Chapter 1

On our daughter’s fifth birthday party, Julian Vance lost three consecutive rounds of Truth or Dare.

His first love, Hailey Bennett, smiled and proposed the penalty:

"Since you lost, I dare you to call the hospital and cancel Lily’s kidney transplant tomorrow."

The cheerful chatter in the room died instantly.

Julian frowned, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face.

"Hailey, my daughter has been on the transplant waiting list for three years!"

Hailey’s eyes immediately welled with tears.

"Back then, I lost my womb to drag you out of that car wreck. You promised me you’d take me to see the snowy peaks of Aspen tomorrow."

I genuinely believed Julian would never gamble with his own daughter’s life.

But that night, he personally handed me a glass of milk spiked with sleeping pills.

When I finally opened my eyes, it was already noon the next day.

Seeing dozens of missed calls from the hospital, my hands shook as I dialed back.

The nurse’s voice came through, filled with heavy hesitation.

"Mrs. Vance, the surgery... Mr. Vance cancelled Lily's transplant last night."