Chapter 2
For a moment, the chat went silent.
Then, someone hesitated.
“Is there anyone near Central? Maybe check it out? What if it’s real?”
“Yeah, the report looks legit.”
The man with the rare blood type messaged again.
“Alright, I’ll come back. This better not be another scam.”
I exhaled sharply, relief washing over me as I sent a flurry of thank–yous.
While waiting, I frantically scrolled through my contacts, calling anyone who might be able to help.
I couldn’t give up–not until every last option was exhausted.
But call after call ended in disappointment.
Either they didn’t have the right blood type, or they were too far away to make it in time.
The man from the group was my last hope.
And then, that hope shattered too.
He sent another string of voice messages.
“I swear to God, I want to strangle someone.”
“Do you think it’s funny to keep messing with me?”
I scrambled to reply.
“No, I swear I’m not lying. I’m standing outside the ER right now.”
“You can ask the doctors–it was an accident on Brookhaven Ave.”
“You’re still lying! I already talked to the doctors,” he shot back, his tone growing more furious.
“They told me the accident on Brookhaven was minor.”
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Chapter 2
“The patient only had a few scrapes and doesn’t need blood!”
“No! The doctor lied to you! He’s lying!”
Before I could send another message, I was kicked out of the group.
I tried rejoining, but the admin denied my requests.
Again and again, I tried, only to be rejected every time.
Eventually, I crumpled to the floor and let out a broken sob.
Right then, my phone rang. It was Dr. Harper–Ethan’s friend.
“You need to stop this nonsense,” he said, his tone dripping with irritation.
“I told the admin to kick you out of the group.”
“Your brother was right–you’re spoiled rotten.”
“You’d go to such lows just to compete with Chloe? Unbelievable.”
“She’s been through so much already.”
“Stop targeting her. Let her have her birthday in peace.”
I couldn’t even muster a response.
The words caught in my throat, and silent tears spilled down
my
cheeks.
After Dr. Harper hung up, I felt completely crushed.
But my brother?
He wasn’t done with me yet.
“Emma, you just can’t help yourself, can you?”
“Still spreading lies in the group? Pathetic.”
“If anything happens to Mom, I’ll never forgive you.”
“You and Chloe.”
My voice was hoarse, raw with anger.
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For a second, he went quiet on the other end,
Then he laughed.
“You? Really? Look, when Chloe’s birthday is over, I’ll bring her back, and I’ll make sure Mom gives you the lesson you deserve.”
“You’re so bitter and jealous, you shouldn’t even be living in the same house as Chloe.”
“Do us all a favor and move out.”
His words didn’t even register anymore.
I wasn’t sure if I was talking to my brother or some monster wearing his skin.
There was a time when he cared about me, when I was his little sister, and he actually gave a damn.
But that was before Chloe showed up.
When Chloe joined the family, everything changed.
Mom was always traveling for work, barely home.
And my brother–Ethan–took over raising me and Chloe.
Every time Chloe cried, Ethan blamed me.
Every. Single. Time.
And no matter how hard I tried to explain myself, it only made things worse.
He’d scold me even more and coddle her like she was made of glass.
Now, Mom was in surgery, her life hanging by a thread, and all Ethan cared about was Chloe’s birthday.
Oh, and kicking me out of the house.
The anger inside me burned hotter with every passing second.
I hated him for not seeing the truth, for his blind loyalty to Chloe.
I hated Chloe for her manipulative lies and fake tears.
And most of all, I hated myself–for being so weak, so powerless in the past.
The light above the operating room door stayed on, a silent reminder that every passing second mattered.
- Ties Family Lies
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Chapter 2
Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, my phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number.
I hesitated before picking up.
“Hello?”
“Hi, are you the one looking for a rare blood donor for your mom?”
“I’m a nurse at Central Hospital. I saw your message in the group.”
“Yes! Yes, that’s me,” I said, my voice shaking with a mix of hope and despair.
“Don’t cry, sweetheart.”
“I checked our files and found someone with the same rare blood type.”
“I’ll give you their contact info. Try reaching out to them.”
It felt like a lifeline.
“Thank you so much!” I said, barely able to get the words out.
I called the number immediately, my hands trembling as I waited for someone to pick up.
When the man answered, I explained everything in a rush, my voice cracking.
He paused for a moment before replying.
“I can donate,” he said slowly.
“But I’m gonna need something in return.”
