Chapter 4
Maxwell suddenly spun around, his gaze instantly becoming tense.
“Aria, what’s going on?”
Aria’s heart skipped a beat–she’d been so focused on catching the intruder that she’d forgotten her
luggage was still in the living room.
Her hand tightened slightly inside her sleeve before she plastered on a calm smile. “Seeing all your vacation photos made me want to get away too. I just packed some things so I could leave whenever I picked a destination.“–
Her parents‘ expressions immediately darkened. “Get away? Haven’t I told you before–you’re not
allowed to leave Serena!”
“Exactly! What if Serena needs a blood transfusion and you’re not here? You need to remember why we brought you into this world in the first place. Put those things away immediately. You’re not going anywhere without our permission!”
Noticing her seemingly normal expression, Maxwell relaxed slightly. “Next time you want to go somewhere, just come with us. It’s not safe to travel alone, understand?”
Aria laughed silently to herself. The place she wanted to go was somewhere they could never follow.
A few days later was Serena and Aria’s birthday.
Despite being three years apart, they happened to be born on the same day.
Yet for all these years, there had only ever been one birthday cake and one candle–blowing
ceremony.
In her naiveté, Aria had believed her parents when they said there was no need for two cakes when they shared a birthday.
But their family was well–off–a second cake would have been nothing to them financially.
They simply didn’t care about her feelings and didn’t want anything to detract from Serena’s spotlight on her special day.
19:08
A Walking Blood Bag? No. I’m Global Heiress
12.0%
Chapter 4
The birthday party decorations were, as always, in Serena’s favorite color: pink.
Pink roses, pink balloons, pink cake.
Every gift prepared was intended solely for Serena.
As the center of attention, she stood in the most prominent position, accepting everyone’s birthday
wishes.
“Happy birthday, Serena!”
Serena smiled as she opened her presents, her sparkling eyes shining like diamonds, bright and
captivating.
Meanwhile, Aria stood in the corner, like an outsider at her own birthday celebration.
“Hey, Uncle Max, why are there two boxes in your gift?” Serena asked with surprise, holding up the package and waving it in front of Maxwell.
Everyone’s curious gazes followed, but he handed one box to Aria.
“This one is for you.”
Serena’s expression momentarily soured, but after opening both gifts, the smile returned to her face.
Because Maxwell had given her a priceless, one–of–a–kind necklace from a famous designer.
While Aria’s gift was just a complimentary item that came with the necklace.
People around them snickered.
‘Ah, a freebie–suits her perfectly.”
Yes, she was nothing more than Serena’s freebie too, so his gift was perfectly appropriate.
Aria said nothing, but when no one was looking, she quietly dropped the gift into the trash can.
As the party ended, Serena suddenly announced that since she’d just gotten her driver’s license, she wanted to drive everyone home.
With that, she eagerly headed to the garage.
19:08
Chapter 4
Her parents and Connor naturally indulged her wish, waiting at the front door for her to bring the car around.
Aria stood alone at the back, looking down at her feet, calculating how many days until her island purchase would be finalized and she could finally leave. She paid no attention to the car approaching behind her.
With a screeching sound of brakes, she was suddenly thrown to the ground by the impact.
As her consciousness began to fade, she heard only Serena’s fake panicked cries before completely blacking out.
When she next awoke, she was in the hospital.
With the adrenaline worn off, the pain hit her full force. She struggled to open her eyes and realized
she was lying on an operating table.
Her body felt strangely weightless, as if she might float away from herself and drift upward.
Was this what dying felt like? This strange sensation?
It hurt so much. Aria weakly closed her eyes, surrendering to the darkness that was consuming her
vision inch by inch.
Just on the other side of the wall, doctors were negotiating with the Pierce family.
“Family members, please decide quickly. The patient has lost a lot of blood and needs a transfusion immediately, or her life will be in danger. The hospital blood bank is critically low. Your second daughter has the same blood type–why won’t you let her donate?”
The family rejected almost in unison.
“No! Serena can’t donate!”
As her consciousness grew thinner, the sounds around Aria became fainter.
In the last second before she completely lost consciousness, she heard Maxwell’s voice–cold and decisive–cutting through to her ears.
“That’s right. Serena can’t do it!”
19:08