My Family Sold My Love to Pay for My Twin Sister

The day my twin sister was found, my parents decided that, to make up for everything she had missed, I had to sell all the love I had received over the past eighteen years to a memory bank and deposit the coins into an account set up exclusively for her. My mother's hugs were worth 800,000 coins. My brother's protection was worth 900,000. My fated mate's marriage proposal was worth one million... Every memory had a price. If I refused to sell even one, I would be branded selfish and deemed unworthy of remaining in the family. My Alpha father pushed the bill toward me. “Ten million. All this love should have belonged to your sister in the first place.” “She suffered out there for eighteen years, while you enjoyed eighteen years of love in her place.” I thought they just wanted to teach me a lesson. Until I discovered that once a transaction was completed, the memories sold to the bank could never be recovered. After I sold the memory of my mother singing me to sleep, I could no longer recognize her voice. After I sold the memory of my brother helping me through my first wolf-shifting, even seeing him injured stirred nothing in me but a sense of unfamiliarity. And when I sold the memory of my fated mate proposing to me, he finally panicked. Grabbing my hand with red-rimmed eyes, he asked why I couldn't even remember him. I didn't answer. Because I had already forgotten who he was. For the final transaction, I sold the last memory I had left. It was the night I was six, when my parents had shielded me with their own bodies at the risk of their lives and promised they would never abandon me. I looked at the remaining balance on the bill and sold that promise, too. Once the transaction was complete, my parents sent a message in the family group chat. “Lydia, the test is over.” “We were only afraid you'd become spoiled and refuse to accept your sister, so we wanted to see if you were willing to make sacrifices for her.” I stared blankly at the messages. I didn't recognize a single one of them. Chapter 1 When the settlement notice from the Memory Bank arrived at the Kane estate, Vivian was trying on the new dress her mother, Elena, had prepared for her. Elena straightened the hem of her dress and smiled. “Tonight is your homecoming celebration. Everyone will be there. From now on, you won't have to envy anyone for having parents by their side.” Vivian lowered her eyes. “But will Lydia be there?” “Of course.” Elena sounded certain. “She has already made up for everything she owes you. Alpha Adrian said that once the debt is settled, this matter will be over.” Just then, her father, Adrian Kane, walked out of his study. He was holding a settlement receipt. “The Memory Bank just confirmed that all ten million coins have been transferred.” Vivian froze. “Did Lydia really sell all her memories?” “She wouldn't have gone that far. She must have sold only a few.” Adrian placed the receipt on the table. There was even a hint of satisfaction in his voice. “She has been spoiled by us since childhood. It's not a bad thing to teach her that the Kane family's resources don't automatically belong to her.” Elena sighed softly. “I only wanted her to sell a few insignificant memories to show you she was sincere. I didn't expect her to take it so seriously.” Despite her words, there wasn't the slightest trace of concern on her face. To her, the Memory Bank was simply a new kind of trading institution in werewolf society. Some wolves sold memories of their ex-partners to forget the pain of heartbreak. Others sold trivial childhood experiences in exchange for coins. Besides, as far as she was concerned, if memories could be sold, they could certainly be bought back. So what was there to worry about? My brother, Xavier, picked up the settlement statement and raised an eyebrow. “Ten million? How many trivial little memories did she have to sell to get that much?” Elena waved away his concern. “Probably just memories of falling down as a child or getting scolded by her teachers.” What they didn't know was that such trivial memories were worth no more than twenty-five coins at the Memory Bank. Yet my dear family had claimed I owed Vivian ten million. Only memories that were deeply cherished, memories carrying profound emotions, could fetch hundreds of thousands or even millions of coins. They also had no idea that once a memory was sold, it was gone forever. No amount of money could ever buy it back. Vivian bit her lip and lowered her head, looking guilty. “But won't Lydia be upset?” Alpha Adrian glanced at her and gently patted her head. “If she truly considers you her sister, she won't begrudge you such a small compensation.” Just then, his phone rang. The caller ID showed the Memory Bank. “Mr. Kane, Miss. Lydia has just completed her final transaction.” The employee sounded unusually serious. “Since the total transaction amount is quite substantial, we need to confirm once again whether you would like all the coins transferred to the account you designated.” Adrian glanced at Vivian. “Transfer them.” “Put every last coin into my younger daughter's account.” There was a brief silence on the other end. “Would you like to review the transaction list first? It includes several memories involving family members, as well as memories related to her fated mate.” Adrian frowned. “What is there to review?” “She sold them herself. She knows what she sold. Just transfer the money as soon as possible. Don't delay tonight's homecoming celebration.” Not long after he hung up, Vivian's phone chimed with a deposit notification. She covered her mouth in shock when she saw the amount. “Dad, are all these coins really mine?” “They're compensation you deserve.” Adrian answered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You suffered for eighteen years out there, while she enjoyed eighteen years of our love. These things should have belonged to you in the first place.” Elena smiled too. “The fact that your sister was willing to give you the money means she's finally learned to behave.” “When she comes home tonight, don't hold the past against her.” Vivian nodded, her eyes reddening. “As long as Lydia is willing to come back, I don't need any of this. I can return the money to her.” Xavier immediately placed a hand over hers. “Keep what you've been given.” “She took eighteen years of your life. Isn't it only fair that she give something back?” Just then, Julian Mercer walked through the door. He was Lydia's fated mate and fiancé. He placed two gift boxes on the table and opened one of them. “This is the crown I prepared for Lydia.” Elena took a look inside, and her expression turned slightly awkward. It was last year's model, an old crown with a small, barely noticeable scratch along the edge. Julian explained casually. “She used to care too much about things like this. That's why she became so spoiled.” “Letting her wear an older design might help cure her vanity.” Elena nodded repeatedly. “You really have thought this through.” The other box contained a brand-new, much more expensive crown. Julian took it out and personally handed it to Vivian with a smile. “This one is much more suited to you.” Vivian accepted it shyly. Then Julian took out his phone and sent Lydia a voice message. “Eight o'clock tonight. Vivian's homecoming celebration.” “Be there on time and apologize to her in front of everyone.” “If you're sincere about it, we can still keep our engagement.” After sending the message, he looked up at the others. “Does she know the test is over?” “She does,” Elena replied confidently. “She's probably hiding somewhere crying. Once she's done, she'll come back on her own.” Adrian lifted his teacup and added coldly, “She can come back.” “But before she steps through the door, she must apologize to Vivian.” No one knew that by then, Lydia had already forgotten who they were. Chapter 2 The homecoming celebration was being held at the Kane family estate. Early that morning, Luna Elena had the entire ballroom decorated with pink roses. Vivian liked pink, so even my favorite white carpet had been removed and replaced. A Beta approached with the guest list. “Luna, where should we seat Miss Lydia?” Elena paused. The head table was already full. There was a seat for her, Alpha Adrian, Xavier, Vivian, and Julian. The place that had once belonged to me had long since been given to Vivian. “Just add a chair beside the table.” Elena quickly regained her composure and gave the order casually. Vivian hurried to her feet. “Let Lydia have my seat. I'll stand to the side.” Xavier frowned and pushed her back into her chair. “Sit down.” “Today is your homecoming celebration. How can you possibly stand?” “Besides, she's only coming here to apologize tonight. She's not here to steal the spotlight.” Elena sighed and gently advised her, “Vivian, stop thinking about her all the time.” “Lydia has been spoiled by us for too long. That's why she can't stand even the slightest inconvenience.” The butler asked another question. “Should we restore Miss Lydia's room as well?” Only then did Elena remember that my old bedroom had already been converted into Vivian's dance studio. All my clothes, trophies, and photographs had been packed into cardboard boxes and piled up in the basement. Elena hesitated for two seconds. “Prepare the guest room on the fourth floor for now.” Vivian asked softly, “Isn't the guest room a little too small?” Xavier let out a cold laugh. “She was willing to sell even her memories. Do you think she'd care about the size of a room?” “Besides, she's coming back to learn some manners, not to keep living like the princess of the Kane family.” As he spoke, he pulled an old wolf-fang pendant from his pocket. It was the gift my brother Xavier had given me when I first shifted into my wolf form at sixteen. The fang had long since lost its shine, and the chain was tarnished. He had tossed it into a drawer and forgotten about it. Now he dropped it into a gift box. “Give this to her too.” “Didn't she used to follow me around as a child, begging me to teach her how to control her wolf form? Seeing this should be enough to make her forget all her resentment.” Elena smiled with satisfaction. “You may complain about her, but deep down, you still care.” Xavier leaned back in his chair, recalling our childhood. “After all, I watched her grow up.” “As long as she behaves herself from now on, I won't completely abandon her.” Meanwhile, Julian was revising the terms of my engagement agreement. Our wedding, originally scheduled for next year, had been postponed by another two years. A new clause had also been added at the end. [Lydia must treat Vivian as her own younger sister and must never compete with her for anything.] Elena read it and hesitated. “Isn't this a little too strict?” Julian didn't even look up. “She used to have too much. That's why she couldn't accept Vivian.” “If she's truly willing to repent, none of these conditions should be difficult for her.” Vivian stared at the agreement, her eyes slowly turning red. “Julian, you don't have to make Lydia suffer for my sake.” Julian's voice softened. “Don't worry about it.” “I'll make sure she gives you back everything she owes you.” Just then, Adrian's assistant arrived with a document. “Alpha, the Memory Bank says Miss Lydia's transaction amount is much higher than that of an ordinary customer. They recommend that the family collect the detailed transaction statement.” Adrian didn't even open the document. “No need.” The assistant looked surprised. “Given the amount involved, perhaps Miss Lydia sold some particularly significant memories.” Xavier burst out laughing. “How significant could they possibly be?” “She had an easy life from the day she was born. The only hardship she ever experienced was tripping over a stone while walking.” Elena didn't take it seriously either. “Lydia is clever. She must have found a way to increase the estimated value.” “Even as a child, she could turn the smallest incident into a dramatic story. It's no surprise she managed to persuade the bank.” Adrian tossed the document into a drawer. “She managed to raise the money. That means this test worked.” “In the past, whenever we asked her to do something for the family, she always demanded to know why.” “Now she's finally learned to make sacrifices.” The assistant said nothing more and turned to leave. Vivian lowered her head, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. The banquet schedule arrived soon afterward. My name was listed as the final item on the program. The host's script had already been written for me. First, I would thank my parents for their good intentions. Second, I would apologize to Vivian. Finally, I would thank my sister for being willing to forgive me. Julian read the script and nodded with satisfaction. “Once tonight is over, everything will be behind us.” He picked up his phone and sent me a message. [Eight o'clock tonight. Be there on time. Don't forget what you promised.] No one knew that at that very moment, I was sitting in the Memory Bank's waiting room. An employee handed me the final transaction receipt. “Miss Lydia, all transactions have been completed. Are you sure you don't want to review the memory list?” I shook my head gently. “No need.” “There's nothing left worth keeping.” Chapter 3 At eight o'clock that evening, Vivian's homecoming celebration was about to begin. The Kane family had invited almost every relative and close friend in the pack. Everyone knew that the Kane family's twin daughter, who had been missing for eighteen years, had finally been found. They also knew that Lydia had gone to the Memory Bank and sold some of the memories from the past eighteen years to compensate her sister. A guest holding a wineglass asked curiously, “Does selling memories have any side effects?” Alpha Adrian waved his hand dismissively. “Young people these days love making things sound more frightening than they are.” “It's just a few old memories. It's not like she's undergoing brain surgery.” “Besides, Lydia must have sold some insignificant things.” Xavier chimed in. “She was always so petty as a child.” “If the nanny gave her one less cookie, she'd remember it for three years.” “Selling off that kind of nonsense should clear her head.” A burst of laughter rippled through the crowd. Luna Elena laughed along with them. “That girl always overthinks everything.” “Once she comes back and realizes we never truly abandoned her, she'll probably throw her arms around me and cry.” Someone remarked enviously, “You really do love her.” “After raising her for eighteen years, she's practically your own daughter.” Elena's expression changed. “Who said she isn't my daughter?” The guest froze. Only then did Elena realize that the truth behind the test had not yet been revealed to the public. She quickly tried to smooth things over. “I mean, after raising her for eighteen years, our bond is just as strong as if she were our own.” Adrian frowned at her. “We'll explain everything once Lydia arrives. There's no need to tell her in advance and let her think she's won.” Eight-thirty came, but I still hadn't appeared. The driver called. “Alpha, I've been waiting outside the Memory Bank for an hour, but Miss Lydia never showed up.” “What about her phone?” “I called, but she hasn't answered.” Adrian's expression darkened. “Keep waiting.” “If she refuses to get in the car tonight, tell her the Kane family won't keep its doors open for her forever.” Julian called Lydia as well. After two unanswered calls, he impatiently sent her a voice message. “Lydia, don't take this too far. So many elders are waiting tonight. If you're late, you're embarrassing the entire Kane family.” He received no response. Vivian asked quietly, “Could it be because of the crown? Maybe I should give her mine.” “It has nothing to do with the crown,” Julian replied, his tone softening. “She just wants to make me anxious. She used to do the same thing whenever we argued.” But just as he finished speaking, he suddenly sensed something was wrong. The familiar mental connection between him and Lydia had grown strangely faint. Julian immediately called her again, then tried reaching out through their mental link. There was no response. “What's wrong?” Vivian asked. Julian put away his phone and forced himself to remain calm. “Nothing.” She was just throwing a tantrum. He thought she'd come back on her own once she got over it. Elena glanced at the time, irritation rising in her chest. “The test is already over. What more does she want?” “Does she expect the entire family to take turns apologizing to her?” Xavier swirled his wineglass, unconcerned. “Mom, don't worry.” “Just leave her alone.” “She has always hated being ignored. Once she realizes no one is going to comfort her, she'll come back on her own.” At nine o'clock, the host stepped onto the stage. Vivian was formally introduced as a member of the Kane family. As the applause filled the room, Elena instinctively looked toward the ballroom entrance. It was empty. The bouquet of pink roses that I was supposed to present had to be delivered by a staff member instead. The host leaned over and asked quietly, “Should we keep Miss Lydia's apology segment in the program?” Adrian's face was stern. “Move it to a later time.” “Once she arrives, send her straight onto the stage.” Half an hour later, the driver called again. “Alpha, the Memory Bank says Miss Lydia's business has been completed. She left through another exit.” Adrian slammed his glass onto the table. “She left? She knew we had a family gathering tonight, and she still walked away on her own?” Julian snatched the phone from him. “Where did she go?” “The bank refused to disclose that information. They said the client's whereabouts are private.” Julian hung up. “I'm going to find her.” Vivian quickly grabbed his arm. “Julian, the celebration isn't over yet.” Xavier said coldly, “No one is going anywhere.” “Isn't she just trying to force us to lower our heads?” “Whoever goes looking for her today loses.” Elena said nothing. She opened my chat window and typed a message. [Lydia, Mom knows you've been hurt.] After hesitating for a few seconds, she slowly deleted every word. Lydia was too easily encouraged to push her luck. If Elena softened now, all their efforts to test her would have been wasted. Just then, the butler hurried over. “Alpha, someone from the Memory Bank just contacted the house.” “They said they have some documents that need to be handed directly to a member of the Kane family.” Adrian asked impatiently, “When will they arrive?” The butler glanced toward the entrance. “They're already on their way.” He had no idea that the documents contained a complete record of every memory Lydia had sold. Nor did he know how much they would find in those supposedly insignificant old memories, or how much the family would never be able to recover. Chapter 4 It was ten o'clock. Vivian's homecoming celebration was nearly over, and I still hadn't appeared. The guests began whispering among themselves. “Didn't the Kane family say Lydia had willingly sold her memories to the bank to compensate her sister?” “But she sold a full ten million coins' worth. How could all of them have been insignificant? Trivial memories aren't worth much…” “Shh. Don't say that.” Although the whispers were quiet, Elena still heard them. She tightened her grip on her wineglass, her expression growing darker by the second. The guests tonight were all influential figures in the werewolf pack. The celebration was supposed to let everyone witness the family's reunion. Instead, Lydia's continued absence had turned the Kane family into a laughingstock. “If she doesn't want to come, then we don't need to wait any longer.” Adrian gave the order in a low voice. The host quickly nodded and prepared to end the celebration. But Xavier suddenly picked up the microphone. “Everyone, we're sorry to have kept you waiting.” “My sister Lydia has simply been spoiled for too long. Perhaps she needs a little more time to accept the fact that Vivian has come home.” “But rest assured, the Kane family will never mistreat either of our daughters.” His words sounded gracious, but he was placing all the blame on me. Some guests nodded in understanding, while others frowned. Vivian stood to one side, her eyes red. “Xavier, please stop.” “Lydia didn't do it on purpose. She's probably just having trouble accepting everything. I don't blame her.” The more she defended me, the more unreasonable I seemed. Elena wrapped an arm around her affectionately. “You're always too kind.” “After everything she's done to you, you still defend her.” Elena took a necklace out of her bag, then put it away again. It was the moonstone necklace I had admired when I was fifteen. Back then, she had promised to give it to me when I came of age. But after Vivian returned, Elena had become so busy taking care of her younger daughter that she had completely forgotten her promise. “She doesn't deserve this necklace anymore.” Elena spoke angrily. “She can have it when she learns to respect her elders.” Vivian lowered her head and said nothing more. Julian closed the gift box as well. “The engagement is on hold for now.” “She dared to stand me up tonight. If she wants to marry me, she'll have to come to the Mercer family and beg me herself.” Vivian's tears began to fall. “Please don't do this.” “Lydia might just be afraid to come home. She's lost so many memories at once. She must be hurting.” Adrian frowned. “What could she possibly have lost? She's not stupid. Do you really think she would sell all her important memories?” “How difficult could it be to raise ten million coins?” Vivian lowered her eyes and said nothing. Xavier scoffed. “Memories don't have a fixed price.” “She loves telling stories. She probably dressed up a few trivial incidents as some kind of grand life experience.” “If the Memory Bank was foolish enough to pay that much, that's their problem.” Julian nodded in agreement. “She isn't showing up because she's still throwing a tantrum.” Hearing that, Elena's last trace of unease disappeared. That was right. Lydia had always been clever. Those supposedly high-value transactions were probably just a trick she'd used to fool the Memory Bank. All they needed was for her to prove she was willing to make sacrifices for her sister. What exactly she had sold was never important. Soon, the butler entered with a customer service representative from the Memory Bank. The representative handed Adrian a sealed envelope. “Mr. Kane, this is the final receipt for Ms. Lydia Kane's transactions.” “All transactions have been completed and cannot be reversed.” Adrian took the envelope without even breaking the seal. “Fine.” The representative looked at him and asked again, “Would you like to open it and confirm the contents?” “What is there to confirm?” Adrian casually handed the envelope to his assistant. “As long as the coins have been transferred, that's all that matters. Our family affairs are none of your concern.” The representative didn't press the matter. Before leaving, she offered one final reminder. “Mr. Kane, Miss Lydia will be coming here in person tonight.” Elena immediately stood up. “She finally agreed to come?” Xavier didn't seem surprised. “I knew she wouldn't hold out for long. When she arrives, no one is to comfort her first.” Julian placed the old crown back on the table. “Make her apologize first.” “If her attitude isn't good enough, she won't even get this crown.” Adrian called the host back. “Put the apology segment back into the program.” “Once she walks through the door, send her straight onto the stage.” “I want her to admit in front of everyone that Vivian suffered for eighteen years while she enjoyed eighteen years of our love.” The remaining guests heard that I was coming and stopped preparing to leave. Just then, the sound of a car engine came from outside the ballroom. The doors slowly swung open. I walked in. Elena was the first to approach me. “Lydia, so you finally remember to come back?” “So many people have been waiting for you. How can you still have no manners?” Adrian sat at the head of the table and ordered sternly, “Come here.” “Apologize to Vivian first.” Xavier walked up to me and held out the wolf-fang pendant. His tone was casual and dismissive. “That's enough. Stop sulking.” “As long as you behave from now on, I'll still be your brother.” Julian approached as well, his tone almost patronizing. “I can let your lateness tonight slide.” “Go apologize to Vivian properly, and our engagement can still stand.” Everyone waited for me to speak. But I looked at the unfamiliar faces before me and asked in confusion, “Who are you? Why have you brought me here?”