"Alice Graham, how does it feel lying there like the walking dead?”

Alice struggled to open her eyes after the surgery, and the moment she did, she saw Nora Graham standing by her bed, radiant and smug.

“Jie… Jie…” Alice’s voice came out hoarse and garbled, barely recognizable.

That car accident had shattered her life.

Her once flawless skin now rough and shriveled, both hands amputated from burns, and her sweet voice—gone. The top-tier surgeon, Alice Graham, was now a wreck, no longer human nor whole.

“You disgusting wretch, just look at you now. Honestly, it’s hilarious,” Nora sneered, leaning in close. “Bet you haven’t figured it out yet—it was all me. You're like this because of me.” Her grin widened. “And guess what—Lucas Benson and I? We’ve already slept together. He said you make him sick.”

Lucas... and Nora? Since when?

No. No way.

Lucas had loved her. He promised to marry her.

“He wouldn’t… He’d never do this to me…” Alice’s rough sobs barely formed words, but were incomprehensible.

Seeing her so broken, Nora laughed louder. “Trying to talk? Wondering why, huh?”

Alice blinked hard, trying to say yes.

“Because only when you’re dead will Lucas completely be mine,” Nora hissed through gritted teeth.

Alice’s eyes flew open wide, burning with hatred.

“I’m telling you this so you know exactly why you’re gonna die. You really thought Dad loved you?” Nora scoffed. “Don’t be stupid. He only cared about how useful you were. Now that you’re a nobody, he couldn’t care less.”

No wonder he hadn’t shown up once since she got hospitalized. So that’s why.

How could she have been so naive… So loyal to a family like this.

The truth hit her like a ton of bricks—Nora had always been pretending. That delicate act, the fake sweetness—it was all calculated.

And Alice bought it. Treated her as her real sister.

But now, her so-called sister had ruined her.

Watching Alice’s devastated expression, Nora giggled, then slowly pressed her hand over Alice’s chest, her face twisting with malice. “So, just die already, so your nice, healthy heart can be mine. I’ll give Lucas a baby and live happily ever after with him.”

Alice completely broke down. Head shaking violently, trying to deny this horrible reality.

Everyone she trusted had betrayed her. The one she loved stole everything—and wanted her dead on top of it.

“Ugh… nghh…” Her harsh groans sounded like a caged animal making one last desperate fight.

She’d rather die than let Nora win.

Nora, seeing her struggle, looked even more thrilled. “Oh, don’t look so shocked. I’ve got more good news.”

She raised her hand, showing off a glimmering diamond ring right in Alice’s face. “Lucas just proposed—like just now. He said he’s gonna love me forever, and Dad? Super supportive. He even transferred all your assets to me as a wedding gift. I’ll marry Lucas with everyone’s blessing, and you? You're only worthy of rotting in a coffin.”

With that, Nora stood over Alice with the arrogance of a victor. “Oh, and one last thing—Ian Sterling? He’s dead.”

Alice’s dull eyes suddenly lit up—sharp, awake.

Ian? Gone?