Chapter 5

Mia stood before me. The pale, fragile look of a heart patient was completely gone. Her cheeks were rosy, and she looked perfectly healthy.

She twirled around in front of me gracefully, then asked with mock concern, "Chloe, why aren't you in the hospital getting treated?"

My mom’s Mercedes was parked by the curb. I knew she was watching from inside.

Mia dropped a stack of dollar bills in front of me.

"Mom asked me to bring you some cash."

I struggled to open my eyes, my voice barely a whisper. "Mom?"

Mia smirked, her eyes filled with triumph. "That's right. Mom."

"You probably don't know this yet, but I'm Mom’s daughter too. Technically, you should be calling me your older sister."

"And Mason is her son, too."

"From the very first moment I saw you, I knew exactly who you were. Everything that happened... I did it on purpose!"

"I just wanted you to see how much Mom actually loves me!"

I stared at her quietly. "So... you also stole my matching heart on purpose, and brought those reporters to frame me on purpose?"

Mia giggled, looking incredibly pleased with herself. "Well, since you're about to die anyway, I might as well let you die with some answers."

"Yes, I did it all on purpose."

"Of course, Mom isn't entirely innocent either. If she hadn't turned a blind eye, I wouldn't have succeeded so easily."

A bitter smile played on my lips. What about me?

I had a mother, yet I was treated worse than a stray dog.

Mia patted my cheek patronizingly, turned around, and walked away.

My mom's car sped off, disappearing into the traffic. From beginning to end, she never once stepped out of the car to look at me.

A gust of wind blew, scattering the cash across the pavement.

She wanted me to rot in hell.

But instead, I was going to drag her down there with me.

I slowly pulled my hand out of my pocket. In it was a small voice recorder.

It was my tenth birthday present from my dad.

This time, I wanted to see just how deep my mother's "selflessness" really went.