Rose Liu had been in a coma for two long months.
Machines hummed softly in the sterile hospital room, their steady rhythm the only proof that she was still alive. Her face was pale, fragile,nothing like the woman who once stood beneath chandeliers and flashing cameras.
Sally had come to visit ,the first time since the two months rose laid unconscious
Sally stood beside the bed, arms crossed, eyes cold with satisfaction.
"You never followed the plan, Rose," she murmured, tilting her head. "You were supposed to die."
A slow smile curved her lips.
"But look at you now stuck in a coma. Neither alive nor dead. How useless."
She laughed softly, the sound cruel in the quiet room.
"Did you like my little birthday surprise? It was all me. Standing beside you that night? That was my idea too. No one would ever suspect a sister." Her gaze sharpened. "You think you deserve the spotlight? You're just a fake. I'm the real one."
Sally leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Everything you ever wanted is mine now. Even your beloved Dametrius,I have him wrapped around my fingers,at my beck and call."
Her smile widened.
"He saved me first. Carried me to the hospital. Despite I didn't have a single scratch. Dad would never doubt me,no one will."
Her fingers hovered over the oxygen mask.
"Maybe I should just take this off," she whispered. "You don't have to suffer like this. Just die, Rose."
Her hand moved—
Click.
The door opened.
In an instant, Sally's expression shattered into tears. She stumbled back, clutching the bed as if overwhelmed by grief.
Calista froze at the doorway, her eyes blazing.
"Why are you here?" she demanded. "You can fool everyone else, Sally—but not me. I know you had something to do with this."
Sally turned sharply, her tears vanishing.
"So what?" she sneered. "Can you prove it?"
Before Calista could respond, the doctor entered.
"Ladies, please excuse me. I'm here for my rounds."
Sally leaned down once more, her lips brushing Rose's forehead in a mock kiss.
"You're lucky," she whispered. "Next time… who knows?"
She straightened, masking herself in sorrow, and walked out.
Calista rushed to Rose's side, gripping her hand tightly.
"Please wake up," she sobbed. "Please. Dametrius is a jerk. He left his fiancée to save another woman. I knew it! there was something about they way he looked at Sally. His intentions were never clean."
Her tears fell onto the sheets.
"He hasn't even visited you,not once. Instead, he brought her here.Despite she had not even a scratch on her."
Calista sniffed, trying to laugh through her tears.
"Wake up, Rose. I'll find you a better man. A handsome CEO. Rich. Tall. With muscles. Big biceps."
Her voice broke completely.
"Please wake up…"
Her phone rang.
She answered through sobs. "Mrs. Carlson…"
"How's Rose?" Mrs. Carlson asked gently.
Calista covered her mouth, tears streaming.
"She's still in a coma, Mom," she whispered. "She doesn't want to wake up."
Don't cry, Calista, Rose whispered in her thoughts.
That was the cruelest part of it all,being trapped in darkness while still hearing everything. Rose was not gone. Her mind was awake, alert, burning with awareness. Her brain cells still functioned, still processed every word, every breath, every lie spoken beside her bed.
Only her body refused to obey.
She was paralyzed. Imprisoned.
Sally… you would stoop this low just to kill me?
What have I ever done to you?
All her life, Rose had lived behind Sally's shadow,following every command, obeying every order. She had been nothing more than an accessory, a stand-in, a silent replacement when needed. She had never competed, never rebelled. Hoping she would be loved, just like Sally is loved..
But no—she was still unwanted.
I never took anything from you. Why couldn't you let me live?
Rage ignited within her chest.
Why can't I move? Why can't I stand up?
No.
Her thoughts hardened, sharpened into steel.
No more.
"I will no longer be your stand-in," she told herself.
"I will no longer be your accessory."
Her will surged violently, crashing against the walls of her own body.
Move, Rose. You need to move.
Her mind screamed. Her body resisted.
Then—
A tear slipped from the corner of her eye, despite her eyes being shot.
Calista noticed instantly.
"Rose… don't cry," Calista whispered, clutching her hand.
I'm not crying, Rose answered silently. I'm fighting.
Her chest felt like it was splitting open. Her thoughts battered her limbs again and again.
Stand up. You have to stand up.
Her body trembled.
Her right index finger twitched.
Once.
Then again.
I'm coming for you, Sally.
Her finger moved clearly this time.
The heart monitor began to beep faster.
Calista froze. Her eyes widened.
"She—she moved!" Calista screamed, rushing into the hallway. "Doctor! Doctor!"
Medical staff flooded the room.
The doctor leaned over Rose, eyes sharp. Slowly, deliberately her fingers curled.
"All fingers are responding," the doctor said. "Heart rate's rising."
The beeping grew louder. Faster.
"Prepare the shocker." they doctor ordered the nurse
Calista stumbled back, hands clasped together, shaking and praying,please don't die rose,please wake up,God don't let her die please.
"One… two… three!"
The shock jolted Rose's body. Her chest rose, then fell.
Again.
"One… two… three!"
The monitor screamed.
"We're losing her!" the nurse cried. "Her heartbeat's too high!"
No, Rose shouted inside her mind. I won't die. Not now.
"I'm not dying," she told herself fiercely. I will stand up.
"Oxygen tank—empty!" the doctor yelled. "Bring a new one!"
Rose felt the air thinning. Panic clawed at her chest.
Now, Rose. Now.
Her eyes flew open.
With trembling fingers, she reached up and tore the oxygen mask from her face.
"She's awake!" the nurse screamed. "She's awake!"
"Sedative—now! Stabilize her!"
An injection pierced her arm. Strength surged briefly through her veins before sleep dragged her under once more.
Demetrius never came to see Rose,not even once. Even while she lay trapped in a coma, he never visited her for a single day. Instead, he followed Sally everywhere like a puppet, fawning over her, orbiting her as though Rose had never existed.