8
My mind went blank.
12:32 PM d
<
I had only heard about Claire after I came back to the U.S., through Ryan’s friends.
Before that, I’d never even heard her name.
How did she know my grandmother?
“I was raised by her, of course I knew her,” Claire replied, her eyes glinting with malice.
What?
I was too stunned to speak.
WH-
Claire’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she continued, “Nina, you probably didn’t know this, but I was the one who donated the kidney for your surgery.”
“Do you want to know why our organs were such a perfect match?”
Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning.
I had lived two lives, and I had never questioned it.
“You… you…” I stammered.
Claire’s expression twisted into a sneer. “Let me put it simply–you should be calling me ‘sister.”
It all clicked into place as she explained.
Claire was the child my mother had before she got married.
Back in the day, my mother’s lifestyle had been wild, and when she found herself pregnant, she had no idea
My grandparents had covered up the scandal and forced my mother into an arranged marriage.
She agreed, but only on the condition that she be allowed to keep the baby.
My grandfather reluctantly agreed, but he saw Claire as nothing more than a shameful secret.
As soon as she was born, they sent her off to be raised by the family’s housekeeper in some rural town.
Only my grandmother visited her occasionally.
Claire had known her true parentage from a young age and had always longed to be part of our family.
That is, until she met me.
Then she realized that my mother loved her daughter–just not her.
the father was.
“Nina, why do so many people love you? Your grandparents loved you, your mother loved you, and even the man I loved loved you!
If our mother hadn’t been forced into that marriage, you wouldn’t even exist. She would have loved me.
Nina, this is all your fault!”
Her words were filled with venom, and tears streamed down my face as my heart twisted in pain.
When I was little, my parents had separated. They only visited me occasionally.
Every time they left, I cried my heart out, chasing after the car for as long as I could.
Eventually, I developed mild autism and stopped speaking altogether.
My aunt, seeing how much I was suffering finally sat me down and told me the truth
12:32 PM
<
None of this was my fault.
My mother’s past was messy, and my father didn’t learn about it until after they were married.
People tried to blackmail them with it, but when that didn’t work, they sent photos to my dad’s email every day.
My father knew my mother had tried to change, but what man could really let something like that go?
By then, their families‘ business interests were too intertwined to allow for a divorce, so they stayed together in name only.
My mom used to visit me regularly, taking me out to dinner, the movies, and amusement parks.
But then those people sent the photos to me, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I left for Europe
in
ITE
Claire yanked on my arm, snapping me back to reality, the sudden pain making me gasp.
a
rage.
“Do you know why I donated my kidney to you? Because you stole my life from me, Nina. I hate you! I want you to live long enough to lose everything–slowly, painfully–not die so easily.”
“I’d rather you suffer than die with Ryan’s love.
I’m not just going to steal Ryan from you; I’m going to take away everyone’s love for you. I’ll make sure you never find peace, even in death. Do you understand?!”
Her words were laced with such deep hatred that I felt a wave of nausea hit me.
Blood surged up my throat, and I coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of it.
Through the haze of red, I saw Claire’s expression change.
Fear flashed across her face as she called out my name in panic.
Everything blurred and faded as I collapsed backward.
