After Eliza was reborn, the very first thing she did was to blow five billion dollars on a remote island. The official handling the sale was astounded. After all, this island wasn't exactly a hot spot on the map—it was off the grid, a place so isolated that even GPS couldn't find it, practically severed from the world. "Ms. Eliza, are you sure you want to buy this island? If you move there, it'll be tough to stay connected with the outside world." Eliza nodded, a hint of relief in her voice. "That's what I'm aiming for. I don’t want anyone to find me."

Chapter 1After Eliza was reborn, the very first thing she did was to blow five billion dollars on a remote island. The official handling the sale was astounded. After all, this island wasn't exactly a hot spot on the map—it was off the grid, a place so isolated that even GPS couldn't find it, practically severed from the world."Ms. Eliza, are you sure you want to buy this island? If you move there, it'll be tough to stay connected with the outside world."Eliza nodded, a hint of relief in her voice. "That's what I'm aiming for—no one to bother me."The official paused, finding her request a bit odd. Still, in the spirit of professionalism, he refrained from probing further and instead laid out the buying process, including when she could move in.It would only take a few days to finalize. Eliza let out a sigh of relief, paid with her card, and turned to leave. She looked up at the blue sky, taking a deep breath.The money for the island? It was part of the wedding gifts from Aiden. As the wealthiest man in Riverton, Aiden’s generosity was legendary, so his gift was a cool five billion.In her last life, she never got around to spending that money before she died.This time around, she'd been reborn just after their engagement.Living life anew, the first thing she learned was to treat herself better.As she hit the street, a sleek black Maybach suddenly screeched to a halt in front of her. The door swung open, and Aiden, with his long strides, hurried towards her.Usually cool and collected, he now seemed a little rattled, his stern eyes barely concealing his worry.This was her first time seeing him since she came back, and she couldn't help but call his name. "Aiden..."Aiden didn't even give her a second glance; he just grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the car."Eliza, come with me."She landed sprawled in the back seat, her head hitting the side with a dull thud. Aiden kept his eyes glued to his phone, not even noticing her.The car sped off, coming to a stop at the hospital entrance. Before the car had even fully stopped, he was already dragging her towards the blood transfusion room.As she sat across from the nurse, watching the needle pierce her vein, she finally got Aiden's explanation. "Margot had a fall down the stairs and is losing a lot of blood. We won't need much this time, so don't worry."Before she could respond, her mother's hand came down hard across her face. "Where have you been, you little brat! Didn't I tell you to stay with your sister at all times?"Her cheek burned, and tears welled up in her eyes. She looked up at her furious mother, speechless.Her father held her mother back, but his eyes were filled with the same anger. "Are you trying to give us a heart attack? If anything happens to Margot, I'll deal with you!"Her brother, Evan, didn't even bother to look at her. "I think we should just tie her up to stop her from running off."This was her family—quick to chew her out for her sister's sake, all because she was gone for an hour.The only one who even slightly stood up for her was Aiden, but his words still revolved around Margot. "Stop arguing. Don't disturb Margot's transfusion."Who cared about her? She was nothing more than Margot's mobile blood bank.She was born because Margot had hemophilia, a severe disorder that required regular blood transfusions. Her parents had her just to keep Margot alive.She'd been a blood donor since childhood, her wrists dotted with needle marks. No one loved her. Her parents saw her as a tool, her brother only had room for Margot. She was always the extra one.The only person who was kind to her was Aiden.The Owens and Newell families had been close for generations.Growing up in such a neglectful family, it was only natural she fell for the one person who showed her warmth.She told him about her feelings. He was surprised, and though his face didn't show joy, he agreed to be with her and even promised to marry her.Only heaven knew how happy she was then. She believed the one she loved also loved her. She thought all her life's luck had been spent on gaining Aiden's love.So, even though her parents and brother didn't care about her, she didn't mind.Later, she learned that the one Aiden truly loved was Margot!He was willing to marry her only because he feared that if she married someone else, she might refuse to donate blood to Margot, endangering her life.He loved Margot so much that he was willing to sacrifice his own life just to keep her safe.She had been a fool, kept in the dark, smugly thinking she was about to become Aiden's wife.The door to the emergency room opened, and Margot was wheeled out, surrounded by nurses.Her father Greg, her mother Thea, her brother Evan, and even Aiden immediately abandoned her, rushing towards Margot.Watching them fuss over Margot, Eliza felt nothing but disgust. She chuckled bitterly, forcing herself to withstand the dizziness, rolled down her sleeve, and walked out.Once outside, she took one last look at the dazzling engagement ring on her finger, then decisively removed it and tossed it into the trash.In this life, she would no longer beg her parents for a scrap of love, nor cling to Aiden like a lifeline, seeking affection.In this life, she wanted no one.Since everyone loved Margot and no one loved her, she would love herself!Every time Eliza donated blood to Margot, it knocked her out for days. This time was no different. While everyone in the Newell family camped out at the hospital with Margot, Eliza was left alone at home.Holding her mug, she stepped out of her room, only to be blindsided by a flying box that made her see stars. That familiar sting meant only one thing—her "loving" mother was here."Eliza! What's going on with you? Why aren't you checking our messages?""Are you ignoring us on purpose, trying to upset Margot?""Can’t you do anything useful?"As her mother hurled insults, Eliza wiped the blood from her forehead and fished out her phone to check her messages. They’d texted her this morning, reminding her that Margot was coming home today and expecting her to whip up Margot's favorite chocolate cake.Having just donated blood, she didn't have the energy to make a cake that would take hours. Besides, she’d been too groggy to notice the message in the first place. She wanted to explain but stopped short when she saw Aiden and Evan gently guiding Margot into the living room.They were doting on her like she was royalty, fussing with cushions and handing her a perfectly-temperatured cup of water. Evan shot Eliza a frosty glare, his previously gentle eyes now mocking and cold."Expecting her to bake a cake for Margot is a joke. She spends her days lazing around, and has no hobbies. All she does is doodle those worthless drawings. She’s nothing like Margot."Ever since she was born into this family, she spent more than half her year donating blood for Margot. The rest was for recovery. Did she have the luxury to cultivate hobbies like Margot?Her so-called worthless drawings were her only dreams, dismissed by him like they were nothing. She'd heard it all before, but it still cut deep every time.Aiden gave her a look, trying to smooth things over as usual. "Eliza, maybe you're just worn out from yesterday. Are you feeling okay?"In the past, his words would've moved her. At least someone seemed to care about her well-being. However, with what she knew now, it just felt like a cruel joke.He only pretended to care to keep up the façade of loving her. Because she loved him, he could effortlessly draw her in deeper.Not this time.Margot quickly put on a show of understanding. "It's fine, I don't need cake. Eliza should get some rest."Evan glared at Eliza with disdain, clearly unimpressed. "Margot, don't bother with her. Whatever she does for you is just her duty. After all, she's only here because of you. You're too kind. Her life only matters if you're happy, got it?"Those blunt words hit Eliza like a punch to the gut. It felt like a thousand needles stabbing her chest.She had the same blood running through her veins as theirs. She was human. She felt. She hurt. But no one cared—no one ever did.At dinner, everyone doted on Margot. Greg piled her plate high, and Evan carefully served her some fish. The whole table was filled with Margot's favorites.Eliza kept her head down, eating quietly, when a piece of shrimp appeared in her bowl. She looked at Aiden, then back at the shrimp, a bitter smile pulling at her lips.He remembered to keep up the act of caring, but if he truly loved her, he’d know shrimp was Margot’s favorite and she was allergic to seafood.The signs of his indifference had always been there, but she only saw them now because she had been so desperate for love.As dinner wound down, Greg brought up Aiden and Eliza’s wedding. Margot put down her fork, tears brimming in her eyes. "Mom, Dad, I've been feeling so weak, I don’t think I can make it to Eliza and Aiden's wedding.""But I really want to be there to see their happiness. Maybe we should postpone it until I’m better?"Everyone knew her wishes were always granted in this house. She didn’t have to act all selfless.Greg and Evan agreed immediately, while Aiden paused and turned to Eliza, asking, "Eliza, are you okay with waiting?"In her past life, Margot kept using the same excuse to push back the engagement year after year. As long as she held firm, Aiden would never marry Eliza.Eliza thought about this and gave a little self-deprecating smile. "Yeah, sure, whatever," she muttered.Her opinion didn’t matter anyway. They were never going to tie the knot. She set her utensils down and said, "I'm done," before heading straight upstairs without a backward glance.Watching her resolute figure disappear, Aiden had a new feeling that she seemed different somehow. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but she wasn't the same as before.With the wedding indefinitely postponed, they naturally stopped planning it. Aiden now had all the time in the world to go on trips with Margot. Margot made sure to include Greg, Thea and Evan in their adventures but conveniently left Eliza out, claiming she needed rest after donating blood.Of course, they were the real family, having a grand old time. If Eliza tagged along, she’d just be a thorn in their side. Why put herself through that?To share her "joy," Margot sent Eliza a snapshot from every place they visited. In each picturesque scene, Margot stood front and center, all smiles, basking in the goodwill of those around her.[Eliza, such a pity you couldn't come! The views here are stunning!][Mom and Dad said if I love it here, they'll buy a house so I can visit whenever I want.][Eliza, my brother promised to go anywhere I want with me in the future.][Aiden gave me a huge gift here too. Want to guess what it is?]Eliza deleted each of Margot's messages, shut off her phone, and started packing her bags. She just needed to hold on a bit longer for her escape.Just then, she heard a faint rustling downstairs. Her hand froze, and memories flashed through her mind. She recalled that in her previous life, around this time, a burglar broke in, stole priceless jewelry, and trashed all her artwork. Panic surged through her.Money was replaceable, but her art? That was personal. With that thought, she quickly secured her artwork, dialed 911, and hid behind the door with a knife.Having lived through it once gave her the advantage. This time, she managed to help the police catch the intruder. However, the disparity in strength was too great, and despite knowing his moves, she couldn't fend him off entirely.This time, she ended up with several injuries, tumbling down the stairs, her face a bloody mess.When the Newell family and Aiden returned, all they saw were police cars leaving and her sitting in disarray on the sofa amidst the chaos.Greg and Thea was shocked, stammering, "You... you caught him by yourself? Why didn't you call us? These home invaders are dangerous. Are you crazy?"Even Evan, usually so indifferent, showed rare surprise. "Yeah, why didn't you call us when there was trouble? Are you trying to make it seem like we’d leave you hanging?"Eliza was utterly spent, too tired to even speak. She sat there, her hand still trembling from clutching the knife.Noticing her trembling, Aiden rushed over and grabbed her hand, "Eliza, are you hurt? Do you need a hospital? You were too reckless. Why didn’t you tell us?"Eliza pulled her hand away from his grip, weakly retorting, "Would it have made a difference? Would you have come back for me?"They all flinched, guilt etched on their faces, trying to hold their ground. "Of course we would!"Eliza let out a bitter laugh. In her past life, she believed they’d come back, so she called each of them. In the end, not one answered.And she was discovered and nearly killed by the intruder for trying to reach out. Later, she learned they were all with Margot, watching fireworks.They were busy having a good time elsewhere, while she almost lost her life that night. So this time, she needed no one.Taking in her calm and detached demeanor, Aiden couldn't help but furrow his brow. Once again, he felt she had truly changed.The old her would have cried and been upset with them for not coming back in such a situation. But now, she was so composed, as if none of it mattered to her.Just as he was about to speak, Evan suddenly noticed the scattered luggage. "Why are you packing all this stuff? Where are you planning to go?!"Chapter 2After Eliza was reborn, the very first thing she did was to blow five billion dollars on a remote island. The official handling the sale was astounded. After all, this island wasn't exactly a hot spot on the map—it was off the grid, a place so isolated that even GPS couldn't find it, practically severed from the world."Ms. Eliza, are you sure you want to buy this island? If you move there, it'll be tough to stay connected with the outside world."Eliza nodded, a hint of relief in her voice. "That's what I'm aiming for—no one to bother me."The official paused, finding her request a bit odd. Still, in the spirit of professionalism, he refrained from probing further and instead laid out the buying process, including when she could move in.It would only take a few days to finalize. Eliza let out a sigh of relief, paid with her card, and turned to leave. She looked up at the blue sky, taking a deep breath.The money for the island? It was part of the wedding gifts from Aiden. As the wealthiest man in Riverton, Aiden’s generosity was legendary, so his gift was a cool five billion.In her last life, she never got around to spending that money before she died.This time around, she'd been reborn just after their engagement.Living life anew, the first thing she learned was to treat herself better.As she hit the street, a sleek black Maybach suddenly screeched to a halt in front of her. The door swung open, and Aiden, with his long strides, hurried towards her.Usually cool and collected, he now seemed a little rattled, his stern eyes barely concealing his worry.This was her first time seeing him since she came back, and she couldn't help but call his name. "Aiden..."Aiden didn't even give her a second glance; he just grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the car."Eliza, come with me."She landed sprawled in the back seat, her head hitting the side with a dull thud. Aiden kept his eyes glued to his phone, not even noticing her.The car sped off, coming to a stop at the hospital entrance. Before the car had even fully stopped, he was already dragging her towards the blood transfusion room.As she sat across from the nurse, watching the needle pierce her vein, she finally got Aiden's explanation. "Margot had a fall down the stairs and is losing a lot of blood. We won't need much this time, so don't worry."Before she could respond, her mother's hand came down hard across her face. "Where have you been, you little brat! Didn't I tell you to stay with your sister at all times?"Her cheek burned, and tears welled up in her eyes. She looked up at her furious mother, speechless.Her father held her mother back, but his eyes were filled with the same anger. "Are you trying to give us a heart attack? If anything happens to Margot, I'll deal with you!"Her brother, Evan, didn't even bother to look at her. "I think we should just tie her up to stop her from running off."This was her family—quick to chew her out for her sister's sake, all because she was gone for an hour.The only one who even slightly stood up for her was Aiden, but his words still revolved around Margot. "Stop arguing. Don't disturb Margot's transfusion."Who cared about her? She was nothing more than Margot's mobile blood bank.She was born because Margot had hemophilia, a severe disorder that required regular blood transfusions. Her parents had her just to keep Margot alive.She'd been a blood donor since childhood, her wrists dotted with needle marks. No one loved her. Her parents saw her as a tool, her brother only had room for Margot. She was always the extra one.The only person who was kind to her was Aiden.The Owens and Newell families had been close for generations.Growing up in such a neglectful family, it was only natural she fell for the one person who showed her warmth.She told him about her feelings. He was surprised, and though his face didn't show joy, he agreed to be with her and even promised to marry her.Only heaven knew how happy she was then. She believed the one she loved also loved her. She thought all her life's luck had been spent on gaining Aiden's love.So, even though her parents and brother didn't care about her, she didn't mind.Later, she learned that the one Aiden truly loved was Margot!He was willing to marry her only because he feared that if she married someone else, she might refuse to donate blood to Margot, endangering her life.He loved Margot so much that he was willing to sacrifice his own life just to keep her safe.She had been a fool, kept in the dark, smugly thinking she was about to become Aiden's wife.The door to the emergency room opened, and Margot was wheeled out, surrounded by nurses.Her father Greg, her mother Thea, her brother Evan, and even Aiden immediately abandoned her, rushing towards Margot.Watching them fuss over Margot, Eliza felt nothing but disgust. She chuckled bitterly, forcing herself to withstand the dizziness, rolled down her sleeve, and walked out.Once outside, she took one last look at the dazzling engagement ring on her finger, then decisively removed it and tossed it into the trash.In this life, she would no longer beg her parents for a scrap of love, nor cling to Aiden like a lifeline, seeking affection.In this life, she wanted no one.Since everyone loved Margot and no one loved her, she would love herself!Every time Eliza donated blood to Margot, it knocked her out for days. This time was no different. While everyone in the Newell family camped out at the hospital with Margot, Eliza was left alone at home.Holding her mug, she stepped out of her room, only to be blindsided by a flying box that made her see stars. That familiar sting meant only one thing—her "loving" mother was here."Eliza! What's going on with you? Why aren't you checking our messages?""Are you ignoring us on purpose, trying to upset Margot?""Can’t you do anything useful?"As her mother hurled insults, Eliza wiped the blood from her forehead and fished out her phone to check her messages. They’d texted her this morning, reminding her that Margot was coming home today and expecting her to whip up Margot's favorite chocolate cake.Having just donated blood, she didn't have the energy to make a cake that would take hours. Besides, she’d been too groggy to notice the message in the first place. She wanted to explain but stopped short when she saw Aiden and Evan gently guiding Margot into the living room.They were doting on her like she was royalty, fussing with cushions and handing her a perfectly-temperatured cup of water. Evan shot Eliza a frosty glare, his previously gentle eyes now mocking and cold."Expecting her to bake a cake for Margot is a joke. She spends her days lazing around, and has no hobbies. All she does is doodle those worthless drawings. She’s nothing like Margot."Ever since she was born into this family, she spent more than half her year donating blood for Margot. The rest was for recovery. Did she have the luxury to cultivate hobbies like Margot?Her so-called worthless drawings were her only dreams, dismissed by him like they were nothing. She'd heard it all before, but it still cut deep every time.Aiden gave her a look, trying to smooth things over as usual. "Eliza, maybe you're just worn out from yesterday. Are you feeling okay?"In the past, his words would've moved her. At least someone seemed to care about her well-being. However, with what she knew now, it just felt like a cruel joke.He only pretended to care to keep up the façade of loving her. Because she loved him, he could effortlessly draw her in deeper.Not this time.Margot quickly put on a show of understanding. "It's fine, I don't need cake. Eliza should get some rest."Evan glared at Eliza with disdain, clearly unimpressed. "Margot, don't bother with her. Whatever she does for you is just her duty. After all, she's only here because of you. You're too kind. Her life only matters if you're happy, got it?"Those blunt words hit Eliza like a punch to the gut. It felt like a thousand needles stabbing her chest.She had the same blood running through her veins as theirs. She was human. She felt. She hurt. But no one cared—no one ever did.At dinner, everyone doted on Margot. Greg piled her plate high, and Evan carefully served her some fish. The whole table was filled with Margot's favorites.Eliza kept her head down, eating quietly, when a piece of shrimp appeared in her bowl. She looked at Aiden, then back at the shrimp, a bitter smile pulling at her lips.He remembered to keep up the act of caring, but if he truly loved her, he’d know shrimp was Margot’s favorite and she was allergic to seafood.The signs of his indifference had always been there, but she only saw them now because she had been so desperate for love.As dinner wound down, Greg brought up Aiden and Eliza’s wedding. Margot put down her fork, tears brimming in her eyes. "Mom, Dad, I've been feeling so weak, I don’t think I can make it to Eliza and Aiden's wedding.""But I really want to be there to see their happiness. Maybe we should postpone it until I’m better?"Everyone knew her wishes were always granted in this house. She didn’t have to act all selfless.Greg and Evan agreed immediately, while Aiden paused and turned to Eliza, asking, "Eliza, are you okay with waiting?"In her past life, Margot kept using the same excuse to push back the engagement year after year. As long as she held firm, Aiden would never marry Eliza.Eliza thought about this and gave a little self-deprecating smile. "Yeah, sure, whatever," she muttered.Her opinion didn’t matter anyway. They were never going to tie the knot. She set her utensils down and said, "I'm done," before heading straight upstairs without a backward glance.Watching her resolute figure disappear, Aiden had a new feeling that she seemed different somehow. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but she wasn't the same as before.With the wedding indefinitely postponed, they naturally stopped planning it. Aiden now had all the time in the world to go on trips with Margot. Margot made sure to include Greg, Thea and Evan in their adventures but conveniently left Eliza out, claiming she needed rest after donating blood.Of course, they were the real family, having a grand old time. If Eliza tagged along, she’d just be a thorn in their side. Why put herself through that?To share her "joy," Margot sent Eliza a snapshot from every place they visited. In each picturesque scene, Margot stood front and center, all smiles, basking in the goodwill of those around her.[Eliza, such a pity you couldn't come! The views here are stunning!][Mom and Dad said if I love it here, they'll buy a house so I can visit whenever I want.][Eliza, my brother promised to go anywhere I want with me in the future.][Aiden gave me a huge gift here too. Want to guess what it is?]Eliza deleted each of Margot's messages, shut off her phone, and started packing her bags. She just needed to hold on a bit longer for her escape.Just then, she heard a faint rustling downstairs. Her hand froze, and memories flashed through her mind. She recalled that in her previous life, around this time, a burglar broke in, stole priceless jewelry, and trashed all her artwork. Panic surged through her.Money was replaceable, but her art? That was personal. With that thought, she quickly secured her artwork, dialed 911, and hid behind the door with a knife.Having lived through it once gave her the advantage. This time, she managed to help the police catch the intruder. However, the disparity in strength was too great, and despite knowing his moves, she couldn't fend him off entirely.This time, she ended up with several injuries, tumbling down the stairs, her face a bloody mess.When the Newell family and Aiden returned, all they saw were police cars leaving and her sitting in disarray on the sofa amidst the chaos.Greg and Thea was shocked, stammering, "You... you caught him by yourself? Why didn't you call us? These home invaders are dangerous. Are you crazy?"Even Evan, usually so indifferent, showed rare surprise. "Yeah, why didn't you call us when there was trouble? Are you trying to make it seem like we’d leave you hanging?"Eliza was utterly spent, too tired to even speak. She sat there, her hand still trembling from clutching the knife.Noticing her trembling, Aiden rushed over and grabbed her hand, "Eliza, are you hurt? Do you need a hospital? You were too reckless. Why didn’t you tell us?"Eliza pulled her hand away from his grip, weakly retorting, "Would it have made a difference? Would you have come back for me?"They all flinched, guilt etched on their faces, trying to hold their ground. "Of course we would!"Eliza let out a bitter laugh. In her past life, she believed they’d come back, so she called each of them. In the end, not one answered.And she was discovered and nearly killed by the intruder for trying to reach out. Later, she learned they were all with Margot, watching fireworks.They were busy having a good time elsewhere, while she almost lost her life that night. So this time, she needed no one.Taking in her calm and detached demeanor, Aiden couldn't help but furrow his brow. Once again, he felt she had truly changed.The old her would have cried and been upset with them for not coming back in such a situation. But now, she was so composed, as if none of it mattered to her.Just as he was about to speak, Evan suddenly noticed the scattered luggage. "Why are you packing all this stuff? Where are you planning to go?!"Chapter 3After Eliza was reborn, the very first thing she did was to blow five billion dollars on a remote island. The official handling the sale was astounded. After all, this island wasn't exactly a hot spot on the map—it was off the grid, a place so isolated that even GPS couldn't find it, practically severed from the world."Ms. Eliza, are you sure you want to buy this island? If you move there, it'll be tough to stay connected with the outside world."Eliza nodded, a hint of relief in her voice. "That's what I'm aiming for—no one to bother me."The official paused, finding her request a bit odd. Still, in the spirit of professionalism, he refrained from probing further and instead laid out the buying process, including when she could move in.It would only take a few days to finalize. Eliza let out a sigh of relief, paid with her card, and turned to leave. She looked up at the blue sky, taking a deep breath.The money for the island? It was part of the wedding gifts from Aiden. As the wealthiest man in Riverton, Aiden’s generosity was legendary, so his gift was a cool five billion.In her last life, she never got around to spending that money before she died.This time around, she'd been reborn just after their engagement.Living life anew, the first thing she learned was to treat herself better.As she hit the street, a sleek black Maybach suddenly screeched to a halt in front of her. The door swung open, and Aiden, with his long strides, hurried towards her.Usually cool and collected, he now seemed a little rattled, his stern eyes barely concealing his worry.This was her first time seeing him since she came back, and she couldn't help but call his name. "Aiden..."Aiden didn't even give her a second glance; he just grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the car."Eliza, come with me."She landed sprawled in the back seat, her head hitting the side with a dull thud. Aiden kept his eyes glued to his phone, not even noticing her.The car sped off, coming to a stop at the hospital entrance. Before the car had even fully stopped, he was already dragging her towards the blood transfusion room.As she sat across from the nurse, watching the needle pierce her vein, she finally got Aiden's explanation. "Margot had a fall down the stairs and is losing a lot of blood. We won't need much this time, so don't worry."Before she could respond, her mother's hand came down hard across her face. "Where have you been, you little brat! Didn't I tell you to stay with your sister at all times?"Her cheek burned, and tears welled up in her eyes. She looked up at her furious mother, speechless.Her father held her mother back, but his eyes were filled with the same anger. "Are you trying to give us a heart attack? If anything happens to Margot, I'll deal with you!"Her brother, Evan, didn't even bother to look at her. "I think we should just tie her up to stop her from running off."This was her family—quick to chew her out for her sister's sake, all because she was gone for an hour.The only one who even slightly stood up for her was Aiden, but his words still revolved around Margot. "Stop arguing. Don't disturb Margot's transfusion."Who cared about her? She was nothing more than Margot's mobile blood bank.She was born because Margot had hemophilia, a severe disorder that required regular blood transfusions. Her parents had her just to keep Margot alive.She'd been a blood donor since childhood, her wrists dotted with needle marks. No one loved her. Her parents saw her as a tool, her brother only had room for Margot. She was always the extra one.The only person who was kind to her was Aiden.The Owens and Newell families had been close for generations.Growing up in such a neglectful family, it was only natural she fell for the one person who showed her warmth.She told him about her feelings. He was surprised, and though his face didn't show joy, he agreed to be with her and even promised to marry her.Only heaven knew how happy she was then. She believed the one she loved also loved her. She thought all her life's luck had been spent on gaining Aiden's love.So, even though her parents and brother didn't care about her, she didn't mind.Later, she learned that the one Aiden truly loved was Margot!He was willing to marry her only because he feared that if she married someone else, she might refuse to donate blood to Margot, endangering her life.He loved Margot so much that he was willing to sacrifice his own life just to keep her safe.She had been a fool, kept in the dark, smugly thinking she was about to become Aiden's wife.The door to the emergency room opened, and Margot was wheeled out, surrounded by nurses.Her father Greg, her mother Thea, her brother Evan, and even Aiden immediately abandoned her, rushing towards Margot.Watching them fuss over Margot, Eliza felt nothing but disgust. She chuckled bitterly, forcing herself to withstand the dizziness, rolled down her sleeve, and walked out.Once outside, she took one last look at the dazzling engagement ring on her finger, then decisively removed it and tossed it into the trash.In this life, she would no longer beg her parents for a scrap of love, nor cling to Aiden like a lifeline, seeking affection.In this life, she wanted no one.Since everyone loved Margot and no one loved her, she would love herself!Every time Eliza donated blood to Margot, it knocked her out for days. This time was no different. While everyone in the Newell family camped out at the hospital with Margot, Eliza was left alone at home.Holding her mug, she stepped out of her room, only to be blindsided by a flying box that made her see stars. That familiar sting meant only one thing—her "loving" mother was here."Eliza! What's going on with you? Why aren't you checking our messages?""Are you ignoring us on purpose, trying to upset Margot?""Can’t you do anything useful?"As her mother hurled insults, Eliza wiped the blood from her forehead and fished out her phone to check her messages. They’d texted her this morning, reminding her that Margot was coming home today and expecting her to whip up Margot's favorite chocolate cake.Having just donated blood, she didn't have the energy to make a cake that would take hours. Besides, she’d been too groggy to notice the message in the first place. She wanted to explain but stopped short when she saw Aiden and Evan gently guiding Margot into the living room.They were doting on her like she was royalty, fussing with cushions and handing her a perfectly-temperatured cup of water. Evan shot Eliza a frosty glare, his previously gentle eyes now mocking and cold."Expecting her to bake a cake for Margot is a joke. She spends her days lazing around, and has no hobbies. All she does is doodle those worthless drawings. She’s nothing like Margot."Ever since she was born into this family, she spent more than half her year donating blood for Margot. The rest was for recovery. Did she have the luxury to cultivate hobbies like Margot?Her so-called worthless drawings were her only dreams, dismissed by him like they were nothing. She'd heard it all before, but it still cut deep every time.Aiden gave her a look, trying to smooth things over as usual. "Eliza, maybe you're just worn out from yesterday. Are you feeling okay?"In the past, his words would've moved her. At least someone seemed to care about her well-being. However, with what she knew now, it just felt like a cruel joke.He only pretended to care to keep up the façade of loving her. Because she loved him, he could effortlessly draw her in deeper.Not this time.Margot quickly put on a show of understanding. "It's fine, I don't need cake. Eliza should get some rest."Evan glared at Eliza with disdain, clearly unimpressed. "Margot, don't bother with her. Whatever she does for you is just her duty. After all, she's only here because of you. You're too kind. Her life only matters if you're happy, got it?"Those blunt words hit Eliza like a punch to the gut. It felt like a thousand needles stabbing her chest.She had the same blood running through her veins as theirs. She was human. She felt. She hurt. But no one cared—no one ever did.At dinner, everyone doted on Margot. Greg piled her plate high, and Evan carefully served her some fish. The whole table was filled with Margot's favorites.Eliza kept her head down, eating quietly, when a piece of shrimp appeared in her bowl. She looked at Aiden, then back at the shrimp, a bitter smile pulling at her lips.He remembered to keep up the act of caring, but if he truly loved her, he’d know shrimp was Margot’s favorite and she was allergic to seafood.The signs of his indifference had always been there, but she only saw them now because she had been so desperate for love.As dinner wound down, Greg brought up Aiden and Eliza’s wedding. Margot put down her fork, tears brimming in her eyes. "Mom, Dad, I've been feeling so weak, I don’t think I can make it to Eliza and Aiden's wedding.""But I really want to be there to see their happiness. Maybe we should postpone it until I’m better?"Everyone knew her wishes were always granted in this house. She didn’t have to act all selfless.Greg and Evan agreed immediately, while Aiden paused and turned to Eliza, asking, "Eliza, are you okay with waiting?"In her past life, Margot kept using the same excuse to push back the engagement year after year. As long as she held firm, Aiden would never marry Eliza.Eliza thought about this and gave a little self-deprecating smile. "Yeah, sure, whatever," she muttered.Her opinion didn’t matter anyway. They were never going to tie the knot. She set her utensils down and said, "I'm done," before heading straight upstairs without a backward glance.Watching her resolute figure disappear, Aiden had a new feeling that she seemed different somehow. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but she wasn't the same as before.With the wedding indefinitely postponed, they naturally stopped planning it. Aiden now had all the time in the world to go on trips with Margot. Margot made sure to include Greg, Thea and Evan in their adventures but conveniently left Eliza out, claiming she needed rest after donating blood.Of course, they were the real family, having a grand old time. If Eliza tagged along, she’d just be a thorn in their side. Why put herself through that?To share her "joy," Margot sent Eliza a snapshot from every place they visited. In each picturesque scene, Margot stood front and center, all smiles, basking in the goodwill of those around her.[Eliza, such a pity you couldn't come! The views here are stunning!][Mom and Dad said if I love it here, they'll buy a house so I can visit whenever I want.][Eliza, my brother promised to go anywhere I want with me in the future.][Aiden gave me a huge gift here too. Want to guess what it is?]Eliza deleted each of Margot's messages, shut off her phone, and started packing her bags. She just needed to hold on a bit longer for her escape.Just then, she heard a faint rustling downstairs. Her hand froze, and memories flashed through her mind. She recalled that in her previous life, around this time, a burglar broke in, stole priceless jewelry, and trashed all her artwork. Panic surged through her.Money was replaceable, but her art? That was personal. With that thought, she quickly secured her artwork, dialed 911, and hid behind the door with a knife.Having lived through it once gave her the advantage. This time, she managed to help the police catch the intruder. However, the disparity in strength was too great, and despite knowing his moves, she couldn't fend him off entirely.This time, she ended up with several injuries, tumbling down the stairs, her face a bloody mess.When the Newell family and Aiden returned, all they saw were police cars leaving and her sitting in disarray on the sofa amidst the chaos.Greg and Thea was shocked, stammering, "You... you caught him by yourself? Why didn't you call us? These home invaders are dangerous. Are you crazy?"Even Evan, usually so indifferent, showed rare surprise. "Yeah, why didn't you call us when there was trouble? Are you trying to make it seem like we’d leave you hanging?"Eliza was utterly spent, too tired to even speak. She sat there, her hand still trembling from clutching the knife.Noticing her trembling, Aiden rushed over and grabbed her hand, "Eliza, are you hurt? Do you need a hospital? You were too reckless. Why didn’t you tell us?"Eliza pulled her hand away from his grip, weakly retorting, "Would it have made a difference? Would you have come back for me?"They all flinched, guilt etched on their faces, trying to hold their ground. "Of course we would!"Eliza let out a bitter laugh. In her past life, she believed they’d come back, so she called each of them. In the end, not one answered.And she was discovered and nearly killed by the intruder for trying to reach out. Later, she learned they were all with Margot, watching fireworks.They were busy having a good time elsewhere, while she almost lost her life that night. So this time, she needed no one.Taking in her calm and detached demeanor, Aiden couldn't help but furrow his brow. Once again, he felt she had truly changed.The old her would have cried and been upset with them for not coming back in such a situation. But now, she was so composed, as if none of it mattered to her.Just as he was about to speak, Evan suddenly noticed the scattered luggage. "Why are you packing all this stuff? Where are you planning to go?!"