Chapter 1 Chapter 1

My husband, Jonathan, always threatened me with divorce to force me to sacrifice myself for my sister, Adriana. My parents would also threaten me with disinheritance to make me give all the good things to Adriana. In the past, I would cry and make a scene, but when my husband threatened me for the hundredth time, demanding I test drugs for my sister, I agreed. I even treated Adriana exceptionally well. Everyone praised me for finally being mature, but they did not know I was dying soon. None of this mattered anymore. … On the day I was diagnosed with cancer, Jonathan pushed the divorce papers in front of me for the hundredth time. "Elena, your sister's condition is getting worse. She can no longer continue the drug trials. If we can't develop the medication within a month, her life will be at stake. "You and Adriana are twins with similar genes. The doctor said you could replace her in the trials. If you disagree, then we should divorce. After all, Adriana doesn't have long to live, and she wants me to help fulfill her final wish." I listened quietly, watching him speak these absurd words with complete seriousness. At the start of it all, when they saw Adriana drenched in sweat during treatments, they wanted me to take her place in the drug trials. My parents and husband had taken turns trying to persuade me. However, rather than persuasion, it was more like threats. My parents threatened that if I did not test the drugs for Adriana, I would lose my inheritance rights. And my husband proposed a divorce nearly a hundred times. At that time, I did not know I had cancer, but my body was growing weaker, so I refused. The moment I said no, everyone was extremely disappointed, calling me heartless and immature. "Your sister is dying! If you just help her test the drugs, she could live. How could you refuse?" "That's right! Adriana has been on the drug trials for half a year. You only need to complete the last few months, but you won't even do that? I'm so disappointed in you. Since you refuse to save Adriana, we'll act as if we never had a daughter like you!" Those harsh words still hurt terribly when I thought about them now, but that was all in the past. Now that I was dying, none of it mattered anymore. Whether I died at home or died on the testing table made no difference. No one cared either way. Jonathan's frown deepened, as if he wanted to continue threatening me. However, I smiled at him and said, "Alright. I agree to help Adriana test the drugs." He froze, then looked up at me with surprise and joy. "Really? That's wonderful! Adriana is finally saved!" He hurried to the balcony to call my parents and share the good news. I watched his ecstatic silhouette and smiled mockingly at myself. My gaze fell on the divorce papers on the table, and I reached out to pick them up. Then, I pulled a pen from my bag and signed my name without hesitation. When Jonathan returned, he caught sight of me placing the divorce papers back down. He froze. "What are you doing?" I smiled. "Nothing." Seeing that I was in low spirits, a flash of regret crossed Jonathan's eyes. He quickly stuffed the divorce papers back into his bag. "I was just joking with you. I won't divorce you." I hummed softly in acknowledgment, my face showing no emotion. Jonathan looked at me but said nothing more. On the way home, he began to take care of my daily needs and stopped by the store to buy me various health supplements. Yet all this concern was probably just so I could build up a healthy body in preparation for the drug trials. I carelessly tossed the supplements into the back seat and stared blankly out the window. The sunshine was brilliant, though I would not be able to see it much longer. The moment we stepped through the front door, I heard my parents' excited voices. Mom was holding Adriana and crying. "Adriana, you're saved! You're not going anywhere..." Afraid I might change my mind, Dad handed me a test subject consent form the moment I walked in. Only after they saw me sign the agreement did they smile with relief. "Elena, you've finally matured. You're finally taking your sister and this family into consideration. Don't blame us for this. Your birth was so complicated that it caused Adriana to be born with poor health. Compared to you, she needs us more. "But we won't shortchange you. The family's assets will be split equally between you and your sister. We won't give you any less." I shook my head, suppressing the bitterness in my heart. "Give it all to Adriana. I won't need those things anymore."

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Mom froze and gently patted my shoulder. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could you not need them? Sure, Jonathan is wealthy, but you can't look down on the Lane family's assets!" I stared at my anxious parents in a daze. Never in my life had they shown me such concern. Just because my birth had taken time and caused Adriana to be born weak, I owed her my entire life. During our birthdays when we were still kids, Mom and Dad would surround her in the middle, singing her a birthday song. Only after they put her to sleep would they remember to wish me a happy birthday. Other families with twins dressed them in matching clothes, but Adriana's outfits were always much more expensive than mine. I was mocked at school because of that. I often felt like an outsider, watching the three of them as a happy, complete family. Sometimes, I even wondered how wonderful it would be if I had been born second. I would have a weak body, but I would receive all the love in the world. Yet even so, Adriana still felt it was not enough. She competed with me for everything. When my boyfriend gave me an expensive perfume while he was still courting me, she wanted to take mine even though she already had a bottle. After I got married, she became even worse, going so far as to try stealing Jonathan's love. I cried and threw tantrums, but in the end, I only earned Mom and Dad's annoyance and Jonathan's neglect. Everything I did was wrong. In the past, I might have argued back, but after so many years, I was truly exhausted. Seeing my silence, Mom and Dad stopped paying attention to me and gathered around the dining table to fuss over Adriana. Her plate was piled high with delicacies that the three of them had served her. I held my knife and fork, quietly cutting the vegetables on my plate. Adriana looked at me smugly, her eyes showing no weakness, only provocation. In the following days, Mom and Dad spoiled her even more than before. She practically lived like a princess. … At a banquet, Jonathan led Adriana to the center and personally got down on his knees to feed her small cakes. The socialites glanced at them, then at me, their eyes full of mockery. I felt everyone's mocking gazes and lowered my head, swirling my wine glass without saying a word. Suddenly, I heard the sharp sound of a slap. "You bitch! How dare you spill wine on me?" Looking up, I saw Adriana grabbing a young woman by the hair and kicking her in the waist and abdomen. At the end, she even picked up a glass and hurled it at her. The woman's face was instantly covered in blood as she wailed. When I saw that woman's face, my pupils dilated in shock. It was Millie, the precious heiress of the Reed family, the wealthiest family in the capital. Adriana rarely went out these past few years, so she did not recognize prominent figures. I was about to step forward to stop her, but it was already too late. Adriana was instantly surrounded by bodyguards. When the head of the Reed family saw the blood on his granddaughter's face, he flew into a rage. He declared in front of all the socialites that cooperating with the Lane family meant becoming enemies with the Reed family. That day, Mom and Dad begged desperately, but Mr. Reed Senior remained unmoved. Instead, he threw us out directly. Back home, Adriana sat on the couch, wailing. Though Mom and Dad were angry, their hearts still ached for her. They humbly visited former business partners and were willing to cut profits in half just to secure cooperation. Finally, the Reed family relented. The condition was that Adriana had to personally apologize and accept punishment. Mom and Dad were not overjoyed when they heard this news. How could they bear to let their precious daughter be bullied like this? I glanced at them indifferently and walked toward my room. However, Jonathan blocked me at the door. "You should go accept the punishment in Adriana's place. You're twins who look almost identical. They won't notice the difference. It's just a small punishment. You won't refuse, will you?" A small punishment? My heart turned bitter. Everyone knew Mr. Reed Senior was notoriously ruthless. Anyone who offended him, even if they made it out alive, would end up with physical disabilities. Jonathan had business dealings with him. He understood this better than I did and knew exactly what I would face, but he did not care. He only wanted to protect Adriana. As for my life or death, it was unimportant. I kept my head down and said nothing, but Mom and Dad were thrilled, praising Jonathan for his cleverness. "Elena, your sister's body is too weak to withstand punishment. Your body's strong, so go in her place. But you should still try to protect yourself. After all, you'll need to participate in the drug trials soon." I looked at the four people before me wearily and forced a smile with a nod. "Alright, I understand." As I turned away, I caught sight of Adriana's smug expression in my peripheral vision and could not help wondering. After I died, there would be no one left to bear everything for her. What would become of her then? Behind me, Jonathan, Mom, and Dad surrounded Adriana with joyful laughter, as if they had finally solved a major problem. I looked at my dark, oppressive room as a tear slid down my cheek. I hastily wiped it from the corner of my eye and decided to throw away everything in the room. Since I was dying anyway, keeping these things would only be an eyesore to them. It was better to throw them all away. There was not much in the room besides daily necessities and a few picture frames. There was a family photo of all four of us and my marriage certificate with Jonathan. I stared at them for a long time, then threw them into the trash without hesitation. After cleaning up, I lay on the bed gasping for breath when suddenly, something metallic and sweet surged up my throat. I coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood that splattered across the white sheets. Just then, Jonathan pushed the door open. I instinctively grabbed a pillow to cover the red stain. "The Reed family's driver has arrived."

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

The moment I stepped into the Reed residence, a bodyguard kicked me down to my knees. Mr. Reed Senior glanced at me indifferently, as if he were looking at a pile of garbage. "Kneel outside for a day and night first." In the dead of winter, I kneeled outside wearing nothing but thin clothes. A camera was placed in front of me, and Mr. Reed Senior grabbed my chin as he warned, "You had the guts to hurt my granddaughter, so I'll let your parents see just how I'll torture their precious daughter!" I looked at the small camera and smiled bitterly. Unfortunately, he was wrong. I was not their precious daughter. They would not feel anything for me. That night passed very slowly. My vision gradually blurred, and I eventually lost consciousness. A bucket of bone-chilling water splashed me awake, and a foot stomped hard on my back. "You were so arrogant when hitting Millie! How are you so weak now?" I coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood that sprayed onto the pristine snow, blooming like a spider lily. Mr. Reed Senior snorted coldly and had a bodyguard hand him a knife. He gently slid it along my cheek. "My granddaughter has three scars on her face. You'll pay for that." I trembled in terror and closed my eyes in despair as sharp pain shot through my cheek. I screamed and struggled desperately, clutching my blood-covered face. Meanwhile, Mom, Dad, and Jonathan were in the dining room, celebrating Adriana's narrow escape. Three days later, I appeared before Jonathan with a scarred face. He froze for a moment. Clearly, he did not recognize me. Two seconds later, he looked at me with heartache, tears glimmering in his eyes. "Elena... you've been through so much... Don't worry, I'll definitely compensate you! I'll take care of you for the rest of my life!" He held me tightly in his arms, but when he caught sight of my disfigured face, he averted his gaze. Five years ago, he fell in love with me at first sight because of my face, saying I was the most beautiful woman in the world. He pursued me frantically, sending me all kinds of expensive gifts. When I told him about the unfair treatment I faced at home, he even wiped the tears from my eyes. He promised to give me a new home and let me find happiness and joy. He truly loved me then, but when did things start to change? Probably at the wedding, when he first saw Adriana's face that was identical to mine yet more fragile. Compared to me, she was more in need of protection. He fell in love with me at first sight because of my face, so naturally, he would feel the same about Adriana, who looked just like me. He might even prefer her due to the feeling of novelty. Thinking about that, I pushed Jonathan away in disgust and walked upstairs. However, soon after, I heard him on the balcony talking to my parents on the phone. "It's good that only her face was injured and no other parts. Otherwise, it'd be difficult for her to proceed with the drug trials." Every word he spoke was like a sharp sword piercing through my heart. At that moment, I suddenly felt that my impending death might be a good thing. I would no longer have to face all this misery. With red-rimmed eyes, I opened the door, only to see Adriana lying on my bed. When she saw the scars on my face, she froze for a moment, then slapped the bed and laughed so hard that she could not catch her breath. The force of her movements showed no trace of her status as a patient. I had known for a long time that she was faking her illness. I had seen her throwing pills into the gutter at school. I had told Mom and Dad about it once, but it only earned me several slaps and countless insults. "Elena, we don't look identical anymore. Now, your husband will completely give up on you." She caressed the scars on my face like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. I gripped her wrist and said softly, "It's good if he gives up. He'll belong completely to you." There were three days left before the drug trials began, and my life was about to come to an end. When the time came, the medication would react in my body. I would break out in rashes, vomit profusely, and be riddled with pain. Finally, I would have difficulty breathing and get a cardiac arrest due to the complications the drug triggered, leaving behind a cold, foul-smelling corpse. At that time, what would Mom's, Dad's, and Jonathan's reactions be? Shock? Fear? Would they feel sad for me and shed a tear? I guessed they would not. They would only feel happy about the departure of someone unwanted. Three days passed in a flash. Mom, Dad, and Jonathan personally escorted me to the pharmaceutical research center. At the center's entrance, Mom and Dad joyfully embraced Adriana as if the drug trials had already succeeded. "Hard work really pays off! Adriana, your suffering is finally about to end.""Let's go have a big feast later to celebrate in advance. We'll have all your favorite dishes." Jonathan looked at this scene tenderly and stepped forward to hold her hand. "Once you're better, how about I take you on a trip around the world?" Even though I was the one heading to the execution ground, their attention remained on Adriana. I thought I had grown used to it, but in the final moments of my life, my heart still felt like it was being cut by knives. I could not help but turn back and ask them, "Will you be sad if I die in the center?"

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Mom and Dad turned their heads, only now recalling my presence. Their faces showed some embarrassment. However, after processing my words, Mom retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about? It's just simple drug trials testing. Don't say such things!" Dad also looked at me coldly. "Are you trying to back out again? I'm telling you, the form has been signed. You'd better go in obediently. Once the medication is developed, we'll come pick you up." Jonathan also gently grabbed my hand. "It'll be quick—just one month. When you come out, I'll buy you whatever you want." I looked at Mom and Dad, then at Jonathan. Finally, I sighed as I pulled my hand away. I turned and resolutely walked into the research center, no longer holding any attachment to them. The so-called drug trials were anything but normal. The experiments were agonizing. It felt like my body was being pricked by a thousand needles every day. I clawed frantically at my skin, which quickly became covered in bloody marks and scars. During this time, my family and Jonathan never came to see me even once. They might be eating luxurious meals or watching sunsets by the riverside. I did not know. I only knew that my heartbeat was getting weaker and weaker. On the eighteenth day, it became a flat line. When Dr. Stone came into my room, he thought I was just sleeping and poked my arm impatiently. "Get up. Time for the next phase of research." Yet, all that answered him was prolonged silence. He could not help but frown. When he saw the heart monitor beside him, his face turned pale with shock. After a long moment, he shakily picked up his phone and called my parents. "M-Mrs. Lane, something's happened... Ms. Lane... She's dead!" The other end of the phone fell silent for a moment, then Mom laughed mockingly. She sounded completely unconcerned. "Dr. Stone, today isn't April Fool's Day. Stop joking around." Dr. Stone looked at the corpse on the operating table with a bluish face and rigid body, feeling both panicked and annoyed. "I'm not joking around! She has stopped breathing completely!" On the other end of the line, Jonathan snatched Mom's phone and spoke in a calm voice. "Doctor, Elena might just be putting on an act to avoid the drug trials. Don't let her fool you.""Are you people insane? She's really dead!" Before Dr. Stone could finish, Jonathan interrupted impatiently, "We're busy here. When Elena wakes up, please tell her to stop playing games. We'll come see her in 12 more days." After saying that, he hastily ended the call. Dr. Stone stared at the phone in disbelief. Unwilling to give up, he tried calling several more times but could never get through again. He cursed under his breath, then threw my corpse into a makeshift morgue. No one knew that this so-called medical research center was nothing more than something Adriana had created to maintain her weak persona. It was all for her to retain Mom and Dad's love and to obtain Jonathan as her plaything. My soul floated to the side, and I watched my own body get thrown like garbage. Before long, ants and rats followed the scent and crawled onto my body, gnawing at my flesh and sucking my blood. Though I was dead, I still seemed to feel the pain. Unloved in life, ignored in death. My existence seemed to have no meaning whatsoever. My soul was tethered to my physical body, unable to move away for reasons unknown. Days passed, and the narrow morgue gradually filled with a terrible stench. Finally, familiar voices came from outside the door. "Doctor, were the drug trials successful?"