Chapter 1 Her Lowly Fate

• Inside an utterly disheveled room, Aurelia Shaw, who had a high-level amputation due to a car accident, lay on the small bed, glaring fiercely at the two people who were passionately entwined on the couch.
• They were completely oblivious to the woman on the bed, passionately entwined.
• Perhaps they never really considered her as a human being.
• While Curtis Fletcher was passionately making love, he said, “I've never loved her. It was she who insisted on clinging to me. Melanie, I've loved you since university! You're my first crush.”
• Melanie Leedon laughed heartily. “If we do this, will she feel uncomfortable? Should we find someone to come and help her?”
• “But which man could possibly be aroused when faced with her ghastly appearance?”
• Aurelia wanted to curse them for their shamelessness, but the prolonged hunger had left her unable to utter a single word.
• Ever since she was paralyzed and confined to her bed, there had been no one to care for her. Before long, her body was covered in bedsores, her skin was festering, and she was emitting a repugnant smell of rotting flesh.
• As for those two individuals, one was her fiancé, a childhood sweetheart of ten years, and the other was the Melanie, who had been mistaken as Aurelia when they were still babies and had grown up with Aurelia’s parents.
• She gazed at the numerous needle marks on her arm, a testament to the countless times her blood had been drawn to transfuse into Melanie.
• Yet, that was how they repaid her.
• “Aurelia, you shouldn't even be alive! Your very existence serves as a reminder of my origins. But what does it matter if you are our parents' biological daughter? They still don't treat you as the heiress, but rather as my blood bank.”
• Melanie kissed Curtis' lips, then provocatively looked at Aurelia. “Even your man is mine.”
• “She is nothing but a lowly life. It's her good fortune to serve as your blood bank. Otherwise, how could she have survived until now?” Curtis held Melanie tightly, his eyes filled with passion, his movements becoming even faster.
• “You're right. But now that I'm cured of my illness, I no longer need her. She's been starved for so many days. How is it that she's not dead yet?”
• “Give her another big bowl of medicine in a while. She'll be on death's door if she doesn't die!”
• Tears had etched their way across Aurelia's face, a face that was then gaunt, reduced to nothing more than skin and bones.
• At that same time, she was filled with hatred.
• Filled with resentment, she glared fiercely with wide eyes. The excessive potency of the drug subjected her to a torment akin to being burned by intense flames. Blood gushed from her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
• Life then ebbed away amidst overwhelming regret.
• …
• “Auri, this time, could you bear to give a little more blood? After all, an extra 400cc won't make much difference. If something were to happen to Mel, wouldn’t you feel guilty about it?”
• “Indeed, you’re home now. And you've taken everything that belonged to Mel. She has been dutifully serving us in your stead for many years. Now, it's time for you to give a little more blood to Mel as a compensation. Don't be a whiner!”
• A middle-aged couple wore nearly identical expressions, frowning as they looked at Aurelia, who was hanging her head in silence.
• The conversation was filled with nothing but criticisms and dissatisfaction toward Aurelia.
• In their arms, they cradled Melanie, treating her with such delicate care as if they were afraid she might get hurt. Meanwhile, they treated their real daughter, Aurelia, who was right in front of them, as if she were an enemy.
• “Dad, Mom, I can hold on. Please don't pressure Aurelia anymore. Her dissatisfaction with me is only because I haven't been good enough,” Melanie gently pleaded, in a sort of vulnerable manner.
• The middle-aged couple was heartbroken when they heard Melanie’s words.
• Turning toward Aurelia, they continued to reproach, “Given that you're so healthy, why can't you show a little compassion for Mel?”
• “Miss, don't wait for her to agree,” they turned to the nurse beside them and said. “We are her parents, so we can make decisions for her. Please, continue drawing her blood.”
• Aurelia abruptly stood up, casting a cold, mocking smile at her biological parents standing before her.
• It was only then that she realized she had been reincarnated.
• In her previous life, after she was found and brought back home, she had always been trying to please them. Because her blood type was the same as Melanie's, Rh blood, they were swapped at birth because of a mix-up all those years ago.
• They would then often ask her to donate blood.
• In order to satisfy them, she had never refused. Because if she did, it would result in situations like the present, where they began to blame her for various things. She would foolishly think that she wasn't doing well enough. Even though every time they drew her blood, her body would become weaker, and she would frequently fall ill, she still complied with their demands.
• And then there was Melanie, who put on the facade of a good daughter and sister in front of them, making her seem like the villain who bullied Melanie.
• Before her death, her inhuman experiences were so prolonged. She suffered to the point of dying in torment.
• “Why are you standing there gawking at us?” Aurelia’s mother, Luna, scolded her. “You're so jumpy! You’ll scare Mel. She's been raised in the countryside and isn't used to such behavior.” Luna was clearly displeased.
• Gideon Leedon, Aurelia's biological father, furrowed his brows. “Auri, you've been bad today. I'm disappointed in you! If you want something, just say it directly. You can't cause a ruckus in the hospital.”
• Melanie stepped forward, taking Aurelia's hand, pleading pitifully, “Aurelia, would it be all right if I give you the Friyxian sports car, the birthday gift that Dad gave me yesterday? I really need your blood, Aurelia. I promise to give you all the good things I have in the future. Please don't be angry.”
• “Nonsense! That was your birthday gift. She can't even drive. Why would she need a car? Auri, you're being unreasonable. Why do you want all of Mel's things? You've already taken away her parents. Do you also want to take other things from her?” Luna was exasperated.
• With that, she raised her hand, ready to strike Aurelia.
• A gleam of triumphant anticipation flashed in Melanie's eyes. So what if Aurelia is the biological daughter of her parents? She's still nothing compared to me.
• Aurelia cast her gaze toward Luna, her eyes as serene and unfathomable as ever.
• Luna was taken aback, finding the gaze of this impudent girl, Aurelia, strangely chilling. “What on earth are you doing?” she asked.
• “Sit down! Stop making a fuss!” Gideon commanded.
• With an expressionless face, Aurelia asked, “Without my blood, would she die?”
• “Aurelia, you want me dead?” Melanie took a step back, as if frightened.
• “How could you be so malicious, wishing for Mel's death? How did I give birth to such a wicked daughter? You've utterly disappointed me, and I truly regret bringing you home!” Luna was enraged. This daughter of mine is despicable! She's an embarrassment! She's disobedient and troublesome! What's the big deal about donating a little blood?
• “Aurelia, Mom isn't well. Could you please avoid upsetting her? It's all my fault.” Melanie said, her voice soft and weak as tears streamed down her face.
• With a stern expression, Gideon reprimanded just as he used to, “Aurelia, apologize to your mother and Mel!”
• In her previous life, whenever they accused her together, and then when Gideon sternly demanded her to apologize, she would obediently apologize.
• But even after she obediently apologized, they were still not satisfied.
• After every blood draw, they would always criticize her for acting too frail, claiming that she had given too little blood.
• Aurelia lowered her gaze to the needle marks on her arm, her voice seemingly coated with a layer of biting frost. “The ones who should apologize are you. But even if you do, I won't accept it. As for past grievances, we'll settle them later.”
• After her words fell, she resolutely left the hospital.
• When she took the first step, a bone-gnawing pain surged through his heart again.
• With teary eyes, she lowered her gaze to her own legs. It feels so good. The sensation of being able to stand and walk is truly wonderful! I will have them pay whatever they owed me later, but at this moment, I have a more pressing matter to attend to!