###5

Delilah’s eyes darted sideways before she scoffed.

“Doctor, stop talking nonsense. We paid the prison off—my sister lived like she was on vacation. What stress could she possibly have?”

The doctor frowned. “I’m not joking. Miss Wren is seriously ill—”

She didn’t get to finish. My brother cut her off coldly.

“Enough!” he snapped. “Dr. Linwood, you’ve been our family physician for years. Don’t tell me you’ve started lying for her now?”

His eyes turned on me, full of disdain. He looked at my pale face lying on the hospital bed and gave a cold sneer.

“Ava, what a performance. Faking illness, bribing the doctor—you’re really desperate for attention.”

Delilah’s eyes turned red. “Ava, if you really hate me, I’ll leave. There’s no need to pretend to be sick just to win sympathy from Mom, Dad, and Brother.”

Dad exploded with anger. “Not only have you failed to repent, you’ve learned to scheme. If that’s the case, forget the welcome party!”

Mom sighed, clearly disappointed. “Ava, why are you still so childish?”

Then she softened. “Don’t be angry with your sister. Just let it go this time.”

And just like that, under Delilah’s coaxing, the welcome party went on—like a performance of kindness for the girl they believed deserved it.

That morning, Delilah was the perfect picture of elegance in a diamond-studded tiara her brother gave her and a custom-made dress from a famous designer.

Me? I wore a dress she’d thrown out. It sagged on my shoulders and clung awkwardly to my thin frame.

“She came back in such a rush,” Delilah said sweetly, holding my arm, “so I gave her something to wear. I’ll buy her a new one later.”

Everyone praised her for being so generous—so beautiful, so kind. The real Wren family daughter. If I refused, I knew she’d twist it into another story that made me look ungrateful.

So I let her drag me into the car.

“Come on, sister,” she smiled, “Let’s go try on new dresses. Mom, Dad, Brother—we’ll see you at the party!”

We passed the site of the accident from two years ago. And then—it happened again.

The car flipped. My head slammed against the window. Blood poured down my face. Just before I lost consciousness, I heard a voice murmuring to Delilah.

“Everything’s ready, Miss Wren. The Wren family and Mr. Thorne have been contacted. Just wait and watch.”

I forced my eyes open. Pain seared through me. “Delilah… what are you doing?!”

She crouched beside me, smiling like it was her birthday.

“What do you think? I want you to suffer.”

Her voice was soft, her expression radiant.

“You shouldn’t have come back, Ava. I want you to see—no one loves you. Not Mom, not Dad, not Brother. Not even Daniel. Only me.”

In that moment, I thought of Daniel whispering once that he loved me. For some reason, hope flickered.

Then came frantic footsteps.

My family rushed toward us—Mom, Dad, Brother, and Daniel—faces pale, out of breath.

“Delilah! Ava! Don’t be scared—we’ll save you!”

But the car was about to explode. Smoke hissed. Fire crackled.

Daniel rushed forward, shielding himself from the flames.

Tears ran down Delilah’s face, her voice trembling with fake selflessness.

“Mom, Dad, Brother, Daniel—the car’s about to blow. Only one of us can be saved. I don’t care if I die… Please, save my sister.”

They froze. Their eyes darted between us.

And in that moment, with death looming just seconds away, Delilah and I stared at them.

Would they choose me this time?

###6

But the next moment, their eyes shifted—guilt creeping in like a shadow.

“Delilah was in the accident last time… she still has nightmares,” my father said softly. “Let’s save her first. Once she’s safe, we’ll come back for you.”

I watched them, stunned.

No one met my eyes as they pried Delilah out of the car. They moved quickly, hands trembling—yet not from fear for me. Just for her.

I should’ve stopped hoping by now. But in that moment, my heart shattered anew.

They carried her away without hesitation. No backward glance.

“I was so scared! I thought I’d die and never see Mom or Dad again,” Delilah sobbed into my mother’s shoulder.

Daniel stroked her hair gently, his voice tender. My parents and brother surrounded her, all comfort and warmth.

No one remembered I was still inside.

Gasoline dripped faster now. The acrid scent filled my lungs. Fire flickered at the edge of my vision.

Desperately, I fought with the seatbelt, forcing myself through the window. Shards of glass sliced into my arms, but I kept crawling. Then—

Boom.

A wave of heat knocked me flat, searing my skin. Everything went dark.

---

When I opened my eyes again, a white ceiling greeted me.

My throat burned. Pain radiated from every limb. I was alone.

No one was sitting by my side.

Two young nurses passed by the door.

“Miss Wren is so lucky,” one said. “Barely scratched, and her family booked her a whole floor! The best specialists, top-tier care…”

“Her fiancé stayed all night,” the other added. “So handsome. So devoted. I’d trade places with her in a heartbeat.”

Their voices faded.

I lay there, heart aching. Then—footsteps.

“Ava, you’re awake.”

Daniel entered with a forced smile and helped me sit up. “Still hurting? Hungry? Want water?”

Concern laced with guilt.

I almost laughed.

You caused this. You all did. Who are you pretending for?

I forced a smile. “You look awful. Get some sleep.”

He hesitated, then lay down beside me and quickly drifted off.

His phone was right there. I picked it up. The lock screen lit up—a photo of him and Delilah. She was beaming in his arms.

I opened the album.

Thousands of pictures. All of her.

One video played automatically—her birthday. Daniel carried a cake he’d baked himself, smudging frosting on her cheek. Her brother gifted her a dazzling dress.

She giggled, hugging them both. The perfect little princess.

And me? I share her birthday.

But that day, I was humiliated in prison.

We met in college. He promised forever. The photos of our life? Deleted. Trashed. Gone.

Tears blurred my vision.

I tapped into a group chat by accident—him, my brother, and Delilah.

My blood froze.

A kidney donation agreement.

Recipient: My brother.

Donor: Delilah.

I touched the scar on my waist. My breath caught.

My brother’s message echoed:

“Back then, Delilah risked her life to save me. One day, you must risk your life to protect our princess in return.”

Risked her life?

Then what about me?

The anesthesia wearing off mid-surgery. The scalpel carving me open. The pain that never fully left.

The screen slipped from my hand. My fingers curled over my eyes, tears spilling silently.

The phone rang.

“Ava,” said Director Jake, “I’ve booked the plane tickets. We leave in four days.”

A flicker of joy broke through.

“Thank you, Director Jake,” I said quietly.

Before I could hang up, a hand seized mine.

Daniel was awake.

His grip tightened. His eyes were no longer gentle.

“Plane tickets?” he asked coldly. “What plane tickets?”

###7

"Nothing. You're just dreaming, confused," I murmured, sliding the phone beneath my pillow.

Daniel frowned, about to question me further, but his phone rang, interrupting the moment.

“Brother Daniel, I woke up and didn’t see you. I was so scared.”

His expression softened. “Be good. Don’t be afraid. I’ll be right there.”

He stood, glanced at me briefly, and added, “I’ll come pick you up when you’re discharged,” before walking out without another word.

He never looked back.

For two full days in the hospital, not a single person came to see me.

When I was discharged, I left alone, took a taxi back—no one waiting, no one asking.

But the house was far from empty.

The living room was crowded. People murmured in sympathy, comforted someone sobbing in the center.

It was Delilah—crying like a grieving child, wringing her hands pitifully.

I didn’t bother with her act. I went straight upstairs.

I was packing when the door creaked open behind me. My brother and Daniel stepped in, one after the other.

Their eyes landed on the suitcase next to me. For a second, both of them froze.

“Ava,” my brother asked, frowning, “where are you going?”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed with unease.

“Just sorting out some things left over from prison,” I replied coolly.

Relief washed over their faces.

My brother smiled, reaching into his pocket. “You hit your head in the explosion. Here—some ointment. Does it still hurt?”

Daniel pulled me gently toward a chair, pressing lightly against my sore shoulder.

“Sit still,” he said softly. “Don’t move, or it’ll reopen.”

Their concern was strange. Too careful. Too sudden. Too… off.

I stared at the two of them and asked flatly, “What’s going on? Why the sudden kindness?”

They exchanged glances. My brother hesitated before finally speaking.

“Ava… Delilah’s sick. Terminally ill.”

I blinked. So that’s why she cried so dramatically.

“She’s loved Daniel since she was little,” he continued. “But she’s never tried to fight you for him.”

“And now... she doesn’t have much time left. Her last wish is to wear a wedding dress and marry Daniel. Just a symbolic wedding. Ava, please… let her have this.”

Daniel quickly added, “Ava, it’s only for show. You’re the one I love. Always.”

My mother entered just then, eyes red from crying. “Poor Delilah… such a hard life. My poor daughter.”

My father followed, sighing deeply. “When our family was in crisis, it was Delilah who stepped up. Without her, we wouldn’t have recovered. As her father, I have to grant her last wish. It’s just a wedding, after all.”

They’d all made their choice.

I stared at them. For Delilah, they’d trade anything—maybe even me.

But I didn’t explode. I didn’t argue.

I just said calmly, “I don’t care. Do whatever you want.”

“Even if you do get married, I’d prefer not to be informed.”

Then I turned and walked out of the room.

They watched me go—silent, uneasy, unsure. My lack of reaction made them nervous.

Daniel rushed after me and grabbed my hand.

“Ava! I swear I only love you. Once Delilah’s ceremony is over, we’ll get married too, alright?”

But I had no intention of marrying him.

“Okay,” I said softly, pulling my hand free and continuing down the stairs.

There were still things I needed to pack.

In the living room, Delilah stood in my path, arms crossed and eyes gleaming with smugness.

“Hey,” she said sweetly, “you heard it, right? Daniel and I are getting married.”

I gave her a blank look. “Congratulations. I hope that finally puts your mind at ease.”

I moved to step around her, but she kicked my knee hard.

I staggered, and as I bent over in pain, she leaned in, voice dripping with venom.

“I lied. I’m not sick. I made that up to get what I want.”

“I’m going to take everything from you—your place in the Wren family, your man, your future. You’ll have nothing.”

“And prison? That hell you lived in? I made sure every second of it was tailored just for you.”