Chapter 1The Price of My Heart

There was a whiteboard in our house.

Written on it was my countdown.

"Days until Lily's estimated heart failure: 47."

Every morning, my mother would carefully erase yesterday's number and write a new one.

Like a grocery store counting down to a clearance sale.

Precise, cold, and full of anticipation.

My name is Lily Brooks. I am twelve years old.

I have congenital heart disease. The doctors said without surgery, I wouldn't live past six months.

The surgery costs three million dollars.

My father, Edward Brooks, is a real estate tycoon worth two billion dollars.

But he said, "Three million. It's not worth it."

Because there was another, perfectly healthy child in the house.

My little brother, Noah.

Eight years old, smart, beautiful, plays the piano, and knows exactly how to charm adults.

He was the only one in this family considered "worth it."

...

The first time I heard them discussing my death was on a Wednesday night.

The study door wasn't closed all the way.

I was walking by, clutching my pill bottle, when I heard the conversation inside.

My mother Victoria's voice was calm, like she was discussing a stock investment.

"The insurance company confirmed it. Lily's policy is worth five million. In the event of her death, we are the sole beneficiaries."

Edward flipped through some documents.

"Five million? The premium we paid back then was only eighty thousand. That's a solid return on investment."

Victoria nodded.

"And since it would be death by natural illness, there's no waiting period for the investigation. They pay out directly. I've already had the lawyers confirm it."

"Then skip the surgery."

Edward put his pen down.

"Three million for a surgery with only a sixty percent success rate. We might as well save the cash, wait for the insurance payout, and net five million."

"That five million will perfectly cover Noah's European summer camp and that new penthouse in Manhattan."

Victoria hesitated for a moment.

"But people will gossip."

"Saying what?" Edward sneered.

"She has a congenital heart defect. The doctors already said it's a difficult case. We are simply respecting medical reality."

"When the time comes, we tell the public we tried everything, but it was God's will."

"We'll throw a beautiful, high-profile funeral, invite the press. It'll be great PR for the company."

The pill bottle slipped from my hand.

It hit the floor with a loud clatter.

The study instantly fell dead silent.

I picked up the bottle and turned to walk away.

Victoria's voice called out from behind me:

"Lily? Why are you out in the hall?"

I didn't turn around.

"I was just getting my medication."

"Take your pills and go to bed early. We have your hospital checkup tomorrow."

"Okay."

I went back to my room and closed the door.

I looked at the whiteboard on my nightstand. 47 days.

It turned out this wasn't my countdown.

It was their "payout date."

That night, I made a decision.

Since they were waiting for me to die.

I would give them the show of a lifetime.

But not the kind of death they were hoping for.