"But maybe it’s for the best," Skylar stepped closer, her voice very low. "What right does a fake heiress who can't even play the violin have to compete with me? Ethan is mine, Julian is mine, and everything in the Woods family is mine. You should just be a useless person and get as far away as possible."

Summer clenched her fists, but her fingers had no strength and could only tremble fruitlessly.

"What? Not satisfied?" Skylar laughed—a smile that was sweet yet venomous. "I'm telling you, this is just the beginning. There’s even more pain waiting for you. I want you to know what happens to people who steal things belonging to others."

After saying that, she stopped looking at Summer and turned to leave the restroom gracefully.

Summer stood in place for a long time without moving.

Even more pain?

What could be more painful than this?

She looked at the pale, haggard girl in the mirror—sunken eyes, cracked lips, hair draped messily over her shoulders, wearing an oversized hospital gown. She was so thin she looked like she would collapse in a gust of wind.

Who was this?

This shouldn't be her.

She should be the radiant, vibrant Summer Woods, wearing beautiful dresses and playing her beloved violin, shining on stage.

But now, nothing was left.

Just then, the phone in her hospital gown pocket vibrated.

[Summer, I've arrived. Where are you? Your brother is here to take you home.]

Chapter Nine

Home.

Those two words were like a beam of light in the darkness, instantly making Summer’s eyes sting.

Trembling, she used her stiff right-hand fingers to painstakingly type out the hospital address and ward number, letter by letter, and sent it.

Then, she propped herself up on the sink and slowly straightened her body.

Leave.

Right now.

She walked out of the restroom and slowly shuffled toward her ward.

As she passed Skylar’s luxurious VIP ward, the door was slightly ajar, and voices drifted out.

It was Skylar’s gentle, slightly coquettish voice: "Ethan, Julian, you don't have to stay here with me all the time. Sister... she’s hurt too. Don't you want to... go see her?"

Then, Ethan's cold and impatient voice came clearly through the crack in the door: "Why see her? She brought that on herself; she deserves it! Let her lie there and reflect! Leaving her alone to suffer a bit is the only way she'll learn!"

Then came Julian’s gentle, soothing voice: "Skylar, you are always so kind. Stop thinking about her. What she needs now isn't a visit, but reflection. Focus on your recovery and don't worry about her."

Brought it on herself. Deserves it. Leave her alone. Reflect.

Summer stood outside the door, listening to those cold and heartless words. At the center of her chest, she couldn't even feel the slightest twinge of pain anymore.

There was only boundless coldness and emptiness.

She twitched the corners of her mouth, wanting to smile, but found she couldn't even manage that simple movement.

She didn't stay. She shuffled her feet and returned to her ward.

Soon, her phone vibrated again.

[Summer, I'm here. I'm at the entrance of the inpatient department, in a black car.]

Summer took a deep breath. Using her right hand, which she could still move, she grabbed a threadbare canvas bag containing a few old clothes, turned, and walked out without hesitation.

She didn't look back.

Not even once.

Back in the VIP ward, Ethan and Julian were completely unaware of Summer’s departure.

They had been accompanying Skylar the whole time.

Her burns were healing even better than expected.

The best medicine, the best doctors, the best care—the Woods family didn't lack money. As long as Skylar didn't have scars, they were willing to spend any amount.

A week later, Skylar was ready for discharge.

"Let’s do a comprehensive check-up," Julian suggested. "To ensure everything is perfect."

Ethan agreed. "Yes, a thorough check. Burns can lead to other complications; we can't be careless."

Skylar originally didn't want to; she found it a hassle and the doctors said she was recovering well. But she couldn't win against the persistence of the two men and eventually agreed.

The comprehensive check-up took all day.

When the final report reached the lead surgeon, his expression changed.

"Mr. Woods, Mr. Rivers," he handed over the report, his tone solemn. "There is a problem with Miss Woods' results."

Ethan's heart tightened. "What problem?"

"Miss Woods has cancer. Advanced stage."

The ward fell into a deathly silence.

Skylar stared blankly at the doctor, the color draining from her face as her lips parted slightly. It was as if she didn't understand, or couldn't believe it.

It took several seconds for those terrible words to penetrate her numb nerves and crash into her consciousness.

"No... impossible! You're lying!!" she suddenly screamed, her voice distorted by extreme terror. "You must have made a mistake! I'm so young! How could I have cancer?! And at an advanced stage?!"

She cried so hard she couldn't speak, collapsing into Ethan's arms and shaking all over.

Ethan held her, his voice raspy with tension. "Develop a treatment plan immediately! Whatever is needed, no matter the cost, the medicine, or the specialists—we can do it! As long as there is a shred of hope!"

"In Miss Woods' case, the effects of chemotherapy and targeted drugs might be limited. Currently, the option with the highest hope for a cure is a lung transplant."

Skylar’s crying stopped for a moment. She raised her tear-filled face. "If I have a transplant... can I live?"

"If the transplant is successful and post-operative rejection is controlled, there is a high possibility of long-term survival."

"Then find one!" Ethan said decisively. "Find one immediately! Use every connection, search nationwide! Even abroad!"

Julian nodded, hope reigniting in his eyes. "Yes, search! No matter what, we must find a compatible donor!"

Over the next few days, the Woods and Rivers families mobilized every available resource, frantically searching through the organ matching databases of major hospitals.

Finally, after Skylar had another emotional breakdown and shattered everything she could in the ward, they found the only match—

Summer Woods!

She was the only person whose indicators perfectly matched Skylar's.

"We found it! It's Summer! As long as Summer is willing to save Skylar, Skylar will definitely live!"

Ethan and Julian both exhaled a long breath almost simultaneously. Their long-tensed nerves finally relaxed, and a massive surge of joy and relief washed over them.

Wonderful, there was finally a way! Skylar was saved!

"Really?" Skylar looked at them through tear-filled eyes.

"Really! Skylar, don't be afraid anymore, there’s hope!" Ethan gripped her hand, his voice raspy with excitement.

"Yes, Skylar, you see, there’s always a way. Summer... she will save you." Julian also showed his first smile in days, his tone certain—as if finding Summer meant all problems were solved.

Skylar’s crying gradually ceased, replaced by the euphoria of a narrow escape.

"Then... then call Sister quickly! Tell her I need her, ask her to save me... she’ll definitely agree, right?"

"Yes, she will definitely agree," Ethan nodded without hesitation.

He took out his phone, his movements carrying a hint of urgency and relief, and pressed the dial button.

Julian stood by, staring intently at the phone screen, a look of finality and relief on his face.

After a short ringing tone—

A clear, cold, emotionless electronic female voice came through the speaker, echoing in the suddenly silent ward:

"We're sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service. Please check the number and try again."

Chapter Ten

"Disconnected?" He froze, as if unable to process the words. He lowered his head and double-checked the sequence of numbers he knew by heart on the screen before pressing the dial button again.

"We're sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service. Please check the number and try again."

The mechanical female voice, word for word, rang out again.

"Impossible!" Ethan Woods’ voice suddenly spiked. His knuckles turned white from the force of his grip as he stared at the screen, as if trying to bore a hole through the numbers. "She changed her number?! How dare she?! Who gave her the courage to change her number without telling us?!"

As if unable to accept the reality, he redialed again and again. Each time, he was met with that same cold, standard response.

From confusion to disbelief, and finally to an uncontrollable rage, emotions flickered across his face in rapid succession.

Beside him, the color drained from Julian Rivers’ face instantly. He snatched the phone from Ethan’s hand and tried calling from his own device.

The result was exactly the same.

"Disconnected... it’s actually disconnected..." Julian murmured to himself, his fingers trembling almost imperceptibly.

An inexplicable panic, like a cold venomous snake, silently coiled around his heart.

"Sister... does Sister hate me so much that she’s unwilling to save me?" From the hospital bed, Skylar’s sobbing broke the silence at just the right moment. "She must still be blaming me... blaming me for taking Brother and Julian away... she wishes I were dead... doesn't she? Brother, Julian, am I... am I really going to die?"