Part 2Her First Love Put Me in a Coma, Now My Heart is Locked Away.

"Our hospital doesn't have the latest tech. I recommend a hospital in Switzerland. They have new treatments for comatose patients."

My mom cut him off. "Don't give me that. I want to know if his brain waves are still active. Is he a vegetable or not?"

I could feel the doctor's eyes scanning me, and every hair on my body stood up.

"He's definitely in a coma. I guarantee it."

I didn't know why he was lying, but he was saving my life.

"You interfered during the surgery, which caused this. Now you want him dead. That's…"

My mom slapped him.

"Don't forget what happened 25 years ago. You were part of that."

The doctor apologized. "Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I'm just saying he's in a coma. He's not a threat."

"That's not your problem. Your job is to make sure he never wakes up, and preferably meets the grim reaper soon."

"This has been in the works for 25 years. Time to cash out. If you mess this up, I'll make your whole family suffer."

My wife, who'd sworn to protect me, wanted me dead.

The doctor agreed, bowing as he walked them out.

I lay in bed, gasping for air like a drowning fish.

Good patience. This started 25 years ago.

Meaning, 25 years ago this doctor switched me and Brittany's identities. They'd waited 25 years.

They'd even sacrifice their daughter for money, pretend to love me for 25 years. Wolves in sheep's clothing.

I felt like I was falling into a glacier, my muscles shaking uncontrollably.

They didn't know I wasn't really in a coma.

I was a medical miracle when I left the hospital, shocking everyone, including the doctor who helped them.

Without giving him a chance to warn anyone, I took a cab back to the house I'd lived in for 25 years.

Brittany stared, pulling at her shirt collar, trying to hide the hickeys.

I ignored it, opening my arms.

I hugged Brittany as she cried, glancing at Chad hanging onto the window sill outside.

"Okay, okay, I'm back."

Brittany punched my chest, wincing as she touched me.

"I feel bad, we got married but didn't get a honeymoon."

I pushed her onto the bed, ignoring the fear in her eyes.

"Bang."

I stood up, walking to the window. "Did something fall?"

Brittany wrapped around me, trying to stop me from opening the window.

Then, my mom walked in, eyes red.

Brittany rushed to her, asking what was wrong.

My mom looked at me with hate, "It's nothing. I'm fine."

Right, that height would break every bone in his body. They felt bad.

Unbelievable.

Brittany grabbed my hand, "Mom's just thinking about Chad. After raising him for 25 years, she must miss him."

"Chad messed up, but he's being punished. You're awake, but he's still in a coma.

He loves my sister and thought you were marrying her, so he lost it. Good people don't deserve to die."

"Mom and Dad want to send him to Switzerland. They say the tech is good. We'll deal with him when he wakes up."

Brittany stared, worried I'd disagree.

Switzerland.

"You've raised him for so long, I don't want to see him die in bed. Do whatever you want."

Brittany smiled, kissing me.

"Mom, I told you. Shawn doesn't want Chad to suffer. After all, they're brothers."

Mom said I was understanding, she was proud.

I didn't react.

Inside, I burned with hate.

Both raised for 25 years, but they saw Chad as a son, and me as a walking bank account.

Before bed, Brittany brought me milk.

She hovered until I drank it, then snuggled into my arms.

"Honey, I'm sorry you suffered. I'll make it up to you."

I patted her back, realizing she'd always been nice to me.

She brought me soup and medicine in the rain, crying, looking like a cute, helpless bunny.

She always surprised me on my birthday, her eyes always full of me.

Now I knew she'd never loved Shawn. Only the Baker fortune.

She wanted money and power, not me.

"Shawn? Shawn?"

When she was sure I was asleep, Brittany snuck out.

I opened my eyes, throwing off the wet sheets and following her to Chad's room.

A toddler ran up, hugging Brittany, calling her "Mommy."

Chad was in a wheelchair, kissing her hand.

"Eww, Daddy kissed Mommy, eww."

My eyes burned, tears welling up.

Finally, I understood. They were a family.

And I, the outsider, was their stepping stone.

"I didn't know he'd wake up."

"He cries for his mother every day. What was I supposed to do?"

"I'm working on it. I can kill him a second time. I told Mom and Dad to take the kid to Switzerland."

Brittany soothed Chad.

"When you get back in a month, after the wedding, let them both die."

A month after the wedding of Chad and Brittany's sister, Bailey. They'd planned this for a while.

They wanted the Bakers to lose both kids, so they'd be vulnerable.

Then, they'd swoop in and take everything.

I stumbled back to my room.

I called a number. "Lucas, I'm joining your team."

Lucas shouted, "Good. Shawn, you figured it out. You're going to take us to the top!"

"Don't exaggerate. Give me a week. I'll be there."

The next day, Brittany saw my job application and freakeded