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510words
My face paled further. I felt the last of my strength drain away as my consciousness blurred and sank.
Now, I owed them nothing.
Adam didn’t realize my love — also cloned from Lily herself — would vanish the moment my blood all flowed back into her.
As “my” love faded, my mind cleared.
When I woke, my vision had returned. Adam had kept his promise of restoring my sight at least.
His face slowly came into focus as he pulled me into an embrace.
"Nora! You’re awake!" Relief washed over his features, "You can see again—aren’t you happy? We’ll be together forever now."
Once, those words would’ve flooded me with joy. Now, silence tightened my throat.
Before I could speak, a nurse rushed in.
"Director, Miss Carter is asking… She insists Nora attends to her."
Adam’s arms stiffened around me.
After a long pause, he released me, smoothing my hair, "Lily just woke up. She’s… fragile right now. Go take care of her. Please."
The nurse led me to Lily’s private ward. As I entered the room, Lily surveyed me with serpentine eyes. It was our first meeting.
"We do look alike," she mused, "Remember—without me, you wouldn’t exist. You belong to me. Adam only married you to keep a piece of me close."
"He’s mine. You’ll never marry him."
I shook my head. I didn’t want him anymore.
The realization after the clone love died was cold and clean. Adam meant nothing to me now; I would never bind myself to a man I didn’t love.
My resolve visibly startled her. Lily’s haughty mask slipped, then snapped back.
She snatched a knife from the bedside table and thrust it toward me,
"You’re here to care for me, aren’t you? Peel me an apple."
Adam happened to enter the room at the moment.
His eyes locked onto the blade near my hand. Panic flashed across his face as he lunged forward, wrenching the knife from Lily’s grip.
He forced a smile, "I’ll peel it for you."
Then, he turned to me, "Nora, you may go home now."
Lily’s resentful stare followed me out.
But I was not going to that so-called "home", a cage of painful echoes.
Instead, I slipped into a corner diner and ordered hot soup. Enjoying the meal had sparked my own satisfaction and affection as a human. I was not "just a clone" anymore.
The broth was still warm when Adam’s shadow fell across my table.
"Nora, why didn’t you go home? I’ve been searching everywhere. You didn’t even leave me a text."
He reached for my wrist. His tone turned to a wounded plea,
"I’ve been with Lily all day. I’m exhausted, starving… Come home, make me a dinner."
I jerked my arm free. His gentle facade frosted over instantly,
"Nora, I’m too tired for your moods—"
His pleading tone used to paralyze me into obedience. Now, it sparked only cold defiance.
"I’m not going back. That place isn’t my home."
