Chapter 1

The employee paused for a moment, clearly finding Holly Webster's request a little unusual. Still, out of professional courtesy, he asked no questions and simply walked her through the island purchase process in detail, including when she could move in.

Once Holly learned the whole process would take only a few days, she could finally breathe easy. She then swiped her card to complete the purchase and turned to leave.

She lifted her head to the deep blue sky overhead and let out a quiet breath.

She bought the island with the funds Oscar Moss had given her for their wedding.

As Burbank's richest man, generosity came naturally to him. He handed over five billion dollars for the wedding without batting an eye.

In her past life, she never even got the chance to spend that money before she died. This time, she was reborn at the perfect moment, right after their engagement.

Her past life had taught her not to shortchange herself.

Holly had stepped out onto the road when a black car screeched to a stop in front of her. The door opened, and Oscar hopped out, striding toward her quickly.

Normally calm and composed, he looked slightly flustered now. A flicker of worry betrayed itself in his usually cold, sharp eyes.

It was her first time seeing Oscar after her rebirth. Without thinking, she blurted out, "Mr. Moss…"

Yet, Oscar didn't even bother glancing at her. He grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the car.

"Holly, come with me."

Holly collapsed onto the back seat, her head hitting the cushion with a loud thud. Oscar lowered his head to look at his phone, completely oblivious to her. The car sped all the way to the hospital.

Before the car even came to a complete stop, he hurriedly grabbed her hand and rushed toward the transfusion room.

It wasn't until she sat across from the nurse, watching the needle pierce her vein, that Oscar finally deigned to explain. "Stella slipped from the stairs and won't stop bleeding. She doesn't need too much blood this time, so don't worry."

Before Holly could reply, a slap landed on her cheek.

"You brat, where have you been? Didn't I tell you to stay by Stella's side at all times and never leave her?"

Holly's cheeks burned as if on fire, the pain making her eyes water instantly. She looked at her furious mother, Mary Larson, but no words came out.

Her father, Frank Webster, wrapped an arm around Mary, his gaze burning with the same fury.

"Are you trying to scare us to death? If anything happens to Stella, I'll make sure you'll pay for it!"

Her elder brother, Colin Webster, didn't even bother looking at her.

"I think we should just tie her up with a rope. That will save us the trouble of her running off all the time."

This was her family. For Stella Webster, they would turn on her over just one lost hour. Oscar was the only one who offered her any support, yet even his words were filled entirely with concern for Stella.

"Stop arguing. Let's not disturb Stella when she's having her blood transfusion."

No one cared about Holly, for she was just Stella's moving blood bank.

Stella's illness was the only reason Holly was born. Diagnosed with hemophilia in childhood, Stella suffered from severe clotting disorders and depended on regular blood transfusions to survive.

Holly was brought into this world for a single reason—to be Stella's blood bank so she could survive.

Even her name said it all. Stella was named to shine like a star, a wish her parents placed carefully upon her, while Holly's name was chosen with little thought at all.

She had been giving blood since childhood, her wrists often riddled with needle marks from endless blood draws.

No one ever truly loved her. To her parents, she was a means to an end. To Colin, Stella was the only sibling who ever mattered to him. Holly had always been the extra one, the person who never needed to be there.

The only person who ever treated her well was Oscar.

The Moss family and the Webster family had been close for generations. Colin was six years older than Holly.

Raised in a family that overlooked her, Holly inevitably grew attached to the one who had ever shown her any warmth and care, Oscar.

She poured out her heart to him. Though surprise shadowed his face and no joy showed, he still accepted her feelings and promised to marry her.

No one could imagine the joy she felt knowing the one she loved felt the same way. It seemed all the luck of her life had been spent on winning Oscar's love.

Thus, even though her parents and Colin couldn't care less about her, she didn't mind.

It wasn't until later that she realized the truth. Oscar loved Stella, not her!

He only promised to marry her out of fear that if she married someone else, she might refuse to give Stella blood, putting Stella in danger.

He loved Stella so deeply that he was willing to sacrifice his entire life just to keep her safe.

Holly had been a complete fool, left in the dark all along. In fact, she was quietly thrilled at the thought that she was about to marry Oscar.

How ridiculous.

The doors of the emergency room swung open. Stella was wheeled out by a bunch of nurses surrounding her.

Frank, Mary, Colin, and even Oscar immediately left her behind and crowded around Stella.

Watching them fuss over her with endless concern and attention, Holly felt nothing but disgust.

She let out a self-mocking smile and forced down the dizziness clouding her vision. After rolling up her sleeves, she then walked out.

Outside the door, she cast one last glance at the dazzling engagement ring on her ring finger, took it off, and tossed it into the trash without hesitation.

This lifetime, she wouldn't beg her parents for scraps of love, nor cling to Oscar, desperate for any signs of his love.

This time, she wanted no one.

If everyone adored Stella, but no one loved her, then she'd shower herself with love!