Borrowed Blood

Three years earlier, my adoptive parents were arrested for human trafficking, and the police finally tracked down my biological family. However, tragedy struck before they could bring me home. They were involved in a car accident on their way to pick me up. My parents and younger sister were killed instantly. Only my older brother, Derrick, survived because he had been working overtime that night. Not long after the accident, he was diagnosed with ALS. When we finally met, hatred filled his eyes. “If it were not for you, our family would still be together.” From that moment, I carried the weight of three deaths on my shoulders. I also took responsibility for the debt left behind by the accident, along with the rest of Derrick’s life. I dropped out of school and worked four jobs at the same time. When I felt hungry, I survived on cheap bread. When I became sick, I endured it and kept going. Every dollar I earned went toward Derrick’s medication. For three years, that was my life. Until one day, while delivering food to a private club, I saw the person who was supposed to be bedridden at home, waiting for me to turn him over in bed. Derrick. He stood beside a billiards table with a cue in his hand. His movements were smooth, precise, and completely free. No trace of illness could be seen. He struck the cue ball cleanly. One of his friends laughed and said, “Derrick, you have been faking ALS for three years. Even if this was a test, do you not think it has gone on long enough?” Derrick lined up another shot without looking up. “Harriet was raised by traffickers for ten years. No one knows what she learned from them. How could we bring her back into the Lawson family without testing her first? “Besides, Sheila was terrified that we would abandon her once we found our real family. She cried about it more than once. We needed to give her time to adjust.” A flicker of discomfort crossed his friend’s face. “However, Harriet has worked herself to the bone to pay for your treatment.” Another ball dropped into a pocket. Derrick smiled, pleased with himself. “Sheila and my parents are flying back tomorrow. Once they arrive, I will arrange for Harriet to return to the Lawson family. After that, I will make it up to her.” I lowered my head as a burning sensation rose inside my nose. A mechanical voice suddenly echoed in my mind. [Congratulations, Host. The Obsession Commission has been completed. Would you like to claim your reward?] I wiped away the blood that trickled from my nose. “Yes,” I replied quietly. “Claim it.” In three days, I would finally be going home. The Lawson family had never been the home I wanted. Chapter 1 By the time I finished my work for the day and returned to the apartment I rented, it was already past midnight. “So, you finally decided to come home? Where have you been this late?” As usual, Derrick Lawson greeted me with a scowl the moment he saw me. He sat in his wheelchair with limp arms and weak legs. He looked nothing like the man who had been clearing the pool table with ease earlier that day. In the past, the moment I stepped inside, I would revolve around Derrick. No matter when he called for me or what he needed, I would respond right away. This time, I ignored his question. I sat down, pulled out a loaf of bread, and started eating. Derrick froze for a second before his face darkened. “Are you deaf? I am talking to you!” After swallowing my mouthful, I finally spoke. “Derrick, I am starving. I do not even have the energy to talk. This is my dinner. Can you let me finish eating first?” His expression stiffened. For a moment, he seemed unsure how to respond. After I finished the bread and regained a little strength, I opened my bag and took out several boxes of medicine. I popped out the pills and placed them in Derrick’s hand. “I bought this month’s medication. Go ahead and take it.” His throat bobbed. He avoided my eyes and said, “Just leave it there. I will take it later. Go wash up first, you are covered in dust. It is disgusting.” I nodded and walked toward the bathroom. However, instead of washing up right away, I left the door slightly open. Through the crack, I watched Derrick wrap the pills in a tissue and toss them into the trash can. Listening to the sound of running water from the sink, I quietly closed the door. I stared at my pale reflection in the mirror and stood there in silence. Earlier that day, after I collapsed, a stranger had called an ambulance and sent me to the hospital. The first thing I heard after waking up was the doctor letting out a regretful sigh. “If you had started treatment earlier, there might have been a chance, but…” He never finished the sentence. He did not need to. The truth had already settled in. I did not have much time left because I had given my chance at survival to Derrick, only to learn that the sacrifice had been for nothing. He had never needed it at all. When I finally stepped out of the bathroom, Derrick already sounded impatient. “What is taking so long? I am going to bed.” After saying that, he waited for me to help him onto the bed. I could not understand it. The person who had supposedly died was coming back tomorrow. The test I had been put through was finally ending, so I did not know why he continued to pretend. I felt exhausted and only wanted to collapse into bed and sleep. However, the face in front of me looked far too much like the one burned into my memory. I could not bring myself to be heartless. I helped Derrick to his feet and eased him onto the bed. Just as I turned to leave, he suddenly grabbed my wrist. For once, his voice softened. “Harriet, since you have taken care of me for three years, I decided not to blame you anymore for the car accident.” My movements paused. I turned slightly to look at him. There was no trace of guilt in his eyes. Instead, there was a kind of satisfaction, as if he were inspecting a finished assignment and approving the results. A sharp pain pierced my chest. I knew at once that it did not belong to me. It belonged to the original Harriet, a lingering emotion she had left behind. I pushed the feeling down and looked straight at Derrick. “Derrick, if I were the one who got sick, would you fight for my life the way I fought for yours?” He froze. For the first time, he did not have an answer. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. I turned and walked out of the room. At four in the morning, I got up quietly and prepared to leave for work. As I passed by, I heard my brother talking on the phone. His voice sounded softer than I had ever heard before. “Do not worry, you are the one I love most. No one could ever replace you. “Mom and Dad love you the most too. They would not have spent the last three years traveling overseas with you if they cared about meeting her. “Even if she walks through the doors of the Lawson family tomorrow, she will still come after you. Happy now?” There was a brief pause. When Derrick spoke again, there was a hint of pleading in his voice. “It is only eight at night where you are, but it is four in the morning here. I am getting old. I cannot stay up like this anymore. I really need to sleep.” The stabbing pain returned to my chest. I rubbed the spot and looked toward Derrick’s bedroom door. No matter how much he looked like him, Derrick was not him. Chapter 2 Today was my last day of work. Even if I was leaving, I wanted to finish everything properly. After completing all my handovers and officially quitting all four of my jobs, I suddenly realized I had nowhere to go. Ever since I arrived in this world, I had not had a single moment to rest. First, my adoptive parents treated me like an object. Being beaten and cursed at was part of everyday life. Every day was spent figuring out how to survive. I felt terrified that I would die before I could complete my mission. Six months later, my adoptive parents were arrested. Just when I finally reconnected with my biological family, I ended up carrying the burden of three lives on my shoulders. From that moment, every second of every day was spent working to earn money. As I wandered through downtown, I spotted a familiar figure. Derrick stood at a jewelry counter, holding up his phone with the camera pointed at a display case. On the screen was the face of a girl around my age. She pointed at different pieces of jewelry through the video call. “That one is not pretty. It looks too old‑fashioned. “I do not like that one either. Seriously, bro, what happened to your taste? Did living in the slums for three years ruin your sense of style?” Not a trace of anger appeared on Derrick’s face. He patiently asked the sales associate to bring out more pieces for her to choose from. Only after the girl finally smiled did he relax. “The ruby one is nice,” she said. “It is just a little small. “However, let us be clear. This only counts as a welcome‑home gift. “You disappeared for three years and you still owe me an apology gift for that.” Derrick agreed without hesitation. “Deal. Just tell me what you want and I will get it for you.” As he spoke, he handed over his card and paid. The sales associate carefully packaged the jewelry and passed the bag to him. “Sir, here is your ruby necklace and the complimentary bracelet. Please make sure you take everything with you.” Before Derrick could leave the jewelry store, I had already turned and walked away. I glanced at the balance on my phone. Less than eight hundred dollars. Since I could not take anything from this world with me, I figured I might as well treat myself during the little time I had left. I stopped by a pharmacy and bought some painkillers. After the medicine eased the stabbing ache in my chest, I headed to the food court. Everything I had always wanted to eat but never dared to buy, I finally tried. I also bought new clothes and a new pair of shoes. Just after changing into them, my phone buzzed. A message from Derrick. There was only one sentence and a location pin. The address belonged to one of the most expensive villa communities in the city. Even though I had spent days preparing myself, my emotions still felt complicated when I finally stood in front of someone who was supposed to be dead. “Harriet, you are here.” Mom grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the couch as if she had truly been looking forward to seeing me. “It is good to have you home. You suffered a lot these past few years.” Dad looked me over from head to toe. His expression revealed nothing. “Now that you are back, you need to learn how things are done in this family. Do not embarrass the Lawson family.” Sheila Lawson wore a sweet smile. “Welcome home, Sis.” None of them offered any explanation for faking their deaths. They acted as if it were something so small that it did not deserve a single word. At that moment, Derrick came downstairs. Dressed in a casual suit, he walked toward me with an easy, relaxed stride. I had assumed he would feel at least a little guilty. Instead, the first thing he said was: “Harriet, the last three years were a test created by every member of this family. Congratulations. You passed.” He stopped in front of me and smiled. “Starting today, you are officially a member of the Lawson family.” I stood there, frozen. For a moment, I did not know how to react. What I could not understand was how Derrick could brush aside three years of lies without changing his expression. Maybe my silence lasted too long. Derrick chuckled. “What? So happy you cannot even speak?” I pressed my lips together. “No.” The smile on his face faded for a brief second. He pulled out a bank card and handed it to me. “There is three million dollars in this account. “It is more than ten times what you earned over the last three years. “Think of it as compensation.” The pain, humiliation, and suffering I endured for three years suddenly felt like nothing more than a business transaction, a project that had reached its conclusion. The inspection was complete, the results were approved, and then it was time for payment and settlement. I stared at the card in silence but did not take it. Chapter 3 Derrick frowned. “What, is it not enough?” I looked away from the card and met his eyes. “I cannot use this money.” Nothing in this world could be taken with me when I left. The original Harriet had already died from her adoptive parents’ abuse before I ever entered this world. The only thing she left behind was her desperate wish to return home. This compensation meant nothing. At that moment, Sheila leaned against Mom’s shoulder and spoke with complete sincerity. “Take it, Sis. “You are a Lawson now. There will be plenty of times when you need money in the future.” She glanced at my clothes. “And honestly, what you are wearing looks pretty cheap. You should buy a few decent outfits so people do not laugh at the Lawson family.” Mom agreed right away. “Sheila is right. A Lawson daughter should be like Sheila. Excellent in academics, cultured in the arts, and skilled in social situations. “I already arranged etiquette classes, public speaking lessons, French courses, and piano lessons for you. “I heard you never finished high school, so you will need a lot of tutoring as well. I do not want people saying that a Lawson daughter is poorly mannered and poorly educated.” The painkillers were probably wearing off. Something swelled inside my chest, pressing against my lungs until breathing became difficult. “You do not need to.” I interrupted Mom. “I will be leaving soon anyway.” The room fell silent. A flash of joy crossed Sheila’s eyes, but her voice trembled as she spoke. “Sis… are you angry with me? “You have every right to be. I took your place and made you suffer all these years. “Please do not leave. If you go, Mom, Dad, and Derrick will all be heartbroken. If anyone should leave, it should be me.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. Mom pulled Sheila into her arms. “My precious girl, nobody is making you leave.” Dad looked just as distressed. He hurried to wipe away Sheila’s tears. “The Lawson family is your home. It always will be.” Even Derrick joined in comforting her. “Do not cry. Your eyes will get swollen and that will not look pretty.” When he turned to me, every trace of warmth disappeared. “You will stay in the guest room from now on. Last room at the end of the hall upstairs. Do not get lost.” As I passed Sheila’s bedroom, I paused. A blurry memory surfaced in my mind. Mom and Dad were working late, and Derrick sat on the bed with little Harriet in his arms, reading her a picture book. Every now and then, the two of them burst into laughter together. Then I blinked, and the image vanished. The room that once belonged to little Harriet had long since become someone else’s. The moment I entered the guest room, I took more painkillers. That night, I slept badly. In my dreams, I was five years old one moment and ten years old the next. Laughter mixed with crying. The sounds tangled together until I could not tell them apart. Before dawn the next morning, a wave of pain jolted me awake. Warm liquid filled my nose. I clamped a hand over it and rushed into the bathroom. A long time later, I finally stepped out, my face pale as paper. Without even getting water, I chewed and swallowed two painkillers. During breakfast, Derrick suddenly spoke. “There is a gathering today. It will mostly be young people. Harriet, you are coming with us.” A flicker of displeasure crossed Sheila’s face, disappearing so quickly that it might have been my imagination. She smiled. “Of course. It will be a great chance to introduce some friends to my sister.” She looked me over. “Your clothes are not suitable. Why do you not borrow some of mine?” When I came downstairs wearing clothes that clearly did not fit me, Sheila’s smile grew brighter. “You look great.” Then she added, “It is just a little plain.” As she spoke, she fastened a bracelet around my wrist. “I knew this bracelet would look perfect on you.” Derrick glanced at it and nodded. “It does suit you.” My gaze drifted to the ruby necklace around Sheila’s neck. Compared to that, the complimentary bracelet on my wrist felt almost laughable. When we arrived at the hotel, one of Derrick’s friends called him away. Sheila immediately volunteered to stay with me. The second Derrick disappeared, several of Sheila’s friends surrounded me. One of them looked me up and down before smirking. “So, you are the sister everyone keeps talking about? “I heard you were raised by human traffickers.” She tilted her head mockingly. “Did you pick up any tricks from them? Maybe become an expert at kidnapping people yourself?” Chapter 4 I had less than two days left in this world. My body felt more exhausted with every passing hour, and I did not have the energy to talk. However, even though I refused to respond, the girls only became more enthusiastic under Sheila’s smug smile. At first, Derrick glanced in our direction every now and then. After seeing Sheila laughing and chatting happily, he stopped paying attention. Sheila leaned close to my ear and whispered, her voice filled with triumph. “So what if you are the biological daughter? As long as I am unhappy, you will not even make it through the front door of the Lawson family.” I looked straight at her and spoke slowly and clearly. “I just want some peace and quiet. Can you make them leave me alone, Janet?” The moment she heard the name Janet, Sheila’s pupils tightened. Panic flashed across her face. She forced herself to stay calm, then quickly found an excuse and led her friends away. I wiped the blood from my nose and stayed in the restroom for what felt like hours. By the time I finally moved, the party was over and everyone had gone home. No one remembered me. A janitor eventually found me slumped there and gently asked whether I needed an ambulance. I shook my head. “No.” By the time I returned to the Lawson family estate, it was completely dark outside. The moment I stepped through the front door, an ashtray flew toward me. I cried out and stumbled backward, clutching my forehead. Blood streamed down the side of my face. Derrick’s voice sounded terrifyingly cold. “Where were you? Where is Sheila? Why did you not answer any of our calls?” Mom rushed over with red‑rimmed eyes and slapped me across the face. “It must have been you who drove Sheila away.” Her voice trembled with anger. “A girl raised by human traffickers is exactly what I expected. We should never have let you come back.” I stared at her. Then, through the blood blurring my vision, I looked toward Derrick. At that moment, the system’s countdown echoed in my mind. The stabbing pain in my chest intensified without warning. It hurt so much that every word required all the strength I had left. “If this was how things were going to be…” I struggled for breath. “…then she would have been better off dying at five years old. “At least she would not have spent all those years wanting to come home. “Believing someone was waiting for her.” No one noticed the flaw in my words. No one paid attention at all. They were too busy calling people and searching for Sheila. Dad slammed his hand against the table. “Derrick. “Lock her in the storage room and let her think about what she has done. “Until Sheila comes back, she is not coming out.” Without a word, Derrick grabbed me with one hand, dragged me away, and threw me into the storage room. The door locked from the outside. The world became silent. The wound on my forehead would not stop bleeding, and blood kept dripping from my nose. In the darkness, I wiped it away again and again until I no longer had the strength to lift my hand. I did not know how much time had passed when the system’s voice finally sounded again. [Reward delivered.] A faint smile touched my lips. Finally. I could go home. Someone was waiting for me there. Meanwhile, Derrick found Sheila in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. Her evening gown was torn, the ruby necklace was gone, and she looked miserable and disheveled. The moment she saw him, she threw herself into his arms and burst into tears. “Brother. “You finally came. “I thought I would never see you again.” Derrick wrapped his arms around her. His voice shook uncontrollably. “It is okay. I am here now. “You are safe. Do not be afraid.” Only after her sobs quieted did he ask, “Why did you come here? “Why were you not with your sister?” As though the question triggered a terrible memory, Sheila shuddered. Fresh tears filled her eyes. “It was Harriet. “She said she was going to sell me. “I got scared. I was about to call Mom and Dad when I suddenly blacked out. “When I woke up, I was already here. “My phone was gone too.” The entire drive home, Derrick’s face stayed dark. He made a phone call. “Cancel everything we ordered before. “The house, the car, and the school admission spot. “Get rid of all of it. “And Harriet’s birthday banquet. “Cancel that too.” As soon as the car entered the Lawson family estate, Derrick got out before it even reached the garage. He walked straight toward the storage room. “Harriet. “You had better get out here right now.” The moment he unlocked the door and pulled it open, his voice died in his throat. He froze in place, completely still. Chapter 5 The storage room was dark. The hallway light poured in from behind Derrick, illuminating a large stain of dark red across the floor. It stretched from the doorway where he stood all the way to the corner of the room. I was slumped against the wall with my head tilted slightly to one side. A dried wound cut across my temple. The area around it had swollen into a massive purple bruise, so swollen that one of my eyes was nearly unrecognizable. Blood from my nose had run past my lips and chin, smearing across my cheeks and ears. The front of my shirt had long since lost its original color. It was soaked through with blood. The pool beneath me had spread to Derrick’s shoes, sticky and dark. “Harriet?” Derrick’s voice trembled. He called my name again. “Harriet?” Mom had been celebrating Sheila’s safe return. When she saw Derrick storm toward the storage room, she followed him. The sight before her made her scream. She covered her mouth and staggered back a step. Dad had been comforting the frightened Sheila. After hearing the commotion, he rushed over as well. The moment he saw me, all the color drained from his face. Peeking out from behind him, Sheila leaned forward. She had just finished crying in front of Mom and Dad. Her eyes were still red as she spoke in a soft voice. “What is wrong with Harriet?” She stared at the blood on the floor. “That blood is not fake, is it?” A moment later, she let out a small laugh. “After all, Derrick pretended to have ALS for three years. Maybe Harriet resents us and decided to fake fainting with some stage blood to scare everyone. “She grew up with human traffickers. She is probably an expert at lying…” “Shut up.” Derrick’s roar cut her off instantly. Sheila flinched so hard her whole body shrank back. Tears spilled from her eyes. Mom stepped in front of her. “How can you talk to your sister like that?” She glared at Derrick. “She is terrified too. Instead of comforting her, you are yelling at her?” Derrick did not answer. He bent down and lifted me into his arms. As he carried me toward the door, he barked out orders. “Get the car ready. “We are going to the hospital. “Call ahead and tell them to prepare for an emergency patient.” The car sped toward the hospital. The entire way there, Derrick refused to let go of me. His palms were drenched with cold sweat. As he held me, memories from the last three years flashed through his mind one after another. When we first met, he had made things difficult for me on purpose because he wanted to test me. Sometimes he intentionally knocked over his bowl of food, then used it as an excuse to yell at me. Again and again, he reminded me that I was responsible for the deaths of our parents and sister. Each accusation forced me to lower my head and work even harder caring for him. Back then, he had only planned for the test to last one month. One month was enough. Enough to see whether hardship had changed my character. One month later, Sheila called him. She cried so hard she could barely speak. “So now that you have her, you do not need me anymore? “I guess blood wins in the end. “You had not seen her for ten years, but after spending one month together, you trust her completely.” Her voice broke into sobs. “I am only the adopted daughter. “Of course I will never compare to the real one.”