Chapter 2

When I woke up in the hospital, the first person I saw was Brandon.

The moment he saw me open my eyes, he started giving me a hard time. "Stella, are you doing this on purpose? You think I'll feel sorry for you because you made yourself look so miserable?

"Don't be ridiculous. Just seeing you pisses me off. If you want to stay by my side, you'd better behave and stop with your nonsense. Try any stunts again, and you can get lost."

I'd lost count of how many times I'd ended up in the hospital over the years. Even the newbie nurse who used to mess up every injection had long since become a fully qualified medical professional.

She rolled her eyes at Brandon's back and asked me, genuinely puzzled, "Seriously, what have you seen in him all these years? You don't seem like the type to lose your head over a guy."

I just smiled and didn't answer.

I had no say in Stella's feelings. What seemed worthless to me might be the only light in her world. Even if that light was tainted and faded, she still clung to it like it was all she had.

Our relationship was just a transaction. In my previous life, I died from a serious illness. This time around, I got three years in exchange for a healthy body. That sounded like a fair trade to me.

I didn't expect that fainting would knock two days off my clock. So, being sick had its upsides. At least for now, Brandon wouldn't be coming up with new ways to test if I was hopelessly devoted to him.

After Brandon left, I didn't expect his precious little sister, Natalie, to show up next.

She looked me up and down, acting all superior, and said, "You're fine, aren't you? Making such a big deal out of nothing. I'm entering an international jewelry design competition next week.

"The theme is 'warmth.' You have three days, so hurry up and get those sketches done for me."

I listened quietly, not bothering to argue. I'd been through this routine dozens of times.

Ever since she discovered my designs three years ago, she'd take them and use them as her own, threatening me with Brandon and the Hamilton family. "You're just an orphan living under our roof.

"If you want to marry Brandon, you need my approval. As long as you keep helping me, I'll put in a good word for you with him."

I didn't want to stir up any trouble, so I swallowed my pride and continued to help her maintain her genius image.

Over the years, Natalie had gotten so comfortable relying on me that I wondered how she'd keep up her genius-girl persona without my help.

With freedom almost within my grasp, I felt a subtle thrill of anticipation.

I handed in my sketches a day late, but thankfully, they still made the cut.

Even then, Natalie wouldn't let up. She kept coming up with new ways to mess with me.

*****

One day, Brandon decided to race some guy, all for a girl, and I got dragged along to be a prize for them to fight over.

"If I win, Londyn comes with me. If you win, Stella goes with you. So, what do you say? Do you dare to take me on?" Brandon challenged.

No one bothered to ask me. I was thrown into their pointless feud, used as nothing more than a bargaining chip.

Michael Hayes and Brandon were sworn enemies. They both fell for the same girl at the same time, but in the end, she married someone else.

Michael knew about my thing with Brandon and sneered, "That's all you've got. Don't come crying when you lose."

As he walked past me, Michael gave me a look full of contempt. In his eyes, I was a woman with no self-respect at all, even lower than an escort, so to him, there was no difference between betting on Londyn and betting on me.

While I was watching the race cars zoom by, a dark thought crossed my mind. Why not let them all go off the track together?

Stella died on Brandon's birthday. She was hit by a drunk driver while delivering a cake she'd baked for him, killed instantly. Even in her last moments, her mind was still on Brandon.

After she died, Stella still couldn't let go of Brandon. So why couldn't Brandon join her in death?

But my evil wish didn't come true. Brandon barely scraped by with a win, and everyone went wild, except me. Kind of a shame I didn't get to see him bloodied and bruised.

Brandon slung his arm around Londyn, whistled provocatively, and taunted, " Michael, what do you think? Admit it, you'll never beat me."

Michael wasn't about to back down. "I only lost because I didn't want your used goods. Next time, you'd better watch out."

I watched them bicker over Londyn, who looked similar to their beloved girl, feeling ironic. If they were so tough, why didn't they go after the real one they loved instead?

Brandon saw my expressionless face and got annoyed again. He scowled and snapped, "Go book me a hotel room, the best one, king-size bed. I'm not coming home tonight."

Stella's heart started giving her trouble again. With Brandon staring at me, I went pale, bit my lip, clutched my chest, and walked out.

Go ahead and play around. You would end up with broken legs sooner or later, Brandon.