Chapter 1

I was once the apple of the Holt family's eye, a beloved child known throughout Palis.

A car accident left me in a coma for three long years.

When I finally awoke, I found a new adopted daughter in our home named Maddie Holt.

On my first day back, my mother held Maddie's hand and said to me, "Chloe, you should learn from Maddie. She's much more sensible than you."

My fiancé, Reece Hussain, also had his arm around Maddie's shoulder and announced, "We're getting married next month."

Late that night, I accidentally overheard a conversation between my father and our personal doctor.

"The blood transfusion was a success. Maddie's body has completely accepted Chloe's blood."

"Hmph, compared to the rebellious Chloe, Maddie is a fresh start and the kind of heir I want. Well-behaved, thankful, always agreeable... that's what a daughter of the Holt family should be."

...

The cold hallway lights cast my father's silhouette into something ghostly.

I held onto the wall, the chill of my fingertips piercing my heart.

Blood transfusion... Fresh start... Heir...

These words exploded in my mind repeatedly.

It turned out that I wasn't unconscious for three years. I was a living blood bank for three years.

I was an unfit, rebellious girl.

My stomach churned violently, but I forced myself to retreat to my room silently.

Looking in the mirror, I saw that my face was pale and thin beyond recognition, except for my eyes, which held a terrifying emotion.

My name was Chloe Holt.

I used to be Chloe Holt. Now, I was just Maddie's "donor."

The next morning, I slowly descended the spiral staircase in my nightgown.

Around the long dining table, the family was enjoying a lively breakfast.

My father perused the financial paper, my mother selected jewelry for Maddie, and Reece, my former fiancé, was tenderly preparing Maddie's food.

No one noticed my presence until I was so weak and unsteady that I knocked over a vase at the top of the stairs.

The crisp sound of shattering broke the warm atmosphere of the dining room.

Everyone turned to look at me in unison.

My mother immediately frowned. "Chloe, why are you so careless?"

Maddie quickly stood, trotting over to support me with a concerned expression. "Chloe, are you okay? Are you still feeling unwell?"

She wore a pink dress, her skin glowing with health, brimming with my life force.

I brushed off her hand, fixing my gaze directly on my mother. "I'm just hungry."

My mother's expression soured further. She put down the jewelry, her tone scolding. "If you're hungry, can't you call for a servant? You're an adult, yet you still need someone to take care of you."

She then turned to Maddie, her demeanor instantly softening to syrupy sweetness. "Maddie, come and eat, don't bother with that useless person."

Reece didn't spare me a glance, instead using a napkin to dab at the corner of Maddie's mouth. "Darling, try this. The sauce is special today."

They looked like a family. And I was the unwelcome intruder.

I pulled out a chair and sat next to my father.

He finally raised his head from the newspaper and gave me a look of mixed emotions. "Chloe, it's good you're awake. You need to take care of your health."

I picked up the knife and fork, but my wrists were too weak, causing the metal to clatter harshly against the plate.

My mother showed her disgust towards me. "So rude!"

Maddie spoke softly, "Mom, Chloe just woke up. She's not used to it yet."

As she spoke, she pushed her plate of neatly sliced food towards me. "Chloe, have mine."

I looked at the carefully divided food, then at her innocent face.

I mustered a smile, using all my strength to sweep the plate to the floor. "I don't enjoy secondhand meals."