Chapter1
In my previous life, I stopped my brother from donating his kidney to save his high school sweetheart.
Lily didn’t get a transplant in time. She died not long after.
Caleb kept his kidney. He passed the rookie draft combine, signed a max-contract with a top-tier franchise, and became the darling of the basketball world.
But he hated me for the rest of his life.
My parents called me cold-blooded. They said I murdered Lily and destroyed Caleb's one true love.
Later, when Caleb hit a career slump and needed an outlet for his rage, my parents held me down. Arthur swung a baseball bat and shattered my right hand—the exact hand I used to sign contracts as his sports agent.
They ruined my career, drained my bank accounts, and left me to die of a high fever in a rundown apartment.
Now, I open my eyes.
I am back. Caleb is about to sign the living donor consent form.
He glares at me, his eyes bloodshot. "Serena, don't you dare try and stop me this time, you greedy, heartless machine."
I look at his furious face, then at Lily, who is weeping weakly on the hospital bed.
This time, I will not beg.
I pull out my phone, hit the record button, and ask calmly:
"Do you fully understand all the medical risks? And do you swear that no matter what happens, you will never blame me?"
The living donor consent form lay flat on the cold table.
Caleb gripped the pen, his knuckles turning white.
In my past life, I barged in just like this. I snatched the pen from his hand and screamed until my voice gave out. The surgery was canceled, and Lily died. After that, every time he hoisted an MVP trophy, he’d turn around and stab me with the same words: If it weren't for you, Lily would be here to see this.
In this life, I won't stop him.
As I walk into the room, my mother, Diane, immediately steps in front of Caleb to block me.
"Serena Hayes, if you make a scene today, I will never forgive you."
My father, Arthur, glares at me. "Your brother is saving the love of his life. Take your selfishness straight to hell."
I almost laugh. In my past life, when I stopped him, I saw the hidden relief in their eyes. But after Lily died, they needed a scapegoat.
Caleb looks at me with pure disgust. "Serena, I know you hate Lily, but she's fading fast."
Lily looks up weakly from the bed. "Serena, please don't blame him... It's all my fault..."
Caleb instantly grabs her hand, his heart breaking for her.
They are all waiting for me to break down. To cry, to kneel, to beg, and ultimately take the fall for them just like before.
Instead, I just open the Voice Memos app on my phone and set it on the table.
Arthur frowns. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Leaving a record," I say, crossing my arms. "Just so no one can say later that I forced Caleb to donate. Or that I killed him by not stopping him."
Diane's face twists. "Are you treating your own family like criminals?"
In my past life, when I was delirious with a 104-degree fever, grabbing their legs and begging them to take me to the hospital, why didn't they mention family then?
Dr. Evans interjects awkwardly, "Miss Hayes, the hospital keeps official records..."
"I just want everyone to be held accountable for their choices."
Caleb sneers. "You're chillingly cold."
I nod. "Before you sign, let's confirm a few things."
I pick up the medical evaluation report.
"Number one. A single-kidney individual must strictly avoid high-intensity physical contact sports. Are you clear on that?"
Caleb grits his teeth. "Clear."
"Number two. The major league draft combine is next month." I look him dead in the eyes. "Insurance companies will not underwrite a multi-million-dollar contract for a player with one kidney. The club will drop you on the spot. Are you clear?"
Dead silence fills the room.
Suddenly, Arthur lunges. He snatches my brand-new laptop from my tote bag and slams it violently against the hard floor.
The screen shatters with a sickening crunch.
"You vicious bitch!" he roars. "Caleb is a once-in-a-century prodigy! He can dominate the court with a kidney missing! You’re just terrified of losing your twenty-percent commission!"
Diane screams, "You just want Lily dead! You want your brother to fail so you can hoard all our love for yourself!"
I glance at my shattered laptop on the floor. I don't take a single step back.
I turn to Dr. Evans. "Did they hear the part where the club will mathematically reject a single-kidney player?"
Dr. Evans sighs heavily. "We did explain this. A normal life is fine, but an eight-figure professional sports contract... the physical demands are lethal."
Diane freezes.
A flash of sheer terror crosses her eyes.
In my past life, this was the exact moment her resolve began to crumble.
And then, she conveniently forgot all about it.
