An Inheritance of Silence

My mother had my kidney taken for her adopted daughter, then let that same adopted daughter pull my father's oxygen tube.

I was thrown out of the house and ended up at a spa, massaging clients' feet just to scrape together enough money to survive.

Three years later, she tossed me two million dollars and told me to get lost, to stop bringing shame to the Sterling family.

On the anniversary of my father's death, I publicly released the security footage.

The adopted daughter had pulled the tube with her own hands while my mother stood at the door, keeping watch for her.

The adopted daughter collapsed on the floor and wet herself.

My mother rushed over, threw her arms around my legs, and sobbed with tears streaming down her face.

I kicked her away and threw that card in her face.

"Two million. That should buy you two a decent life behind bars."

Sloane's POV

My mother, Lauren, personally carved out one of my kidneys so her adopted daughter could have a rosy complexion.

My father was literally driven to death by rage. I became the person the Sterling family couldn't avoid fast enough.

To survive, I had no choice but to work as a massage therapist at a spa.

In my third year of exile from the Sterling family, Lauren came to the spa and ordered the most expensive premium package.

"Ma'am, is this pressure okay for you?"

Crash! The teacup in Lauren's hand shattered into pieces.

My aunt, Grace, was about to start cursing when she caught sight of my face. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head as she shrieked.

"Sloane? What are you doing here?"

Lauren's face went purple.

She pointed at me, her finger trembling.

"Sloane, what are you doing here? Did you do this on purpose?"

I pressed the service timer on my wrist.

"If you're not satisfied with the service, you can request someone else. Though the hourly rate still applies."

Lauren shot to her feet.

"Sloane, has the Sterling family starved you? Denied you anything? You're here giving people massages? If people find out a Sterling daughter works as a massage therapist, what about Jasmine's wedding prospects?"

My mother didn't ask why I was here. She only cared whether the adopted daughter's reputation would be damaged.

"Would you like to continue?"

I pulled out a price list and held it directly under Lauren's nose.

"If not, please settle the bill. Also, since the teacup was damaged due to your own actions, you'll need to pay compensation."

Lauren's whole body shook with rage. She raised her hand to strike.

I didn't dodge or flinch. I just looked at her.

"If that slap lands, tomorrow's headline will read: 'Mrs. Sterling Assaults Service Worker.'"

Lauren's hand froze in mid-air.

Service staff around us were already craning their necks to look.

Grace tugged at her awkwardly from the side.

"Lauren, forget it, forget it. Don't stoop to her level. People will laugh."

"Since you don't want to see me, how about a membership package?"

I pulled a POS machine from my uniform pocket and handed it to Lauren.

"Supreme Imperial Card. Deposit two million, and from now on you can specify that I stay five hundred meters away from you at all times."

Lauren's eyes went wide.

"Two million? Sloane, what do you need that much money for?"

I expertly entered the amount.

"If you don't want the Carter family knowing I have this kind of job, consider the two million hush money. Mom, surely your reputation is worth more than two million?"

Lauren stared at me with complicated eyes.

After several seconds of standoff, Lauren backed down.

Transaction approved.

I tore off the receipt, handed it over with both hands, and even performed a standard bow.

"Thank you for your patronage. We look forward to serving you again."

Lauren looked like she wanted to say more, but I had already turned and left the room without looking back.

Looking at the receipt in my hand, I silently calculated.

The commission from this transaction should be enough for Emma Peach's surgery, right?

As for dignity?

That thing wasn't worth a damn compared to a poor person's life.

The rain was heavy. I stood at the roadside bus stop, soaked to the bone.

A black stretch car pulled out from the spa, its wheels running through a puddle.

Muddy water splashed all over me.

The window rolled down, revealing the anxious face of our family butler, James Carter.

"Miss Sterling, it's pouring! Get in the car!"

I wiped the muddy water from my face.

So Lauren was specifically waiting for me to get off work?

This area was remote. Without adding a surcharge, getting a cab was basically impossible.

To save the few dozen dollars in nighttime fees, I opened the door and got in.

The car interior was warm with heating, filled with a faint fragrance.

It was Lauren's favorite scent diffuser. A thousand dollars per gram.

"Miss Sterling, please dry off."

James handed me a towel.

"Don't call me Miss Sterling anymore."

From the other side of the back seat, Lauren spoke with her eyes closed, her voice carrying disappointment.

"Someone so depraved doesn't deserve that title."

James froze awkwardly in place.

Three years ago, Lauren brought home Jasmine Sterling.

She said Jasmine was in poor health and the whole family needed to pamper her.

From that day on, I became invisible in that house.

If Jasmine coughed once, the whole family would panic.

But when I ran a high fever, I could only boil water and take medicine myself.

Lauren didn't need a daughter. She needed a pet who knew how to act cute and satisfy her vanity.

I tossed the towel aside and turned to look out the window.

"James, Mrs. Sterling isn't wrong. I really don't deserve it."

Lauren's eyes snapped open, complex emotions flickering in them.

"Are you trying to kill me with anger? You won't study properly and insist on doing this shameful work! Look at Jasmine. She's accomplished in every skill. Now look at yourself. What do you look like?"

I said nothing.

Accomplished in every skill?

That kind of accomplishment cost money.

My card had been frozen three years ago. I paid tuition through scholarships.

The car entered the slums.

The road was full of potholes. Harsh scraping sounds came from the undercarriage.

Lauren covered her nose, looking at the filthy streets outside and the crumbling abandoned buildings. She frowned.

"Stop the car!"

Before the car had fully stopped, Lauren started shrieking.

"You live in this pigsty? Sloane Sterling, are you doing this deliberately? Trying to make people say I abuse you?"

I pushed open the car door.

Rain was still falling outside.

I lived here because it was close to the dialysis hospital. Rent was only two hundred dollars.

"If you think so, then sure."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Drive!"

The car spewed exhaust and fled like it was escaping for its life.

I stood at the mouth of the dark alley, watching those two red taillights disappear.

I looked down at my mud-spattered shoes.

A pigsty?

Maybe so.

But in this pigsty, at least nobody wanted to steal my kidney.

Sloane's POV

Back at my rental room, I threw my wet clothes into a basin.

My phone screen lit up.

A friend request notification appeared. It was from Lauren.

I approved it.

The next second, a transfer notification sounded.

"Peace and Tranquility has sent you $20,000"

Immediately followed by a voice message.

"Take the money. Go look at apartments and find a new place. Next week is your father's death anniversary. Come back and pay respects. Jasmine's health hasn't been good lately-she can't handle stress. When you come back, keep your mouth shut. Don't say anything sarcastic."

My finger hovered over the screen.

Death anniversary.

Poor health.

Those words were like bullets, instantly piercing through my psychological defenses.

Thunder crashed outside the window.

My hand jerked and the phone fell to the floor.

The hideous scar on my waist suddenly began to throb with phantom pain, like someone was stirring inside with a rusty knife.

I curled up on the moldy single bed, cold sweat instantly soaking through my clothes.

"Sloane, drink this. It's good for you."

In my dream, Lauren held a bowl of soup, a rare loving smile on her face.

"Mom knows you're tired from studying. I made this especially for you."

It was the only warmth I'd received in this lifetime.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, I drank the entire bowl in one go.

When I woke again, I was in a private room at a private hospital.

My waist was wrapped in gauze. The pain was suffocating.

Lauren stood by the bed holding Jasmine's hand, her face full of satisfaction.

"That's wonderful, Jasmine. With this kidney, your complexion will be even rosier. You won't have to worry about kidney problems anymore."

Jasmine lay on another bed, cooing sweetly.

"Thank you, Mommy. Sister's kidney works so well."

I tried to scream, but my throat couldn't make a sound.

Jasmine didn't even have severe kidney failure. She just wasn't perfectly healthy. It wasn't anywhere near life-threatening.

They'd cut out my kidney simply because Jasmine didn't want to live with illness anymore!

The scene shifted.

My father, Richard Sterling, held that stack of so-called donation agreements. His whole body trembled with rage as he charged into the bedroom to confront Lauren.

"This is a crime! She's your own daughter!"

But Lauren just sneered.

"Own daughter? Only Jasmine is my child! Sloane Sterling, that waste-losing one kidney won't kill her!"

Jasmine cried on the side, tears streaming down her face. Suddenly she fainted.

Lauren shrieked and shoved Richard.

"What are you yelling for! You scared Jasmine! If Jasmine develops psychological trauma because of you, I'll fight you to the death!"

Richard clutched his chest and slowly collapsed.

His medication was right there on the table, but Lauren didn't even glance at it. She only cared about helping the fake-fainting Jasmine.

"Dad!!!"

I bolted upright in bed, gasping for breath.

The room was deathly silent except for the rain outside.

I touched my face. It was covered in cold sweat and tears.

The scar at my waist still throbbed with dull pain, constantly reminding me-that wasn't a dream.

That was the blood-soaked truth from three years ago.

My biological mother, for the sake of an adopted daughter, cut out my kidney and drove my father to death.

And now she had the nerve to ask me to come back and kowtow?

And to make sure I didn't upset Jasmine?

I picked up the phone from the floor.

The screen had a cracked corner, reflecting my vicious expression.

I opened the transfer and accepted the payment.

No reason not to take it.

I should go back for that kowtow.

But not to apologize.

To send them to their graves.

During morning rush hour, the alley entrance was completely blocked.

Lauren's car sat crosswise there while neighbors pointed and cursed.

James stood in the muddy water holding an umbrella, his face earnest.

"Miss Sterling, Madam requests that you get in the car."

I looked at the rideshare app on my phone.

156 people in queue.

I put away my phone and opened the car door to get in.

Sloane's POV

"James, sorry to trouble you. Take me to the hospital."

If Lauren wanted to play the ATM, I'd let her.

The car door shut out the noise outside.

The air conditioning was on full blast. That familiar scent hit me in the face.

Lauren sat beside me, rubbing her knees and complaining.

"This damn weather. Every time it rains my joints ache. It's torture."

I didn't respond.

I'd lived in that cold, damp rental for three years. I was long used to the aching in my bones.

Lauren didn't expect me to show concern anyway. She pulled a stack of cash from her bag and tossed it on my lap.

"This is last night's tip. Consider it compensation."

Lauren's tone was complicated.

"Quit that degrading job. Even if you come home and do nothing, it's better than working on your knees for strangers. The Sterling family can't afford this humiliation."

I looked at the money on my lap.

Brand new bills. The bank wrapper hadn't even been removed.

"Not enough."

I said flatly.

"The spa has high penalty fees for breaking contract."

Lauren frowned, looking like she wanted to explode, but somehow held back.

"I'll have James transfer you the money! Also, I'm emphasizing this again-you must come back next week for your father's death anniversary."

She paused, her tone reproachful.

"He loved you most when he was alive. You haven't come home in three years. Aren't you afraid of breaking his heart?"

I laughed.

"Breaking his heart?"

I turned my head and stared hard at Lauren.

"His heart broke because he saw the murderer who killed him still playing the loving mother."

Lauren's face went pale.

"What are you talking about! That was just an accident!"

"Whether it was an accident or not, you know in your heart."

My voice was very soft.

"If you're lonely, go find Jasmine. Even though she's using my kidney, her mouth is sweeter than mine. After all, those who eat from others have soft mouths."

"You!"

Lauren raised her hand in rage.

Before the car fully stopped, I pulled open the door.

James cried out and slammed on the brakes.

I walked into the rain, stuffing that stack of cash into my pocket.

I'll take your money.

But I won't acknowledge a single bit of your sentiment.

The rain soaked through my clothes. The surgical wound at my waist began to throb violently from the cold.

That pain instantly pulled me back three years.

The image of my father clutching his chest as he fell.

Lauren's face as she protected Jasmine, forcibly making excuses for her.

Even now that woman thought this was just a simple family conflict.

Dialysis center.

This was the absolute center of my life. Also a money shredder.

The ward reeked of disinfectant.

Emma Peach had just finished dialysis. Her face was as white as paper, her hands covered in dense needle marks.

Seeing me, Emma struggled to squeeze out a smile.

"Sloane, has work been exhausting lately? Are you working lots of overtime?"

She thought I worked in an office building with air conditioning.

I set down the food I'd just bought on the bedside table, lying smoothly.

"Not tired. The company just issued project bonuses. Pretty generous."

Emma's eyes lit up briefly, then dimmed again.

"That's good... When I get better, let's go see snow. I've lived this long and never seen real snow."

"Okay. We'll go see snow."

I held her hand. That hand was ice cold, like holding a piece of ice about to melt.

"The surgery fees are almost ready. Hang in there a little longer."

Emma nodded with a smile, but her eyelids drooped heavily.

I walked out of the ward, my palms covered in sweat.

Sweat from gripping the payment slip so hard.

To keep this hope alive, forget massaging Lauren-I'd grind my dignity into the mud ten thousand times if necessary.

"Family of bed 6, come here."

The billing window nurse called out with a cold face.

"Last night's payment has been processed."

The nurse tapped at her keyboard.

"After deducting previous arrears, what's left only covers prepayment for the next dialysis cycle."

My heart tightened.

"What about the kidney transplant surgery fees?"

The nurse looked at me like I was an idiot.

"To get on the waiting list for a donor kidney, you need to pay a huge deposit first. And you know how things work now-you need cash to grease palms up and down."

"Without five million dollars, don't even think about surgery."

The nurse shoved out the receipt.

"Also, this week's specialty medication is out-of-pocket. Add another five thousand dollars."

I held the receipt, standing in the busy corridor.

Two million dollars.

To Lauren, that was pocket change for dismissing a beggar. Here, it could only buy half a life.

I opened my phone calculator.

Adding in surgery fees, post-op anti-rejection medication, nutritional costs... the gap was still huge.

I closed the screen. My eyes gradually turned cold.

Since my mother wanted to buy off family ties with money, then I'd sell to her.

The Sterling family. Lauren. Jasmine Sterling. Every single one of them would pay.

As long as they paid, I'd sell anything.

Mr. Lee, the manager of the spa, sent a message. "Important guests tonight. Come to work early."

Sloane's POV

The spa was packed tonight.

Luxury cars lined up two rows deep outside. The air was thick with expensive alcohol and perfume.

In the employee break room, I was organizing my supply kit.

My coworker Sandra Harris sidled over, looking mysterious.

"Hey, did you hear? A bunch of big shots came tonight. Apparently for the Carter family heir."

"The Carters?"

"Yeah, Alexander Carter! I heard he just got back from overseas."

Sandra gossiped. "That kind of top-tier wealthy family-we can only look from a distance in this lifetime."

I lowered my eyes and continued wiping down essential oil bottles.

Alexander Carter.

That ex-fianc who once said he'd marry no one but me.

Three days after I was kicked out, he left the country and never contacted me again.

"Number 99! Get over here!"

Mr. Lee stood at the door bellowing.

I picked up my kit and walked over.

Inside the office, Mr. Lee sat with his legs crossed, his heavy face glistening under the lights.

"Last night you pushed a membership card on Lauren without reporting it, didn't you?"

I frowned.

"Company policy states technicians have the right to sell packages. Commissions go to individuals."

"That was before!"

Mr. Lee crushed his cigarette butt in the ashtray.

"That was my client source! You went around me and took it for yourself. Half that commission needs to be confiscated."

It meant he didn't get his kickback and wanted to rob me outright.

I looked at him.

"The employee handbook is very clear. If you dock pay, I'll call corporate headquarters right now to file a complaint."

I might have fallen low, but my brain still worked.

In this cutthroat place, weakness would just get you chewed to the bone.

Mr. Lee's expression changed.

"Fine. You know the rules. You're tough."

Mr. Lee smiled coldly.

"Since you're such a stickler for rules, here's one-the top floor VIP room just finished. The cleaning crew is short-staffed. You go clean it. If it's not spotless, I'm docking your entire day's pay."

That was the job cleaning crew hated most.

Top-tier rooms usually meant complete chaos-vomit and used condoms everywhere.

I didn't argue.

I set down my supply kit, picked up the grimy bucket and mop from the corner, and turned to leave.

The VIP room was a complete disaster.

Wine bottles rolled everywhere. The sofa was covered in alcohol stains. The air reeked of smoke mixed with certain indescribable smells.

I put on gloves and started cleaning.

While collecting trash under the coffee table, an invitation caught my eye.

Exquisite craftsmanship. Gold-embossed lettering.

"Alexander Carter & Jasmine Sterling Two Year Engagement Anniversary Celebration"

My hand froze.

That date.

It was originally the wedding date set for Alexander and me.

Now the name had been changed to Jasmine Sterling.

Jasmine hadn't just stolen my kidney and my mother. She'd stolen my entire life.

I crumpled the invitation into a ball, threw it viciously into the black garbage bag, grabbed the bag and left the room.

At the end of the hallway, a familiar figure leaned against the wall touching up her makeup.

Grace.

She held the card she'd just gotten, looking smug.

Seeing me in cleaning uniform, Grace let out an exaggerated cry.

"If it isn't Miss Sterling! How did you go from massage therapist to toilet cleaner?"

Customers around us turned to look.

Grace held up her phone and snapped photos frantically.

"You've disgraced the Sterling family completely! I'm posting this to the family group right now so everyone can see what you've become!"

The camera flash was blinding.

I shoved past Grace's shoulder with one sentence.

"Get clear shots so Lauren can see where her money went."

Grace stumbled from the impact. Before she could curse, I'd already walked away.

Sloane's POV

Jasmine Sterling stood before the spa's full-length mirror, playing with her engagement diamond ring while gently touching her waist.

I stood just behind the door, quietly watching her.

My kidney had been beating inside her body for three years. She'd probably forgotten that everything was stolen.

Whether the healthy body or the upcoming engagement celebration-it had all originally belonged to me, the missing person.

"Jasmine, why aren't you changed yet?"

Lauren's voice rang out.

Jasmine took a deep breath, adjusted her expression to the sweetest smile, and was about to open the door when her phone buzzed.

Grace sent a voice message.

"Oh my, Jasmine, look at the work your sister's doing now. So disgraceful!"

"The once high-and-mighty Miss Sterling is now doing this degrading work like a dog."

Jasmine called Grace.

"Book me an appointment. I want to personally patronize my sister's business."

After hanging up, she covered her waist and walked toward the interior room.

"Mom, my waist hurts."

Lauren sat on the sofa selecting jewelry. Hearing this, she immediately set down the diamonds in her hand.

"What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable?"

"No... I just had a nightmare last night. I dreamed that sister was suffering out there."

Jasmine leaned into Lauren's arms, her voice trembling.

"I want to get a spa treatment to relax. I heard they got new essential oils today..."

Lauren's expression stiffened briefly.

But looking at her pale little face, Lauren still nodded.

"Go ahead. Be good to yourself."

Lauren pulled a card from her purse.

"Take this card. Buy whatever you want."

I couldn't watch anymore. I turned and left.

I knew Jasmine was about to torment me again.

Late that night, I looked at Emma Peach's latest payment notice.

Still far short of the surgery deposit.

I crumpled those payment slips and swallowed two painkillers.

Tomorrow, whether it was Jasmine or anyone else-as long as they paid, my dignity was for sale.

As long as I didn't die, I'd collect this debt with interest eventually.

The spa entrance was filled with luxury cars.

One particularly ostentatious luxury sedan stood out like a crouching beast.

Mr. Lee's hysterical voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Number 99! Where the hell are you! The VIP is already in room V8!"

The lobby was in chaos.

To receive the Sterling family's heiress, the spa had conducted a full staff deep clean.

All technicians changed into brand new silk uniforms. Only I still wore my faded old work clothes.

This was Mr. Lee's special instruction.

The air was thick with suffocating tension. Everyone wanted to curry favor with this future society lady.

At the office, Mr. Lee held out his hand, his fleshy face trembling.

"Hand over your phone."

"The VIP requires absolute privacy. To prevent secret filming."

I placed my phone on the desk.

Preventing filming was the excuse. Cutting off my escape routes was the real reason.

"Also, today's service standard is kneeling essential oil foot therapy."

Mr. Lee slapped a service agreement on the desk.

"Sign it! If anything goes wrong, not only will your entire month's pay be docked, I'll make sure you're completely blacklisted in this industry."

I picked up the pen and asked just one question.

"Is the commission paid daily?"

Mr. Lee spat.

"Money-grubbing bitch."

"As long as the pay is right, what's kneeling?"

I signed my name.

"I've endured worse."

My hands soaked in scalding hot towel water. Fingers that once played piano were now rough and covered in tiny wounds.

Once upon a time, these hands only touched piano keys and haute couture.

I looked at my reflection in the water.

Since Jasmine specifically wanted to see this side of me, I'd perform for her.

She was the audience. I was the performer.

I'd take her money and later use it to buy her a coffin.