Stealing My Life Saving Blood

To save the son of his first love, Holden Brooks snatched the very blood supply that was meant to save my life.

I lay on the hospital bed, suffering in agony, and when I begged him to come see me one last time, he interrupted me with a look of pure disgust.

Stella Sterling, don't think I don't know what kind of game you are playing! Leo really needs this blood supply. How can you be so vicious as to compete with a child for it?

He had no idea that I had been in a severe car accident and was truly dying.

1.

The bright operating lights blurred into ghostly shadows, and the pungent smell of antiseptic faded from my senses.

I could hear the doctors screaming in panic. The patient has lost all vital signs! Where is the blood supply?

It was never coming. Holden had already taken it to donate to the son of his first love.

I remembered how, an hour ago, I had been trapped in the wreckage of my car, unable to move.

I summoned my last bit of strength to call Holden, telling him about the accident and begging him to come.

But his tone was filled with nothing but impatience.

Stella, I have told you so many times, stop using these pathetic manipulative tactics to get my attention.

Leo is currently in surgery and needs my presence. Stop bothering me unless it is something important!

Before I could even reply, the line went dead.

As my soul drifted away from my body, I watched my corpse lie cold on the operating table.

I drifted to Holden's side against my will.

He was standing outside the operating room, his arms wrapped around his precious Claire. His face, usually cold and indifferent toward me, was now etched with a worry I had never seen before.

Even then, he didn't forget to comfort Claire.

Don't worry, Leo is going to be just fine!

So, the person lying in the operating room was Claire's son, Leo Valois.

Just then, the doctor stepped out with a relieved smile on his face.

Holden and Claire rushed forward immediately, eager for the news.

The blood arrived just in time. The surgery was a complete success, and he is starting to wake up!

You can go in and see him in a moment.

Claire wept with joy, and Holden's face lit up with a smile as they walked into the room together, staying by Leo's side.

I had never seen him look so genuinely happy.

The two adults and the child looked like a perfect, happy family.

By the way, Holden, I heard Stella was in a car accident. How is she? Claire asked, her voice sweet and feigned, acting as if she were incredibly considerate.

Holden's brows furrowed in irritation the moment he heard my name.

What could possibly be wrong with her? She does nothing all day but make scenes.

Unlike you, Claire. You are so gentle and kind. She should really take a lesson from you.

Let's not talk about her on such a happy day. It is bad luck.

Seeing the undisguised loathing in Holden's eyes felt like a needle piercing my heart.

Only then did I vaguely recall that after the first call, I had tried to reach him again.

I had been rescued by the police and put into an ambulance.

I had lost too much blood, and I happen to have a rare blood type.

The hospital had initially secured a donor, but at that exact moment, Leo suffered complications during surgery and needed that same blood.

Holden had used his influence to snatch it away, not caring that it was rightfully mine, nor that another life was at stake.

When I begged someone to call him, the first thing I heard was his harsh reprimand.

Stella, have I not warned you to stop being an eyesore? Leo is in critical condition. I do not have time for your little performances!

The medical staff was stunned, never expecting my own husband to treat me this way. They could only try to reason with him.

Sir, Mrs. Brooks has just been in a terrible accident and urgently needs a transfusion! Please, is there any way you could spare even a little bit of the supply?

The man's deep voice on the other end sounded furious.

Stella, that is enough! You even hired people to help you lie to me? Do you really think I will fall for your scheme?

Drop these low-class tricks, or we are going to the divorce office first thing tomorrow morning!

My consciousness began to fade, leaving me with only one cold realization.

Holden Brooks never cared if I lived or died. In his eyes, there was only Claire and Leo.

I gave a bitter smile, suddenly wondering, Holden, what kind of look will you have when you find out I am dead?

2.

My mother was the only one who came to claim my body.

She collapsed by my hospital bed, weeping so hard she seemed to age ten years overnight. Her eyes were swollen like walnuts.

Stella, it is all my fault. If I hadn't fallen ill, you wouldn't have married Holden to pay for my treatment, and your whole life wouldn't have been ruined like this.

If I had known it would come to this, I wish it had been me instead!

I wanted to tell her, Mom, no, this isn't your fault.

It was my fault for falling in love with a man who was never capable of loving me back, giving him everything only to receive cold indifference in return.

I tried to reach out to wipe her tears, but I realized I couldn't touch her anymore.

I could only try to comfort her across the void, but she couldn't hear me.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back by Holden's side.

For some reason, I couldn't stray too far from him, nor could I stay away for too long.

It was miserable being forced to watch his hateful face and see him playing house with Claire and acting like a father to Leo.

Right now, they were sitting hand-in-hand by Leo's bed, waiting for him to wake up.

Don't worry, Claire. The doctor said he will be awake soon!

My heart sank with an uncontrollable wave of grief.

Leo was waking up, while I was destined for an eternal sleep in the ground.

Holden, when you were saving your first love's son, did you ever realize you were pushing me into the abyss?

Claire looked at Holden with such adoration that they were almost kissing.

Even though I was prepared for it, seeing them so intimate filled me with a stinging, bitter jealousy.

Suddenly, a phone call shattered the romantic atmosphere.

Holden checked his phone, his handsome brows knitting together.

My mother's exhausted voice came through.

Holden, do you have any idea about Stella

She had discovered I was dead, and since Holden hadn't shown his face, she had to try to discuss my funeral arrangements with him.

But Holden didn't have the patience to listen. He cut her off immediately.

Why is it always about Stella? Are you ever going to stop? I told you, I am busy!

Can she not have a shred of self-awareness? Stop bothering me!

He didn't care that he was speaking to an elder, and my closest family member at that.

Under my mother's shocked silence, Holden hung up, a flicker of doubt and annoyance crossing his face.

Stella has been looking for me repeatedly. Could something have actually happened?

He muttered to himself, his expression dazed with a hint of worry.

Seeing his hesitation, Claire let out a sudden gasp.

Leo, you are awake!

I looked toward the bed, and sure enough, Leo had opened his eyes, looking weak. Mommy, Holden, I still feel so awful

Holden's attention was instantly diverted. He rushed over to comfort Leo, checking on him and calling the doctor.

Anyone who didn't know better would have sworn he was Leo's real father.

A moment later, he remembered what he had been worrying about, but he shook his head, pushing the bad thoughts away.

It is impossible. That woman is so calculating and greedy; she wouldn't just let herself die.

This is just another one of her tricks to get my attention. It is so low.

Hearing this, I wanted to die all over again from pure rage.

I floated to his side and screamed with all my might, I am dead, Holden! You took my blood, and I slowly turned cold. I was killed by you! Why won't you just believe me?

Sadly, he couldn't hear a thing. It was like punching a wall.

3.

After Leo was discharged, Holden decided to bring him and Claire home, under the guise of taking better care of him.

Claire looked around the house, which I had decorated with so much love, and I could see the greed in her eyes.

However, she put on the act of an innocent, naive flower. She batted her eyes at Holden, looking pure and lovely.

It feels like Stella has not been back in a long time. A woman should really take care of her home. Could she have found someone else out there

Leo chimed in, Aunt Stella is so ungrateful. Holden, you are so good to her, yet she doesn't even know how to come home!

As soon as my name was mentioned, Holden's face clouded over with visible irritation.

Why bring her up? She is just playing missing to manipulate me. I will not fall for it!

Seeing him loathe me made Claire's smile widen.

While Holden was busy pouring water for Claire, he didn't notice her and Leo wandering into our bedroom.

Oh!

Suddenly, Claire's fake, high-pitched scream rang out.

When Holden rushed in, he found our wedding photo shattered on the floor, the glass cracked right down the middleDa symbol of how our marriage had already fallen apart.

I looked at the broken shards. My face in the photo had been sliced in half.

My memories drifted back five years.

At that time, my mother had just been diagnosed with cancer, and I was broke and desperate for money for her surgery.

Then I met Holden.

He looked at my face for a moment, distracted, before regaining his composure. I can give you the money, but you must marry me and play the role I give you. But understand thisDI will never love you.

I knew he had a first love who had left him to go abroad.

When he heard she had a child, he was furious and sought out me, because I shared a slight resemblance to her.

So, I was nothing more than a stand-in.

But sadly, my heart didn't listen to logic. Over time, I couldn't help but fall in love with him.

When we took that photo, we had been together for exactly one month.

In that month, I handled every household chore, cooked hot meals before he returned from the office, and had medicine ready whenever he came home drunk.

Everyone said Holden had married a virtuous and capable wife.

I felt like he was happy standing next to me back then.

He once told me, Thank you, Stella, this photo means a lot.

I had cherished it, hanging it by the bed where I could see it every day, hoping to hold onto the tiny bit of kindness he had once shown me.

But now, it was smashed to pieces.

Holden strode over, grabbing Claire's hand, checking her for injuries with a panicked expression.

Claire, are you okay?

Claire acted like a frightened little rabbit, looking up at him with pitiful, teary eyes. I am sorry, Holden. It was an accident Stella is going to be so mad at me

Seeing her like that made Holden's heart melt. He pulled her into his arms immediately.

It is fine. It is just a broken photo. You are much more important than that!

From start to finish, he didn't even glance at our shattered marriage, as if it meant absolutely nothing to him.

I looked at the pair playing their little parts, and a wave of infinite sorrow washed over me.

I had always held onto an unrealistic dream.

I thought that after all this time, he would have some feelings for me.

But now, I realized how absurd I had been.

In his heart, I wasn't even worth a strand of Claire's hair.

After dinner, once Holden finished reading bedtime stories to Leo and tucked him in, he returned to our room.

He stared at the broken photo, lost in thought.

After a while, he pulled out his phone, only to see our conversation history was still stuck on the last missed call from me.

He frowned. Usually, I would have already been pestering him, asking where he was and if he was coming home.

But it had been so long, and not a single word had come from me.

Stella is really being childish. She hasn't even checked in. She really doesn't know when to quit with these tantrums!

4.

For the first time ever, Holden took the initiative and sent me a message, asking where I was.

In his mind, I should have been overjoyed, replying instantly to beg for forgiveness, sharing all those mundane details of my day he hated so much.

But a minute, two minutes ten minutes passed, and his message sank like a stone in the ocean.

Holden fell into an inexplicable panic, as if he were about to lose me forever.

He refused to admit such a feeling, so he called my mother to check on my status.

When she answered, his tone was harsh. Where is your daughter? Where is she hiding?

Even though she knew what kind of man he was, his attitude still caught her off guard, and her grief returned.

You are right, Holden. Stella is dead.

Holden paused, then let out a scoff. Looks like she is fine then. You two should go be actresses. That was a pathetic stuntDdon't ever try it again!

And tell Stella, if she doesn't come back and apologize soon, she is never setting foot in this house again!

My mother was speechless at his sheer obsession. She stayed silent, but in Holden's eyes, this was an admission of guilt.

He hung up, satisfied. He almost fell for that woman's trick!

The idea that he had actually been worried about me for a second felt ridiculous to him.

How could a woman as cunning as that let anything happen to herself?

With that thought, his mind was finally at ease.

Just then, there was a soft click at the door.

Claire walked in wearing a white silk slip dress, her skin glowing, her feet bare.

Her eyes were slightly red.

As soon as Holden saw her, he forgot all about me. He worried that her bare feet would catch a cold and pulled her close, his tone gentler than I had ever heard.

What is wrong, Claire?

He shouldn't have asked. Claire started to cry, pearly tears rolling down her porcelain face, looking utterly heart-wrenching.

Holden was moved. He panicked at her tears and reached out to wipe them away.

This gesture seemed to give Claire courage. She wrapped her thin arms around him.

Holden, I regret moving abroad so much. If I had stayed, the one married to you would have been me

Thinking back on their past, Holden let out a sigh and hugged her back.

Claire was his first love, the white moonlight buried deep in his heart.

His parents were intellectual and traditional, but they had always hated her, calling her manipulative and shallow.

At first, Holden had been adamant, nearly cutting off his own family for her.

But without money, life had been incredibly difficult.

Later, she chose to go abroad for her career, and time and distance pulled them apart.

Claire, it is not your fault. It was my family that pushed you into a corner

The two former lovers held each other tight, drowning in the atmosphere of a reunion.

I was standing right next to them, watching them relive the past and plan the future all night.

If I weren't the victim of this story, I might have been moved by their tragic love.

But I knew that when Claire left to go abroad, it wasn't for her education. She had been cheating on Holden with a wealthy sponsor the entire time they were together.

It wasn't for her careerDit was for the money!

It was a pity I couldn't tell Holden the truth. I would have loved to see his face when his goddess fell from her pedestal.

5.

Clearly, Holden was the biggest cash cow now, and Claire wasn't going to let go.

She put on her innocent, pure expression again, looking up at him with eager eyes.

Holden, since we love each other, let's get back together!

Holden should have agreed instantly, but he remembered me, and the air went cold.

Claire, but I I am already married to someone else! His throat felt dry, and that familiar, irritable frustration returned.

But Claire wouldn't give up. She looked at him with soulful eyes, her tone firm.

I believe Stella will understand. We are the true soulmates; we shouldn't be kept apart like this

But won't that be wrong?

Holden hesitated.

Seeing his wavering, Claire added more fuel to the fire.

Holden, I love you so much! I know you feel the same We already made the mistake of being separated five years ago. Let's not make it again, okay?

Holden seemed to finally resolve his inner conflict. He nodded firmly. You are right, Claire. People who love each other shouldn't be apart. I will go find Stella and sort this out tomorrow!

You are always the most reasonable one!

They snuggled up again, talking about how they would plan their wedding.

Holden had completely lost his mind, blinded by love, sacrificing his morals for a pretty face!

I was standing there, wanting to throw up at the sight of these two degenerates, but I couldn't leave. I really wondered what I had done in my past life to be punished like this!

I watched Holden's infatuation with Claire and sighed.

Holden, you love-sick idiot, can't you see she doesn't love you? She only loves your money!

But Holden couldn't hear me. He was only focused on finding me and demanding a divorce to my face.

Early the next morning, Holden drove to my mother's apartment building.

This was the first time he had ever come here since our marriage.

Whenever my mother had tried to invite him over, he would impatiently brush her off. Why is your life so complicated? Stella, not everyone is as idle as you are!

I told you, don't bother me!

I knew he was busy, so I kept my longing for him to myself, silently supporting him from the shadows.

That was until I discovered I was pregnant. A rush of joy took root in my heart, and I couldn't wait to share it with him.

But when I tried to contact him, I saw that while he told me he was working late, he had actually appeared in Claire's social media feed.

He was carefully peeling shrimp for herDsomething he never did for me.

The season of happiness is here, finally with you by my side.

Looking at Claire's post, my stomach, already nauseous from the pregnancy, turned again.

Later, he called me with his usual commanding tone.

Stella, meet me at the hospital!

I had been worried that something had happened to him and rushed over as fast as I could.

Maybe, at that moment, he had already intended to meet me there to demand a divorce

The hospital right, the hospital!

Perhaps because it happened so suddenly, my mind had been a blank, only holding the memories of the crash.

Only now did I recall why I was in that accident.

I had been in such a rush that I crashed my car.

Just then, Claire's son had a medical emergency, and the surgery hit a snag. He needed blood, and he happened to have my blood type, so Holden helped them steal the supply that was meant for me

I still remembered begging him on the phone.

Please, Holden, I have been in an accident, save me

I am pregnant with our child!

Before I could finish, Holden, fueled by Claire's whispering, decided I was lying.

Stella, do you think these low-class tricks will make me look at you? You have really miscalculated this time!

He hung up mercilessly, extinguishing my last sliver of hope.

He gave all the life-saving blood to Leo.

As the CEO of a group and a major donor to the hospital, he could have found out the truth if he had checked even once.

But he never bothered to spare a second thought for me.

In the end, Leo was saved.

And I, I would sleep forever in the cold, dark ground.

6.

When they arrived at my mother's building, they saw wreaths and people offering white chrysanthemums.

Holden was confused. Whose funeral was this?

Then he saw my mother dressed in mourning clothes, surrounded by people offering their condolences. She looked like she had aged twenty years in one night.

Holden strode forward, his voice cold. Where is Stella? Is she going to hide forever?

When my mother heard my name, her eyes flooded with grief. She choked out, She is dead, Holden! You took her life-saving blood. Have you forgotten?

Holden paused, but he only let out a thin, mocking laugh.

Hmph, still playing the victim? You and your mother should become actresses!

My mother dug her nails into her palms, barely stopping herself from slapping him.

Today was my seventh day since passing, and she didn't want to dirty this day with his presence.

My mother had always been a gentle and kind person, but her voice was trembling now, her eyes filled with pure hatred.

Holden, are you incapable of understanding human language? Why won't you just believe us?

Claire, acting the part of the perfect, misunderstood flower, stepped out to save her hero. Auntie, there is no need to lash out just because you have been called out!

I am telling you, this is exactly why I find you so disgusting! Holden snapped, his brows furrowed. Call Stella out right now. I want a divorce today. If she keeps hiding, she won't see a single cent of my money!

My mother couldn't take it anymore. In a burst of rage, she dragged Holden to my shrine, where my young face stared out from the black-and-white portrait.

She pointed at the photo, her hand shaking with grief.

Stella is right here. Go ahead, tell her whatever else you want to say!

But the more genuine my mother was, the more convinced Holden became that I was working with her to con him. He grew even angrier.

If you are going to keep this act up, then let me be clearDyou won't see a penny of the divorce settlement!

With a final roar, he grabbed Claire and marched outside.

After they left, my mother finally bent over, covering her face and sobbing uncontrollably.

Watching my mother in such agony, I wanted so desperately to hug her.

But as Holden moved, I was dragged along with him, forced to leave.

Back home.

Holden, it is fine. You don't need to get angry for my sake Claire returned to her pitiful, delicate act.

And how could her mother speak to you like that? I

Enough! I want to be alone! Holden suddenly roared.

Claire was stunned into silence. Holden realized he had snapped and shook his head irritably, trying to clear his thoughts.

Sorry, Claire. I think I am just tired.

Claire wanted to say something, but likely remembering her gentle persona, she quietly slipped out of the room.

7.

Holden pulled out his phone and opened our chat history. It was still stuck on the last message he had sent me.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance, threw the phone onto the bed, and rubbed his temples.

After a moment, he picked up the phone and dialed a number.

Assistant Wang, did you find the info on the person who received that blood supply?

Yes, Holden. I was just about to send it to you.

A few minutes later, Holden received the files.

He opened them and his heart stopped.

It was Stella Sterling's hospital admission record!

Could what she said actually have been true?

Holden felt like he couldn't sit still. Holding onto one last shred of hope, he contacted the hospital director.

Stella Sterling? I remember her. It is a tragedyDshe could have lived, but she died because someone snatched away her blood supply!

She was so young, and she was carrying a three-month-old baby. It is just heart-wrenching!

The director finished his lament, suddenly remembering he didn't know why Holden was asking. Why do you ask, Holden? Do you know her?