CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 1: SERENA SINCLAIR, YOU DESERVE THIS!

Serena Sinclair is about to die.

Kidney failure.

Advanced stage.

But there isn’t a single family member by her side.

Lying on the cold hospital bed, listening to the ticking of the IV drip, Serena felt as though she could hear the sound of her own life ebbing away.

Yet, she so dearly missed her husband and son.

She longed to go home!

"Adrian..."

Serena called Adrian Lockwood, "Will you come pick me up and take me home?"

Half a year ago Adrian was in the late stage of kidney disease, and Serena felt like the sky was falling.

Before the hospital could find a matching kidney, tests showed that Serena was a perfect match.

Saved the money for a kidney purchase.

After the kidney transplant surgery, each of them had one of Serena’s kidneys inside their bodies.

Adrian laughed and said, "Serena, now we are truly an inseparable part of each other."

In just half a year, Adrian recovered completely, yet Serena’s kidney function declined, leading to kidney failure.

Still in the advanced stage.

But Serena didn’t have Adrian’s luck.

No one was kind enough to donate her a kidney.

The noise on the other side of the phone gradually faded, Adrian’s voice was filled with weariness, "Serena, can you stop causing trouble? It’s Miles’ birthday today, and there are many guests at home, I can’t leave..."

Today was Miles Lockwood’s fifth birthday.

Last year on his birthday, her son wished for his mom and dad to always be by his side.

Though she’s about to die, at least she could spend one last birthday with her son.

Serena’s pale complexion gained a hint of color, "Adrian, I want to come home, let’s celebrate Miles’ birthday together!"

Adrian’s tone revealed his impatience, "In your current state, how can you celebrate his birthday? Have you thought about our son? Doesn’t he need to save face?"

The reflection of herself in the bright glass was like a monster.

Tubes all over her body, haggard face.

Complexion ghastly pale like a ghost.

Serena forced down the ache in her heart, "But Adrian, I’m about to die!"

"Then just go and die!!!"

Adrian’s patience ran out on the other end, "Serena, must you ruin our joy when my son and I are happy?"

Her breath caught, Serena’s eyes widened.

"You can talk to him yourself!"

The irritating voice dropped.

A crisp child’s voice came through the phone, "Hello?"

"Son, mommy misses you so much, I..."

"You are so annoying."

Serena’s words were cut short by Miles’ frustrated interruption, "I’m opening presents right now, you’re so annoying!"

"Miles..."

Serena stood in a daze.

These two.

One is the husband she had known since childhood, from school uniform to wedding dress.

One is the flesh she bore for ten months that came from her own body.

Once they were her entire pride.

But now, with one remark from each, they killed all happiness inside her.

The husband who cherished her pregnancy hardships, insisted on her staying home to await the birth.

The son who smiled brightly at her, sweetly declaring his love when he learned to talk saying mommy I love you so much.

Both seemed to have become entirely different people.

When Serena returned to her senses, the call had already ended.

She hadn’t even managed to say happy birthday to her son.

Unwilling to give up, Serena called again.

The phone rang for a long time with no one answering.

She tried calling her son’s phone watch, but it also went unanswered.

Just as Serena was about to hang up, looking ashen-faced.

The phone watch connected.

"Miles, hap—"

"Serena!"

A radiant and charming face appeared on the screen.

Chloe Lynch.

A new intern at the company.

"Serena, Miles is wishing and blowing out the candles now. At such an important moment, don’t disturb him..."

The phone screen showed a happy scene from The Lockwood Family’s living room.

Chloe placed the watch on the bookshelf facing the living room.

A table piled with gifts.

A birthday cake with lit candles.

Wishing with his birthday hat on, Miles Lockwood.

And... Adrian Lockwood and Chloe Lynch standing beside him.

Warm and happy.

As if a true family of three.

Serena smiled bitterly.

But as she smiled, tears began to flow uncontrollably.

She thought of how she insisted on natural delivery for fear a C-section would make the baby less intelligent, giving birth painfully for three days and nights to finally bear her son.

Thought of how she ran all over the hospitals looking for a kidney source for Adrian, being treated like a madwoman by doctors until finding out her kidney matched for a transplant and cried with joy.

Also thought of her bloated, yellowskin self in past years.

Serena couldn’t help clenching her fist into her palm.

Serena, you deserve this!

"Son, blow out the candle!"

Adrian, visible in the screen, was all smiles, completely devoid of the earlier irritation and impatience.

Cheerful sounds filled the room.

Serena slowly exhaled.

Then she heard her son’s wish.

"I hope Daddy earns lots of money, gets rich!"

"I hope Aunt Chloe stays young and pretty forever."

"I wish Aunt Chloe could always stay with me and Daddy so we three could be together forever!"

Son, then... What about me?

Serena stared blankly at her son’s smiling face on the screen.

Don’t you want your mommy anymore?

The candle was extinguished, and there was a frenzy of excitement on the other end.

Chloe Lynch, like a hostess, held Miles Lockwood’s hand to cut the cake, sharing it with the little friends around.

With a bit of cream on his nose, Miles looked at Chloe Lynch with loving tenderness, took Adrian Lockwood’s hand, and walked to the kitchen island.

Close enough.

Serena lowered her head and saw the bright light in Miles’ eyes, "Daddy, the doctor said mommy’s illness is very serious."

"Yes."

Serena’s heart kindled a tiny spark of hope.

She saw Miles’ eyes twinkling as he said, "So... when mommy dies, can Aunt Chloe become my new mommy?"

Mouth half-open, Serena felt like a goose being choked.

Not yet managing a sound.

Just heard the man’s response, "Alright!"

Piercing cold wind swept from afar, scraping like steel wool through the heart.

In the quiet hospital room, Serena’s heart lay barren.

Indeed, failing to see reality, stubbornness and refusal to accept fate bring about punishment.

Bang!

The phone fell.

Cheering and laughter abruptly ceased on the other side.

The cold hospital room was deathly still.

Breathing became difficult.

Dizziness clouded her senses.

Serena stared at the darkening ceiling above, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye.

At the moment darkness descended, Serena heard a piercing call.

"Serena!"

For a moment, Serena’s thoughts halted.

Years of revolving around husband and son.

Some called her Mrs. Lockwood.

More people called her Miles’ mommy.

To the point she forgot she had such a beautiful name.

Evening sun’s glow, brightly painting the horizon.

Serena.

"Serena! Serena!!!... If you can’t save her, I want you all to bury with her!!!"

As if a roar from the depths of the soul.

Such anguish.

Such urgency.

Serena desperately wanted to wake up.

Who is it?

Who is calling her?

And who dares to snatch her life back from the grip of death.

But it’s too late...

She’s going to die.

Trying hard to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt as heavy as thousands of pounds.

Fingers slightly moved.

Serena’s mind descended into darkness.