Chapter 1

By the time I was taken to the hospital, I was already slipping in and out of consciousness.

"Severe food poisoning. She needs her stomach pumped immediately!"

"Okay, then hurry—"

My brother Austin had just started to speak when my mother, Catherine, cut him off with a raised hand.

"No rush. Give Elena a sedative and observe her overnight."

"But Mom..." Austin sounded panicked. "The doctor said she needs her stomach pumped right away. If we don't get the toxins out and something happens to her—"

The doctor was stunned too. "Ma'am, this is an emergency. We can't delay treatment."

"I said there's no rush!" My mother's voice was cold and absolute. "Austin, have you forgotten our plan? Sarah comes home tomorrow. If we save Elena now and she wakes up, what if she tries to run?"

"But the poison—"

"No buts!" My mother's tone turned sharp, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It's already halfway done. She ate the salad. Don't you dare get soft now—your stepfather is watching, and Sarah can't wait any longer. Just get through tonight. Tomorrow, we put Elena in the OR and swap her uterus for Sarah's. After that, it's all set!"

"Our only job now is to make sure Sarah gets a healthy uterus and marries Julian without a hitch. As for Elena, I'm her mother. Of course I'll take care of her."

"Fine. I guess that's all we can do."

Hearing my mother and brother's conversation, I felt my blood freeze.

My stomach burned like it was on fire, but the cold in my heart was even worse.

This was my own mother.

She'd brought Austin and me into this wealthy family, promising she'd never let me suffer, telling me I was her one and only in this strange mansion.

I thought I was the daughter she cherished most.

Who could have imagined that, just to please my rich stepfather and his daughter Sarah, she'd poison me herself?

And Austin—the brother who used to fight anyone who so much as shoved me on the playground—now stood there watching me writhe in pain, choosing silence and obedience for the sake of their plan.

How did they become like this?

Just then, my mother walked over to my bedside.

I kept pretending to be unconscious, but I couldn't stop the tears from slipping down my cheeks.

She noticed right away, her voice suddenly soft and full of concern. "Elena? Sweetheart, why are you crying? How are you feeling?"

Austin hurried over too, gently wiping my tears with a tenderness that felt almost cruel.

"Elena, don't be scared. I'm right here. Does it hurt a lot?"

They acted so caring, the perfect mother and son.

But now that I knew the truth, their affection made me sick to my stomach.

Swallowing my pain and hatred, I forced my eyes open and focused on Austin's face. My voice was barely more than a whisper. "Austin... it hurts so much. Where's the doctor? When will they pump my stomach?"

My mother jumped in before he could answer, squeezing my hand with fake grief, her eyes even glistening with tears. "Elena, the doctor already checked you. He said it's not food poisoning—it's complications from uterine necrosis. You need surgery."

I turned my head, locking eyes with Austin, desperate to give him one last chance. "Austin, is that true? I feel like I'm dying... can't they help me now?"

His eyes flickered with guilt.

In that moment, staring at the two people who shared my blood, I felt the last bit of hope inside me die.

I had never been so disappointed.

Austin looked away, tucking the blanket around me with steady hands. "Of course, Elena. Why would we ever lie to you? Just hang in there. By tomorrow... everything will be fine."