Nothing But Lies

Georgina was born with a weak heart, but I was perfectly healthy. The Summers said I was a curse—that I brought bad luck to my sister and ruined the family’s fortune, so my parents resented me. Not long after I was born, they had someone abandon me by the side of the road, far from home.

Paxton remained indifferent, as if he had known that all along.

“That’s why you don’t have a choice,” he said calmly. “Whether you want to or not, you’re going through with this surgery. Georgina is your sister. Giving her your heart is what you should do.”

I bit my lip hard, trying to stay calm even as my body trembled.

By now, my face was soaked with tears, but the middle-aged man before me only looked at me with cold, ruthless eyes. There was no guilt or remorse—only disgust.

“Don’t you understand? You should never have been born. If it weren’t for you, our precious daughter wouldn’t have suffered all these years, and our family business wouldn’t have faced that crisis. You are nothing but a disaster.”

I felt lost, overwhelmed by the truth I had spent my whole life trying to understand.

Paxton’s eyes flickered with hesitation before he came over and took my hand.

“Leah, just get the surgery done. I’ll take you to Iceland afterward, okay? You’ve always wanted to go, haven’t you?”

I instinctively stepped back. Even now, his promises weren’t for me or his pity for me. They were still for Georgina.

“You knew this all along, didn’t you?”

I looked straight into his eyes, desperately searching for an answer. However, reality hit me harder than any truth ever could.

After a brief pause, Paxton nodded.

I refused to agree.

“Leah!” For the first time, Paxton’s expression darkened. “Just listen to me. I won’t abandon you.”

Still, I was stubborn.

The well-dressed woman—my so-called mother—had lost all patience. She stormed over and slapped me hard across the face.

“Do you not understand? This surgery is happening, whether you like it or not! Let’s not waste our breath. Watch her carefully. She’s not to leave this place before the operation.”

Paxton didn’t argue. His eyes were now filled with disappointment.

The three of them left, locking me inside Paxton’s apartment. They even stationed guards at the door.

I curled up on the cold floor, my cheek still burning from the slap.

We were both their daughters. Yet, one was pampered and sheltered, given everything she ever wanted, while the other was discarded like trash, left to fend for herself.

Should I blame my parents for being so heartless, or should I blame fate for choosing me as the cursed one?

Life at the orphanage was tough. Since I was little, I had held onto one dream—to find my parents and have a home. I never wanted riches or power but just a family that loved me.

Now that I had finally met my parents, I knew, once and for all, that I would never have that kind of home.

The next day, Sam appeared at the apartment. For a brief, foolish moment, I thought he had come to save me, but I was wrong.

“Leah, just go through with the surgery,” he said softly. “We won’t abandon you.”

His tone was gentle, careful not to upset me.

As I was too exhausted to feel anything anymore, I didn’t respond, and Sam didn’t try to convince me further. There was no need to either. The surgery was tomorrow, and I had no way to escape.

I was forced onto the operating table, with Sam and Paxton standing beside me. Their faces were calm and devoid of guilt.

As my consciousness faded, memories of my lonely years flashed through my mind.