Chapter 4

Due to the exorbitant costs of Dad's treatment, our family's savings had long been depleted, forcing Mom to sell our house.

To save money, they even relegated Dad to just a bed in a shared room, while Mom huddled alone in the hospital hallway to sleep.

Though we were never wealthy before, they had never shortchanged Meadow, especially after I passed away - all the best was reserved for the little girl.

When had she ever seen the family in such dire straits?

Young and impulsive, Meadow disregarded her parents' objections and rushed out to confront Krista, only to be abducted right outside the door.

Her captor was none other than the very person she sought - Krista herself.

Out of years of habit, Meadow started to call out "Sister," but was immediately slapped across the face by the woman before her:

"Don't claim false relations! Your whole family is equally shameless!"

"...Krista! We've never done anything to wrong you, why are you so bent on destroying us?! How can you face my brother after this?!"

"Your brother?"

Krista reacted as if she'd just heard some hilarious joke, her laughter growing increasingly shrill and unrestrained:

"You don't know, do you? Everything that's happened is because of him."Edgar, if he had appeared earlier and agreed to donate his heart to Alec, why would I have had to take such drastic measures?"

Meadow was stunned by these words, the grief in her eyes instantly becoming palpable:

"But, but my brother has been dead for a long time... How can a dead person appear!"

The air in the room suddenly froze, plunging into an eerie silence.

Krista's brow furrowed, but she quickly convinced herself, stepping forward to deliver two more slaps:

"Is pathological lying a family tradition for you? You'll say anything to help Edgar hide from me, won't you!"

She glared fiercely at Meadow, her gaze oscillating strangely between resentment and softness.

But in the end, it settled on the former.

"You and your brother look so much alike, both equally... disgusting, it's irritating to even look at you."

The abandoned lab in the hospital, though long unused, was still fully equipped.

Krista, expressionless, brought over a bottle of clear liquid and tossed her phone to Meadow:

"Call your brother, tell him to show up within half an hour. Otherwise... you can kiss that face of yours goodbye!"

"I've told you, my brother is dead!"Show me what you believe!"

"How can you still lie to me after all this?!"

Meadow's resistance made Krista even more agitated. Her eyes bulging with rage, she no longer gave Meadow any time to recover, directly splashing a large bottle of liquid onto her.

I roared as I tried to shield Meadow, but it was futile.

Outside the door, my mother wept and pounded, her pleas blending with Meadow's cries.

I thought, for me, this must be the most heartbreaking purgatory on Earth.

Krista's anger had not subsided. She glared at Meadow with hatred, refusing to send her for treatment even as she wailed in agony.

I couldn't understand. She could hate me and take revenge on me all she wanted, but why did she have to harm my family!

My heart ached in waves through my empty soul. Just as I was losing all hope, the door opened.

The doctor who had previously examined my father rushed in with a stack of documents, panting as he hurriedly began to speak:

"You want to find that person, but he passed away from cancer long ago! Moreover, he only had one heart, and he donated it to you six years ago!"