Chapter 1
Arya
Six months ago, a deadly dose of ricin was secretly dropped into my drink. The toxic substance has been relentlessly destroying my body ever since, and my time is nearly up.
Today, my physical strength has completely faded, leaving me with only seventy-two hours to draw breath.
On the brink of my impending death, I gave in and consented to give my remaining kidney to my sister. Overflowing with joy, my fiancé pledged on his allegiance to our crime family that he would spend his remaining days making amends to me.
When my sister faced trial before the mob council for embezzling millions from our illegal bank accounts—a scheme she executed using my financial blueprints—I stepped into the chamber and took full responsibility for the crime.
My parents offered warm smiles, expressing relief that I had finally grown into a dutiful daughter. Through their eyes, I have at last become the ideal soldier and bride for our family.
So why will they be weeping uncontrollably when they stand over my icy, lifeless body?
When I realized my life was coming to an end, a strange sense of calmness washed over me.
Matteo Visconti, my fiancé and the syndicate's feared head enforcer, entered my room looking deeply troubled.
"Arya, Chiara has suffered from fragile health since birth," he began, his voice weighed down with heavy seriousness. "She's the most vulnerable member of our family, and she lacks the physical stamina to fight off organ failure."
He paused, his jaw tightening. "One of her kidneys is failing completely, and a transplant is her only ticket to survival."
He pulled a dark velvet folder from his coat pocket—a formal Dissolution of Blood Alliance meant to nullify our mafia betrothal.
After a prolonged, tense hesitation, he gritted his teeth and looked straight at me.
"Your tissue match offers her the absolute best chance. But if you refuse to donate your kidney, you must execute this document to terminate our vow."
He pressed forward, his eyes burning with intense conviction. "Chiara's time is swiftly running out... and her final wish is to go through a blood-marking ceremony before she departs. I discussed this with your parents, and they agreed that I should step up to fulfill it."
He reached out, trying to brush my hand. "My heart belongs to you, Arya. We're doing this solely to ensure Chiara leaves this world without lingering regret."
"When she passes away... we will reunite and rebuild. Okay?"
I stared down at the black folder resting in Matteo's grip.
Ever since Chiara's organ began to fail, every single member of the Falcone syndicate had been pressuring me to surrender my kidney for her sake.
What none of them knew was simple: I only had a single kidney left.
When I refused to sign the organ donation papers a few weeks back, my parents were thoroughly disgusted with me. They constantly scolded me for being ungrateful and cold-hearted.
"Your twin sister is dying on that bed!" my father Bobby had barked at me, his gaze blazing with resentment. "A single kidney from you could save her life! How can you stand there indifferently and watch her perish?"
My parents refused to listen to any of my explanations. Instead, they cast me out of the estate.
"A selfish creature like you has no place in this family. If you won't save Chiara, get lost!"
And now, even my own betrothed was giving me an ultimatum: either surrender my organ, or watch him seal a blood covenant with Chiara in my place.
In any case, I was dying in three short days. At this stage, what difference did it make anymore?
"I agree," I replied, my voice light and completely unbothered.
Shocked by my quick answer, Matteo snapped his head up. "For real? That's incredible! Chiara actually has a path to live now!"
Without wasting another second, he tore the dissolution papers to shreds and hurried me toward the family's private medical facility.
My parents received word instantly.
The moment they arrived at the suite, my mother, Maria, wrapped her arms tightly around Chiara, crying tears of sheer relief. "My precious girl, you have hope now! You get to stay by my side forever..."
Worried that I might pull back, my father quickly instructed the family doctor to present the surgical consent forms.
As soon as my signature dried on the document, my parents let out a long-awaited sigh of relief.
"Arya, you've finally become a mature woman," my father noted, "You're finally showing compassion for your sister. Try not to resent us for being protective of her, alright? Chiara has endured so much pain—she deserves our unconditional care."
He adjusted his ring and added, "We won't leave you empty-handed either. You'll still receive your fair portion of the family inheritance."
I swallowed the bitter taste rising in my throat and shook my head gently. "Just assign the entire share to Chiara. I won't have any use for it anyway."
Momentarily taken aback, my mother patted my arm, chiding me softly. "What foolish talk is that? Of course you'll have a use for it!"
"Even if your fiancé is the next Don of the syndicate and can provide you a lavish lifestyle, a daughter of our blood should never turn her back on her family inheritance."
Bit by bit, my consciousness drifted into a dull daze.
Ever since I failed to turn up for my father's emergency kidney operation five years ago and Chiara stepped forward to donate hers instead, my family hadn't treated me with this level of warmth.
Because she had saved my father's life back then, my parents insisted that I owed her a lifelong debt and was obligated to treat her with utmost kindness.
From that day onward, Chiara was handed the finest of everything.
She also began scheming against me through false claims, causing my parents to harbor even deeper resentment toward me. Eventually, regardless of what I did, I was always in the wrong.
In the past, I used to fight back to defend myself. Now, I simply remained silent.
My mother quickly returned to Chiara's side, with my father and Matteo following right behind her.
They huddled around her bed to check on her. Unnoticed in the dark corner, I grew paler by the second.
Just an outsider in their world.
