Chapter 3

"I'm only doing this for your own good. With all the debt you have, wouldn't it be better for you to earn some money and lighten your burden?" Melanie sneered, occasionally glancing at Victor with a sideways glance.

Victor remained silent.

I pursed my lips.

After a long pause, he said, "Get ready to work in the live stream next Monday."

Melanie clapped her hands in excitement.

"Victor, that's not in the contract," I shouted angrily.

Without looking back, Victor walked towards the entrance. He paused for a moment and spoke expressionlessly, "I made the contract. Understand?"

The gate creaked shut.

I dragged my feet towards the place where I was about to live stream.

No one had ever considered my feelings.

I couldn't imagine shouting in the live stream after my father's death. No one understood that the mourning attire I was wearing now was tailor-made for him.

They used words and actions to hurt the person I cared about the most.

I sat in front of the camera, making my first appearance.

As soon as I showed up, the comments flooded the screen.

“Wow, she's so beautiful!”

“Pleasantwood Company has been hiding such a gorgeous woman. She's a ten!”

"From today onwards, I'm your fan. Irene, come on. You can do this."

"We love you, Irene."

The comments were rolling in.

After serving Victor for so many years, I had forgotten that I used to be a beautiful girl who attracted attention wherever I went.

During my school days, countless suitors would wait outside my house just to catch a glimpse of me.

"Irene, whatever you're selling, we'll buy it."

"For real? You want to buy a mourning suit?"

"So what? Give us the link and we'll order ten sets."

"Do we really need that many?"

"People are destined to die. It's better to be prepared in advance."

"That makes sense. Give me twenty sets."

"Wow, she comes from a wealthy family."

The comments flooded the screen again.

I hadn't even spoken yet or started promoting anything but had sold several suits.

In the face of that, I felt a bit overwhelmed.

Suddenly, the live stream was shut down.

A black screen appeared.

My phone buzzed.

"Irene, pause the live stream and come home immediately." It was Victor.

He was so busy yet still had time to monitor my live stream.

There must be some trivial matter he wanted me to handle.

I forced a smile and nodded slightly at my partner before leaving.

I took a taxi home, but no one was there.

It seemed that Victor was still in a meeting.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was my younger brother.

He should have been in class at this time.

Uneasily, I asked, "What's wrong?"

"Irene, you're famous now," he said on the other end of the phone. "Your live stream just went viral, and all my classmates know about you."

I remained silent. Despite her strikingly stunning appearance, my mother, unfortunately, died young.

"There's something else," my brother hesitated as he spoke. "A classmate told me something after you became popular. I mentioned your kidney donation to save someone's life to him, but I was told that person wasn't actually sick. My classmate happened to overhear it at a family gathering."

"What?" My head felt like it was about to explode. So all was a plot meticulously orchestrated by Melanie. She bribed the hospital and intended to make me suffer physically and mentally.

Before I could ask for more details, the sound of the opening door echoed through the house.

Victor returned.

I hastily hung up the phone.

He casually threw his briefcase aside and quickly approached me. I had never seen him move so fast before.

He swiftly reached out and grabbed both sides of my face with force, his breath hitting my face as he said mockingly, "Shame on you. As soon as you appear in public view, you start seducing people?"

His knuckles cracked as he tightened his grip on my face.

I couldn't speak with his grip on me so tight.

Victor had become more moody lately. He reached out to tear open my collar and growled angrily, "Did I tell you to dress so provocatively?"

He had never lost control like this before. I desperately clutched my clothes.

However, his grip was so strong that my struggle was futile.

I freed one hand.

With a slap, I struck his face.

Victor froze in place.

After a while, he turned around and leaned against the sofa, returning to his usual lazy posture. "Rest well tomorrow. You’ll donate your kidney to Melanie's relative the day after tomorrow."

I straightened my clothes and spat out two words angrily. "Dream on."

Victor remained silent as he picked up his glass from the table and leisurely sipped his drink. "Irene, you're such a stubborn wildcat."

He swirled his glass and calmly said, "Didn't I tell you? During our contract period, you belong to me."

I clenched my fist when I roared, "That doesn’t mean you have the right to use any part of my body!"

He chuckled lightly.

I couldn't understand him. Just moments ago, he was furious and agitated. Now he approached me with his glass in hand. He walked slowly, and each step he took seemed to tread on my heart, causing me unbearable pressure.

"What if I say..." Suddenly, he extended his hand in front of me with a pendant dangling. It was my brother's necklace.

"What did you do to him?" I reached out to grab it.

He didn't even spare my brother.

Victor raised his arm higher as I missed grabbing it.

"You're so impatient." Victor smiled and winked at me. "I just want to see how he's doing. Is he living well?"

He lowered his arm and placed the pendant in my hand when he said with a cheerful tone, "Whether he lives well or not... Well, that's hard to say."

He stared straight into my eyes like a beast ready to devour me at any moment.

"Does that person really need my kidney to save his life?" My voice softened.

I couldn't lose my brother, as he was my only family left in this world.

Melanie had bribed the hospital and that person wasn't actually sick.

Victor pressed his finger against my lips. "Shh." He blinked and his breath brushed against my face. "You don't need to know so much."

"Fine." My eyes turned red. "Victor, if donating my kidney can let you stay away from my brother, then I’ll do as you ask, but I also have one condition. Our contract ends here."

I was willing to trade one kidney for freedom.

I held back tears from falling down my face.

In the end, I compromised once again.

Suddenly, Victor fell silent. He lit a cigarette and smoke filled the air as he spoke heavily, "I can let you go, but you must repay the money."

Outside the operating room, Melanie came running over and said in an insincerely sweet voice, "Thank you for saving my relative’s life, Irene."

Lying on the hospital bed, I turned away, not wanting to see her disgusting face.

There was no way for me to prove she was lying. Even if I did speak up, no one would believe me anyway.

Seeing me ignore her made her feel a profound blow to her pride, so she sneered and taunted," Irene, why did you look defiant? Didn't you willingly donate your kidney?"

I turned my head and glared at her. "Does your relative really need a kidney? Only you know that best."

"What do you mean? Are you saying that I lied? I’m the daughter of the prestigious Davies family. Why would I stoop so low for someone like you?"

"I haven’t said anything yet. Why are you so eager to defend yourself?" Fearlessly staring into her face, I decided it would be better to confront her before surgery when things could go wrong.

"Why are you making a scene before surgery?" Victor walked over, gazing into my eyes, and stated, "The Lewis family values honor above all else, and we never resort to deceit anyone just for an organ."

With a cold snort, I replied, "I doubt that since this hospital is owned by your family."

Victor's face darkened. To him, it was an insult not only to him but to the Lewis family.

He waved his hand and ordered,,"Proceed with surgery."

I closed my eyes.

I knew he would never believe me even though I spoke the truth out loud.

During surgery, Victor’s assistant received a message.

He hurriedly made a call. "Mr. Lewis, I've investigated and it turned out they don't actually need an organ donor!"

At that moment, the doctor lifted a surgical knife.