Chapter Two

Chloe's POV

"That's more like it." Mom's voice followed me. "This is how family should be—stop being so petty all the time."

Dad nodded. "Emily just recovered. Show some consideration."

I didn't turn around. I opened the door and walked out.

The harsh fluorescent lights in the hallway stung my eyes. The incision at my side began throbbing, like someone was slowly sawing through my remaining kidney with a dull blade.

"Chloe!"

Footsteps caught up behind me. Allen grabbed my wrist, his grip gentle, as if afraid I might shatter. He stepped in front of me, looking down with those blue eyes that once captivated me, now filled with guilt.

"I'm sorry," he said, his thumb stroking the back of my hand. "I really couldn't get away these past few days. The hospital scheduled four major surgeries. You know how it is—heart transplants, patients can't wait."

I stared at the collar of his white coat. A small piece of confetti clung to it.

"I'm fine," I said.

He seemed relieved, his shoulders relaxing. "I knew you'd understand." He leaned closer, his breath warming my forehead. "Actually... there's something I wanted to discuss with you."

I looked up.

Allen shifted his gaze toward the window at the end of the hallway. "About next month's wedding—could we postpone it?"

A draft crept through the window gap, cold enough to make me shiver.

"Emily just recovered, and next month is the qualifying round for the U.S. Open." His words came faster, like he was reciting rehearsed lines. "She's waited three years for this opportunity. Now that she has your kidney, her condition is perfect. If we have a wedding right now, she'll definitely get distracted helping with preparations, and it'll affect her performance."

I stared at the corner of his mouth. There was a faint lipstick mark there—strawberry pink, the color Emily had worn today.

"Didn't we agree?" I heard my own voice, flat as a flatlined heart monitor. "We'd get married right after the kidney donation. You said it was your surgery gift to give me courage."

A flash of irritation crossed Allen's face, quickly covered by gentleness. "Just a few months' delay, until Emily's competition is over. You want what's best for her too, right? She's your sister."

"Sister." I repeated the word.

He pulled out a slender gift box from behind his back, untying the ribbon. Inside was a tennis racket.

He pressed the racket into my hands, the metal frame cold as ice.

"I had someone order it from Switzerland. Limited edition." He leaned down to kiss me, his lips barely brushing the corner of my mouth, perfunctory as a rubber stamp. "Don't be angry, okay? It's just a wedding. A few months earlier or later makes no difference."

"Okay," I said.

Allen's eyes lit up. "You agree?"

"I agree to cancel the wedding."

His smile froze. "Who said anything about canceling? I said postpone!" His voice pitched higher. "Chloe, don't be unreasonable. Emily has never competed in such a major tournament. The whole family should support her. You've never watched live either, right? Think of it as a pre-wedding trip, we'll go together..."

"I said, cancel."

Behind me, the door hinges creaked. Emily leaned against the hospital room doorframe.

"Chloe, are you angry because Allen wants to accompany me to the competition?" She blinked, looking perfectly innocent. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you two were getting married... If I'd known, I wouldn't have agreed to let him take me."

Heavy, hurried footsteps echoed from the stairwell. Kelvin burst into the hallway.

"What now?" He panted, his eyes fixed on my face. "Allen said you're throwing a fit about canceling the wedding? Chloe, enough is enough! Emily just got her life back—can't you let her be happy for a few days?"

I gripped the racket tighter, old scars beginning to ache.

"I'm not throwing a fit," I said. "I just think, since everyone would rather accompany Emily to her competition, there really is no need for a wedding."

"Listen to this!" Kelvin turned to Allen, hands spread wide. "I told you she's been like this since childhood—has to compete with Emily over everything. Now even wedding dates?"

Emily shuffled over and linked her arm through Allen's. "Chloe, don't misunderstand. Allen just feels sorry for me... Mom, Dad, and Kelvin are all too busy to come with me. If you're unhappy about it, I just won't go." She looked up at Allen, her eyes instantly welling with tears. "The competition doesn't matter. Your wedding is more important..."

"No way!" Allen blurted out. "You've been preparing for this competition for a year!"

He realized his mistake the moment he said it, frantically looking at me. I smiled at him.

That smile must have been terrible, because he dropped Emily's hand and stepped back.

"That settles it then." I turned toward the elevator bank. The incision at my side tore wider, warm blood trickling down my thigh. I needed to get back to my room, needed fresh bandages, needed pain medication, needed anything that would help me temporarily forget this body was already broken.

"Stop right there!" Kelvin's roar.

I didn't stop.

My finger had just touched the elevator button when searing pain shot through my scalp.