Before I died, my parents cursed me every day. My mother blamed me for stalling her career. "If I hadn't accidentally gotten pregnant with you, I would have been Chief of Surgery years ago." My father blamed me for his business failures. "Ever since the day you were born, every investment I touch turns to ash. You are a jinx." They only loved my older sister, Sarah. They said she was just like them—studious, quiet, and refined. I, on the other hand, was like an unevolved primate in their eyes—always running wild, getting into fights, and embarrassing the family. "What a waste of space," they would often sigh. "If we had just aborted her, this family would be perfect." Eventually, they got their wish. I died. 1 It was 3:00 AM. I had exhausted every ounce of my strength, but I finally secured the encryption key needed to take down the cartel. But the price was my cover. My identity as a bartender at the club was blown. Fortunately, I managed to transmit the data just in time. Before my SWAT team could breach the building, the cartel enforcers inflicted every torture imaginable on me. They sawed off my limbs. They flayed my skin strip by strip, keeping me just on the edge of consciousness so I would feel everything. I ground my teeth together to keep from screaming until they shattered in my mouth. Finally, the sirens wailed. When the team secured the room, my Captain—a stoic giant of a man—rushed in. He scooped up what was left of my torso and wept openly. "Chloe, I’m sorry. We were too late." "Don't sleep, Chloe. Hold on. The medics can fix this," he begged, his voice breaking. I forced my bloodied eyes open. "Cap..." I whispered. "Donate my body. Anything that's left... give it to someone who needs it." "And... don't tell my parents I died." With those words, I managed a smile. I closed my eyes, satisfied. I was rushed to the downtown Trauma Center. But the moment the gurney hit the hospital doors, my heart stopped for good. Following my dying wish, the hospital immediately prepped for organ harvesting. My corneas were removed to be transplanted into a patient who had been on the waiting list for months. Without them, she would be permanently blind. The patient was my sister, Sarah. The lead surgeon was my mother. She stood over my body with her team, bowing her head in a moment of silence for the donor. Then, she coolly pulled back the sterile sheet to inspect the donor. Even though she was a veteran doctor who had seen countless traumas, she gasped when she saw what was left of me. "She was only twenty-four," she whispered behind her mask. "So young." "This poor girl went through hell. If her parents saw her like this, it would kill them." I floated above the operating table, watching her. I wanted to ask, "Mom, if you knew this was me—your own daughter—would you still feel sorry?" But I was dead. I couldn't ask. 2 The surgery was a success. My parents and Sarah were beaming with joy. "I heard the donor was about Sarah's age," Dad said. "What a noble kid." Mom nodded. "Yes. Brought in by the police. Likely a line-of-duty death." "A tragedy. But her parents must be so proud." "I wish we knew who she was," they sighed. "We’d visit her grave to say thank you." Then, Mom’s face darkened. "That Chloe... she has no heart. Today was Sarah’s big surgery, and she didn't even bother to show up." "She’s probably too busy with that shady job of hers. She didn't even call." Dad sneered. "Ideally, we’d never hear from that embarrassment again." Sarah scoffed from her bed. "Who needs her? I hope she stays away forever." Just then, their phones buzzed. "Dr. Miller? The board has voted. You are the new Chief of Surgery." It was the Hospital Administrator. It was the promotion Mom had chased for years. Then Dad’s phone rang. "Sir, the city contract just came through. The company is saved." They hugged Sarah, ecstatic. "Sarah, you are our lucky charm! The moment your surgery succeeded, everything turned around!" The small VIP room was filled with laughter and celebration. Meanwhile, in a quiet room at the precinct, there was only the sound of stifled sobbing. My Captain and my squad were holding a secret memorial for me. Because the cartel still had active members, they couldn't risk exposing my family by making my death public. The Captain held my urn, his shoulders shaking. "My girl... my brave girl..." He had recruited me. He was more of a father to me than my biological one. The Police Chief patted his shoulder. "She saved this city. We will make sure her family is taken care of." 3 "Has anyone heard from Chloe? She hasn't called in days. She isn't answering." That evening, Grandma asked the moment my parents walked in the door. She sat in her wheelchair, looking worried. My parents' smiles vanished instantly. "Why do you always bring up that loser?" Dad snapped. Grandma went silent and turned her wheelchair toward her room. I followed her spirit, trying to push the chair, but my hands passed through it. "Meow!" A large black shadow pounced at me. It was Midnight, the stray cat I had rescued. I tried to catch him, but he fell through my arms and hit the floor. He got up, confused, and rubbed against my invisible legs, purring. Grandma watched him with tears in her eyes. "Do you miss Chloe too, Midnight?" "That silly girl... tomorrow is her birthday. I bet she forgot." Grandma pulled a pair of red socks and a red envelope from her drawer. She was superstitious about birthdays—she believed wearing red brought protection. I had forgotten. Tomorrow was my twenty-fourth birthday. Only Grandma remembered. In the living room, my parents were chatting. "Sarah can finally see. We need to throw a huge party once she recovers." Mom smiled, then frowned. "Is tomorrow a special date? I feel like I'm forgetting something." Dad shrugged. "Nothing special. You're just tired." "Go to sleep. Sarah is healed, you're the Chief, the business is booming. Our life is finally perfect." Suddenly, a crash came from Grandma’s room. Midnight was going crazy, tearing the red socks to shreds. "Midnight! Stop! Those are for Chloe!" Grandma screamed. My parents rushed in. 4 Seeing the mess, Dad exploded. "That damn cat! I told you to get rid of it! It’s nothing but trouble, just like Chloe!" He kicked at Midnight, who hissed and scrambled under the bed. Mom looked at the ruined socks with disdain. "Mom, I buy you expensive clothes. Why are you hoarding these cheap red socks? Do you want people to think I abuse you?" Grandma clutched the tattered socks. "These weren't for me. They were for Chloe’s birthday." "Red brings good luck. She needs protection." My parents froze. "Her birthday? When is that?" Grandma’s grief turned to rage. "You gave birth to her! How do you not know her birthday? What kind of parents are you?" Dad stiffened. "My business tanked the day she was born. Why should I celebrate that?" Mom added, "If I hadn't been pregnant with her, I would have been Chief ten years ago." "That was your choice!" Grandma yelled. "Did Chloe ask to be born?" Dad looked at Grandma’s wheelchair coldly. "Are you going senile, Mom? Why do you defend that jinx? If it wasn't for her, you wouldn't be paralyzed." Grandma broke down sobbing. "It wasn't Chloe who paralyzed me! It was your precious Sarah!" My parents were stunned. Years ago, on a freezing winter night, seven-year-old Sarah threw a tantrum because she wanted ice cream. My parents weren't home. Sarah threatened to run away if she didn't get it. Grandma went out to buy it to keep her safe. On the way back, she was mugged and beaten by a junkie. She never walked again.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "389727", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel