Part 1The Marrow Theft

At our New Year's Eve dinner, the mood was heavy, the faces around the table grim.

Confused, I shot a questioning look at my husband, Michael, who sat beside me. He looked like he wanted to say something but just shook his head.

I shrugged it off and placed a piece of fish, my daughter's favorite, onto her plate.

Just then, a line of text materialized in the air before me.

“The supporting character’s mother is so good to her. Too bad her father is about to make her donate bone marrow to the female lead.”

Supporting character? Female lead? What on earth is this?

I paid it no mind and continued eating.

But my husband’s next words made me realize those floating sentences were something I couldn't ignore.

…

"Honey, there's something I need to talk to you about," Michael said, his voice suddenly grave.

I was busy cracking open a crab claw. "What is it? Go on."

Before he could speak, my sister-in-law, Clara, burst into tears. I quickly put down my crab and rushed to comfort her.

"Clara, don't be so upset. Isn't Bella's condition improving?"

"The doctor said she could be discharged in a few days. Then…"

My words were cut short by my husband's sharp command.

"That's enough, Amelia!"

His shout stunned me. I had no idea what I’d said wrong. Our daughter, Daisy, flinched, her chopsticks hovering mid-air. I soothed her, encouraging her to keep eating, before turning to glare at Michael.

"What is wrong with you? It's New Year's Eve!"

"What's wrong with me?" he shot back, his face a thundercloud.

My mother-in-law stepped in to smooth things over. "Alright, alright, let's just eat."

I ignored my husband's bizarre behavior and returned to my meal. I sympathized with Clara—her daughter was sick, after all. I'd let her spend the entire day at the hospital while I single-handedly prepared this feast. I wasn't about to let my hard work go to waste.

"Stop eating. I need to talk to you," Michael said again, trying to stop me.

I didn't put down my chopsticks, just nodded. "I'm listening."

"Bella's condition has worsened. She needs a bone marrow transplant."

His words hit me like a physical blow. The text from before flashed in my mind. Was this a coincidence?

Before I could process it, more words appeared.

“Here we go. The scumbag is bringing it up now!”

“Shameless. Forcing his own daughter to donate marrow to his niece. He doesn't care about his daughter at all.”

“Yeah, even though the female lead, Bella, gets saved and becomes super successful, I still feel so bad for the supporting character, Daisy. She gets sick from the donation and dies young.”

Reading the lines, the situation began to click into place. The "female lead" was my niece, Bella. The "supporting character" was my daughter, Daisy.

My daughter would die because she donated bone marrow to Bella, who would then go on to live a life of success and glory.

I forced myself to remain calm, looking from Michael to the still-sobbing Clara. I sighed.

"Clara, they'll find a volunteer to save Bella. Don't be so heartbroken."

At my words, Clara's crying abruptly stopped. She glanced at Michael. My mother-in-law shot him a look, a clear signal.

As if emboldened, Michael declared, "Amelia, I want Daisy to donate her bone marrow to Bella."

"Absolutely not!" I refused without a moment's hesitation.

I stood up and swept the dishes off the table. If I cooked this meal, then no one else was going to eat it.

“The supporting character's mom is a badass!”

“If it were me, I wouldn't let my daughter donate either!”

“Exactly! Donating bone marrow is so damaging. I can't believe this father cares more about his sister's child than his own.”

The dinner ended in chaos. Michael disappeared, and I didn't bother asking where he went. He could do whatever he wanted, as long as he stayed away from my daughter.

I was on high alert now, constantly watching him, terrified he would do something to Daisy.

On New Year's Day, as I was getting Daisy ready to visit my parents, Michael called.

"Amelia, Bella is fading fast. She needs the transplant now."

I moved away from Daisy, hissing into the phone, "What does Bella's transplant have to do with my daughter?!"

The familiar text appeared again.

“The supporting character's mom has no idea her husband already took their daughter for a compatibility test.”

“Yeah, so tragic. So many people were tested, but only she was a perfect match.”

“Well, what can you do? The supporting character only exists to save the female lead.”

A chill went down my spine.

"Michael," I growled, my voice trembling with rage, "when did you take Daisy for a compatibility test?"

"I went and got tested myself! I gave my blood! Why would you drag a ten-year-old child into this?"

The line went silent. He was clearly shocked that I knew.

Before he could answer, I cut him off.

"If you want to take my daughter's bone marrow, you'll have to do it over my dead body!"