in the research lab, they immediately stopped smiling.

They frowned and asked in disdain, “Olivia Anderson, what are you sneakily writing over there?”

When I heard that, I glanced at them and answered indifferently, “I’m writing a resignation letter.”

It would be announced in a few days. Naturally, there was no need to hide it from them.

Due to their accusations, I was unable to continue staying in this research lab.

Everyone had accused me of taking credit for a junior’s work. They said that I was a jealous lowlife.

They looked at me in disgust as if I were a dirty rat.

The person in charge of the research lab was our supervisor, Professor Clark.

He had a talk with me the day I was discharged from the hospital. He requested that I leave the research lab.

Brandon and Benjamin stared at me in disbelief before they walked over.

Brandon glanced at my computer screen as he said in disgust, “Everyone knows you put in a lot of effort and pulled some strings to join this research lab. Are you sure you’re willing to leave?”

“Are you trying to gain our sympathy by acting all delicate and pitiful now?”

“Olivia, aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”

Benjamin nodded while his older brother spoke. He agreed wholeheartedly as he said, “That’s right, Olivia. Could you stop with your tricks? It’s really annoying.”

I looked at my childhood best friends and felt as though I was looking at strangers.

In the past, they had held my hands and sworn to protect me forever. They said that they would be my twin knights.

Instead, they were looking at me with disgust and hatred.

Mandy Smith had been hiding outside the research lab while scrolling through her cell phone. When she saw the three of us in the research lab, she immediately put her phone away and walked in.

She was carrying a heavy box full of test tubes.

“O-Olivia, I… I’ve helped you retrieve the test tubes… from the research lab located in the other building. Where should I put them?”

Sweat was glistening on Mandy’s forehead as she panted. She was wobbling while walking over with the heavy box in her arms.

It looked like she was very tired.

Brandon and Benjamin immediately approached Mandy when they saw her.

They were saying, “Mandy, why did you carry such heavy things on your own? Why didn’t you ask us for help? We can carry it for you.”

They reached out in an attempt to help her with the box.

However, Mandy suddenly wrestled against them and rejected their helping hands. “I can do it by myself. Olivia asked me to carry these on my own. I don’t need your help,” she said.

As she spoke, it looked like she was losing her grip on the test tubes. The box wobbled before it crashed onto my head.

Brandon and Benjamin were in shock as they yelled out Mandy’s name and threw themselves at her.

Both of them held her tightly in their arms so that she would not get hurt.

At the same time, Brandon pushed me aside. I hit my waist against the corner of a table, and I was covered in cuts resulting from the shattered test tubes. I could not get up at all.

I yelled out in agony as cold sweat trickled down my temples. It was excruciating, as though the corner of the table had smashed into me.

Brandon and Benjamin turned around to look at me with a hint of concern in their eyes.

However, they were soon distracted by Mandy’s sobs.

She cast her eyes down as she sobbed and apologized to me, “Olivia, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to break the test tubes. I… I can go and get another box for you. But can I do that a bit later?

“My finger got cut by the test tubes. I want to treat it first.”

Upon hearing her words, Brandon and Benjamin were immediately angered. They glared at me. “Olivia, you’re too much! What research requires so many test tubes?”

“None! Besides, if you need test tubes, why don’t you ask some guys to get them for you or get them yourself? Why did you ask Mandy to do it alone? And you’re telling us you’re not targeting her?”

My waist was throbbing intensely as I sat on the floor that was covered in shattered glass.

I could not hear them clearly through the pain. So, I whispered and asked them to send me to the hospital.

However, Brandon and Benjamin did not care about my request.

One of them carried Mandy in his arms and walked out while the other twin carefully sucked on her injured finger.

When they reached the doorway, they glanced at me and said, “Olivia, since all of this happened because of you, you should stay here and clean up the mess in the research lab before you leave.”

“Don’t pretend to be injured to escape your duty, and don’t feign innocence. If you don’t clean the research lab, don’t even think about leaving.”

After they said that, Brandon locked the door from the outside.

I gritted my teeth as I endured the pain.

Then, I picked up my shattered cell phone and mustered the last bit of my strength to call the emergency helpline.

When I regained consciousness, I was lying on a hospital bed.

I looked at the stern yet concerned doctor before me and almost cried.

The twins who had been my childhood friends for decades were not even bothered by the sight of my injuries.

However, a stranger whom I had met for the first time was treating me with kindness.

I was hospitalized for two weeks due to my injuries.

During this period, I did not rest. Instead, I booked a flight to Switzerland for a month later.

I had done some mental calculations. I only had a month left to live.

When I was diving in the deep sea to get a special seaweed, I took a risk and took off my protective gloves.

A mysterious sea creature that guarded the seaweed bit my hand.

However, I endured the pain and plucked the seaweed.

After I returned to land, I went for a checkup and discovered that I had been infected by the West Nile virus.

There was no known cure for it.

On top of that, the last phase of the infection was extremely painful. It would turn anyone into a shell of a person.

I did not want to die without dignity. Hence, I arranged euthanasia for myself in Switzerland a month later.

After I was discharged, I went back to the Anderson family’s house.

It was my twenty-fourth birthday.

When my mother was still alive, she would throw me a huge birthday party every year.

She would prepare a huge cake that was as tall as a human in the living room. Then, she would personally put a custom-made diamond crown on me and dress me in a gown that she had made herself. She would take photos of me and embrace me as she called me her most beloved little princess.

Even though my mother had passed away, I kept the tradition of throwing my birthday party.

Every time I saw the cake in the middle of the banquet, I felt as though my mother was still here with me.

However, when I returned home tonight, I saw that someone had already cut my cake and dirtied the living room with whipped cream.

Mandy was wearing the crown that my mother had custom-made for me when she was alive. She was also dressed in the gown that my mother had sewn for me. She was laughing and having a good time with Brandon and Benjamin.

The dress was covered in whipped cream.

I was furious!

I strode forward and snatched the crown off Mandy’s head and slapped her.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I questioned them, “Why are you at my place and using my stuff?”

Mandy was shocked by the blow, and her face momentarily twisted with rage.

She was just about to hit me when she remembered that Brandon and Benjamin were still around.

So, she immediately changed her expression.

When she looked up again, she appeared pitiful.

“Olivia, I’m sorry. I’m just…”

Before she could finish speaking, Brandon and Benjamin had shielded her.

They carefully touched her cheek and worriedly asked if it hurt.

When they saw her silent tears, they were furious.

Benjamin slapped me with an angry look in his eyes.

He yelled at me, “Olivia, why did you hit her?! Mandy knows that it’s your birthday, so she asked us to come over to celebrate your birthday with you. But you didn’t even clarify anything before you hit her!

“Why are you so unreasonable?”

I stared at them sharply. “Celebrate my birthday with me? You’re wearing my gown and crown without my permission, and you ruined my cake! Is this how you celebrate my birthday?”

Brandon averted his gaze before he exclaimed, “Mandy said she grew up in a poor family. She’s never seen such a pretty crown and gown. Is it a big deal if she wants to try them on?

“You were born into a rich family. You don’t lack gowns and crowns. What does it matter if she tried them on?

“Besides, it’s just a cake! There’s more than half left. That’s more than enough for you to eat. Why are you being so petty?”