Chapter 1

After getting reborn, the first thing Holly Webster does is to spend five billion dollars on an island that's completely alienated from the rest of the world.

The employee in charge of the procedures is flabbergasted, to say the least. After all, the particular island isn't well-known on the world map at all. Not only do people not know about its existence, but it's also excluded from the rest of the world. Not even the GPS navigation can form a route leading to it.

"Are you sure you want to buy this island, Ms. Webster? If you choose to move onto this island and live there, it'll be difficult for you to keep in touch with the outside world."

Holly nods immediately, her tone taking on a relieved edge.

"That's exactly what I want. I don't want anyone to get in contact with me."

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!

Chapter 2

After every transfusion for Stella, Holly needed several days to regain her energy. This time, it was no different.

For the next few days, the Websters stayed at the hospital to take care of Stella, leaving Holly alone at home.

As Holly stepped out of her room with her mug, a box came flying toward her, striking her and leaving her seeing stars. She couldn't even see who it was.

The pain felt all too familiar. She didn't even need to think. Obviously, the newcomer was her dear mother, Mary.

"Holly Webster, what the heck are you doing? Why didn't you read our texts? Are you doing this on purpose? Ignoring us to make Stella mad? You ungrateful girl! We raised you in vain!"

As Mary hurled out insults, Holly wiped the blood from her forehead, took out her phone, and opened her chat app.

Only then did she notice the texts they had sent in the group chat early that morning. Apparently, Stella was getting discharged today, so they wanted her to make Stella's favorite chocolate cake to welcome her back.

Yet, Holly had just donated her blood. She barely had the strength to stand, let alone make a cake that took so much time and effort. Besides, she had been groggy all morning and hadn't even had a chance to read her texts.

Holly was about to explain when she spotted Oscar and Colin helping Stella into the living room carefully. They fussed over her endlessly, propping up cushions so she could sit comfortably and handing her a cup of water at just the right temperature, treating her like a princess.

Colin gave Holly a cold glance, his once gentle gaze instantly turning sharp and merciless.

"You really expect her to make a cake for Stella? Dream on. She just lazes around at home all day, clueless about the world, with no real hobbies. All she does is scribble some worthless drawings. How could she compare to Stella?"

Since the day Holly was born into this family, every year, she had spent half of it donating blood to Stella, and the rest was just for resting at home.

Hobbies? When would she even have the time for that, unlike Stella?

Those "worthless drawings" Colin mocked were the only dreams she had in her barren life, yet he reduced them to nothing.

She had heard these words countless times, yet each time, they stabbed at her heart with the same sharp pain.

Oscar cast Holly a sideways glance, then smoothed things over for her as he always did.

"Holly, are you too tired from donating blood yesterday? Do you feel unwell?"

In the past, it would have moved her deeply if he had spoken up for her like this. At least someone cared about her well-being.

Yet, reborn and knowing the whole truth, all she felt was bitter irony. The only reason he spoke up for her was to pretend he cared.

And because she loved him, he could deceive her effortlessly, trapping her in a love she couldn't escape.

This time, Holly refused to fall for his lies.

Hearing Oscar's words, Stella immediately pretended to be considerate and said, "It's fine. I don't need a cake. Holly should get some rest."

Colin gave Holly a disgusted look, obviously displeased with her attitude.

He snapped, "Stella, stop defending her! Whatever she does for you is her duty. After all, she only gets to exist in this world because of you. You're just too kind. Her life only means something when you're happy, get it?"

Those blunt words made Holly's heart shudder violently. For a moment, it felt as if countless sharp needles were stabbing mercilessly into her chest.

The blood running through her veins was the same as theirs. She was a human being with emotions and could feel pain as well.

Alas, no one cared. No one ever did.

At the dining table, everyone doted on Stella. Frank and Mary kept piling food onto her plate, and Colin even went so far as to carefully remove every fishbone before serving the fish to her.

They had prepared all of Stella's favorite food.

Holly kept her head down and ate her food quietly, only to find a piece of squid suddenly added to her plate.

She lifted her head to glance at Oscar beside her, then at the squid on her plate. A bitter smile curled her lips.

It was impressive that he still remembered to put on a show of caring for her, but if he truly loved her, how could he not know that squid was Stella's favorite while she was allergic to seafood?

There was plenty of evidence that Oscar didn't love her, but she only realized it now because she clung to every trace of warmth he showed her.

At the end of the meal, Frank and Mary suddenly brought up Oscar and Holly's wedding.

Stella put down her utensils, her eyes welling up with tears. "Dad, Mom, I feel really frail these days. I don't think I can attend Holly and Mr. Moss' wedding. But I really want to witness them getting married. Why don't we postpone the wedding until I feel better?"

Everyone in this family knew Stella's wishes were always granted, so there was no need for her to put on a shy, considerate act to show off how thoughtful she was.

Naturally, Frank, Mary, and Colin agreed readily, but Oscar paused and turned slightly to ask for Holly's permission.

"Is that okay, Holly?"

Chapter 3

In Holly's previous life, Stella used the very same reason to postpone the wedding for years. As long as Stella refused to relent, Oscar would never marry Holly.

With that thought in mind, Holly gave a self-deprecating smile. "Sure, whatever."

Why would she say no? After all, they would never get married.

She put down her utensils and announced, "I'm full."

She then went upstairs without looking back.

Seeing Holly walk away with that newfound determination, for the first time ever, Oscar felt that she had changed. He couldn't tell what was different, but she wasn't the same as before.

…

In the days that followed, with the wedding indefinitely postponed, neither Holly nor Oscar had to worry about planning it anymore.

Oscar had plenty of time to take Stella on various trips. Stella made a point of inviting Frank, Mary, and Colin. However, she didn't invite Holly, claiming the latter needed to rest after just giving blood.

Right, they were a happy family. If Holly were to join them, she'd be in their way all the time. Why should she make herself miserable?

To flaunt her trips, Stella took photos at every stop and made sure to send them to Holly.

Against the picturesque backdrop, she stood in the center, smiling as those around her showered her with attention.

"Holly, a pity you can't be here. The scenery is just so gorgeous!"

"Dad and Mom said that if I really like it here, we can buy a house here so I can stay whenever I want."

"Holly, Colin said he'll go with me wherever I want to go."

"Oh, Mr. Moss also gave me a huge present here. Are you curious what it is?"

Holly deleted all the photos Stella sent, then switched off her phone to focus on packing up her things.

She just needed to hold on a little longer before she would finally be free.

Just then, a rustling sound came from downstairs. Holly froze as several scenes came to her mind.

She remembered that in her previous life, a thief had broken in, stealing the priceless jewelry and destroying all her paintings.

Immediately, alarm bells rang in her mind.

Money could be replaced, but her artworks were pieces of her soul.

With that thought in mind, she quickly gathered her artwork, called the police, and then quietly hid behind the door with a knife in hand.

With the advantage of having lived through it once before, this time, she was able to help the police catch the thief.

Yet, the thief was far stronger than she was. Even though she knew his next move, she couldn’t withstand his force.

This time, she suffered multiple injuries and even fell down the stairs, causing her face to be covered in blood.

By the time the Websters and Oscar rushed back, all they saw was the police car driving away and Holly sitting on the couch looking like a mess, while the living room was in complete disarray.

Looking shocked, Frank and Mary stammered, "D-Did you catch him yourself? Why didn't you call us? That thief is dangerous! Were you trying to get yourself killed?

Even the usually indifferent Colin looked surprised. "Exactly. Why didn't you call your family when a thief broke in? You're making it seem like we're bullying you!"

Holly was too exhausted to even speak. She sank into the couch, her hand that was gripping the dagger still trembling.

Noticing her shaking, Oscar hurried forward anxiously and held her hand. "Holly, are you hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital? What a fool. Why didn't you tell us about this?"

Holly yanked her hand free from his grasp and asked weakly, "Would calling you change anything? Would you have actually come back for me?

Everyone's expressions faltered as guilt flashed across their faces, but they forced themselves to say, "Why wouldn't we?"

Holly gave a bitter smile. In her previous life, she had believed they would come, so she called them one by one. In the end, not one of them answered her calls.

And because she had secretly called, the thief discovered her, and she ended up being tormented badly.

She later learned that that night, they had been setting off fireworks with Stella. They were enjoying peaceful moments somewhere else, while she had nearly died that very night.

Thus, this time, she didn't need anyone.

Seeing Holly so composed and self-contained, Oscar couldn't help but frown. Once again, he realized she had truly changed.

In the past, she would have been terrified, crying her eyes out, and feeling wronged that no one came for her.

But now it all seemed to have nothing to do with her.

Oscar was about to speak when Colin suddenly noticed the scattered luggage on the floor behind him.

"Why are you packing these? Where are you going?"

Chapter 4

Oscar whipped his head around, his gaze turning anxious. "Holly, what's going on?"

Holly's heart skipped a beat. In her rush to deal with the burglar, she had completely forgotten that her luggage was still in the living room.

Her hand hidden in her sleeve clenched slightly, and then she put on a calm smile and said, "Seeing you all travel made me want to get out and clear my head, so I packed my things in advance. I can leave right away after picking a destination."

Frank and Mary scowled instantly. "What are you talking about? Didn't we tell you to stay close to Stella?"

"Exactly! What if you're not around when Stella needs a blood transfusion? Remember why we gave birth to you. Pack away your stuff. You're not going anywhere!"

As Holly seemed fine, Oscar heaved a slight sigh of relief. "If you want to go anywhere next time, we'll come with you. It isn't safe to go anywhere alone, get it?"

Holly laughed inwardly. They would never be at the place she wanted to go.

…

A few days later came Stella and Holly's birthday. They were three years apart but shared the same birthday.

Yet all these years, there was always only one cake and one candle to blow out every time they celebrated their birthday.

Back then, Holly was naive enough to believe her parents when they said there was no need to buy two cakes when their birthday was on the same day. However, with their wealth, they could easily buy two cakes.

It was never about the cake. They simply never cared about her feelings, nor did they want her birthday to steal even a fraction of Stella's spotlight.

As usual, the birthday venue was decorated in Stella's favorite color—pink. There were pink roses, pink balloons, and a pink cake.

Everyone had prepared gifts only for Stella.

Under everyone's attention, Stella stood in the center of the spotlight, receiving all the birthday wishes meant for her.

"Happy birthday, Stella!"

Stella unwrapped her gifts with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling happily.

Meanwhile, Holly stood in a corner, like she didn't belong there at all.

"Huh? Mr. Moss, why did you prepare two boxes as my present?"

Surprised, Stella held up the gift boxes and gave them a little shake in front of Oscar.

Everyone watched curiously, but he took one box and handed it to Holly.

"This is for you."

Stella's expression darkened at once, but after personally opening both gifts, her smile quickly returned.

Oscar had gifted her a priceless necklace designed by a renowned jeweler, while Holly's gift was merely the free item that came with it.

Everyone chuckled softly.

"Oh, a free item. It suits her."

Yes, Holly herself was nothing more than Stella's extra, so Oscar's gift was painfully fitting.

Holly said nothing, but when everyone wasn't looking, she tossed the gift into the trash can quietly.

As the party came to an end, Stella suddenly offered to drive everyone home, as she had just gotten her driving license. Right after saying that, she hurried to the garage excitedly.

Frank, Mary, and Colin naturally indulged her wish. Thus, they waited by the door for her to drive the car up.

Holly stood at the very back, staring at her own feet. She was busy calculating how many more days it would take to finalize the island purchase and when she could finally leave.

She was completely unaware of the car behind her that was coming closer with each passing moment.

Brakes screeched, and she was instantly thrown to the ground.

As her consciousness began to fade, she heard Stella feign panicked cries. Darkness soon consumed her completely.

…

When Holly woke up, she was already at the hospital.

As the adrenaline faded, the pain hit her all at once. She struggled to open her eyes and found herself lying on a hospital bed in the operating room.

Her body felt weightless, as if she were about to drift out of herself and float into the air.

Was she feeling this way because she was about to die?

The pain was unbearable. Holly shut her eyes weakly, allowing darkness to consume her vision slowly.

Outside, the doctor was talking to the Websters.

"Please make a decision soon. The patient is losing a lot of blood and needs a transfusion, or her life is at risk. The hospital's blood supply is low for now. Your other daughter has the same blood type. Why isn't she donating?"

The Websters blurted out immediately, "No! Stella can't donate her blood!"

Holly's consciousness was fading, and the voices around her grew faint.

In the final moment before losing awareness, she heard Oscar's voice, cold and decisive.

"Stella can't donate her blood!"

Chapter 5

Even in her wildest dreams, Holly never imagined that after giving so much of her blood to Stella over the years, not a single person would think to use Stella's to save her when her life was on the line.

Moreover, it was all Stella's fault that she got hit!

She had thought she saw everyone clearly by now and that no matter how they hurt her, it would never upset her.

Yet, as she heard their cold words, the pain struck her like a thousand arrows through her heart.

The unbearable pain that struck caused her to lose consciousness completely.

It wasn't until three days later that Holly regained consciousness. This time, she felt more exhausted than ever before.

The first person she saw after opening her eyes was none other than Oscar. It seemed he had stayed beside her bed for a long time, as there was a trace of weariness on his face.

When he saw her waking up, a soft smile lit up his cold face. "Holly, you're awake. Are you in pain anywhere? Do you feel like eating? The doctor said you lost a lot of blood and need to take it easy. Just tell me what you want to eat, okay?"

His concern made it hard to believe that he was the same person who had once coldly stopped Stella from donating her blood to Holly.

If Holly hadn't heard it with her own ears, she would still be oblivious, moved by his attentive care.

After Oscar left, she asked the nurse who was giving her an injection, "Who donated blood to me in the end?"

The nurse let out a sigh. After a long pause, she replied, "Well, your family was weird. We tried for ages to get them to let your sister donate, but they just wouldn't.

"Luckily, our hospital has the blood type on record. We managed to call back a doctor on leave, who also had the same rare blood type, to donate the blood and save your life."

The nurse then gave her a confused look. "Did they adopt you? The man who was taking care of you earlier. He's your brother-in-law, right?"

Holly froze, then let out a self-deprecating laugh. A lone tear silently slid down the corner of her eye.

During her entire stay in the hospital, her parents never came to see her once. Oscar was the only one taking care of her.

Holly knew this was the only way she'd give herself to him completely so that she would willingly continue being Stella's blood bank. Even so, he refused to make the act feel any more real.

At the hospital, Oscar was always distracted. He was either on the phone in the hallway, or he'd be staring at the screen with a faint smile.

She knew the person on the other end was Stella. He only ever wore that kind of smile around Stella.

On the day Holly was discharged, Oscar came as promised to take her home.

They were at the hospital entrance when he took a call. His expression changed instantly.

He was normally so unreadable, but now, his expression clearly showed fury.

His fingers gripped the phone so tightly they turned slightly pale. It was obvious he was struggling to tamp down his emotions.

"Holly, something urgent came up at work. Can you take a cab home by yourself?"

Holly nodded calmly, then told him to focus on his work and reassured him that he didn't need to worry about her.

Relieved, Oscar got into his car and sped away.

Watching his car fade out of sight, Holly smirked.

She knew why Oscar was angry, and she knew exactly what made him so desperately anxious now.

A moment ago, Stella had posted a photo of her and a handsome man on her social media.

The caption read, "A cute guy asked for my contact. Should I give it to him?"

Stella knew too well how to ignite a man's jealousy. In the past, Holly would also get jealous, but now, she remained calm.

There was something she had to do.

She pocketed her phone and hopped into a cab to head to the police station.

Chapter 6

When Holly returned home from the police station, there was no one around.

She didn't think much and was about to head upstairs when footsteps sounded at the door.

When the door swung open, Frank and Mary stormed in. Behind them was Colin, holding Stella, who was shaking all over from crying.

Seeing Holly, Frank and Mary immediately flew into a fit of fury. "You crazy brat, what were you thinking? Were you the one who called the cops? Stella merely stepped on the accelerator accidentally. She didn't hit you on purpose.

"Why did you call the cops? Do you want her to get into prison?"

While comforting Stella, Colin didn't forget to lecture Holly, saying, "You only got injured a little, but do you realize how long Stella was lectured? If we hadn't signed the waiver, who knows how much she would have suffered?

"Stella's frail. Could you take responsibility if something were to happen to her?"

Yes, she got hurt a little, just barely skirting death, while Stella got lectured for hours.

Holly laughed bitterly with anger and gazed defiantly at her parents for the first time. "Yeah, it was me who called the cops. So what?"

She was usually so obedient that Frank and Mary couldn't tolerate her being openly defiant today. Without hesitation, they moved to strike.

"How dare you say that? I must teach you a lesson today!"

As soon as the words left their mouths, the bodyguards behind Holly stepped forward and tied her up with ropes.

Holly let them tie her up and was forced to kneel on the ground numbly, like a dead fish.

Frank picked up the whip and lashed it sharply against her. "Ungrateful child!"

Each strike of the whip left a bright red mark across her skin.

Once, twice, thrice…

She had lost count of how many lashes she'd taken, aware only of the sharp whoosh of the whip and Mary egging it on.

"Good, she needs to be taught a lesson. If we'd known, we wouldn't have her at all!"

Holly's body shuddered as she suddenly lifted her head, her eyes filled with blood and tears.

Seeing the utter despair in her eyes, Frank instinctively froze, the whip still in his hand.

Holly bit her lips until they turned pale. Every word she uttered spilled out through blood and tears, drenched in pain and despair.

"You don't want me as a daughter, but does that mean I want you as my parents? You brought me into this world and forced me to be Stella's blood bank. Did you ever stop to ask if I wanted it?

"All my life, I wore the clothes she didn't want and ate the food she refused. We share the same birthday, yet you never gave me a gift.

"Have you ever really seen me as your daughter? Do you know what I like to eat, what my favorite color is, what I'm allergic to, and what I'm scared of? If I could choose, I'd never want to be born. No one in this world loves me."

Everyone present froze. Hearing her voice out each of the past hurts aloud made their chests tighten in an unexpected, suffocating way.

When Oscar arrived at the Webster residence, he immediately saw Holly kneeling on the ground, covered in injuries.

When he heard her utter in despair that no one in this world loved her, his heart sank.

He stepped forward to help her up. "Holly, you have me. I love you…"

Holly flashed a half-smile and shook her head before turning to head inside.

Oscar was about to go after her, but Stella suddenly held her own head and collapsed backward.

"Mr. Moss, my head hurts…"

He faltered, then chose to head back to Stella.

Chapter 7

This time, the wounds from the lashing left Holly bedridden for two whole days.

Only when her phone began to vibrate did she stir. A message from the staff had arrived, informing her that the island purchase procedures were complete. The secluded island, cut off from the outside world, now belonged to her.

Delighted, she immediately called the number.

The person on the other end asked her again to confirm, "Ms. Webster, are you sure you're coming to the island in three days?"

Holly had never been this determined. "Yes, I'm sure."

The staff replied, "Got it, Ms. Webster. We'll escort you to the island in three days."

The call had just ended when Oscar suddenly pushed the door and came in. "Going to what island?"

Holly pocketed her phone and changed the topic. "It's nothing. Mr. Moss, did you need something from me?"

He did not press further and simply said, "Your previous competition entry won an award. The organizer has invited you to attend the ceremony the day after tomorrow to receive it."

Had Oscar not brought it up, Holly would almost have forgotten about it. She could paint well and had secured a finalist spot in one of the country's most prestigious competitions just a month ago. She never expected that she would actually win.

On the day of the award ceremony, Stella dragged the family along and insisted on accompanying Holly to the venue.

"Holly, you're my sister. Of course we'll want to witness your moment of glory!"

Her tone then shifted. She let out a slightly regretful sigh. "I wish I could win something, too. My health has always been poor, so I never had the chance to learn painting. But it's fine! Your win is just like a win for me."

Holly said nothing, but a slight, ominous feeling rose in her heart.

The award ceremony began. Soon, it was time to announce the gold prize winner.

Holly sat in the audience, sweating nervously all over.

This award meant a lot to her. It was recognition of her work and affirmation from her peers in the industry.

The host pulled out the list of winners and suddenly looked puzzled. But just moments later, he regained his composure and announced, "Congratulations to the gold winner, Stella Webster!"

A murmur ran through the audience. No one had ever heard of that name, and they lowered their voices to whisper among themselves.

"Who's this Stella Webster? Is she new?"

"No idea. I was sure the gold prize was supposed to go to Holly Webster, the artist behind 'Sunset'!"

Holly froze. It took her some time before she regained her composure. She was about to get up to question the organizer when Colin pulled her back.

"Sit down. An hour ago, I contacted the organizers to switch the winner so Stella could go on stage. She enjoys the spotlight, so from now on, all your works will be published under her name."

Holly whipped her head around in disbelief, while Frank and Mary gazed at Stella on stage proudly. When their gaze fell on Holly, it was dismissive. "Don't take it to heart. It's just a prize."

Oscar's gaze was dark, and his attention was focused on Stella, who was glowing on stage. He didn't even notice Holly's pale face.

A chill ran through Holly's body.

Once again, Stella had stolen the spotlight that should have been hers. And the accomplices were all of them.

As everyone applauded, Stella thanked everyone except for Holly.

…

Back at the Webster residence, Holly returned to her room and packed up all her artwork.

And then, there were the dolls she had saved up three months of pocket money to buy, the handcrafted dolls she made alone in her room, and her worn-out clothes and dresses.

Then, she stormed into the living room and dumped everything in front of Stella.

Stella was understandably shocked. "Holly, what are you doing?"

Holly gestured at the items strewn across the floor and said evenly, "They told me to give you all my artwork, right? Well, not just that. You get everything I own."

After speaking, she glanced at everyone around her and smiled bitterly.

Stella could have their parents, Colin, and Oscar, too. Holly no longer wanted them.

Chapter 8

Holly skipped dinner and locked herself in her room, packing up the final bits of her stuff.

Assuming she was sulking, Frank and Mary kept complaining about her outside.

"Your temper's really getting worse these days. It's just a few pieces of artwork. Was it necessary to snap at Stella like that?"

"Yeah, you're getting bold, huh?"

As they continued scolding, Oscar quietly knocked on her bedroom door.

"Holly, don't be mad. Why don't you come out to grab something to eat?"

Holly turned to look at the door. Her heart was heavy, yet her eyes were dry.

She realized she had already cried too much. Now, she couldn't even cry even if she wanted to.

Outside, Colin pulled Oscar away in displeasure. "Ignore her, Mr. Moss. She just likes to put on a show. Let's see how long she can go hungry."

Holly smiled.

Not for long, because she was leaving tomorrow.

…

The next day, Holly made a point of getting up early, only to find that the Websters had left.

It wasn't until she opened her phone to check that she realized they had taken Stella to a church on Heward Mountain to pray late last night.

The church there was said to be miraculous, but people had to walk up to it themselves and light up a candle before sunrise.

No wonder they left so early. They wanted to pray for Stella.

They each posted on their social media, with every photo and prayer featuring Stella.

Frank wrote, "May Stella always be safe and truly happy!"

Mary said, "My little sweetheart, may all your wishes come true and all you dream of be yours!"

Meanwhile, Colin's caption read, "Wishing Stella a life of peace and carefree happiness!"

Oscar didn't post any photos of Stella, but he did post a Bible verse on a prayer plaque. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13."

In her past life, Oscar lit many candles in this church. He wasn't religious, but he'd head to this particular church every year to pray.

Because the Bible verse he posted always included the word "Holy", Holly had always believed that he loved her. It wasn't until the final moments that she realized all the plaques bearing the Bible verse bore Stella's name.

All this time, the feelings she thought were reciprocated had been one-sided. The hope she clung to for years was nothing more than a cruel joke.

Thankfully, fate gave her a second chance, and this time, she was fully awake and determined not to repeat the same mistakes.

Her phone dinged with a new message. "Ms. Webster, welcome to the island. Please head to the airport immediately, where our staff will pick you up. We hope you enjoy your stay on the island!"

She smiled as she pocketed her phone, then placed the termination agreement severing familial ties on the table.

Just before leaving, something occurred to her. She halted and unclasped the necklace from around her neck.

It was the family heirloom Oscar had given her when he accepted her confession back then. He had said that whoever wore the necklace would be his wife and the lady of the Moss family in the future.

But now, she no longer cared to be his wife or the lady of the Moss family.

Holly placed the family heirloom on the agreement and left with her suitcase.

At that moment, her phone began vibrating wildly. She paused but eventually pulled out her phone.

There were dozens of missed calls from Frank, Mary, Colin, and even Oscar. She clicked into the group chat, where she had been mentioned multiple times.

"Holly, Stella slipped off the mountain accidentally and is bleeding heavily! You need to come to the hospital immediately to draw blood!"

"You have half an hour to come to the hospital."

"You'll be held accountable if anything happens to Stella!"

After reading the texts, Holly left the group chat and blocked them all, her face devoid of expression.

From now on, she was no longer Stella's blood bank, no longer Frank and Mary's daughter, no longer Colin's sister, and certainly not Oscar's fiancee.

She was Holly Webster, and nothing more.

She turned her head one last time to glance at the place she had called home for over 20 years, then stepped into the car that came to pick her up with the suitcase.

The car sped away, leaving a broken SIM card on the ground.