Chapter 3The Christmas Eve Exchange

Denise was so worried she couldn't eat. Her mood was explosive.

Any small movement I made resulted in a curse or a slap on the back.

Dad came to the hospital that night and took me home.

Denise stayed overnight. The next morning, Dad dropped me back at the hospital.

"Stella, stay with your sister for a bit. I have an emergency at work. Your stepmom will be here soon."

He was rushing. It should have been his job to stay while Denise went home to change, but he had to go.

"Okay, Dad."

Then, Dad pulled out a red apple. "This is a reward from your stepmom. She said you’ve been working hard helping with Bella."

The third apple.

"When did she buy this?" I asked. "She gave me one yesterday and the day before."

Dad looked puzzled. "I don't know. She always manages to find high-quality stuff. Just eat it. I didn't have time to get you breakfast."

Right then, Denise called Dad.

I could hear her asking urgently if he had given me the apple.

"Yes, yes, I gave it to her. Don't worry, it's in her hand right now," Dad reassured her.

She told him to make sure I ate it.

He agreed, but the moment he hung up, he pushed me into the ward. "Watch your sister. Don't go out until Denise gets here. Call the nurse if anything happens."

He was in a rush.

"I know. I'll watch her," I promised.

Dad left. I sat there holding the apple. It smelled incredibly sweet.

I swallowed. I actually wanted to eat it this time.

While I stared at it, Bella woke up again.

"Sis?"

Her voice was barely a whisper. She looked even worse than before—like a ghost. All her vitality was gone.

I forgot about the apple and grabbed her hand. "Bella, do you hurt anywhere? I'll get the doctor."

"Don't go," she stopped me. Her hand brushed against the apple on the bed.

Her eyes lit up. "It's that yummy apple."

This time, I didn't want to give it to her.

"Bella, let's not eat this. I think... I think the apples are making you sick."

She didn't believe me. "Mom gave them to us. Why would she give us something that makes us sick?"

She sat up, struggling, and grabbed the apple with both hands.

This one was the reddest of all. It looked like the poisoned apple from a fairy tale.

I felt a sudden panic. "Bella!"

She looked at me blankly, but didn't stop. She took a bite.

She kept eating, entranced. I tried to take it away, but she held on with surprising strength, chewing mechanically.

I was terrified. I ran to get the nurse.

By the time the nurse arrived, the apple was gone.

Fortunately, Bella didn't faint this time. She finished her IV drip and was discharged that afternoon.

Denise was ecstatic. She cooked a huge dinner and kept piling food onto my plate, smiling at me like I was her favorite person in the world.

That night, as I was drifting off to sleep, a voice spoke clearly in my ear.

"Ding! Life force transfer successful. Stella has acquired five years of Bella's lifespan."

It sounded like the automated voice at the vending machine Dad used.

The moment the voice faded, a scream tore through the apartment from the master bedroom.

"Why is it Stella?!" Denise shrieked.