Chapter 1 Serenity Villas , the Johnson family Emily Johnson clutched a stack of property transfer documents as she approached her sister and mother . Just as she reached her sister Bianca Johnson's bedroom door , she noticed it was slightly ajar . She was about to push it open . Inside , she heard Bianca's voice . " Mom , my illness is acting up again . I'm terrified that one day I'll fall asleep and never wake up . I can't bear to leave my kids , my husband , and especially you and the family ... " Bianca , pale and trembling , clutched their mother Cleo's hand as she lay on the bed . Cleo's elegant face was filled with sorrow . She gently patted Bianca's hand . " Don't worry , we still have Emily , don't we ? " " But will she be willing ? " Bianca hesitated . " What if others find out ... " " She has no choice . If it weren't for the umbilical cord blood , she wouldn't even be here . Besides , we brought her back for your health , " Cleo reassured , her eyes firm . " You know we are on your side ; everyone agrees . She has heart disease and won't live long anyway . It's better to make use of her . " Make use of her ! 90 Emily felt her blood run cold . So , it wasn't love that made them search for her when she was kidnapped and went missing . It was her bone marrow they wanted . Before she was twelve , she was a wandering beggar , found rummaging through trash before they brought her back . Her tattered , dirty clothes clashed with the opulence of the Johnson family's mansion . She felt inferior and sensitive , but their words , " We never gave up looking for you , " filled her heart with hope and a desire to belong . So , she worked hard for this family , for each member , losing herself in the process . When the Johnson family business faced trouble , she stayed up night after night , creating plans to solve the crisis , which led to her heart disease , When her older brother Aiden Johnson was framed and nearly killed , she risked her life and agreed to the enemy's terms to save him . She hacked into and cleared her second brother Chase Johnson's website to save his reputation in the entertainment industry . She tested medicine on herself to save their poisoned father , Eli Johnson . 1/7 8:45 Tue , Oct 14 Chapter 1 She climbed a cliff to gather rare herbs to improve Cleo's health . : For her other family members , she gave her all , ending up battered and bruised . 90 As for Bianca , in the years since her return , her poor health meant that any grievance she felt was always Emily's fault . Anything Bianca wanted , even Emily's most precious belongings , was handed over to her , no questions asked . Even though her umbilical cord blood saved Bianca , and her boyfriend was deceived by Bianca's frail appearance , Emily forgave her , considering Bianca's weak health . But what did she get in return ? Pain ! But it was not as painful as her heart . " Emily , why are you eavesdropping ? What's this ? " Cleo lifted her foot , noticing the documents . She frowned , " What are these ? " The first thing Cleo did upon seeing Emily was to accuse and question her . No concern , no worry . Emily had come to terms with the fact that Cleo didn't love her . But it still hurt deeply . Cleo probably wished she would die soon . 2/7 8:45 Tue , Oct 14 Chapter 1 Otherwise , why would she hide her illness ? : Emily had felt unwell before and went to the hospital . Cleo had taken the test results and told her it was nothing , just needed rest . In reality , she had been diagnosed with heart disease . Today , the doctor had shaken his head at the new results : " If you had started treatment earlier , surgery could have extended your life by several years . " She thought it was a missed diagnosis , her fate . But no , Cleo had hidden it for the bone marrow transplant . As Cleo lifted her foot , Emily ignored the pain and instinctively grabbed the documents . 90 This action aroused Cleo's suspicion . " Tell me , what are these ? Did you steal important documents from Eli's study ? " Cleo's fierce gaze looked at her not as a daughter , but as an enemy . She didn't notice Emily's pale face . Emily bit her lip , holding back the pain , and coldly said , " No , you can check the surveillance ! " Without waiting for Cleo's reaction , she turned and ran downstairs . " If it's not , then why are you running ? Did you hear my conversation with Bianca ? Then you should know , your life exists because of Bianca . You don't have long to live anyway , so donating your bone marrow to Bianca is the right thing to do , isn't it ? " Cleo shouted as she chased after her . If she had a choice . She would rather not have been born into this family . Emily smiled bitterly . Hearing such heartless and shameless words , she felt dazed . In her daze , she stumbled . She missed a step and fell down the stairs . Cleo hurried after her , muttering , " Emily , are you okay ? You have to be okay , or how will we do the bone marrow transplant ... " This was her " good " mother . No , she was Bianca's good mother , not hers . Her birth was never blessed . Maybe she really shouldn't exist in this world . Emily coughed up blood , staining the scattered documents red . 3/7 8:45 Tue , Oct 14 Chapter 1 Her heart ached , her bones felt broken , and every joint hurt . Her consciousness was fading . She knew she wouldn't survive . Good ! : ཕ 90 Death would free her from these hypocritical , heartless relatives . But even in death , she didn't want to die in this heartless place . So , despite her broken , twisted limbs , she dragged herself , leaving a trail of blood , out of the villa . " Why are you so stubborn ? Even if you're dying , shouldn't you think about saving Bianca first , to earn some good karma ... " Emily closed her eyes in despair . The pouring rain washed away the blood and dirt from her body . It seemed to cleanse a path for her rebirth . " Emily , hurry and apologize to Bianca . If you hadn't conspired with outsiders to bully her , would her old illness have flared up ? How can you sleep at night ? " Emily was jolted awake by a loud shout . Her arm was yanked painfully . Emily frowned and opened her eyes , meeting Eli's angry gaze , and the disapproving looks of Aiden and Chase , and the disappointment in Cleo's eyes . She instinctively covered her heart . No pain ! So , no heart disease ! She looked around . The cluttered room filled with Bianca's art supplies , the room she lived in before she turned eighteen . Had she been reborn ? With that question in mind , she tried to understand her situation . Seeing the crowd gathered around her right now , ready to accuse her , brought back memories for Emily . It was her senior year of high school when Bianca had a panic attack after being startled by someone at school . Emily had tried to help 4/7 Chapter 1 her, but ended up falling into a lake and came back with a high fever . If anyone had cared about her even a little , they would have noticed the flush on her face from the fever . " What are you staring at ? How can you sleep at a time like this ? Get out of bed , you heartless thing ! " Eli snapped , ready to drag her out of bed . Emily's body was weak , and she tumbled to the floor , knocking over an easel with a painting on it . It was a sunflower painting Bianca had recently finished and left to dry . " Bianca's painting ... Those cost her days of her hard work ! Emily , did you do that on purpose ? You really are a piece of trash with no manners , " her brother Finn Johnson , who was just a year older than Bianca and very close to her , glared at Emily . Emily smirked coldly . Bianca's so - called hard work was just a few strokes and some coloring . Most of the painting was done by Emily , which was why Bianca didn't mind Emily staying in her private studio . They had put Emily in the studio because they were afraid Bianca would get too emotional and have another attack if she saw her . Emily didn't bother to argue . Her head hurt more and more , and she stayed silent . There was no point in trying to wake someone who was pretending to be asleep or change the mind of someone who was biased . " Say something ! Are you mute now ? You weren't mute when you were bullying Bianca and conspiring with those people at school ! " Her other brother , Hayden Johnson , frowned and pulled Emily in front of them to face their anger . Emily looked up expressionlessly . " What should I say ? That it wasn't me ? Or that I saw that person laughing and talking with Bianca , and she was the one who invited him ? " She gave a mocking smile . In her past life , she had explained that she hadn't hurt Bianca and had actually tried to help her . But they didn't believe her . They were convinced that the school bully was there because of her ; otherwise , how would he know Bianca's whereabouts ? Since explanations were useless , she didn't waste her breath . Eli slapped her hard , making her head snap to the side . Her face swelled instantly , with a clear handprint . " You little brat , how can you be so vicious at such a young age ? Not only did you scare Bianca into getting sick , but you also tried to ruin her reputation , " Eli yelled . Everyone except Chase looked at Emily with disdain , showing no sympathy for her injuries . Emily was deeply disappointed but stubbornly held her head high , refusing to be the submissive , people - pleasing girl she used to be . " You're angry , but why hit Emily ? " Cleo finally spoke up after Eli's outburst , lightly tapping his arm in disapproval . She then turned to Emily , " Why are you so stubborn ? Bianca got sick because of you . You know she's been frail since birth , and the whole family takes care of her . You should apologize to her . She's kind and will forgive you . " Emily felt a wave of nausea at Cleo's fake kindness . In her past life , Cleo had always pretended to be a good person , giving her hope whenever she was hurt by her family , making her give up her own dignity to please everyone . Maybe because she thought Emily was going to die , she finally showed her true colors in the end . Emily pushed Cleo's hand away forcefully and stepped back . 5/7 8:46 Tue , Oct 14 Chapter 1 Cleo stumbled , looking hurt . : Aiden , who had been silent , spoke sternly , " Emily , you've gone too far . Today , you must sincerely apologize . " Emily's face was cold . " So that's what you want . Why beat around the bush ? Just say it . " " Emily , why are you so sharp - tongued now ? " Cleo looked at her with a hurt expression . " If you won't say it , then get out ! " Emily ignored them and lay back down . 90 " The opportunity to be Mr. Williams ' student , give it to Bianca . You saved Mr. Williams , so even without this chance , he would teach you if you wanted , Eli said , trying to sound reasonable . Hayden agreed , " You don't have Bianca's talent for painting . It's better to give her the opportunity . " " Fine ! " Emily agreed quickly , surprising everyone . " You're not planning something , are you ? " Finn asked suspiciously . Everyone thought Emily's quick agreement was suspicious . Hayden warned , " Emily , don't scheme against Bianca . She's kind - hearted , and it's because of her that you were found . Be grateful . Once you give up the spot , don't think about taking it back . " Emily wondered how she had been so foolish before , actually feeling grateful to Bianca . They had only found her because her bone marrow was useful . As for the student spot , she didn't care . Bianca wouldn't be able to handle it anyway . Most of Bianca's paintings were Emily's work . She had saved John , but she hadn't wanted to be his student . She was too busy helping the Johnson family with their company crisis and trying to please everyone . She had only agreed because James Smith wanted to fulfill his grandmother Uma's wish to be John's student , and she had negotiated for him to be included . " If you want the spot , take it . But if Bianca wants anything else , just say it , " Emily said coldly . " Who taught you to talk like this ? This is your compensation for what you did to Bianca . Don't act like you're so wronged , " Eli scolded . Is that all ? Then you can leave ! " Emily ordered them out . Her head was pounding , and she felt like it would explode if she heard another word from them . " You ... " Eli was furious at being dismissed by the neglected Emily . Emily , Bianca is still in the hospital alone . We're going to see her . Reflect on your actions . We care about you and want you to do better , " Cleo said , pulling Eli away and giving Emily another seemingly kind lecture . They all left , leaving behind a " Take care of yourself . " The door closed , shutting out the outside world and separating her from them completely . 6/7 8:46 Tue , Oct 14 Chapter 1 90 Emily struggled to sit up . Her head was spinning , and her forehead was burning . She needed to get to the hospital . If she burned up and became brain - damaged , it would waste her second chance at life . Just then , the door opened again . Emily frowned , annoyed . " What now ? Can't you leave me alone ? " Chapter Comments B2