Chapter 7
William frowned and stepped closer to look.
I closed my eyes.
It was time they knew.
James unfolded the crumpled paper, his face draining of color.
“This… is a medical report?”
“It says… one year left?”
“Lillian, this isn’t real, right?”
“Tell me this isn’t real!”
His voice trembled. His hands clenched the paper so hard it wrinkled.
William’s stoic expression finally cracked.
“Lillian, tell me this is a joke.”
I smiled softly. “It’s not.”
“That’s the diagnosis my doctor gave me.”
“Ever since I got this artificial heart, my body has been deteriorating. I don’t have much time left.”
James let out a bitter laugh, his eyes burning with anger.
“Bullshit.”
“No way. That doctor must be a quack!”
“Lillian, you’re coming with me. We’re getting a second opinion.”
The brothers immediately called for a private jet.
I was dragged to the best hospital in the country.
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When the doctor returned with my new test results, he let out a heavy sigh.
“She’s had a heart transplant,” he said.
And she’s kept her body weight dangerously low for years. Her organs are shutting down.”
The doctor hesitated before adding, “On top of that, the miscarriage caused severe complications.”
“She has… about two weeks left.”
James collapsed into a chair, his face buried in his hands.
William’s usually sharp eyes turned hollow.
I let out a breathless laugh.
“So that’s it. Two weeks, huh?”
I guess I was never meant to have a long life anyway.
“Lillian, I swear I’ll fix this,” James said, his eyes red.
“I’ll call specialists overseas,” William added, already dialing a number.
But I shook my head.
“Don’t bother.”
“I grew up without family. I never expected to live long.”
“But aren’t we your family?” James‘ voice cracked.
William turned to me, his voice low. “You used to trust me, Lillian.”
“You said I was the closest thing you had to a real family.”
I let out a quiet laugh.
“Family?”
“Where was that ‘family‘ when you both used me as Sophia’s replacement?”
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Where was it when you hurt me over and over?”
“Now that I’m dying, you suddenly care?”
“Those words–‘family,‘ ‘love‘–they sound so cheap coming from you two.”
I looked them both in the eye, my voice unwavering.
“James Carter, William Carter–I would rather die than spend another second with either of you.”
James shook his head frantically. “No. No, please, Lillian, forgive me this once.”
“Please… don’t leave me.”
William gripped my wrist. His hand trembled.
“Lillian… don’t die.”
“Please.”
I turned my back on them.
And walked away.
Without looking back.
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