Chapter 1 Rebirth

The cold needle pierced my skin, bringing a sharp sting.

My eyes flew open in shock. Instinct took over—I jerked away, sending the syringe clattering to the floor. Crimson droplets sprayed across the tiles.

I froze.

A familiar voice cut through my haze. I turned my head to find Jason Rosewood—my fourth brother—standing there. His brow furrowed, irritation flickering across his face at my struggle.

"What now? Are you backing out? Catherine, don't disappoint us."

The exact same scene as my past life.

What's happening?!

Wasn't I dead?!

I scrambled to my feet, scanning the room wildly. Jason must have thought I was trying to run. His fingers clamped around my arm like a vise.

"Don't forget—Uncle Herman saved your life. Now Sabby needs your blood. You should help her."

"No—!"

The moment I heard Sabrina's name—Sabrina Kingsley—rejection shot through me like electricity.

"Catherine!" Jason's voice turned harsh, his eyes clouding with disappointment. "You agreed! You said you'd undergo the clinical trial for Sabby!"

I stumbled back, realization hitting me like a freight train. I shoved Jason aside and bolted for the bathroom.

The mirror reflected a younger version of myself. Understanding crashed over me as tears spilled down my cheeks.

I've actually been reborn?!

Back to the very day I donated blood for Sabrina!

In my last life, Sabrina's schemes got me thrown out of the Rosewood family—my own family—left to die on the frozen streets during a bitter winter night. And somehow, God decided to give me a second chance!

Jason appeared in the doorway. His expression twisted between disappointment and frustration as he watched me cry and laugh at the same time.

"Catherine. You're really disappointing me. Sabby needs you most right now, and you're running away. Is this how the Rosewood family taught you to act?!"

Sabrina. Sabrina. Jason couldn't stop bringing up Sabrina. As if she were the true Rosewood bloodline instead of me.

I could never escape the curse named Sabrina.

Because Sabrina needed heart surgery, and with her rare blood type, both the procedure and medications carried risks. My four brothers turned their attention to me. Just because I shared the same blood type. Through coercion and manipulation, they strong-armed me into the hospital to donate blood, test drugs, serve as their lab rat—all while I was running a fever myself.

All because Sabrina's health was fragile, so they used me to test for side effects until she recovered. From that day forward, I became Sabrina's personal blood bag.

Vomiting, fainting, hair loss—every adverse reaction manifested in my body. Meanwhile, Sabrina walked over my sacrifice and flesh to her safe, complete recovery.

But the endless blood draws and experiments didn't break me. What shattered me was my brothers' coldness toward me, their starkly different affection for Sabrina, and the fact that they personally threw me out of the Rosewood family. All for Sabrina.

Forcing me to donate blood and participate in experiments. Forcing me to drop out of school. Ignoring Sabrina's plagiarism of my work, then labeling me the plagiarist instead. One incident after another—each one a knife they personally drove into my heart.

An outsider. More important than blood family.

Ha. What's there to miss about a family like this? About relatives like these?

Jason kept pushing. "Did you hear me? Come back with me and get the blood drawn. Sabby's condition can't wait."

I didn't turn around. Through the mirror, I watched him, my refusal slow but unwavering. "No—absolutely not!"

Sabrina drove me to a miserable death while she lived the good life. Why should she get that? Why should I save her?

I spun around and shoved past Jason's body blocking the doorway, walking quickly toward the exit. Only one thought consumed me: Leave! From now on, I'll only live for myself. Whatever family bonds, whatever the Rosewood family—I don't want any of it!

I'd barely taken a few steps before Jason caught up, his face contorted with fury.

"Get back here! Running away and showing no remorse?! You're absolutely—!"

I wrenched my hand free with every ounce of strength I had, my voice raw. "—Don't touch me!"

I met Jason's eyes directly. "I show no remorse?! Every single one of you only cares about Sabrina. None of you ever cared about me! Sabrina's sick and needs blood. But what about me?! When I needed you, where were you?!"

My voice cracked but I pushed through. "With the Rosewood family's resources, do you really need your own sister to donate blood?! You all get to play the heroes. And I'm pushed out as the blood bag? Ridiculous!—"

A harsh cough cut me off. My accusations poured out, my voice hoarse but unrelenting, until an unbearable itch in my throat forced me to stop. I paused, letting two lifetimes' worth of resentment and hatred settle.

"...Enough. I'm done." I closed my eyes, swallowing all the grievances and indignation. "Jason. I've had enough. If being a Rosewood means going through this, then let's end it here."

Jason's pupils seemed to tremble for a split second, as if he couldn't comprehend why I'd transformed into this fierce creature before him.

My body felt ice-cold, yet my breath burned through my nostrils. Physical and emotional exhaustion dragged me under. I could barely make out Jason's expression anymore.

Forget it. What's the point of looking?

I staggered around, stumbling as I tried to leave again.

"What nonsense are you spouting! You're a Rosewood!" Jason reached for me.

But an arm extended from the side, dodging Jason while smoothly pulling me into an embrace. I fell against the man's broad chest. His deep voice rumbled above my head, ice-cold: "She's trying to cut ties with you, and you're still forcing yourself on her?"

I looked up in shock, taking in the man's striking, chiseled features. Surprise bloomed in my chest.

How is he here?!

Nicholas Harrington. The man who helped me several times in my past life. Why would he be at the hospital?

Jason redirected his fury toward Nicholas. "Who the hell do you think you are? This is Rosewood family business!"

Nicholas remained utterly unconcerned, his expression dripping with obvious mockery. "The Rosewood family? And what the hell is that supposed to be?"

He looked down at me, reaching toward my forehead. His frown made him look a bit fierce. "Running a high fever and still picking fights?"

Nicholas must have been listening for a while. Well, I had been pretty loud just now. Hard to miss.

His palm felt cool and soothing against my skin. I couldn't help but lean closer, telling him, "Take me away from here. Please."

Nicholas arched an eyebrow. "What am I, a cop? Do I look like I rescue damsels in distress?"

"I didn't say you could leave—" Jason moved to block us.

Nicholas stepped back, creating distance between them. His gaze turned glacial, carrying the contemptuous superiority of someone looking down from above. "Well, this is eye-opening. She's sick, and you—her own brother—still want to drag her off to donate blood. What's the goal here? Trying to kill her?"

Nicholas let out a derisive laugh. "Your biological sister? Could've fooled me. I'd think she was your mortal enemy."

A small laugh escaped me, though my voice sounded so raspy and awful I immediately shut my mouth. Nicholas's tongue was as sharp as ever. I watched Jason's face cycle through shades of red and white under the verbal lashing.

Nicholas pulled out his phone with his free hand. The screen displayed 911, ready to dial with a single tap. "Keep this up and I'll report you for coercing someone into illegal blood donation and medical experimentation." His warning came wrapped in a mocking smile. "You're a Rosewood, right? I happen to know a few journalists. They'd eat up a scandal like this from the Rosewood family."

Jason retreated a step, looking at me with reluctance. He seemed to want to say something, but then noticed my face flushed with obvious fever. Finally, he bit out: "I'll report everything to our older brothers. I won't cover for you this time."

My expression remained blank. Cover for me?

"Jason, don't be ridiculous. When have you ever protected me?"

Jason stood frozen, momentarily speechless.

Nicholas didn't bother hiding his laugh as he scooped me into his arms. "Alright, that's enough. You can barely walk with that fever, and you're still running your mouth."

Exhaustion pulled my eyes closed as I offered a polite thank you. "Thank you." He was pretty reliable, after all. I had an instinctive trust in Nicholas.

We weren't particularly close in my past life, but I knew he was a good person. When I got kicked out of the Rosewood family, I vaguely remembered hearing he'd gone abroad. Not getting to say goodbye properly was one of my regrets back then.

Nicholas carried me steadily, his breathing calm and even. He still found the energy to tease me. "He's really your brother?"

Eyes still closed, I answered, "Not anymore."

Not for a long time. My family died long ago. Died in that catastrophic car accident.

I've been alone all along. I'm only just now understanding that truth.