My Family’s Test Subject

chapter 1

My husband, Eden, always threatened me with divorce to force me to sacrifice myself for my sister, Reneea. My parents would also threaten me with disinheritance to make me give all the good things to Reneea.

In the past, I would cry and make a scene, but when my husband threatened me for the hundredth time, demanding I test drugs for my sister, I agFox.

I even treated Reneea exceptionally well. Everyone praised me for finally being mature, but they did not know I was dying soon. None of this mattered anymore.

On the day I was diagnosed with cancer, Eden pushed the divorce papers in front of me for the hundredth time.

"Vita, your sister's condition is getting worse. She can no longer continue the drug trials. If we can't develop the medication within a month, her life will be at stake.

"You and Reneea are twins with similar genes. The doctor said you could replace her in the trials. If you disagree, then we should divorce. After all, Reneea doesn't have long to live, and she wants me to help fulfill her final wish."

I listened quietly, watching him speak these absurd words with complete seriousness.

At the start of it all, when they saw Reneea drenched in sweat during treatments, they wanted me to take her place in the drug trials. My parents and husband had taken turns trying to persuade me. However, rather than persuasion, it was more like threats.

My parents threatened that if I did not test the drugs for Reneea, I would lose my inheritance rights. And my husband proposed a divorce nearly a hundred times.

At that time, I did not know I had cancer, but my body was growing weaker, so I refused. The moment I said no, everyone was extremely disappointed, calling me heartless and immature.

"Your sister is dying! If you just help her test the drugs, she could live. How could you refuse?"

"That's right! Reneea has been on the drug trials for half a year. You only need to complete the last few months, but you won't even do that? I'm so disappointed in you. Since you refuse to save Reneea, we'll act as if we never had a daughter like you!"

Those harsh words still hurt terribly when I thought about them now, but that was all in the past. Now that I was dying, none of it mattered anymore.

Whether I died at home or died on the testing table made no difference. No one cared either way.

Eden's frown deepened, as if he wanted to continue threatening me. However, I smiled at him and said, "Alright. I agree to help Reneea test the drugs."

He froze, then looked up at me with surprise and joy. "Really? That's wonderful! Reneea is finally saved!"

He hurried to the balcony to call my parents and share the good news.

I watched his ecstatic silhouette and smiled mockingly at myself. My gaze fell on the divorce papers on the table, and I reached out to pick them up. Then, I pulled a pen from my bag and signed my name without hesitation.

When Eden returned, he caught sight of me placing the divorce papers back down.

He froze. "What are you doing?"

I smiled. "Nothing."

Seeing that I was in low spirits, a flash of regret crossed Eden's eyes. He quickly stuffed the divorce papers back into his bag. "I was just joking with you. I won't divorce you."

I hummed softly in acknowledgment, my face showing no emotion. Eden looked at me but said nothing more.

On the way home, he began to take care of my daily needs and stopped by the store to buy me various health supplements. Yet all this concern was probably just so I could build up a healthy body in preparation for the drug trials.

I carelessly tossed the supplements into the back seat and stared blankly out the window. The sunshine was brilliant, though I would not be able to see it much longer.

The moment we stepped through the front door, I heard my parents' excited voices. Mom was holding Reneea and crying. "Reneea, you're saved! You're not going anywhere..."

Afraid I might change my mind, Dad handed me a test subject consent form the moment I walked in. Only after they saw me sign the agreement did they smile with relief.

"Vita, you've finally matured. You're finally taking your sister and this family into consideration. Don't blame us for this. Your birth was so complicated that it caused Reneea to be born with poor health. Compared to you, she needs us more.

"But we won't shortchange you. The family's assets will be split equally between you and your sister. We won't give you any less."

I shook my head, suppressing the bitterness in my heart.

"Give it all to Reneea. I won't need those things anymore."

Mom froze and gently patted my shoulder. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could you not need them? Sure, Eden is wealthy, but you can't look down on the Lawson family's assets!"

I stared at my anxious parents in a daze. Never in my life had they shown me such concern.

Just because my birth had taken time and caused Reneea to be born weak, I owed her my entire life.

During our birthdays when we were still kids, Mom and Dad would surround her in the middle, singing her a birthday song. Only after they put her to sleep would they remember to wish me a happy birthday.

Other families with twins dressed them in matching clothes, but Reneea's outfits were always much more expensive than mine. I was mocked at school because of that.

I often felt like an outsider, watching the three of them as a happy, complete family.

Sometimes, I even wondered how wonderful it would be if I had been born second. I would have a weak body, but I would receive all the love in the world.

Yet even so, Reneea still felt it was not enough. She competed with me for everything.

When my boyfriend gave me an expensive perfume while he was still courting me, she wanted to take mine even though she already had a bottle.

After I got married, she became even worse, going so far as to try stealing Eden's love.

I cried and threw tantrums, but in the end, I only earned Mom and Dad's annoyance and Eden's neglect.

Everything I did was wrong.

In the past, I might have argued back, but after so many years, I was truly exhausted.

Seeing my silence, Mom and Dad stopped paying attention to me and gathered around the dining table to fuss over Reneea. Her plate was piled high with delicacies that the three of them had served her. I held my knife and fork, quietly cutting the vegetables on my plate.

Reneea looked at me smugly, her eyes showing no weakness, only provocation.

In the following days, Mom and Dad spoiled her even more than before. She practically lived like a princess.