Chapter 3Behind The Bandages Of The Billionaires Forgotten Daughter

After my mother left, I had considered giving up.

My impoverished "family" had left no savings for my treatment. The old apartment I lived in wouldn't sell for much, and if I sold it, I’d lose my final shelter. Why continue a miserable existence with EB?

But Kai Jensen, my neighbor and childhood sweetheart, had forcefully taken all the sharp objects from the apartment, his furious voice shattering my despair.

“I haven’t given up on you! How dare you give up on yourself!”

He’d taken a leave of absence from his university abroad, working tirelessly to save money for my medical bills. No matter how hard things got, he never wavered.

I had only helped him a few times after his parents died, a quiet friendship forged in mutual grief. I was damaged by my family's blatant preference, and he was alone. We were each other's only friend. I never imagined he’d sacrifice his future for me.

Galvanized by his devotion, I pulled myself together. A year ago, I found the art streaming job.

With my promise that I’d fight to live, Kai finally felt safe enough to return to school, making me swear to wait for him. For that promise, I silently endured the constant pain of my skin tearing, fighting to stay alive.

Now, my one lifeline was about to be cut by my own blood.

“Support the billionaire dad! This woman had such a nasty attitude towards the heiress. She’s an absolute viper!”

“Just ban her. That bloodied face is horrifying. If you’re sick, stay home, don’t bother people.”

“Right! Look how optimistic our heiress is! Unlike this girl—she’s gloomy, depressing, and a buzzkill.”

My father's words had reignited the mob. The stream of abuse seared my eyes, and my sanity began to fray.

Should I not have tried to survive?

I was just quietly drawing. Eliza was the one who initiated the connection. Why, after all this suffering, after finally finding a way to feed myself, were they determined to shatter my hope?

I desperately wanted to keep my promise to Kai. But now, it felt impossible to wait for his return.

Ignoring the constant tearing and bleeding of my facial skin, a wave of dizziness washed over me. I self-destructively absorbed my father’s abuse and the chat’s venom, letting the blood drain away.

I couldn’t hold on anymore. What was the point of this agonizing life?

Kai, I'm so sorry. I’m going to break my promise.

Just then, a warm, familiar voice boomed from the other side of the screen:

“Stop it! Why are you doing this to her!”