Chapter 4

The sky was cloudy on the day of the surgery. Caitlyn and I were pushed out of the ward at the same time, heading for the same destination. Helen and Frank sat beside Caitlyn, holding her hand tightly and murmuring, "Don't be afraid, Cait. We're all here." Meanwhile, Cyrus walked ahead of everyone, repeatedly going through the details with the doctor. I, on the other hand, was all alone. As I was being pushed into the operating room, Cyrus glanced at me briefly before turning to leave. A self-deprecating smirk tugged at my lips, and I closed my eyes. When I was awakened by the pain, there was still no one in the ward. But as I tried to get up, the nurse heard me and walked over. "Hey there. The surgery went well. You need to get some rest. Don't try to move too much," advised the nurse. "My dad…" I croaked. The nurse's tone was gentler than before. "Don't worry. Your father was moved to the VIP ward yesterday. He has a team of specialists monitoring his condition around the clock, and his condition is stable." The news put me at ease, and I dozed off again. I woke up two days later and found myself staring at Cyrus. He seemed to have lost weight, but he was in a good mood. Cyrus sat beside my bed and gently asked how I felt. All I could do was look at him. Unable to utter a word, I turned my head away. My coldness made him uneasy. He cleared his throat and said with a hint of apology, "Susie, I know what I did back then was wrong. I've arranged for the country's best doctor to help you recuperate. I promise there won't be any side effects. "You don't have to worry about your father, too. The doctor says he's making good progress and can be discharged soon." I kept silent. Having run out of things to say, Cyrus sat there for a little while before leaving the room. Not long after that, a journalist from Astra Daily reached out to me through the nurse. According to the journalist, my decision to act for the greater good and agree to the transplant surgery to save Caitlyn had caused a social sensation. She wanted an exclusive interview with me, and I agreed. A few days later, as soon as my health allowed, the journalist arrived at my ward with her team. On the camera, I could be seen wearing a baggy hospital gown, and my complexion was ghostly. The journalist seemed to think I would break down as I recounted how I had a change of heart and was moved by familial bonds. Thus, she went straight to the point, asking, "Ms. Sloan, what made you change your mind and decide to save your sister's life? Was it because of Mr. Gaultier and his family's unwavering care for you?" I looked into the camera and shook my head solemnly. "No. The reason I'm here is not because of familial bonds. It's because I made a deal." The journalist and the cameraman behind her were stunned. Ignoring their expressions, I continued, "Mr. Gaultier used my biological father's life to exchange for his sister's life. I had no other choice." I let out a self-deprecating laugh. "About my resentment for them… You guys have always wondered why I hated the Gaultiers and Caitlyn so much, haven't you? Well, I'll tell you the answer today. "Ten years ago, when Caitlyn returned home, I became her blood bank. She had a weak body, and I had to give her my blood once every week. "One day, she staged a fall from the second-floor staircase and pushed me under the bus. The Gaultiers did not even bother to investigate the matter and simply assumed I had pushed her because I was jealous of her. "When I was thrown out of their house, I did not have a single cent on me. Even my phone was taken away. "Caitlyn's friends even started harassing me online, making it hard for me to find a decent job. I would often get beaten up for no reason when I walked on the streets. Hence, I could only live discreetly like a street mouse." When the interview clip was published, it caused a stir on the internet. Lying on the bed, I scrolled on my phone and watched the comments flood in. The public opinion had shifted because of what I had said.