My Family Pretend Death For a Substitute She-wolf

My heart clenched tight. I hadn't wanted them to know about the cancer, but the healer's words had already reached their ears. I gripped the bedsheet, my knuckles white, a pathetic flicker of hope sparking in my chest. Would they react? Would they regret it? Would they feel sorry for me? Would they hold me like they used to, whispering, "Evelyn, don't be scared"?

Ring-ring!

The phone's shrill cry cut through the healer's explanation. Elliot answered, and Lena's tearful voice spilled out. "Elliot, I fell. it hurts so bad."

His face changed in an instant. "I'm coming right now!"

He and Ryan didn't spare me another glance. "Get a nurse for Evelyn," Elliot barked at the healer. "Use the best meds. Replace the blood she's lost." Then they were gone, vanishing down the hallway.

The healer opened his mouth to call after them but gave up with a sigh. He turned to me. "Evelyn, your cancer's in its final stage. You need to start chemo immediately." He hesitated, then added, "Elliot and Ryan didn't seem to catch the details. Do you. want to tell them yourself? So they can be with you in your final days?"

I let out a bitter laugh, tears sliding down my face. "No need. They don't care."

He looked like he wanted to say more but just shook his head and left.

---

The next few days were hell. The pain was unbearable, the pills barely dulling it. I curled up in my hospital bed, cold sweat soaking my gown. Then my phone rang-Elliot and Ryan.

"A little scratch, and you're still holed up in there?" Ryan's voice was ice-cold. "You haven't paid for your sins yet. Get back here."

My fingers trembled around the phone. They just wanted to keep tormenting me. Fine. Let them. I wanted to see their faces when I was nothing but a cold, broken corpse.

I checked myself out, grabbed a stash of painkillers, and dragged myself back to that so-called "home." But the moment I stepped into the villa, the staff blocked my way.

"Evelyn," one said, "Elliot and Ryan's orders. You've been in the hospital too long, probably crawling with germs. Gotta disinfect you first to protect Lena."

Before I could react, they grabbed me and threw me into a disinfection pool.

The chemicals burned my unhealed wounds. I screamed, my body convulsing, blood seeping from my cuts and turning the water red. The staff shrieked, scrambling to fetch Elliot and Ryan.

Elliot rushed in, and for a split second, his eyes widened when he saw me-pale, sweating, lips bleeding from where I'd bitten them in agony. He reached out instinctively.

"Elliot!" Ryan grabbed his wrist, his voice low and sharp. "You forgetting the plan?"

Elliot's hand froze mid-air.

"I know you care about her," Ryan said, his tone cold and cruel, "but she's got one month left. We need her to learn her lesson, so she'll never hurt Nina again."

He softened his voice. "I'm her brother. It kills me too. But for Nina, we have to be ruthless."

Elliot's fingers twitched, then slowly dropped. I was left in the bloody water, watching their backs as they walked away.

How pathetic. I was dying, and they were still worried I'd hurt Nina.

---

They left me in that pool all night. By morning, the staff fished me out and tossed me into my room like trash. I curled up on the bed, every breath a shudder of pain.

When I could finally move, I forced myself up and started sorting through my things. If I was going to die, I'd leave clean-no trace of me in this house. Maybe then, in the next life, I wouldn't cross paths with them again.

I dug out old photos, diaries, gifts from Elliot. and threw them into a fire basin. The flames devoured my memories, just like they were devouring what little life I had left.

Then the door burst open.