The Sister They Never Loved

My fiancé Daniel always uses our engagement as a threat, forcing me to sacrifice everything for my adopted sister Ivy.

My parents would threaten to revoke my ballet academy acceptance, forcing me to give my spot to Ivy.

Before, I would cry, throw tantrums, fight back.

But when my fiancé threatened to cancel our engagement for the hundredth time, demanding I donate my kidney to Ivy, I agreed.

Everyone said I'd finally grown up, finally matured.

What they don't know is—I'm dying.

...

When Daniel proposed breaking off our engagement for the hundredth time, I was staring at the cancer diagnosis in my hands.

"Evelyn, Ivy's kidney failure is getting worse. The doctors say she needs an immediate transplant or her life is at risk."

"The doctors say you're a perfect match. If you agree to donate, we'll schedule the surgery. If you don't—"

"—then we're done. After all, Ivy doesn't have much time left. I want to marry her—give her legal recognition."

I listened quietly.

I'd heard this threat too many times. Ever since Ivy was diagnosed with kidney failure, my parents and Daniel had been taking turns 'persuading' me.

My parents threatened me with my ballet academy acceptance—the dream school I'd worked ten years to get into.

Daniel was even more ruthless. This was the ninety-ninth time he'd threatened our engagement.

Every time because of Ivy: when she needed blood and I hesitated, when she wanted my engagement ring and I refused, when she got drunk at a gala and wanted Daniel to take her home and I stayed silent...

"Ivy's dying! If you donate one kidney, she'll live. How can you refuse?"

The moment I refused, everyone looked at me with utter disappointment, calling me selfish, cold-blooded, immature.

Mother had said: "You're the older sister, you should take care of your younger sister. If you don't save Ivy, forget about ballet! We promised to take good care of her when we adopted her. You can't be this selfish!"

Father added: "Exactly! Ivy has envied everything you have since childhood. She was born with a weak body, can't compare to you in anything. Now you won't even do this small thing? I'm so disappointed in you. If you refuse to save Ivy, we'll pretend we never had a daughter like you!"

But it doesn't matter anymore.

I'm dying anyway.

I looked down at the diagnosis report.

Does it make a difference whether I die at home or on the operating table?

Nobody cares about me anyway.

Daniel frowned, looking like he was about to apply more pressure.

I cut him off: "Fine, I'll donate."

He froze, then looked up at me, his face full of surprise and joy. "Really? That's wonderful! Ivy's finally saved!"

He practically jumped up, sending a voice message to my parents. "She agreed! Yes, sign the papers, schedule the surgery immediately!"

I watched his excited expression and smiled mockingly at myself.

I looked down at the engagement ring on my finger—the one Daniel had personally chosen for me three years ago. He said this ring represented our "forever."

I remembered the day he proposed, kneeling on one knee, tears in his eyes: "Evelyn, I'll give you a home, a home that belongs only to us."

I really believed him then.

I gently twisted the ring, then took it off without hesitation.

When Daniel came back, he witnessed me removing my ring.

He froze. "What are you doing?"

Suspicion flashed in Daniel's eyes.

He grabbed my hand, trying to put the ring back on my finger. "I'm just joking with you. I won't break off our engagement."

I gently pulled my hand back, my face expressionless.

The ring remained in his palm.

My phone rang. It was my father.

"Evelyn! Come home. We need to discuss the surgery arrangements."

"Okay." I hung up after saying that.

On the way home, Daniel drove.

At a red light, he reached over and held my hand.

"You don't look well. Rest when we get home. I've already had the doctor arrange pre-surgery checks. We need to make sure your body can handle the surgery."

He sounded concerned, but I knew he was just making sure the kidney could be successfully transplanted to Ivy.

After all, if something went wrong with my body, Ivy wouldn't get what she wanted.

As soon as I walked through the door, I heard my mother's excited crying. Mom held Ivy, crying: "Ivy, you're saved! You'll be fine..."

Ivy leaned against my mother, triumph gleaming in her eyes. "Thank you, sister."

I didn't speak, just nodded.

My father, afraid I'd change my mind, immediately pulled out his phone. "Evelyn, I'm calling the hospital right now to set the surgery date. You won't change your mind again, will you?"

Seeing I didn't object, he immediately began making arrangements.

"I knew you'd make the right choice." After hanging up, my father pulled me to sit down, looking relieved. "You've finally grown up, finally understand what it means to be an older sister."

He paused, "Don't blame us for favoring Ivy. She's our adopted child, has been physically weak since childhood, can't compare to you in anything. You have a healthy body, ballet talent, Daniel's love. She has nothing, can only watch you have everything. Compared to you, she needs our care more."

All my life, whenever they wanted me to give in to Ivy, this was their script.

"But we won't shortchange you either." My father continued, "Your ballet academy spot is still yours, the wedding will proceed as planned. We won't deny you anything we promised."

I shook my head, trying to suppress the bitterness in my heart.

"Give the ballet academy spot to Ivy. I won't need it anymore."