After our family business went bankrupt, my brother was diagnosed with ALS. I dropped out of college, shouldered an astronomical debt, and took on the responsibility of caring for my terminally ill brother for the rest of his life. For five years, When debt collectors beat me until I coughed up blood, I wouldn't spend a dime on painkillers. When I fainted from exhaustion working five jobs a day, I wouldn't take a single day off. Every penny went to keeping my brother alive. Until one night, while delivering drinks at an exclusive club, I saw my brother—who should have been in a wheelchair, waiting for me to come home— Dressed in a bespoke suit, looking relaxed, laughing and chatting with friends. "Julian, you've been faking ALS for five years now. Aurora has practically worked herself to death trying to cure you. Isn't that punishment enough?" My brother scoffed lightly. "It's about enough. If Aurora hadn't been so selfish and made Chloe upset by yelling at her, I wouldn't have had to fake bankruptcy and ALS for so long just to punish her." "Chloe has been traveling abroad for five years and is finally in a better mood. She's agreed to forgive Aurora. Once the time is right, I'll have the doctor stage a 'miraculous recovery.' Then Aurora can go back to being the Sterling family princess. Consider it her atonement for being so willful." His friend hesitated. "ALS is terminal. How could you possibly recover? Will Aurora even believe that?" My brother smiled with absolute confidence. "That silly girl believes every word I say. When haven't she?" "After this lesson, I'm sure she's realized her mistake. Chloe is adopted and naturally insecure; as the older sister, Aurora should have yielded to her. I did this for her own good. I'll make it up to her later." I lowered my head, tears falling silently. But Julian, there is no "later" for us. Your terminal illness is fake. But mine is real. Chapter 1 The draft in the hallway cut through me like a knife. It was freezing. I stood there like a numb puppet, rooted to the spot. Enduring the slow, agonizing execution of my faith crumbling after five years. Every slice took away a piece of my soul. Julian's friend, Tom, sighed. "You really are ruthless. That's your biological sister. The genius scholar of Columbia University. She dropped out just like that for you. She's only in her early twenties, but she's worn herself out like an old woman. Just a few days ago, she was short three hundred bucks for your medicine and begged me to lend it to her." My brother's face instantly darkened. "Did you lend it to her?" Tom shook his head helplessly. "You gave a strict order. Would I dare?" "That girl knelt outside my door all afternoon. Even when she fainted from low blood sugar, I didn't dare call an ambulance. She eventually woke up and crawled away on her own." What Tom didn't say was, That day, I had begged shamelessly. I had even started unbuttoning my shirt, willing to let him touch me if he wanted. Julian had been off his imported medication for a week. If he didn't take it, he would get worse. But I had nowhere else to borrow money. Tom, however, had looked at me like he'd seen a ghost, And hurriedly kicked me out. It turned out, It wasn't that he didn't want to lend me the money. It was that he couldn't. My brother scoffed. "Listen closely, everyone. Until I bring Chloe back, no one is allowed to help Aurora. Whether she kneels, begs, or even dies in front of you, ignore her. Chloe is sensitive and has depression. I barely managed to keep her stable by letting her travel for five years. If I cut Aurora's punishment short by even one day, Chloe might get upset and have an episode. If anyone makes my precious little sister unhappy, I'll make their whole family unhappy." Everyone looked at each other, Probably finding it absurd and ridiculous. Someone awkwardly reminded him, "Julian, aren't you afraid Aurora will find out the truth and leave you?" As soon as the words were spoken, my brother burst out laughing. "Are you kidding? We're biological siblings. No conflict is big enough to separate us. Aurora treats me like her life. Even if someone held a knife to her throat, she wouldn't leave me. Besides, it's just a little lesson. Chloe is different; she's already suffered because she's not blood-related. Being good to her is only right." "But remember this, if what was said in this room today reaches Aurora's ears, don't expect us to remain friends." I leaned against the wall. My hands and feet were numb. It turned out that the five years I risked my life for were just a worthless joke. My life, my freedom, Even my health, Only needed one word of grievance from Chloe. To become a trivial matter in my brother's mouth. I wanted to laugh, but tears fell like broken beads, uncontrollable. A phone rang inside the room, and footsteps approached the door simultaneously. I didn't have time to leave. I turned hurriedly and bumped into the manager rushing from behind. The bottle of wine in my hand, worth thousands, shattered on the floor. The manager's face turned black as coal instantly. He slapped me to the ground. My brother, coming out of the room, brushed past us and hugged Chloe, who threw herself at him like a butterfly. "Why did you come back on your own? Didn't we agree I'd pick you up? Are you tired? I arranged a professional spa team for you; you can get a full body treatment when we get home." Chloe giggled, "I missed you, Julian! I wanted to surprise you!" I was wearing a mask, kneeling less than a yard away from them, daring not to move or speak. My red eyes stung from the diamonds covering Chloe's high heels. One of them could pay for a year of Julian's imported medicine. The manager whispered apologetically, "Mr. Sterling, I am so sorry. Your wine was broken by this clumsy idiot." Chapter 2 Black leather shoes stopped in front of me. The manager knew his status, terrified he would get angry. "Mr. Sterling, so sorry to interrupt your reunion with Miss Chloe. It's all because of this blind fool who can't even hold a few bottles. I'll have someone bring better ones immediately." He grabbed my arm and pinched it hard several times. This pain was nothing compared to when debt collectors broke my ribs. But I shrank back, Feeling like my internal organs were twisting into a knot. My brother frowned impatiently. "Enough." He pointed at me. "Since you broke it, pick up every shard on this carpet with your hands. If my sister steps on even one piece, I'll make you swallow it." The hallway was covered in thick, soundproof carpet. The glass shards were embedded deep, hard to find. I could only kneel, using my palms to rub and feel for them bit by bit. Chloe narrowed her eyes at my back, then suddenly linked arms with my brother and pouted. "Julian, I'm tired." "Princess, I'll carry you out. It's too dangerous here." Black leather shoes stepped on the back of my hand, twisted, And then walked away without noticing. I knelt there, looking at the glass embedded in my palm. I cried until I laughed. The manager was terrified by my appearance. "What's wrong with you? Why is your nose bleeding?" I staggered to my feet and wiped it messily with my sleeve. "Probably because I'm dying." Without looking at his shocked face, I let the blood drip all the way as I stumbled out. I pushed open the door to my home. From the kitchen came the sound of something breaking. My brother was struggling to push himself up from his tipped-over wheelchair. Seeing me at the door, He looked like a child who had done something wrong, his eyes red with embarrassment. "Aurora, I just wanted to make you something to eat..." "I'm so useless. I'm just a burden!" His speech was slurred, his words jumbled. Tears mixed with saliva ran down his face. Just like a helpless, broken patient who had been paralyzed for years. I vaguely remembered, Before being diagnosed with 'ALS,' my brother had severe OCD. A man who washed his hands twenty times a day and wouldn't tolerate a spec of dust on his clothes, Could endure this filthy, messy life for five years just for Chloe. For five whole years, I was trapped in his hypocritical, masterful performance, Living like a complete clown. In this moment, I wanted so badly to cut open his chest and look. To see if what was inside was flesh and blood, or cold, hard stone. Seeing I didn't speak, my brother hung his head. "Aurora, are you disgusted by me?" "You should be. A burden like me shouldn't drag you down anymore. Just go, leave me alone. Let me rot." He sat amidst the mess, gripping the wheelchair armrest stubbornly. Veins popped on his arms, but he couldn't get up. I walked over silently, righted the wheelchair, and helped him into it. I turned, wrung out a towel, and wiped his face and hands. I had done this routine for five years; it was engraved in my bones. He grabbed my wrist, noticing the wound on my palm. "How did this happen? Who bullied you?" I stared at the genuine concern in his eyes. The bitterness in my heart almost overflowed. "Yeah, bullied by someone who looks just like you." I paused, looking straight into his eyes, and added, "At the Starlight Club." Chapter 3 Watching my brother's jaw tighten instantly, I smiled again. "But I know that wasn't you, Julian. My brother would never lie to me, right?" My gaze made him guilty. He looked away and spoke unnaturally. "Of course. You're my only family, Aurora. I would never lie to you." I forced down the surging pain in my eyes and pushed him out of the kitchen before the tears could fall. When I finished cooking and came out, the living room was empty. I walked to his bedroom door and heard him whispering on the phone. "Be a good girl. I've prepared the biggest birthday party for you. I'll celebrate with you personally tomorrow." On the other end, Chloe feigned concern. "But tomorrow is Aurora's birthday too. Won't she be mad if you don't spend it with her?" "Silly girl, you are my only precious sister. Your happiness is what matters most. Aurora hasn't celebrated her birthday in five years; she's used to it. One more year won't matter." Chloe cheered happily. "I knew you were the best, Julian!" I stood in silence for a long time, then took off my apron and turned away. When my brother came out, I was gone. On the table sat a bowl of noodles boiled soft for easy swallowing and one imported pill. He knew I had a night shift at this time. Thinking of the wound on my palm, My unnaturally pale face, And my back, thin as a rail while I was cooking, He suddenly felt a panic. He realized he couldn't remember what I looked like when I was bright and happy. It felt like something sharp stabbed his heart. An indescribable unease and guilt crept up silently. He picked up his phone and quickly made a call. The next day, I took my brother for a checkup. His doctor looked excited. "Miss Sterling, we just got news. A private research institute in Switzerland has developed a specific drug for ALS. Clinical trials are very mature, but they're only recruiting two subjects. I've secured a spot for your brother." Compared to his enthusiasm, I just nodded calmly. "What are the chances of recovery?" "Eighty percent." My brother played along, crying tears of joy. "Aurora, I can get better. I can be with you forever." I forced a smile. "If only one of us can live, I hope it's always you, Julian." He froze. As if frightened by my seriousness, he forgot to slur his words. He frowned and scolded, "Don't talk nonsense. We will both live well. When I recover, I will rebuild the Sterling Group, and you will be the princess of the family again." But this princess title, I don't want it anymore. And you, Julian, I give you both to Chloe. The doctor sent me out of the office, claiming the examination would take a long time. Before, I believed it was true, leaving my brother at the hospital while I raced against time to work part-time jobs. Now I knew these were just excuses to get rid of me. I stood at the empty corridor corner, watching my brother change clothes and eagerly enter the elevator. Downstairs, a luxury car had been waiting for a long time. I withdrew my gaze blankly and walked into another doctor's office. "Miss Sterling, your brain tumor is too large for surgery. If it had been half a month ago, there might have been hope." He sighed. "It's just a matter of days now. Say goodbye to your family." I was silent for a long time before nodding gently. "After I die, please cremate me directly. Send the ashes to the Sterling Villa, to CEO Julian Sterling." Leaving my remaining money, I walked out of the hospital. A message popped up on my phone. "Come to the villa and take a look." It was Chloe. I took a taxi to the most luxurious villa district in the city center. Five years had passed. The home I thought had been auctioned off long ago was now decorated festively. Guests gathered, luxury dazzled the eyes. It was a different world from me, standing alone outside the carved iron gates. Chloe wore a glittering tiara and a custom haute couture gown. Holding my brother's arm, She stood blissfully in front of a six-tier cake, surrounded by people. Behind her was a wall of gifts. She clasped her hands and made a wish. "I wish to be Julian's only sister for life, his little princess forever." My brother took a velvet box from his pocket. The moment the box opened, my blood ran cold. Chapter 4 It was a jade amulet. When Julian and I were born, our parents had high monks bless two jade amulets for a whole year, carving our names on them. We wore them since birth. It was our parents' blessing and hope, the continuation of the Sterling family, and my only memento after they passed away. Even in my hardest times, I couldn't bear to sell it. Now, my brother had changed the carving to Chloe's name. In front of everyone, he solemnly placed it around her neck. "My little princess, congratulations on your wish coming true." I don't know how I left. My phone kept vibrating. "Actually, I recognized you at the Starlight Club that day." "See clearly now?" "The jade is mine, and Julian is mine. You look like an unwanted stray dog." "Your life is such a failure, why don't you just go die, big sister? Hee hee." Seeing no response, Chloe sent one last message. "Sister, I asked Julian to bring you a birthday gift. Enjoy it." I wandered like a ghost all day. When I stumbled back to the rental apartment in a daze, I found out what Chloe's birthday gift was. The door was wide open. The room was a mess. My brother was pinned to the ground. Like a dying dog struggling for breath. This scene was so familiar I trembled all over. My ribs, once broken, seemed to ache in phantom pain. "Little girl, long time no see. When are you paying back this month's money?" I was pale. "Didn't I pay off all the debt? What do I still owe?" The leader picked his teeth and spat on the floor. "If I say you owe, you owe. Don't want to pay? I wonder how many hits your brother's rotten bones can take." He gestured with the iron rod over my brother's back. "Aurora, I'm a burden to you. Leave me, just go. I'm a cripple anyway. If they kill me, they kill me. I don't want to drag you down." The exact same words. I've heard them countless times over five years. I looked wearily at the room full of debt collectors, then at my brother on the ground—looking pathetic, yet his eyes were clear. Everything was painfully obvious. It was laughable that I only realized now. They threatened debt collection countless times, but never actually touched a hair on his head. And I, to protect my lying brother, Had broken ribs, limped on a bad leg, and suffered countless injuries. Swallowing the dryness in my throat, I asked hoarsely, "What do you want?" The man looked me up and down and laughed. "Little girl, I don't like your stubbornness. How about this? Crawl between the legs of all ten of my brothers here and bark like a dog three times. Then we'll call it even for today." My brother roared, "No! Aurora, don't do it!" I smiled numbly. The last bit of warmth in my heart went completely cold. "Since this is what you want, let's call it even." Although I was speaking to the man, Julian suddenly panicked. He wanted to say something, but then remembered this was the last punishment he promised Chloe. As long as I learned this final lesson, he would restore my identity as the Sterling heiress. He would never let me suffer again. He confidently thought there was a long future to make it up to me. As if convincing himself, he looked away, secretly took a photo of my humiliation, and sent it to Chloe. The crowd dispersed. I lay on the floor for a long time before having the strength to stand. My brother crawled over with red eyes, intending to play the victim. But seeing my dead eyes, the words stuck in his throat. The next day, the doctor came to take him to Switzerland for treatment. Before leaving, he looked back three times. "Aurora, wait for me to come back. I will make you the most dazzling princess of the Sterling family again. No one will ever bully you again." I smiled and said nothing. After watching them leave, I covered my mouth and couldn't hold back a mouthful of blood. The doctor said when the tumor ruptures, it's the end. Strange. The moment I fell, I felt no fear. My mind was filled with how good Julian was to me when we were little. Braiding my hair. Feeding me candy. Staying by my side when I had a high fever. He said, "When I grow up, I'll make lots of money, build the biggest castle for Aurora, and spoil her into the happiest princess in the world." I swallowed my tears, and with bloody hands, tremblingly tapped on my phone. I sent the last message to my brother. "Julian, I'm not waiting for you. I give my life to pay you and Chloe back. Bury me next to Mom and Dad." After sending it, I closed my eyes weakly. At that moment, the phone on the floor vibrated like crazy.
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