Chapter 2

Evelyn was tall and elegant, wrapped tightly in a pristine white lab coat.

Her face was cold and focused as she studied the tissue sample under the sterile hood.

She turned to her research team and announced strictly:

"This is our new biological specimen. It didn't come from lab animals."

"It came from a human. A young girl in the prime of her youth."

"She sacrificed her body for science. I will not tolerate a single drop of waste, nor an ounce of disrespect!"

Her eyes held both sadness and deep reverence as her gloved fingers gently traced the edge of the glass container.

A sudden, warm sensation rushed across my body—like a gentle caress. It was a tenderness I had never experienced while I was alive.

In that instant, I realized the truth: I was a ghost.

And the biological specimen my mother was so reverently handling... was my corpse.

Evelyn was leading a top-secret project on radiation-shielding biomaterials. High-grade contaminated human tissue was practically impossible to obtain.

Looking at the slivers of my harvested flesh, Evelyn let out a heavy sigh.

"Such a tragedy. A sweet girl, stripped of her life by severe radiation. What a waste..."

Her eyes shimmered with genuine heartache.

Oh, Mom... I told you thousands of times that I had been radiated. I told you I didn't have long to live.

You never cared. You just screamed at me, calling me a pathetic liar.

One of the lab assistants who had collected my body bowed his head and murmured:

"After she learned she was exposed, she locked herself in a tiny room for three years. She said she didn't want to contaminate anyone else. She was an angel."

"When we went to get her consent, her only wish was to call her mother. She didn't even have the strength to hold the phone."

"Her mother was pure evil, though. That poor girl was breathing her last, and her mother literally told her to drop dead. It broke my heart just hearing it."

The grief on Evelyn’s face deepened. She reached out and softly patted the specimen container. A wave of phantom warmth brushed over my soul.

"How could any mother on earth be so heartless?" Evelyn whispered, disgusted.

Mom... that heartless monster was you.

The warmth of her gloved hand slid over my spiritual form, but my heart remained frozen solid.

After saying that, Evelyn paused, as if struck by a vague, uneasy memory.

She clenched her fists, staring blankly into the distance.

I could feel a subtle wave of unrest rippling through her chest.

Shaking it off, she turned back to the assistant. "Do you know what her name was?"

The assistant opened his mouth to reply, but a cheery voice from the doorway cut him off.

"Mom! I brought you lunch!"

The confusion and grief on Evelyn’s face instantly vanished, replaced by radiant warmth and pride.

A vibrant, pretty girl pushed open the heavy double doors.

The large sign reading "RESTRICTED AREA: AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" didn't faze her for a second. She strutted right over to Evelyn.

"Mom, look what I made for you today!"

It was Mia, my mother’s beloved adopted daughter.