Chapter 4

I had no choice but to follow Ashton.

Back in the car, Ashton carefully covered Rosalind with a blanket.

Noticing bloodstains on the hem of her skirt, he saw that the wounds on her legs were oozing pus.

"Seraphina's legs are as cheap and nasty as she is! She must have pulled some trick! Why else would they work fine for her but cause you so much suffering!"

Rosalind consoled Ashton dutifully, "Ashton, it's just my bad luck. Don't blame..."

Before she could finish, she fainted.

Ashton panicked, running several red lights to rush her to the True God preacher's place, which seemed more like a strange church than a clinic.

After examining her, the preacher looked gravely at Ashton.

"Ms. Rosalind Sterling's issue is simple. Limbs work best when they share the same origin. Her legs were replaced, but her hands weren't. They don't match. This causes a conflict.

"It won't affect her lifespan, but the wounds will frequently become inflamed. Of course, the best solution would be to replace her hands as well."

Ashton frowned. "Why didn't you mention this before..."

Rosalind tugged at his sleeve weakly.

"Seraphina just lost her legs... even with prosthetics, losing her hands too would drastically impact her life.

"I can endure it. I have more than enough love already. Seraphina has repaid any debt she owed me. It's okay if I die a little sooner."

Ashton gently took Rosalind's hand, rubbing it tenderly, his heart aching for her.

"I will provide whatever you want.

"Seraphina is nothing but an ungrateful viper! She's a menace to society anyway. Just making her give up her hands... she owes you far more than that. Even her life wouldn't be enough to repay you. Consider it her way of earning some good karma."

But I didn't owe her anything.

I was the true heiress of the Sterling family, but I was switched at birth in the hospital.

Ashton found me when I was twelve, claiming to be my long-lost brother.

He promised to make up for those twelve lost years, promised to make me a happy princess.

At first, he did just that.

Back then, when Rosalind secretly arranged for others to bully me, Ashton investigated thoroughly and immediately sent Rosalind back to her biological parents.

Because her own family favored sons over daughters, Rosalind endured three years of abuse there.

Ashton felt guilty.

His way of easing his guilt was to sacrifice me.

Just then, Ashton's voice broke through my thoughts. "By the way, Rosalind's heart hasn't been feeling well lately. Master, can Seraphina's heart be transplanted to Rosalind as well?

"Don't worry. I'm Seraphina's legal guardian. As long as I sign the consent, she won't dare refuse."