Chapter 1

When my best friend, a doctor, diagnosed me with cancer, my life fell apart.

My wife, Emily, drained our savings, sold our house, and even took out a loan with a sky-high interest rate—all to save me.

I was deeply moved by her unwavering love and sacrifice.

After I was discharged from the hospital, I worked three jobs to pay off the debt, but the interest kept piling up. Soon, loan sharks were breathing down my neck.

One day, while running for my life, I accidentally stumbled toward our old house—the one we had sold. But just as I was about to leave, I heard voices inside.

Voices I recognized.

It was Emily. And my best friend, Nathan .

“That idiot still thinks he actually has cancer,” Nathan said, followed by a burst of laughter.

How could it be Emily’s voice? And… my best friend, Nathan? This house was supposed to be sold.

Their conversation hit me like a freight train.

“That idiot still thinks he actually has cancer,” Emily said with a laugh.

“What if he finds out? Are you sure he didn’t suspect anything?” Nathan asked.

“Please. Lincoln? He’s so clueless it’s almost cute. Now that his money and the house are ours, even if he finds out, what can he do? The loan sharks I introduced him to aren’t exactly the forgiving type. He’ll be too busy running for his life to worry about us.”

“Oh, Emily, you’re brilliant,” Nathan said, laughing.

I clenched my fists as rage boiled inside me. These two snakes!

Just as I was about to kick the door open, a shadow loomed behind me.

It was the loan sharks.

"No... no, please—"

Before I could finish, several burly men grabbed me, covering my mouth and dragging me to a van parked outside.

When the blindfold came off, my eyes stung under the harsh fluorescent lights.

I barely had time to adjust before a deep, cold voice spoke near my ear.

"If you can’t pay back the money, don’t blame us for taking your organs instead."

Panic surged through me. I tried to scream, but my mouth was gagged.

The icy blade of a knife pressed against my skin, and white-hot pain shot through me. My body trembled violently, but I couldn’t make a sound.

The world around me blurred, the pain faded, and everything went dark.

So this is how it ends, I thought.

How unfair. Why do the wicked always seem to thrive while the good are left to suffer?

My consciousness slipped away.

Suddenly, I jolted awake.

Opening my eyes, I found myself in a familiar place—the hospital room where I had been “diagnosed.”