Chapter 1: Their Love was a Lie

To salvage my younger sister Seraphina Bennett's life, my parents coerced me into a heart swap. After the surgery, their masks crumbled - they hurled insults at me daily.

"Now you finally understand the agony Seraphina endured, don't you? This is what you owe her!"

The younger sister who once shared an unbreakable bond with me also shifted entirely.

"Without your heart pumping in my chest, you'd be nothing more than a stranger."

They refused to spend another dime on my treatment, eager to sever ties, fearing I'd become a burden. Then the system's warning sliced through my numbness.

"Exceed the spatial threshold, and the swapped hearts will fail."

I watched them drive away in silence, making no attempt to intervene.

Three years had elapsed since the heart transplant. The monthly hospital appointment loomed again, but this time, my parents hadn't transferred the funds as usual. In the past, they'd always sent the money the day before my visit.

Perplexed, I decided to go downstairs.

As I reached the stairwell, their voices drifted up from below. It was my parents conversing.

"It's time to send her money again today."

Her? Were they referring to me? I held my breath and listened intently.

Father was absorbed in the newspaper, not even glancing up.

Mother leaned forward, voice barely above a whisper, "What if... we terminate her treatment? This illness is a bottomless abyss - each monthly visit hemorrhages tens of thousands. We aren't made of money - how long can we bleed like this?"

Father folded the newspaper crisply, his gaze unflinching. "You're right. Seraphina is about to get married. We can't drain our savings on her. Her condition is incurable, and she won't live long. Better to allocate all funds to Seraphina."

At the mention of Seraphina, Father's steely expression melted into affection.

Mother sighed in relief, complaining, "Ultimately, it's her fault. If she hadn't suppressed Seraphina in the womb, Seraphina wouldn't have been born with a heart defect. This is merely correcting the imbalance. We haven't mistreated her these past years."

Father waved a hand dismissively, as casually as one might discard a broken appliance. "We've been generous to her since she gave her heart to Seraphina. But Seraphina's wedding is approaching - we can't let her suffer."

"Agreed. Her illness is hopeless. Going to the hospital only brings pain, so it's better not to seek treatment."

I crumpled to the floor, fingers pressed against my mouth in stunned silence. Had all those years of parental warmth been nothing but a carefully constructed facade?

Seraphina and I were twins, yet she'd entered the world with a congenital heart defect. From the start, our parents' affections had tilted heavily toward her.

Three years ago, when Seraphina's condition spiraled into critical territory, my parents held my hands, their voices trembling with desperation. They pleaded for me to donate my heart, painting a vision where my sacrifice would finally earn their equal love.

While I hesitated, a system appeared, claiming it could cure Seraphina.

All I needed to do was sign a contract: Seraphina would receive my healthy heart, and I'd recover after five years of treatment. It felt like trading five years of pain for Seraphina's lifelong happiness.

Thinking of Seraphina's longing for a healthy body, I gritted my teeth and agreed. On the operating table, I signed the contract and gave my heart to her.

My parents thought the surgery was a success and wept with joy. For three years, they granted my every wish, prioritizing me above all.

I basked in the warmth of my family, oblivious that their love was a lie.

I couldn't hear their subsequent words. Numb, I stumbled back to my room.

In hindsight, the signs had been there - the impatience in their eyes, always evident if I'd cared to notice.

That day was my birthday, but they'd forgotten entirely! For years, they had forgotten every one of my birthdays, always claiming to be working overtime. But why did they always "work overtime" on my birthday? It was all just excuses!

Undeterred, I probed again at dinner.

"Dad, I need to go to the hospital today."

Their forks froze mid-air, and they exchanged a glance.

Father said, "Raina Bennett... After three years of covering your treatment, our savings are depleted. Perhaps... we should quit?"

I gripped my fork tightly, head bowed. When Seraphina was ill, they'd spent millions annually on her care. But for me, all I got was a casual suggestion to quit?

Mother sighed, feigning concern,

---

Chapter 2: Guess the Price?

"Raina, you spend tens of thousands at the hospital every month. That adds up to hundreds of thousands a year. You should think about Seraphina too - she still has her life to live."

"And besides, your illness is incurable. You're just squandering money. You can't be so selfish as to drag the whole family down."

Every word dripped with the implication that I was a burden. But the system had told me that with just two more years of treatment, I could reclaim my health. I wanted to live, to stay by Seraphina's side.

Summoning my courage, I fought for myself. "Dad, I need two more years of treatment. If it still..."

If it still didn't work, they could abandon me.

Dad cut me off, slamming his tableware on the table. "Why are you so inconsiderate? Do you want to drive us into bankruptcy? How could I have such a selfish daughter!"

Mom set down her cup, her tone icy. "Where did I go wrong raising such an ungrateful child? We've spent a fortune on you for three years - isn't that enough? You can't be too greedy - be careful you end up with nothing in the end."

They stormed off, leaving me alone in the empty dining room. My heart felt as chaotic as the untouched dinner table.

The next day, I skipped the hospital but refused to give up. I had to find a way to fund my treatment.

It was also Seraphina's birthday. She was born a day after me. For years, my parents had "been too busy" to celebrate mine, so Seraphina had stopped celebrating hers to keep things "fair."

But that day, she was having a birthday dinner at a restaurant.

Recalling how Seraphina had always prioritized my feelings, I softened.

I'd crafted a surprise for her, all the while harboring a silent hope that she might plead my case with our parents - praying they'd allow me two more years of treatment.

Carrying the custom cake I'd made, I approached the restaurant. Before pushing the door, I heard her voice through the crack.

"You mean my sister? Hahaha, she's beyond naive. If not for her heart, why would I acknowledge her? Does she even deserve the title?"

That sickly sweet voice belonged to Seraphina.

A male voice asked, "You never celebrate your birthday. Why now?"

"Who says I don't?" She smirked, twirling a strand of hair. "Mom believes it brings ill fortune to celebrate with that fool, so we've never observed her birthday. I spared her the humiliation, of course - always marked my own birthday with our parents a day early."

She chuckled, "Poor thing's convinced they're working overtime each year... in truth, they've been out shopping for my presents."

Light spilled from the doorway, blinding me.

"So word on the street is your folks got you a pricey present - how about letting us have a gander?!" someone shouted.

---

Chapter 3: Why Did She Need to Humiliate Me

I'd foolishly convinced myself that my sacrifices had finally earned their love. It turned out that their affection for Seraphina had merely been hidden from me.

My palm clenched the doorknob, heart thudding so wildly it seemed to claw at my throat. A sharp ache twisted in my chest, stealing my breath - only by swallowing down the agony could I gasp for air.

"If I hadn't tricked that fool into giving me her heart, why would I call her 'sister'? She's a walking curse! Anyone near her gets dragged down! A total bad omen!"

I burst through the door, unable to bear it. Silence fell instantly as all eyes snapped to me in shock.

"Raina, you're still unwell, but you brought me cake - how sweet." Seraphina took the box, shooting a loaded glance at the others before calling for someone to cut it.

I grabbed her hand, chest pain triggering a violent cough. Disgust flashed across her face as she subtly wrenched free.

Gasping, I met her eyes, desperate. "Seraphina, I heard everything."

Her frown wiped the smile from her face.

She shook off my hand in revulsion. "You heard? Good. I'm done pretending after all these years."

"W-what do you mean?" I needed to know if any of the love I'd felt was real.

For years, while our parents ignored me, Seraphina had been the only one to call me 'sister' and share her things. During the days when my parents treated me poorly, shunning me like the plague and regarding me as a servant rather than a daughter, only Seraphina would sneak me snacks.

It was the love Seraphina gave me that made me relent, ultimately deciding to donate my heart to her.

"What do I mean? Whose heart could match mine better than yours? Why should I be the sick one? If not for your curse, would I have been born broken? You owe me this."

Before I could reel from her words, the door opened again. Chase Morrison, my fiancé, entered with flowers and a gift box, beaming.

"Happy birthday, Seraphina... Raina, what are you doing here?"

The tenderness he'd once shown me was gone; he curled his lip and stepped to Seraphina's side.

---

Chapter 4: This Time, I Didn't Follow

"I'll foot the bill tonight - after all, it's Seraphina's birthday. We must make this day unforgettable for her."

Their raucous cheers swallowed my existence entirely.

I stood rooted to the spot, watching as Chase and Seraphina were swept up in a tide of adoring friends, departing like triumphant emperors leaving a conquered land.

To cling to life, I had no choice but to sell the bags and jewelry my parents had given me over the past three years, scraping together money for my treatment.

If I could endure two more years of this, my health would be restored.

By the time I staggered back from the hospital, the sky had long since surrendered to an inky blackness, the city's lights mocking my solitude.

A huge truck was parked out front, with my parents supervising workers as they loaded our belongings onto it. Seraphina came out with her suitcase, hanging onto my mother's arm.

"Mom, are we really leaving Raina behind? Won't she be devastated?"

My mother smiled and tapped her forehead. "You're too kind. Raina hurt you, and you're still worried about her? Silly girl."

My father wouldn't even say my name. "She owed you this from the start. The heart transplant three years ago put things right. We've done more than enough for her - she spends hundreds of thousands every year on hospital bills. Even with our finances, we can't keep that up."

"Plus, the doctors say there's no hope. We tried to convince her, but she insists on treatment. She can't earn a dime, yet demands money as if we're minting it. Where's the fairness in that?"

"These past three years, to make up for it, your mother and I forced ourselves to be around her, even eat meals with her. It's hurt our company's profits! If this goes on, we'll be broke."

My mother sighed. "The fortune-teller said Raina would bring bad luck. I didn't believe it before, but you were born sick while she was healthy. Our profits have been dropping - now I have to believe it."

"She's my daughter, but your father has employees to take care of. We can't let them suffer too."

Seraphina sniffed, her pout hardening into a sneer. "And let's not forget her little flirtation with Chase! At my last birthday, the way she ogled him... repulsive. That's why I need distance. Chase and I are kindred spirits - our bond is timeless."

"I'm scared - scared she'll steal him... Even though I've always been nice to her."

My mother got angry. "She's that shameless? Trying to steal her sister's boyfriend? Good thing you noticed, Seraphina. We need to move far away so she can't mooch off us anymore."

My father waved his hand, checking the things being loaded.

"I told you she's ungrateful. Don't worry. Didn't Seraphina say she loves the ocean? We'll move to the coast. She'll never find us there."

"Let her take care of herself. The money we spent on her was just payment for the transplant."

Seraphina's eyes gave a playful roll as she cooed softly. "Dad, let's sell this house. She can't pay the utilities anyway - we're doing her a favor."

My mother praised her. "Seraphina, you're so smart. Okay, I'll call a real estate agent right away."

I hid behind a tree, my fists tight, watching coldly as they enjoyed their happiness.

Seraphina had tricked me, using my love to take my healthy heart. The most ridiculous part? My own parents and fiancé had helped her lie to me...

"From now on, Seraphina is our only daughter. James Bennett, see to Raina's relocation personally. Make sure it's discreet - we can't afford her ill fortune trailing us like a shadow."

"Don't worry."

I watched them talk and laugh as they emptied the house, not even bothering to call me. Then they got into the truck and drove away calmly.

This time, I didn't follow.

My things were thrown carelessly into the trash.

Every year on Seraphina's birthday, I would craft her exquisite dolls stuffed with aromatic herbs, hoping the scents would soothe her. Those dolls now lay forgotten upon the ground, much like the rest of my forsaken belongings, their fabric forms marred by faceless boot prints that pressed indents into their soft bodies.

I watched as the truck dwindled into the distance, its silhouette shrinking until it was a mere speck.

A weary smile of relief tugged at my lips. Just then, the system's voice echoed, "Host, if the swapped hearts are too far apart, transplant will fail."

Closing my eyes, I recalled every moment I'd trailed after Seraphina, each step shadowed by the weight of her cold dismissal. This time, my feet stayed planted.

---

Chapter 6: Karma at Its Finest

I chuckled softly. "Weren't you the ones who vanished without a word? How could I know your new address when you were clearly dodging me? If I truly had the power to control you, I'd have clung to your side like a leech."

My mother spluttered. "You... you can't stand seeing Seraphina thrive! The heart you gave her was faulty! Why didn't you say? It's only been three years, and she's sick again! You did this on purpose - she's always been good to you, yet you gave her a damaged heart!"

"You must have coveted her heart all along, which is why you agreed so easily! Raina, you're vicious! Come to the hospital now and give Seraphina her heart back!"

I'd endured such accusations my entire life, and weariness settled in. "Don't forget who used filial piety to pressure me, threatening to disown me if I refused. Who promised to make up for years of lost love if I swapped hearts?"

"You treat me like dirt compared to Seraphina, yet demand I give her everything unconditionally. Where's the fairness in that?"

My mother stammered, "How do we know your heart suddenly failed? Maybe you knew it was defective from the start!"

I laughed coldly. "You forced me into this swap, and now you want to reverse it? Am I a stray dog you can summon at will?"

Noise erupted on the line, followed by Chase's seething voice. "Raina, if you return Seraphina's heart, I'll overlook your schemes."

I raised an eyebrow, amused. "What proof do you have? Planning to detain me illegally? Do you think you're above the law? You really think yourself as a domineering CEO?"

Chase took a breath, attempting to reason. "Seraphina has always looked up to you. You know damn well she's always been good to you. Now that her heart is deteriorating, can't you feel even a shred of guilt gnawing at you? If there's an iota of conscience left in that cold chest of yours, for God's sake, come back. Consider it my plea."

Good to me? She'd only given me hand-me-downs to soften me up for the transplant! For that meager "kindness," I'd sacrificed my health - wasn't that enough?

Did they truly believe modern medicine allowed heart swaps? If not for the system's contract, Seraphina would have died on that operating table. Besides, I'd already reclaimed my heart!

I hung up and blocked their numbers, done with their hypocrisy.

A week later, Seraphina woke but remained bedridden. Chase's parents publicly canceled the engagement and found him a new fiancée. My parents kept the debacle under wraps.

As Chase had told the media, the Morrison family would never accept a sickly daughter-in-law.

Karma at its finest.

The day I left the country, my parents intercepted me at the airport. My father shoved me to the ground, shouting, "How can you be so heartless? Seraphina is your own sister - she's dying, and you still haven't gone back to see her? Have you forgotten all the kindness she showed you when you were kids? How could I have given birth to a daughter as ungrateful as you!"

My mother glanced at the gathering crowd, pretending to kneel, "Raina, please go back to see her. She keeps talking about you. You're blood sisters! How can you be so heartless?"

"Sisters? What sister steals her sibling's fiancé?"

My mother paused, then pleaded, "Chase never loved you. He's always loved Seraphina. As her sister, shouldn't you help them? She's truly dying - the doctor says her heart can't hold on. Come see her one last time."

My father snorted and reached to drag me. "Enough talk. Seraphina has always treated you as family. You're coming with us, whether you like it or not."

---

Chapter 7: Why Should I Sacrifice Everything

Why should I sacrifice everything for Seraphina without question? Weren't three years of giving her my heart enough to repay her so-called kindness?

If she hadn't insisted on moving away, would the contract have ever been terminated?

Three years ago, when she learned I'd agreed to the transplant, Seraphina was so overjoyed she nearly wept.

She hugged me, choking out, "Raina, I'll take care of you from now on."

Perhaps there was a shred of sincerity then, but three years later, she clung to my fiancé and sneered, "Without your heart, who would call a curse like you 'sister'?"

Yes, she'd always looked down on me, every act of closeness an ulterior motive. I'd been too desperate for their love.

My father roughly yanked me up, ready to drag me away, when a man looped an arm around my waist, seizing my father's wrist until he released me.

"Raina, colluding with outsiders to bully your family?" my father raged.

I met the man's deep, tender gaze and smiled softly. "He's my fiancé, Harold Lowell. To me, you two are the outsiders."

Harold was my high school classmate. Back then, he fell ill and had to take medication for years, which made him gain weight and become a target of ridicule for many. I was his only friend.

We'd lost touch after graduation until he found me a month ago—strong and fit, he'd explained he'd sought treatment abroad and had long liked me, too insecure to confess before. I'd agreed to give us a chance.

He'd cared for me endlessly, showing me what true love felt like.

Harold raised an eyebrow, unflinching. "You've tormented Raina for 21 years - planning to do it for life? Selfish people like you dare call yourselves parents? Pathetic! Raina is kind, but I'm not - lay a hand on her again, and I won't hold back."

"You disowned her, and now you are still trying to force her? Shameless!"

His words left my parents red-faced and trembling.

I laced my fingers through Harold's, finding comfort in his support. He shot them a disdainful look, pressing my ticket into my hand. "I told you to just stay put and wait for me to finish checking in the luggage before taking you to the restroom. Now look - you got tangled up with bad guys."

"Out there, don't trust anyone - those in human form might be monsters."

His words stung, making my parents fume. I'd never seen Mom and Dad this enraged before, and the gloom in my heart lifted considerably.

With a smile, I gently smoothed him, "Alright, I was wrong. I'll listen next time."

He tilted his cheek and bent slightly forward. I understood his hint, blushed, stood on tiptoe, and brushed my lips against his face.

Satisfied, he led me toward security.

"Raina, you're a curse! You ruined your sister without remorse - how can you exist?" my mother shrieked, expecting me to collapse so she could drag me to the hospital.

But I only turned, arched a brow, and half-smiled. The day they'd abandoned me, I'd decided their words would never hurt me again.

Suddenly, my mom seemed to recall something, quickened her pace to my side, and clutched my sleeve tightly. "Your body... it's healed? How? Doctors said Seraphina's heart was irreparable - we took her to the best hospitals, even abroad, and she could only be coddled. How are you fine?"

Harold swatted her hand away, stepping protectively in front of me. "Touch her again, and I won't spare you."

---

Chapter 8: Stepped into a Bona Fide New Life

Father's eyes lit up as if he'd found a ray of hope. "Raina, how did you recover? Tell us - Seraphina is your sister. You can't want to see her suffer, can you?"

Loss hurt more deeply after tasting possession. The Bennett family and Morrison family could have formed a powerful alliance, but with Seraphina's sudden collapse and the engagement canceled, how could Father not panic? If she recovered, winning back Chase would be easy.

"Speak up! If not, I'll force you back. After all, you have Seraphina's heart - we can always swap it again." A menacing glint flashed in his eyes. "Seraphina must live. Your worthless life means nothing compared to hers."

Before I could react, Harold's palm struck Father's cheek!

"If you can't speak civilly, I'll break your jaw! Raina isn't the defenseless girl you bullied - she has me now. Try another word and see what happens!"

He stood like a raging bull, and I struggled to hold him back. "Out of respect for being her father, I showed restraint, but you push your luck! Insulting her in front of me - do you have a death wish?"

"Enough, Harold." I touched his arm.

He looked at me, concerned. "If he talks to you like this now, what did he do in private? It's my fault for not protecting you sooner."

I was moved, ruffling his hair. "It's okay - just stay with me."

He mumbled an "mm," looking more like the victim than the attacker.

Suddenly, Mother dropped to her knees. "Raina, please tell us how to heal her. I've loved Seraphina for 20 years - I can't lose her. Please, I'm begging you!"

Hiding behind Harold, I watched her and felt a twinge of envy - Seraphina had a mother who loved her unconditionally. But why should I help?

"If hospitals can't help, try witchcraft." I curled the corner of my lip.

After all, they did believe in witchcraft, didn't they? Weren't they the ones who ignored me for years over some empty talk about the curse one?

I was also carried in my mother's womb for ten months. How could they not spare even a shred of love for me?

Father and Mother exchanged glances. Desperation made them believe me, and they left the airport.

Afterward, they hired several witches and wizards, turning the Bennett family into an online laughingstock. But they hadn't abandoned their efforts. Father had been desperately pinning his hopes on Chase's full recovery, fantasizing she might reclaim his affection.

With Chase's wedding looming on the horizon, Father couldn't bear to let go of this towering patron.

However, those witches and wizards were frauds. How could they treat Seraphina?

One - the same who'd called me a curse - now claimed Seraphina was the curse, saying her disability was retribution.

Father was stunned. The daughter he'd doted on was the family curse?

For the sake of his ambition, he cast her aside as carelessly as a used tool - severing her medical lifeline without a second thought.

Alone in the hospital, Seraphina died. What heartless parents!

Hearing this, I shivered.

To them, children were mere tools for advancement.

A year later, Father called. "Raina, save me! The company's collapsing - save your father!"

Father was incompetent at running the business and relied on witchcraft, so the company was teetering on the brink of collapse.

Once he had doted on Seraphina like the apple of his eye, but now he was hurling curses at her in my presence.

"It's all her fault - she was a curse, even in death! I was wrong. A witch said your fate brings prosperity. Forgive me, Raina. Come back - the company will be yours. Saving me saves yourself."

I hung up, uninterested.

On my wedding day to Harold, the Bennett family declared bankruptcy. The ordeal drove Father to the brink of madness, and Mother, unable to weather the storm, fled without a trace.

As for me, I took Harold as my own and stepped into a bona fide new life, bound to him by more than just circumstance.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Can't wait to know what's next? Tap to continue!

The story unfolds with you as the main character — play now!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The mag-lev train screamed past, wind tearing at my coat as I crouched on the edge of the carriage, the city lights a thousand feet below. Cold metal bit into my back. They were closing in—I could hear their boots on the roof.

In my hand, the stolen data-slate pulsed with encrypted files. One contained the coordinates of the man who stole my True Dragon Bone. The other held proof that Juliette Jenson's accident wasn't random—it was murder.

Ahead, the maintenance hatch offered a perilous climb down. Behind, the passenger car door led back inside—straight into the guns of corporate enforcers.

My phone buzzed. A single message: They have Rachel.

I had two seconds to decide: save the girl who once looked at me like I mattered, or vanish into the night with the truth.

---

The floorboards creaked beneath me as I pressed my ear to the stairwell wall, breath trapped in my lungs. Downstairs, my parents spoke in hushed tones about cutting off my treatment.

"She's not worth bleeding for," Father said, folding his newspaper like he was sealing my fate.

I slid down the wall, fingers digging into my chest where the ache had become a constant companion. Three years of monthly hospital visits, all funded without question—until today. Until they decided I was expendable.

My phone buzzed—another system alert: 'Spatial threshold exceeded. Transplanted hearts will fail.'

I stared at the message, then at the suitcase packed under my bed. They wanted to erase me? Fine. But if we drifted too far apart, Seraphina would die with me.

Now I had a choice: vanish and let karma take its course—or return and become their prisoner again.