Outside the hospital ward, Brad looked at her with a mix of concern and cold indifference.
"Didn’t you have three kidneys? Is something wrong with the one you were supposed to donate to Lora? The match is confirmed, so stay in the hospital tonight and be ready for the transplant at any time."
Nikki stared at him in shock, her voice trembling. "Weren’t you the one who was sick back then?"
At the time, she hadn’t felt this crushing disappointment—only worry for his health. That’s why she had rushed to get tested for a donor match.
Brad let out a cold laugh. "If I hadn’t pretended to be sick, would someone as selfish and petty as you have willingly donated your kidney to Lora? If her surgery had been delayed, could you have lived with that guilt?"
He had gripped her wrist so tightly along the way that angry red and purple marks marred her fair skin. But Nikki didn’t even seem to register the pain. She simply stared at Brad’s hardened face.
He was only a few months older than her, yet compared to his composed older brother, Howard, Brad had always been the reckless, impulsive one—like a younger brother trailing after her with unwavering enthusiasm.
He had done everything for her. He had never wanted to see her get hurt, not even a little.
When a boy with a crush on her once tugged at her pigtails, Brad had spun around and beaten him so badly that he ended up disfigured—yet he had still come to Nikki afterward, grinning proudly as if expecting praise.
When she accidentally burned her hand while setting off fireworks one New Year's Eve, he had been more panicked than she was. From that day forward, he never let her light fireworks again. Instead, he held them up for her to watch, staying up all night just so she could enjoy them—every single year.
This same rebellious boy, once so full of passion and sincerity, had deceived her into giving up a kidney with a lie.
And now, he expected her to lie on an operating table again and give up another one.
Maybe everything had gone wrong the moment she had chosen the wrong heart transplant recipient.
Tears blurred Nikki’s vision as a bitter smile formed on her lips. "Three kidneys? How could I possibly have three? Brad, I lied to you to put your mind at ease… and you actually believed it."
Brad narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. "I know you don’t want to donate a kidney to Lora. But don’t forget—her weak health is because of you. You stole her rightful place as the rich family’s daughter, while she suffered outside for years. Don’t you think you should atone for that?"
"I…"
"Enough."
Howard’s voice cut in impatiently as he stepped out of the ward. His tone was deep and authoritative.
"Nikki, isn’t marrying into our family all you want?"
"If you agree to donate another healthy kidney to Lora, Brad and I will attend the wedding in seven days. We won’t embarrass you by not showing up. Satisfied?"
Nikki met his cold gaze, his condescending tone stabbing into her. The memory of her kidney removal surgery six months ago resurfaced—the pain of the incision still lingering in her body.
"I already told you—I’m not marrying either of you. Whether you show up or not, it makes no difference to me."
Howard’s eyes darkened.
At that moment, Lora stirred awake.
The two brothers rushed inside, their voices filled with concern.
"Thank God, Lora, you’re okay."
From inside the room, Brad’s voice carried out loud and clear.
"That fraud is truly unlucky. First, she killed Brother Bray, then she caused you to suffer outside for years, sick and weak. Now, all we’re asking is for her to donate a kidney, yet she dares to use it as leverage to force a marriage…"
The mention of Brother Bray made Nikki’s heart clench violently.
She bit her lip, feeling an icy wetness on her cheeks—tears she hadn’t even realized were falling.
Like a wandering soul, she turned and walked away.
Her phone suddenly rang.
On the other end, a deep, unfamiliar voice spoke.
"I heard you want to marry me."
Nikki immediately recognized who it was. Her body froze for a second before she answered nervously.
"Yes."
The man chuckled, his voice carrying a hint of knowing amusement.
"Weren’t those two so desperate to win your favor before? How quickly their affections have changed…"
