Chapter 1 Chapter 1

The day of the cheerleading championship, I was genuinely happy. Even though I knew I didn't have much time left, winning the title I had worked toward for so many years made every ounce of effort and training worth it. As the host announced I was the champion, a sharp, sudden pain shot through my head. I doubled over, clutching my temples. I heard the audience starting to murmur. "What's going on? She was bursting with energy just moments ago during the performance." Someone raised their voice, asking with a laugh, "Hey, young lady, did the excitement drive you crazy?" I shook my head to clear the blinding pain, barely managing to hear them. As I stepped onto the podium, I glanced at the crowd. Seeing the concern in their eyes, I smiled through the pain. Everyone seemed so kind. I opened my mouth to say something, but just then, a water bottle came hurtling through the air, hitting me right on the head. Pain exploded through my head. It felt like my skull was splitting open, and blood gushed from my nose. Then I heard my brother, Nelson Locke's, furious voice. "Victoria Locke, you're a pathetic thief! You stole Felicia's championship! You pushed her before the competition—she only got second place because of you. Are you satisfied now?" I stared at him, stunned. I hadn't done any of that. I had no idea my adopted sister, Felicia Locke, had even been hurt. I opened my mouth to explain. But before I could say a word, Rowan Carden—my fiance and the sponsor of the competition—stepped forward and coldly interrupted me, "After investigating, it has been found that Victoria used illegal substances. The committee has decided to revoke her championship title." A large screen lit up behind him, displaying surveillance footage of me taking pills. But those weren't illegal substances. They were just over-the-counter painkillers. My eyes darted to Felicia. She was the only one who had touched those pills. She met my gaze with a smug glint. There it was—the unmistakable gleam of someone who believed they had won. "No! I didn't… Those weren't…" I tried to explain, my voice rising in desperation. But Felicia cut me off, tears already spilling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Victoria… You asked me to keep quiet about the pills, and I did. I didn't tell anyone—I swear. "Someone in the audience reported you. It wasn't me. Please don't be mad at me, okay?" My face flushed with worry. Her carefully chosen words basically confirmed that I had used illegal substances. At the same time, she made herself look like a poor, helpless victim who had been mistreated by her older sister. The same crowd that had just been sympathizing with me suddenly changed their tune. "Oh my god. I can't believe someone that pretty is actually so cruel." "I thought she was sick when her nose started bleeding, but now I realize it's just a side effect of those illegal substances." "Poor Felicia. She's dealing with acute kidney failure, and her sister still treats her like that? She looks so heartbroken up there. God knows how much she's endured growing up with Victoria! Victoria's vicious." "I heard they're a match for a kidney transplant, but Victoria refused to donate one. She even said she'd rather let Felicia die!" "This is unbelievable. How can a sister be so cruel?" "Give the trophy to Felicia! She's the real winner!" I had no idea who started it, but suddenly the crowd turned violent. They hurled anything they could find at me and even flipped me off. Their curses echoed through the entire arena like demonic chants closing in on me. They screamed for me to get out, saying that someone who bullied her own sister and broke the rules wasn't worthy of being a cheer captain, let alone a champion. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the floor. The pain in my head intensified, making it almost impossible to stay conscious. My vision spun. From the stands, Nelson jumped down and rushed toward me. When he hoisted me up on his back, his expression was filled with utter disgust. He said, "I know you're faking it again. You think passing out is going to save you from the consequences of your actions? Every time you screw up, you pull this crap. Either you fake an injury or pretend you're sick. "I'll admit—you really sold the act this time. You even made your nose bleed. If you humiliate yourself like this again, I won't bother coming for you." He carried me backstage, dropped me carelessly onto a bench, then ran back out to apologize to Felicia. To calm the angry crowd, Rowan announced that Felicia, the second-place winner, would now be awarded first place. The crowd erupted into cheers for her. With the last ounce of strength I had left, I turned my head to look at Rowan. Tears slipped silently from the corners of my eyes. He was the one who had once promised to love me forever—the one who said he would always stand by my side and trust me. But now, he had abandoned me and chosen Felicia instead. My vision went black, and I completely passed out. When I opened my eyes again, the arena was silent and empty. I was the only one left. Deep down, I knew it would end like this. But it still stung to see that no one cared about me. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. I thought it might be Nelson. But it wasn't. It was a call from my attending physician, Zelda Rhodes. Her voice was calm and gentle as she reminded me, "Victoria, remember to take your painkillers on time. Without them, you won't even last three days. Have you told your family? Are you really planning to keep your condition a secret from them?" I replied quietly, "No… I'm not going to tell them. It's better that way. I don't want to make them sad. "Dr. Rhodes, could you help me make arrangements with the crematorium? Maybe find a burial plot as well?" I looked around at the empty locker room, my voice wavering as I tried to keep it together. I was dying, so there was no need to trouble Nelson or Rowan anymore. This way, they wouldn't think I was a burden. After I ended the call, I forced myself to my feet. My body felt like it might give out at any moment, but I steadied myself. I had already decided—I would be the kind of woman everyone approved of. So I headed to the hospital. I would apologize to Felicia and donate the only kidney I had left. If my death could mean something—if it could help Felicia recover—then maybe it would all be worth it. Maybe then, everyone would finally like me.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

When I walked into Felicia's hospital room, Nelson was feeding her. The moment he saw me, his expression shifted into a scowl. "Victoria, what are you doing here again? Haven't you done enough to hurt Feli?" Felicia's lips curled into a satisfied smile, but within a heartbeat, she replaced it with her usual innocent expression. "Nelson, don't say that about Victoria. Maybe she was just… confused for a moment. I know she didn't mean to hurt me." Nelson turned to her, his eyes full of affection and concern. "Feli, why are you still defending her? You know exactly what kind of person she is. "She's been stealing your things since we were kids—your toys, your clothes, and now your championship title. She's nothing but a thief!" Nelson's voice grew tense, rising with each word. By the end, he was pointing at me, shouting, "Look at how kind Feli is, and look at you. You're cruel, Victoria. I can't believe someone like you is my sister. I wish Feli were my real sister instead of you." I pressed my lips together and spoke calmly. "Nelson, I came here today to tell you that I've decided to donate my kidney to Felicia." He blinked in surprise, clearly not having expected that. "You… You're serious?" I nodded. "Yes. As long as it helps her get better, I'm willing to do anything." Nelson stared at me, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "Victoria, I'm glad to hear you say that. Don't worry. If you go through with the surgery, I promise I'll take care of you. You've finally grown up." I gave him a small, bitter smile but said nothing. That evening, I returned home. The moment I stepped through the front door, I was hit with the aroma of food. Rowan was in the kitchen, cooking all of Felicia's favorite dishes. When he noticed me, he paused and turned around. There was a flicker of something unreadable in his expression as he walked toward me. He said, "Victoria, you know that Feli's biggest dream has always been to wear a wedding dress and have a real wedding. "Nelson suggested I marry her first—just have a small wedding to fulfill her last wish. After she passes, you and I can get married. "Don't overthink it. Feli's kidneys are failing—she doesn't have much time left. The doctors say she won't make it past the month." I stared at him as the last bit of warmth in my chest faded, leaving it cold. "...Alright," I said quietly. Rowan was clearly caught off guard. He had brought this up multiple times, and I had always refused. He hadn't expected me to agree so quickly. "I'll call the bridal shop and have them adjust the wedding dress to Feli's measurements. I'll also have the wedding invitations reprinted with her name." Just as he pulled out his phone, Nelson walked through the door. He had overheard everything and raised a hand to stop Rowan. "Tori already agreed to donate her kidney. Feli's going to be fine. You don't have to change anything. The surgery's scheduled for tomorrow. Once she recovers, it won't delay your wedding plans." Rowan grabbed my hand in excitement. "Tori, you really agreed? This is amazing! I knew you weren't selfish. Don't worry about the surgery. I'll make arrangements for the best surgeon available. "And I'll get a personal nutritionist to make sure your recovery is fast and smooth. You'll be healthy again in no time. And when you are, you'll be the most beautiful bride anyone's ever seen." I smiled bitterly and nodded, though neither of them noticed the tears welling in my eyes. Both Nelson and Rowan let out a sigh of relief. For the first time in a long while, they looked at me with something close to approval. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, a wave of dizziness hit me. My body gave out, and I collapsed straight to the floor. When I came to, both Rowan and Nelson were standing in front of me, their faces twisted with irritation rather than concern. "Victoria, what are you faking this time? Still being dramatic, huh? Haven't you had enough? You passed out during the cheerleading competition, and now you're pulling the same stunt at home? What do you even want from us?" Nelson snapped, kicking over a chair. Rowan pressed his fingers to his temple, clearly exhausted. "You don't need to pull these little tricks just to get our attention, Victoria. Really, it's not necessary. "You're the one I love. Yes, maybe there were things in the past that made you doubt that, but my feelings for you have never changed, not for a second. It doesn't matter how many times you test me. "But every time you pull the same trick—pretending to be sick, passing out—it wears me down. It's putting a strain on our relationship. And honestly, I don't feel the same attachment to this relationship as I used to." That was when I realized they truly believed I was faking it. They thought this was just another act to gain sympathy. The painkillers I had taken earlier were strong, and my complexion looked healthy and normal. There were no signs of pallor or swelling—or any of the symptoms that usually indicated someone was actually sick. I took a shaky breath, pushing myself up despite the dull ache in my head. I said calmly, "I think it's just because I didn't eat anything, so my blood sugar was too low. I didn't pass out on purpose. I'm sorry if I worried you." Then I looked at Rowan and asked, "Can you drive me to the hospital? I want to sign the organ donation consent form tonight. We can't risk delaying the surgery tomorrow." He looked at me with a hint of doubt, as if trying to read something from my expression. After all, every time they accused me of playing games or faking illness for sympathy, I would always explode, defending myself loudly. I would insist that I wasn't pretending and that I was genuinely sick. Just like earlier today at the competition, when I shouted to defend myself in front of everyone. But tonight, I didn't react the same way. I lowered my head to avoid Rowan's eyes. "I'm fine. Really. Let's just go." Rowan looked at me, then at Nelson. After a brief pause, he nodded. "Alright, get up. Let's go together." When we arrived at the hospital, Felicia visibly froze the moment she saw me. "Victoria? What are you doing here?" I took a deep breath and looked her straight in the eyes. "Felicia, you mentioned before that being sick set you back with your research and that you wanted to use my thesis as your own. I came to tell you that I agree." A flicker of surprise flashed across her face, quickly followed by uncontained joy. "Are you serious?""Yes." Nelson's gaze shifted to me, his expression filled with approval and quiet relief. "This is how you should've treated Feli all along. Her academic performance has never been worse than yours. If she hadn't gotten sick and fallen behind, she wouldn't have needed your thesis at all." I replied, "You're right." But I knew the truth. Even if I had refused to hand over my thesis, Felicia would have found a way to take it. She would continue to play the victim, and I would be painted as a heartless, selfish sister. So rather than getting framed again, I chose to give it to her myself. The thing was that the thesis wasn't perfect. If Felicia took the time to go through it carefully, she would notice the technical flaws. But if she didn't and just submitted it as it was, she would be walking straight into a disaster once it got published.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Rowan stared at me, stunned. Then, breaking into a grin, he pulled me into a tight hug. He said, "Tori, you're amazing. Once you're better after the surgery, I'll fund another cheerleading competition. As long as you work hard, you won't need any performance enhancers to win first place. I know how much that championship means to you." There wasn't going to be a next time. I only had 24 hours left. Nelson chimed in with a nod, "Exactly. If you want to win in the future, you'd better train honestly and earn it the right way. No more shortcuts. And don't ever hurt your competitors just to get ahead. Even if you win like that, there's no honor in it." I forced a small smile, about to say something, when a sudden heat bloomed at the tip of my nose. Something warm trickled out. I lifted my hand to touch it—blood. It was a nosebleed. As I stared at the red streak on my fingers, a single thought flashed across my mind. I looked up at Nelson and Rowan. "If I died one day… would you two miss me?" The room went quiet. Nelson froze for a moment, then snapped out of it and gave my shoulder a playful smack, pretending to be annoyed. "What kind of nonsense is that? You're healthy as hell. You're not dying anytime soon. Stop thinking about weird things all the time. "If anything, it's Feli we should be worried about—she's always been the fragile one. As her sister, you should try to be more understanding. Stop being so petty all the time." I froze. Then it clicked—of course, they wouldn't believe I was dying. In their eyes, I would always be the strong, cold, spiteful sister—the one who bullied Felicia and never showed a hint of warmth. I lowered my head and quietly wiped the blood from my nose, pretending like nothing had happened. I said casually, "I'm just asking out of curiosity." Then, I handed over the flash drive to Felicia. "I've already organized all the academic papers. You can take them." Felicia took it with a satisfied smile. "Thank you, Victoria. I'll make good use of it." I didn't say anything. I just turned and left the room. The next day, Felicia posted my thesis online, signing her name as the author. She had planned to use it to show off her supposed scholarly brilliance. But what she didn't expect was for the backlash to come almost immediately. One of my classmates was the first to call her out. "Wait a second! I saw Victoria share research data related to that paper ages ago. There's no way this is Felicia's work." "Yeah, I remember too. I saw her pulling books from the archives on that exact topic. She was at the library almost every night." "I can't believe Felicia would plagiarize. She's the cheer captain—aren't people like that supposed to lead by example? That's just low." Within hours, the forum thread exploded. Every comment beneath Felicia's post was filled with outrage and accusation. Felicia trembled, her whole body shaking as she stared at the screen in disbelief. "She gave it to me… Victoria gave me her thesis. Why are they saying I stole it? Maybe I shouldn't have taken it. I know I'm not as smart as her. I've never been." She sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "Nelson, I don't want the treatment anymore. Let me die. That would be easier…" Nelson's face tightened with heartbreak. He turned to me with a helpless look. "Victoria, you need to issue a statement—say that you were the one who plagiarized Feli's work, not the other way around. "She's the cheer captain, one of the most well-known students on campus. People admire her and look up to her. Her reputation can't take a hit like this… And she's already sick—she can't handle another blow." I froze. I hadn't expected Nelson to ask me to take the fall like this. But Rowan quickly backed him up. "Victoria, just do it for her, okay? Feli's barely holding it together. If this backlash pushes her over the edge, would you really be able to live with that? I looked at them, my chest aching like something deep inside me was being carved out with a dull blade. They were really asking me to take the fall for academic fraud. They wanted me to ruin my own name just to keep Felicia's reputation spotless. But when I saw the hope in Nelson's and Rowan's eyes, I finally gave a small nod. "Alright, I'll post it."

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

After I posted the statement admitting to plagiarism, the campus forum exploded with criticism. "I can't believe Victoria always seemed so quiet and disciplined, yet she pulled something as shameless as plagiarizing someone else's thesis!""She didn't just plagiarize. She bullied her own sister too. Just how malicious can one person be?""Poor Felicia. She's so unlucky that she's stuck with a sister like that.""I heard Victoria used performance enhancers before the cheerleading competition to snatch first place. Thankfully, a sharp-eyed audience member reported her. That's how Felicia got the title she deserved.""Felicia's too kind. She was bullied by Victoria, and even though she knew Victoria took performance enhancers to win the competition, she still kept quiet about it. She's such a good sister!" As I read through the comments, I felt a coldness settle deep inside my chest. It wrapped around my heart, slow and suffocating. On the day of the surgery, just before they wheeled me into the operating room, Rowan reached for my hand, looking at me affectionately. "Victoria, don't worry. I've already come up with a way to make everything right. You won't have to bear the stigma of plagiarism, and Felicia's reputation will stay intact. Once the surgery's over, I'll take care of it." Nelson even patted my shoulder for the first time in years. "This time, you finally stopped being selfish, Victoria. I'm proud of you." Their words should have filled me with warmth, but instead, all I felt was bitterness. I had finally earned their praise, yet I was running out of time. My life had hours left, at most. They wheeled me into the operating room, where Felicia and I were placed side by side for the kidney transplant. Outside the operating room, Rowan and Nelson paced anxiously. "I hope Feli's doing okay. Do you think the surgery will go smoothly?""It will. Once she wakes up, we'll make sure she has everything she needs to recover." They went back and forth, chatting anxiously outside the operating room. Three hours later, the surgery was over. Felicia received my kidney, and the transplant was a success. When the doctor announced the news, Rowan and Nelson nearly jumped with joy. "She made it! Feli finally has a future again.""Yeah. We've got to take good care of her. She'll recover in no time." They welcomed Felicia out of the operating room with bright smiles and open arms. No one asked about me. I lay on the operating table, staring up at the harsh, sterile lights. My vision blurred, the edges of the world fading into darkness. While they were outside celebrating her survival, I slipped away without a sound. My eyes closed, and I never opened them again.