Borrowed Blood

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.