Cielle Beckett, the cherished daughter of Arethusa City’s wealthiest man, had long been regarded as the epitome of happiness.

Surrounded by luxury, she had an older brother who showered her affectionately and a childhood friend who adored her beyond measure.

But everything changed when her long-lost biological sister returned. Her world, once a place of comfort and security, crumbled around her. It was then that Cielle discovered the painful truth: she had been nothing more than a living blood bank for her sister.

Heartbroken and betrayed, she walked away from the Beckett Family, leaving behind the life she once knew.

But soon after, her doting older brother lost the sister he cherished more than anything and her childhood friend, who had loved her with a devotion deeper than life itself, succumbed to his despair and ended it all.

***

The staff at the memory loss clinic exchanged uncertain glances as they observed the girl before them. Drenched and filthy, yet dressed in a luxurious gown, she stared back with unwavering resolve. One of the staff members gently asked, "Miss, are you certain you want to go through with electroshock therapy to erase your memories?"

Without a moment's hesitation, the girl nodded, her exhaustion clear in her gaze.

Handing her the agreement, the staff spoke softly, "While electroshock therapy is the quickest and most effective method to erase memories, it comes with irreversible effects on the body. You might forget everyone you’ve ever known. We strongly recommend you consider alternative treatments."

Unexpectedly, the girl shook her head, her voice unwavering as she responded, "Yes, I want to forget everyone."

"Very well. Please return in a week for your treatment. But are you certain about teaching in that small town after your memory loss?"

"Yes, I’m sure."

With a firm hand, she signed the bottom-right corner of the agreement, Cielle Beckett.

The staff member's gaze faltered as she read the name. Her eyes widened in shock, her thoughts racing.

The favored daughter of heaven? How could she possibly end up in such a wretched state?

She called after Cielle, her voice tinged with confusion, "Miss, is there truly something you want to forget despite living such a happy life?"

Cielle paused, a bitter smile tugging at her lips, but she didn’t turn around.

Her happiness had always been an illusion.

The world believed Cielle, the daughter of Arethusa City's wealthiest man, had it all: wealth, status, a doting older brother, Magnus Beckett and a childhood friend, Laurent Verlice, who loved her with a devotion beyond measure.

She had lived in what seemed like paradise for more than twenty years.

At ten, when she stumbled and scraped her knee in the garden, her family gasped in shock, their faces pale as they rushed to stop the bleeding. Their eyes brimmed with worry as they hovered over her. Before long, the soft grass of the garden was replaced by plush, high-end cushions.

At fifteen, when she winced in pain from a stomach ache, her family didn’t hesitate. They called her personal doctor, who was studying abroad and he flew back at once. He stayed by her side all night, sleepless, until the next day, when they brought in a renowned overseas specialist to ensure her well-being.

At eighteen, when recurring nightmares and fevers plagued her, but no doctor could decipher the cause, her parents spared no expense. They hired the most famous physicians, while her older brother and childhood friend made a pilgrimage to the grandest church, climbing the thousand-step staircase, kneeling every three steps, praying for her safety and happiness.

Everyone admired Cielle, calling her the most blessed of all, wishing they could be her sister in their next life.

Cielle had always believed her happiness was a certainty until her twentieth birthday when everything came crashing down.

That day, she donned a dazzling evening dress, her excitement bubbling as she eagerly awaited her family’s presents at the planned hotel.

But as the minutes ticked by and no one showed up, a sense of unease crept over her. She rushed back home, her heart pounding.

What awaited her was beyond belief.

Outside the family villa, she found her parents tightly embracing a girl seated on the bed, their faces streaked with tears. Her older brother, Magnus and her childhood friend, Laurent, stood nearby, their eyes filled with tears of joy.

Confusion clouded Cielle’s mind, unable to make sense of what was happening.

But then, her father’s words hit her like a thunderclap. "Margaret! My dear daughter!

Thanks to all our efforts, your illness has finally been cured!"

Dear daughter?

The woman lying in the hospital bed... could it be?

Her mother, tears streaming down her face, added, "We’ve missed you so much, thought about you every day while you’ve been abroad all these years."

Cielle instinctively covered her mouth, more in bewilderment than anything else.

The Beckett Family had another daughter. Why had they kept this secret from her?

In that instant, the fragile girl in the bed broke the silence with a soft, trembling voice. "Did you truly miss me? Then why did you and Dad have another daughter?"

Magnus, who had remained silent until now, seemed to lose control. He rushed to explain, "There’s a reason for this! Margaret, we love you more than anyone!"

"Really?" The girl’s voice was filled with doubt, her head hanging low as tears fell.

But Laurent, ever gentle, reached out to stroke her hair, his voice soft but steady, "The one who holds our hearts above all others is you. Don’t you remember our childhood promise?"

The girl’s cry shattered the moment. "Then why did Cielle appear?"

"Because Cielle is your blood donor," Laurent said quietly. "For all these years, you’ve needed blood replacement. She was brought into existence to treat your illness."

In that instant, it was as though the world exploded in Cielle’s mind, her eyes widening in shock.

So, her entire existence had been nothing more than a vessel for someone else’s survival?

All those years, the kindness and love shown to her had been nothing but a facade, a cover for the fact that she was merely a walking blood bank…

No wonder, every year, when she went in for a routine check-up and blood transfusion, a wave of drowsiness would sweep over her and the next day, her parents would be "off on a business trip" abroad.

No wonder, every time she scraped her skin, no matter how small the injury, their panic was palpable, rushing her to the hospital over a mere cut.

No wonder her brother and childhood friend were always so protective, feeding her supplements, urging her to take medicine and guarding her like fragile glass.

It had all been for the sake of a lost sister, using her as nothing more than a mobile blood donor…

Outside the room, Cielle stumbled to a halt, unable to bear the weight of the revelation. The shock hit her with the force of a freight train and she collapsed onto the cold floor.

It felt as though her heart had been torn apart, each beat sending waves of pain through her body, suffocating her.

Suddenly, a deafening roar split the air and a torrential downpour unleashed, the sky itself weeping with her in a storm of thunder and lightning.

As the room fell silent, all eyes turned toward the window in shock. Without a word, Cielle bolted, her heart torn, her cries echoing into the storm.

The rain drenched her dress as she ran down the empty street, her emotions a hurricane of fury and sorrow, her voice carrying the weight of years of hurt.

It wasn’t until she collapsed, unable to rise that the storm inside her finally began to subside. There, on the cold pavement, memories once so sweet now felt like shards of glass, cutting into her heart.

The very next day, still in the clothes soaked with the previous night's anguish, she walked into the memory loss clinic, desperate for release. She opted for the quickest solution, electroshock therapy, ready to erase it all, no matter the cost.

One week later, Cielle was leaving the city behind. She had decided: she would forget everyone here, never to return. The city that had once been home would be nothing more than a distant echo.

When Cielle returned home, the door creaked open to reveal everyone gathered around Margaret, doting on her, serving coffee and showering her with attention.

The moment Cielle stepped through the door, every eye turned toward her. For a fleeting second, she saw the surprise flicker across their faces.

Had they forgotten about her now that Margaret was here? Or were they simply shocked to see her return?

Cielle couldn't make sense of it, nor did she want to. She stood frozen in the doorway, lost in confusion.

The atmosphere grew tense, the silence hanging thick in the air.

"Is it Cielle?" Margaret asked, her smile warm and kind as she looked toward the doorway.

Zayn, her father, quickly called her over, urging her to meet her sister.

Cielle hesitated, her mind struggling to process the surreal reality before her. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she stumbled into the room, panic flooding her.

The life she once knew now felt so alien and she could barely find her footing. She retreated to a corner, her tears falling in waves.

Then, there was a soft knock on the door.

It was Margaret, stepping in quietly.

She was thin, almost to the point of fragility, her pale face a stark contrast to the warmth of the room.

"Thank you, Cielle," Margaret said, her brow arched in mild surprise. Her tone was warm, almost grateful. "If it weren’t for you, I might still be abroad, undergoing treatment."

"And thank you for taking care of our parents all these years, as well as my brother and Laurent."

At that moment, Cielle felt something shift within her. The sister she had imagined wasn't quite what she had expected.

Just as she began to feel a pang of shame for her earlier impoliteness, Margaret’s next words struck her like a lightning bolt.

"But this home will always be mine, including them. They can only belong to me!"

Margaret’s friendly smile melted away, replaced by a fierce, almost predatory glare.

Cielle froze, stepping back, her heart racing. But then, gathering every ounce of courage, she squared her shoulders. "No! This is my home too! They are my family!"

"Really?" Margaret’s smile returned, but it was different, sly, calculating. A gleam of mischief flickered in her eyes.

A cold, heavy feeling settled in Cielle’s chest. Something wasn’t right.

The sharp sound of a slap shattered the tension, followed by a scream as Margaret crumpled to the floor.

"Ah—"

Cielle’s thoughts seemed to freeze at that moment, her mind blank with shock.

Before she could even process what had happened, the door was flung open.

"Margaret!"

"Margaret!"

Magnus and Laurent rushed forward, their panic evident as they bent to help the fallen Margaret.

Tears poured from Margaret’s eyes and her voice cracked with despair. "Sister, I’ve been gone for over twenty years and this is my home! Why can’t I come back?"

Her heartbroken sobs filled the room, making the air heavy with grief.

Magnus and Laurent’s faces twisted with fury, their gaze locking onto Cielle, who stood frozen, a mixture of fear and confusion on her face.

Cielle quickly waved her hand, desperate to explain, but just as the words were on the tip of her tongue, her brother’s harsh words stopped her cold.

"Cielle! Why are you so jealous? Why can’t Margaret come home?"

Her brother had never spoken to her like that before. Even in moments of frustration, he would retreat into himself, silently grappling with his emotions.

Now, those words hit her like a slap. Her throat tightened with a wave of helpless grief, especially since she had done nothing wrong.

Cielle’s eyes stung as they filled with tears and she trembled, her finger pointing toward herself. "Me? Jealous?"

But instead of an explanation, her brother’s next words pierced her even deeper.

"I think she’s just a jealous woman!"

Her heart clenched painfully as if something sharp had lodged in her chest. The ache spread through her body, a slow burn that left her feeling weak.

Cielle slowly turned to Laurent, who stood silently by the side, his gaze cold. His indifference shattered her, stripping her of any remaining strength.

Margaret, rubbing her swollen cheek, feigned innocence as she spoke, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Don’t blame her! She didn’t mean it. Anyone would be upset if their parents and family were taken away."

"Taken away?"