Chapter 1: My Flash Romance With the Richest Mogul
Bedridden in a filthy room, Skylar Sullivan glared at the two people on the couch. A car accident had left her paralyzed and limbless, confined to a narrow bed. The couple on the couch ignored her—or, more accurately, treated her as less than human.
Christopher Fowler declared, “I’ve never liked her. She’s been clinging to me. Maisy, I’ve loved you since college! You’re the love of my life.”
Maisy Williams giggled. “Will she mind? Should we get someone to help her?”
“As if anyone would be aroused by her condition!”
Skylar longed to curse them, but prolonged starvation left her barely able to speak. No one had cared for her since her accident. Bedsores had scarred her body, her skin rotting and emitting a foul odor.
Christopher had been her boyfriend for seven years, a relationship dating back to her childhood. Maisy, raised by Skylar's parents, had usurped Skylar's place as the heiress of the Williams family.
Skylar's gaze fell on the countless needle marks on her arm, a grim reminder of the blood transfusions she’d been forced to give Maisy. This was their repayment.
"Skylar, you shouldn't even be alive! Your existence reminds me of my past. So what if you're Mom and Dad's biological daughter? They never treated you like one. They used you as my personal blood bank," Maisy said.
Maisy kissed Christopher, her condescending gaze sweeping over Skylar. "Even your man is mine now."
Christopher, eyes full of infatuation, tightened his embrace around Maisy. "Her existence means nothing. She should be grateful she served as your blood bank. Otherwise, how could we have let her live this long?"
"That's true. But now I'm cured, I don't need her anymore. Why isn't she dead yet, even though we've starved her for days?"
"Let's force some medication down her throat later. It'll only be a matter of time," Maisy replied.
Tears streamed down Skylar's emaciated face. Overwhelmed by hatred, she glared at them as a burning sensation consumed her. It felt like an overdose. Blood gushed from her face as life ebbed away, leaving her drowning in regret.
Chapter 1 (Continued)
"Skye, endure this a little longer. We only need another fourteen ounces. Won't you feel guilty if anything happens to Maisy?" Jeffrey Williams and Sadie Coleman, a middle-aged couple, barked at Skylar, their loathing palpable.
Their scowls mirrored each other as Skylar hung her head in silence. Maisy, nestled in their arms, was the stark opposite of Skylar's ostracized state.
"Dad, Mom, I'm fine. Don't pester Skylar anymore. She's mad because I haven't been well," Maisy pleaded, her face paling.
Distressed, Jeffrey and Sadie yelled at Skylar again, "You're as fit as a fiddle! Why can't you have some pity on Maisy?"
"You don't need her consent. We're her parents, and we'll decide," they ordered the nurse, directing the procedure.
Suddenly, Skylar sat up. She sneered at her biological parents, finally aware of her rebirth. She'd spent her life trying to please them after they'd brought her home. She and Maisy shared the same extremely rare Rh-negative blood type; a mistake had brought Maisy home instead of Skylar.
They'd repeatedly demanded Skylar donate blood to Maisy, requests she'd never refused in her desperate need for their approval. Each donation was met with reprimands, and yet, she felt she'd never done enough. Her health deteriorated after each transfusion, but she still complied. Maisy's feigned innocence made Skylar appear even worse.
Skylar had endured a long, torturous existence before bleeding to death.
"What are you looking at? Stop being so jumpy! You'll scare Maisy. I can't expect basic courtesy from a country bumpkin like you," Sadie scolded.
Jeffrey frowned. "Skye, you're not behaving yourself. I'm disappointed! Tell me if you need anything, but don't make a scene at the hospital."
Chapter 1 (Continued)
"Skylar, I'll give you my birthday present—a Ferrari Dad gave me yesterday. I really need your blood. I promise I'll give you everything nice in the future. Don't be mad," Maisy pleaded, taking Skylar's hand.
"What on earth are you saying? That's your present! Why would you give her a car when she can't even drive?" Sadie was outraged, raising her hand to strike Skylar.
A triumphant glint flickered in Maisy's eyes. Skylar's biological status meant nothing; she was still inferior.
Skylar's indifferent gaze met Sadie's. Sadie froze, feeling unsettled. "What do you want?"
"Sit down! Stop making a scene!" Jeffrey roared.
Skylar asked grimly, "Will she die without my blood?"
"Skylar, a-are you trying to kill me?" Maisy recoiled, shocked.
"How can you be so cruel? Are you actually trying to kill Maisy? How did I ever give birth to a monster like you? You're a disappointment. I regret bringing you back into our family!" Sadie shrieked, her face red with rage.
Sadie genuinely detested Skylar, constantly embarrassed by her. What was the big deal about donating some blood?
"Skylar, Mom's health isn't that great. Please don't upset her, okay? It's all my fault," Maisy sobbed.
Jeffrey's expression hardened as he berated Skylar. "Skylar, apologize to your mom and Maisy!"
In her past life, Skylar had always apologized, but it was never enough. They'd claimed she was faking weakness after each transfusion, resulting in less blood being taken.
Glancing at the needle marks, Skylar snapped, "You should be apologizing. But even if you do, I won't accept it. I will settle the score later." Her tone was resolute.
As her last word fell, she strode from the hospital. A jolt of pain shot through her with her first step. Her eyes reddened as she looked down at her feet. It felt good to walk again. She would settle the score later. For now, she had something more important to stop.