After our family business went bankrupt, my sister was diagnosed with ALS. I dropped out of college, shouldering the crushing debt and the weight of my sister's fragile life. For five years, I was beaten by debt collectors until I vomited blood, but I wouldn't spend a dime on painkillers. I worked five jobs a day, passing out from exhaustion, but I never dared to take a sick day. Every penny went to keeping my sister alive. Until one night, while delivering drinks at a high-end club, I saw her. My sister, who was supposed to be in a wheelchair waiting for me at home, was standing there in a designer gown, chatting effortlessly with her friends. "You've been faking ALS for five years, Maya," her friend laughed. "Liam has worked himself to the bone for you. Isn't this punishment enough?" My sister scoffed. "Almost. If Liam hadn't been so selfish and yelled at Julian, hurting his feelings, I wouldn't have had to fake bankruptcy and a terminal illness to teach him a lesson." "Julian has been enjoying himself abroad for five years. He's finally in a better mood and agreed to forgive Liam. I'll find the right time to stage a 'miraculous recovery.' Then Liam can have his life back. Consider it atonement for his selfishness." Her friend hesitated. "ALS is incurable. Will Liam believe it?" My sister smiled with supreme confidence. "That idiot believes every word I say." "He needed to learn that Julian, as the adopted son, needs more security. As the older brother, Liam should always yield. I did this for his own good. I'll make it up to him later." I lowered my head, tears falling silently. But Maya, we don't have a "later." Your terminal illness was fake. But mine is real. Chapter 1 The cold draft in the hallway cut through me. I stood frozen, a puppet with its strings cut. I was enduring the agony of five years of faith shattering into dust. Each revelation was a blade, carving out pieces of my soul. Maya's friend, Sarah, sighed. "You're ruthless. That's your own brother. A genius at Columbia, and he dropped out just like that. He's barely twenty, but he looks like an old man. Just a few days ago, he was short fifty bucks for your medicine and begged me for it." Maya's face darkened instantly. "Did you give it to him?" Sarah shook her head helplessly. "You gave strict orders. Would I dare?" "The kid knelt outside my door all afternoon. He fainted from low blood sugar, but I didn't call an ambulance. He woke up and crawled away." What Sarah didn't say was that I had been desperate that day. Maya had been off her imported medication for a week. Without it, she would get worse. I had exhausted every option. Sarah had looked at me like I was a ghost and chased me away in a panic. It turned out she didn't want to refuse me. She had to. Maya scoffed coldly. "Listen, everyone. Until I bring Julian back, no one helps Liam. He can kneel, beg, or die in front of you—ignore him. Julian is sensitive and prone to depression. I sent him abroad for five years to heal. If Liam's punishment ends a day early, Julian might get upset again. Anyone who upsets my precious brother will answer to me." Everyone looked at each other, the absurdity hanging in the air. Someone awkwardly ventured, "Maya, aren't you afraid Liam will find out and leave you?" Maya burst out laughing. "Are you kidding? We're blood. Even if you held a knife to his throat, he wouldn't leave me. Besides, Julian suffered because he's not blood-related. It's only right I treat him better." "But remember, if word of this gets to Liam, don't blame me for cutting ties." I leaned against the wall, my limbs numb. So, the five years I staked my life on were just a worthless joke. My life, my freedom, even my health—all sacrificed. Just because Julian felt "wronged." It was all "trivial" to my sister. I wanted to laugh, but tears fell like broken beads. A phone rang in the private room, and footsteps approached the door. I turned to flee but collided with the manager rushing over. The bottle of vintage wine in my hand, worth thousands, shattered on the floor. The manager's face turned black. He slapped me to the ground. Maya swept past us. Julian lunged forward and hugged her. "Why didn't you let me pick you up? Are you tired? I booked a spa team for you at home." Julian beamed. "I missed you, sis! I wanted to surprise you!" I knelt less than a meter away, mask on, daring not to move or speak. My red eyes stung from the glare of the diamonds on Julian's watch. One diamond could buy a year's supply of medicine for the sister I thought was dying. The manager hissed, "Ms. Sterling, I am so sorry this clumsy idiot disturbed your reunion. I'll have more wine sent up immediately." Chapter 2 Black high heels stopped in front of me. The manager, terrified of her temper, grabbed my arm and twisted it hard. "Ms. Sterling, this trash has no eyes. Can't even hold a bottle." The pain was nothing compared to the broken ribs from the debt collectors. But I shrunk back, feeling my insides twist into knots. Maya frowned impatiently. "Enough." She pointed at me. "Since you broke it, pick up every shard by hand. If my brother steps on one piece, I'll make you swallow it." The hallway had thick, soundproof carpet. The shards were embedded deep. I crawled on my knees, feeling for the glass with my palms. Julian squinted at my back, then grabbed Maya's arm, whining. "Sis, I'm tired. Let's go, it's dangerous here." The black heels stepped onto the back of my hand, grinding down. Then she walked away, indifferent. I knelt there, staring at the glass embedded in my palm. I cried until I laughed. The manager was horrified. "What's wrong with you? Why is your nose bleeding?" I staggered to my feet, wiping my face with my sleeve. "Maybe I'm dying." I didn't wait for his reaction. I let the blood drip all the way out of the club. When I pushed open the door to our rental, a crash came from the kitchen. Maya was struggling to get up from her overturned wheelchair. Seeing me, she flushed with embarrassment, like a child caught in the act. "Liam, I just wanted to make you some food..." "I'm useless! I'm just a burden!" Her speech was slurred, drool mixing with tears. She played the part of the paralyzed, helpless invalid perfectly. I suddenly remembered that before her "diagnosis," Maya had severe OCD. She washed her hands twenty times a day. She couldn't stand a speck of dust. Yet for Julian, she endured this filthy, squalid life for five years. For five years, I was trapped in her performance, living as a complete clown. I wanted to cut open her chest and see if there was a heart inside or just a stone. Seeing my silence, Maya hung her head. "Liam, do you hate me now?" "I'm just dragging you down. Leave me. Let me rot." She sat amidst the mess, gripping the wheelchair armrest until her knuckles turned white, pretending she couldn't get up. I walked over silently, righted the chair, and lifted her into it. I wet a towel and wiped her face and hands. I had done this every day for five years. It was muscle memory. She grabbed my wrist and saw the wound on my palm. "How did this happen? Who bullied you?" I stared into her eyes, looking for a crack in the concern. The bitterness in my throat was suffocating. "Yeah. Someone who looks just like you bullied me." I looked straight at her. "At the Starfall Club." Chapter 3 I watched her jaw tighten. I smiled again. "But I know it wasn't you. My sister would never lie to me, right?" Maya looked guilty. She looked away, her voice unnatural. "Of course. You're my only family. I would never lie to you." I swallowed the agony threatening to spill over and pushed her out of the kitchen before the tears fell. When I came out with dinner, the living room was empty. I walked to her bedroom door and heard her hushed voice on the phone. "Be good. I'm planning the biggest birthday party for you. I'll celebrate with you tomorrow." On the other end, Julian feigned concern. "But tomorrow is Liam's birthday too. Won't he be mad if you're not there?" "Silly, you're my only baby brother. Your happiness matters most. Liam hasn't celebrated a birthday in five years; he's used to it. One more won't hurt." Julian cheered. "I knew you loved me best!" I stood there for a long time before taking off my apron and leaving. When Maya came out, I was gone. A bowl of soft noodles and a pill sat on the table. She knew I had a night shift. Thinking of the wound on my hand, my unnatural pallor, and my skeletal frame in the kitchen, she suddenly panicked. She couldn't remember the last time she saw me smile or look vibrant. A sharp pang of guilt hit her. She picked up her phone and made a call. The next day, I took Maya for her checkup. Her doctor looked excited. "Mr. Sterling, great news! A private research institute in the UK has developed a cure for ALS. They're looking for two subjects for clinical trials. I secured a spot for your sister." I nodded calmly. "What are the chances of recovery?" "Eighty percent." Maya wept tears of joy. "Liam, I can get better! I can be with you forever!" I forced a smile. "If only one of us can live, I hope it's always you, Maya." She froze. My seriousness seemed to scare her. She forgot her slurred speech. "Don't talk nonsense! We'll both live long lives. When I recover, I'll rebuild the company. You'll be the young master again." But I don't want to be the young master anymore. And I don't want you anymore, Maya. I give it all to Julian. The doctor ushered me out, claiming the tests would take a long time. Before, I believed them. I would rush to my part-time jobs while she "tested." Now I knew it was just an excuse to get rid of me. I stood in the empty corridor and watched Maya change clothes and hurry into the elevator. Downstairs, a luxury car was waiting. I walked into another doctor's office. "Mr. Sterling, the tumor has grown too large. Surgery is no longer an option. If you had come two weeks ago, maybe..." He sighed. "You have a few days. Say your goodbyes." I nodded slowly. "After I die, please cremate me immediately. Send the ashes to the Sterling Villa, to CEO Maya Sterling." I left the hospital with my last few dollars. My phone buzzed. "Come to the villa." It was Julian. I took a cab to the city's most expensive district. Five years ago, this was my home. I thought it had been auctioned off. Now, it was decorated for a lavish party. Guests, luxury, light. A different world from the one I lived in. Julian, wearing a limited-edition watch and bespoke suit, stood beaming in front of a six-tier cake. Behind him was a wall of gifts. He clasped his hands and made a wish. "I wish to be my sister's only brother forever. Her only family." Maya pulled a velvet box from her pocket. When she opened it, my blood ran cold. Chapter 4 It was a jade amulet. When Maya and I were born, our parents had monks chant over two jade amulets for a year. They were engraved with our names. It was their blessing, their legacy. The only thing I had left of them. Even at my lowest, I never sold it. Now, Maya had carved Julian's name over mine. In front of everyone, she placed it around his neck. "Wish granted." I don't remember leaving. My phone kept vibrating. "I recognized you at the club." "See that?" "The amulet is mine. The sister is mine. You're like a stray dog no one wants." "You're such a failure, you should just die." When I didn't reply, Julian sent one last text. "Brother, I asked Maya to bring you a birthday gift. Enjoy." I wandered like a ghost until I returned to the rental. That's when I found out what the gift was. The door was open. The room was trashed. Maya was pinned to the floor, like a dying animal. The scene was so familiar I started shaking. My old broken ribs throbbed with phantom pain. "Kid, long time no see. When are you paying up?" I was pale. "I paid everything off. I don't owe you anything." The leader spat on the floor. "I say you owe, so you owe. If you don't pay... I wonder how many hits your crippled sister can take." He tapped the iron bar on Maya's back. "Liam, it's my fault. Leave me. I'm just a cripple. Let them kill me. I don't want to burden you." The same lines. For five years. I looked at the thugs, then at Maya on the floor. Her eyes were clear, not fearful. I understood. It was funny that I only realized it now. They came countless times, but they never touched her. But I... to protect my lying sister... Broken ribs, lame leg, countless scars. I swallowed the lump in my throat. "What do you want?" The man laughed. "I don't like your attitude. Tell you what. Crawl between our legs and bark like a dog three times. We'll call it even for today." Maya screamed, "No, Liam! Don't do it!" I laughed numbly. The last bit of warmth in my heart died. "If that's what you want, then we're even." I was speaking to the thugs, but Maya panicked. She wanted to say something, but remembered this was the "final lesson" she promised Julian. Just this one last time, and then she would restore my status. She thought she had a lifetime to make it up to me. She looked away and secretly took a photo of my humiliation to send to Julian. When they left, I lay on the floor for a long time before standing up. Maya crawled over, eyes red, ready to act pitiful. But seeing the dead look in my eyes, she choked. The next day, the "doctors" came to take her to the UK. She looked back three times. "Liam, wait for me. When I come back, you'll be the young master again. No one will ever bully you." I smiled and said nothing. After she left, I covered my mouth and coughed up blood. The doctor said when the tumor ruptured, it would be the end. Strangely, I wasn't scared. I remembered how Maya used to be good to me. Feeding me candy. Staying by my side when I had a fever. She said, "When I grow up, I'll make lots of money and give Liam the best of everything. I'll make him the happiest prince in the world." I swallowed my tears and typed a final message with trembling, bloody fingers. "Maya, I'm not waiting. My life is yours and Julian's now. Burry me with Mom and Dad." I sent it and closed my eyes. On the floor, the phone buzzed frantically.
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