Chapter 2

Elara’s weak body tensed at the touch. When her vision cleared, her eyes, once blurry, now burned with hate and fear.

She knew the man in front of her very well. It was her ex-fiancé, Luka.

They used to be the golden couple in everyone’s eyes. She loved him deeply, but Luka and everyone else had pushed her into the abyss.

During the five years Elara was in prison, Luka had bribed the other inmates to make her life hell, just to get back at her for Tricia.

Luka frowned as he looked at the frail figure before him. The proud woman he once knew was now a shadow of her former self. He felt sick thinking about how much time and effort he had put into her.

Elara felt like her jaw was about to break. After a while, Luka kicked her face to let out his years of anger. He waved at the bodyguards behind him and said, “I won’t dirty my hands with you. Take her away!”

A few strong men lifted Elara up. They carried her into the hospital like a rag doll and dumped her on the floor of the VIP ward.

Tricia, who had been chatting and laughing with Wena, immediately stopped smiling when she saw Elara.

When Wena noticed, she gave a cold snort and glared at Elara’s lifeless body on the ground. Then, she put on a fake kind smile and went to comfort her so-called precious daughter.

“You’re finally here.” Pablo handed a slice of berries to Tricia, then walked over to Elara and helped her up.

“Father—No… Mr. Cortez…” Elara instinctively called out for her father.

She remembered Pio’s reaction at the prison entrance and quickly corrected herself.

“You don’t need to be so formal. I’ve called you my daughter for over twenty years,” Pablo said, his voice not revealing his true feelings, but his words hit Elara hard.

“There, there. I don’t regret raising you. You’re my daughter just like Tricia is,” Pablo continued, “Both of you are my daughters. That means you’re sisters. Now that Tricia is sick and needs your help, can you promise me you’ll do everything you can to help her and donate your kidney?”

Elara’s heart, which had warmed from Pablo’s supposed kindness, turned cold. The real reason he wanted her there was to make her give her kidney to Tricia.

She forced a sad smile and held back her initial response.

She took a deep breath and said, “I refuse!”

As soon as she finished speaking, a slap landed on her face.

“You ungrateful little brat, you owe Tricia your life. How dare you refuse such a simple thing?!” Wena shouted, her eyes full of hatred.

Elara couldn’t understand. They had been family for 19 years; how could they abandon her so easily?

“What if she dies?” Elara’s voice broke. “Isn’t there another kidney out there for her? Why does it have to be mine?”

Wena was shocked but quickly slapped Elara again. “This is for you to repent! How dare you wish for Tricia to die? I can’t believe I raised such a cruel person for more than nineteen years! This is just like your shameless mother!”

Wena kept slapping Elara, making her fall to the ground.

Pablo watched the scene with a deep voice, “Enough!”

When Wena stepped back and went to Tricia’s side, Pablo continued, “I know you don’t want to, and I can’t force you to get on the operating table. But think carefully before you decide. Don’t forget… Your mother is suffering in prison, and your five-year-old son is with her.”

Elara looked at Pablo in shock. His face was calm, as if the last sentence had meant nothing.

Everyone in the ward had mixed reactions. Tricia and Wena looked at her with disdain, while Luka’s face was pale. Elara tightened her grip on her body, knowing that the child wasn’t actually Luka’s.

After Elara’s true identity was exposed five years ago, Tricia had come looking for her.

She remembered Tricia holding her hand innocently. “Elara, I was thrilled to find out about my past. Don’t worry, I don’t blame you for this.”