"I've been alive for over twenty years and never once tasted this so-called wealthy life. I don't want your money."
"But my kidney? That, I will take back."
I walked out of that gilded office, stepped into the elevator, and descended.
Outside the hospital, I pulled out my phone and dialed the complaint hotline without a second thought.
"Hello, I want to report Jerome Swanson and Stacy James for using illegal methods to steal my kidney donor!"
"What is your relationship with these two individuals?"
"Do you have concrete evidence?"
The operator's voice remained calm and professional.
I murmured under my breath.
"They're... my parents."
The operator's tone shifted, rising involuntarily.
"Your parents stole your kidney donor?!"
"For a stranger?!"
Ignoring her shock, I recounted everything.
Back in my rented basement room, I waited for hours.
During that time, my parents didn't call once. Didn't send a single text.
It wasn't until the third hour that Mom's number finally lit up my screen.
"Penelope, you've really outdone yourself!"
"You actually dared to report me and your father!"
"Having a child like you—we should have strangled you at birth!"
"You want that kidney so badly? Fine. We'll give it to you."
"But the surgery costs fifty-five thousand dollars. Do you have that kind of money?"
Her voice dripped with contempt. Then, just as quickly, she softened her tone.
"We're only doing this for your own good. There will be other kidneys. You just need to be a good girl and listen to us..."
The moment I heard that familiar manipulation, I hung up without hesitation and called Dr. Chavez.
"Dr. Chavez, I can get the money together. I have to have this transplant!"
He sighed, his voice heavy with reluctance.
"Penelope, a kidney can only be preserved for thirty-six hours."
"You need to hurry."
The moment I ended the call, I messaged every classmate I had from college, asking to borrow money.
Then, fighting through the exhaustion clawing at my body, I started taking delivery orders.
I had thirty hours left.
I couldn't lose.
For the next thirty hours, I didn't sleep. I delivered like a woman possessed.
On my final order, running on nothing but willpower, I pulled up to a mansion in the wealthy district and dialed the customer's number.
"Hello, your delivery has arrived—"
Before I could finish, an impatient horn blared behind me.
Honk. Honk. Honk.
"Hey, delivery girl! Move it!"
I turned.