Chapter 6

The day before the surgery, Jade called me.

Jade's voice on the phone was exceptionally excited: "Arie, the police might have found your biological parents!"

Jade rattled on about many things, finally asking if I wanted to meet them.

I knew Jade always wanted to make sure I was settled.

Before I could answer, Liam suddenly burst into my room, his voice anxious: "Can the surgery time be changed to tonight?"

I instinctively covered my phone, afraid Jade would hear something.

I hadn't seen Liam this anxious in a long time.

Jade on the other end of the phone didn't get my answer, but vaguely heard other voices.

She paused before speaking: "Arie, are you busy? Call me back when you're done and have thought it over carefully. If you want to meet them, I'll come with you."

I nodded: "Okay, Jade. Take care of yourself. Rest well these days, and I'll be home soon."

After I hung up, I looked up at Liam and slowly said: "Yes, that's fine."

The comments again danced before me: "No, don't!"

"My heart aches for Aria. Suddenly, Liam doesn't deserve to be a brother."

"Why the rush? Is Shawn your only sister?"

"It's just one step away! If Aria and Jade agreed to meet tomorrow, why move the surgery up?"

"I'm betting a bag of chips, Liam definitely knows the truth."

"Probably because someone in the Vance family found out about Aria. Second Brother is panicking."

"Their precious daughter found a kidney donor, the Vance parents must be thrilled."

"I wonder how they'll feel when they find out the donor is their own biological daughter, and their son personally sent his sister to the operating table."

"Didn't Ms. Meredith feel something was off? She already saw Aria."

Liam was stunned when I agreed, then, as if by a strange impulse, he asked: "Why did you agree so readily?"

I blinked: "One day earlier or one day later, it makes no difference to me."

Hearing my words, Liam's eyes darkened: "Then remember to fast during this time."

The comments flooded in: "There IS a difference, of course there is!"

"If it was one day later, I don't believe the Vance parents, knowing the truth, would still let you have this surgery."

"Big brother, please find out the truth soon. I can't stand Aria being wronged anymore."

"I just think it's separate issues. The female lead isn't losing anything from this surgery; she gets five million. And she's doing it voluntarily. Why do you guys think she's being so wronged?"

"When she's found and taken back, the others won't not compensate her."

"Why do you think the newly found daughter would be more important than the daughter they raised for twenty years? Shawn is clearly more important in the Vance family's eyes right now."

"If the female lead were taken back under these circumstances, the likelihood of them guilt-tripping her into donating would be even higher, wouldn't it?"

I skimmed the comments, my gaze landing on the last two sentences. I couldn't help but smile; they were thinking exactly what I was.

Liam quickly discussed the surgery time with the doctor.

Before I was wheeled into the operating room, I saw a familiar figure by another gurney.

It was Liam.

The others around him must have been the Vance family.

As we passed them, my eyes met with one person: Meredith.

I didn't have time to make out her expression.

Once in the operating room, I quickly lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, it was around three in the morning.

I was in the intensive care unit.

Before the surgery, I had already called Jade, telling her I wouldn't be able to meet her for a few days due to something I needed to take care of.