I’m the real daughter of the Cooper family, the one who was maliciously swapped at birth. She’s the fake—the girl who lived in my place for seventeen years, raised by the Coopers as their own. She’s prettier, sweeter, more charming—at least, that’s what everyone says. And because of that, my so-called family has always favored her, the imposter. Everyone’s waiting for me to lose it. They expect me to explode with jealousy, to break down in tears, to rage against the unfairness of it all. But what they don’t realize is… I don’t care. Not one bit. Because being reborn into this peaceful, prosperous time—a world without war, without suffering—is already a blessing greater than I could’ve ever asked for in my last life. The moment I woke up, I clutched my chest tightly. I remembered it vividly—an arrow piercing my heart during my final battle, the force throwing me off my horse and straight to my death beneath a towering tree. But now, everything around me was stark white. The furniture, the surroundings—none of it resembled anything from my homeland. Fragments of unhappy memories flooded my mind. They belonged to the original owner of this body. Her life had been nothing but pain, hardship, and humiliation. I didn’t have time to process it all before voices from outside the room broke through my thoughts. “She’s definitely faking it,” a sharp, mocking voice said. “Throwing herself into an icy lake in the middle of winter? What a pathetic attempt to gain sympathy. Lucas, don’t let her fool you.” A steady, composed voice replied, “You may be my sister’s fiancé, but that doesn’t give you the right to make baseless accusations about someone you’ve never even met.” The door creaked open, revealing the boy with the mocking tone. With a scoff, he said, “Fiancé or not, let me make one thing clear: only Stephanie will ever be the daughter-in-law of the Lewis family. Don’t even think about replacing her with this wild stray.” “Enough,” the other voice cut him off. Then, noticing me stir, he added, “Amanda? You’re awake?” Amanda. That’s my name now. From the fragmented memories, I pieced together a miserable story: I’d been kidnapped as a baby and sold to a remote mountain village. My so-called adoptive parents beat me mercilessly, and I grew up enduring relentless abuse. It wasn’t until the end of my previous life that my grandmother revealed the truth—I wasn’t their child. I’d been stolen. I’d fought tooth and nail to escape that village, traveling far and wide to find my real family. And I found them. My biological parents. My twin brother. But instead of a warm embrace, I was met with cold indifference. They already had a daughter—Stephanie, the girl who had taken my place for seventeen years. She was beautiful, graceful, and everything I wasn’t. To them, I was nothing more than an unpolished embarrassment. I didn’t know how to act like a proper lady. I lacked the poise and refinement of someone raised in privilege. In the six months since I’d returned to the Cooper family, they had shown nothing but disdain for me. They humiliated me, rejected me, and made it clear they wished I’d disappear altogether. What they didn’t know was that in my previous life, I’d been a warrior. I was trained from a young age in horseback riding, archery, medicine, and poisons. I had climbed out of hell itself to fight on the battlefield, slaying countless enemies. And yet, I’d been betrayed—killed by the man I loved. Now, the memories of my past life and this one were merging, becoming clearer by the second. The boy sneering at me was James, Stephanie’s fiancé. The calm man was Lucas, my twin brother. Lucas had already called for a doctor to check on me. Once the doctor confirmed it was just temporary memory loss and nothing serious, Lucas finally relaxed. “She’s not sick—she’s just stirring up trouble,” James said with a smirk. “She’s jealous of Stephanie because Stephanie’s better at everything. That’s why she lured Stephanie to the lake, hoping to push her in. But instead, she slipped and fell in herself. Ha! Talk about karma.” In the original Amanda’s memories, she had indeed felt insecure and jealous. Stephanie was her age but seemed perfect in every way. But the truth? Stephanie had been the one to invite Amanda to the lake. And Stephanie had been the one to push her in. “Stephanie is my sister, and so are you,” Lucas said firmly. “Mom and Dad will treat you both equally. They’ll arrange a good marriage for you and give you a share of the company.” Marriage? Shares? I had no interest in any of that. “Where are Mom and Dad?” I asked. “They’re at Stephanie’s dance recital, of course,” James said with a shrug. Then, glancing at his watch, he added, “I’m running late—I need to go.” He paused at the door and turned to Lucas. “Aren’t you coming?” Lucas gave me a small nod. “Get some rest. We’ll check on you once we’re finished.”
I found it laughable. If this had been the old Amanda, she would’ve been desperate for their approval and affection. But not me. I didn’t know much about this world yet, but I had always been a quick learner. Reaching under the pillow, I found a device called a “phone.” Using the memories of the original Amanda, I unlocked it and searched for everything I needed to know. It turned out that thousands of years had passed since the war-torn era I once lived in. This country knew no war or bloodshed. Children here grew up happy and carefree, surrounded by peace and prosperity. Though I missed the past, I found myself liking this world much more. I stayed up late into the night, lost in thought as I absorbed everything. By the time I finally fell asleep, my mind was a whirlwind of ideas. When I woke up again, the parents and brother of this body were standing by my hospital bed. My father, Grant Cooper, frowned deeply, while my mother, Emily Cooper, spoke gently. “Are you feeling better?” I nodded, keeping my distance emotionally. I had no interest in bonding with them. “After winter break, can I move into the dorms?” That was the reason I’d asked Lucas yesterday where Mom and Dad were. Grant immediately lost his temper. “How long are you planning to keep this up? You’re constantly at odds with Stephanie, always stirring up trouble. And now you’re trying to threaten us by moving out? This is completely unreasonable!” Emily shook her head with a sigh, her tone tinged with frustration. “Just tell us—what is it that you want this time?” At that moment, a girl walked in. Stephanie. She wasn’t particularly beautiful, but she carried herself with an air of refinement. Her carefully cultivated grace and polite smiles gave her the aura of someone who had been raised in wealth and privilege. She exuded the kind of elegance that came from being the favored child of the Cooper family. “Alright, Amanda,” she said with a practiced smile. “I’ve already forgiven you for what happened yesterday. You don’t need to say things like ‘moving out’ just to be dramatic.” In the original Amanda’s memories, Stephanie had always looked down on her. But there was also a hint of fear—because Stephanie knew the truth. She was the fake. She was the one who had no blood ties to the Cooper family. Years ago, it had been Stephanie’s mother who orchestrated the switch, swapping her daughter for me. If not for that, I would’ve been the one raised in privilege. And even now, with the truth out in the open, nothing had changed. Stephanie’s mother was still perfectly fine, living her life as if nothing had happened. The Coopers had no intention of kicking Stephanie out. Why? Because Stephanie was everything they wanted in a daughter. She was graceful, composed, and well-educated—the perfect image of a Cooper family heiress. To them, I was nothing but an unpolished outsider who could never take her place. I smiled faintly. “I heard there are security cameras by the lake. Should we check the footage?” Stephanie’s composed demeanor cracked for a moment, panic flashing in her eyes. “Mom, Dad, I… I feel so dizzy.” Grant’s expression immediately shifted to one of concern. “You must be overworking yourself with all that dancing.” “She should see a doctor,” Emily said, her voice filled with worry. And just like that, the three of them—Stephanie and my supposed parents—left together, leaving me alone in the room.
After I recovered, I was brought back to the Cooper family’s estate. Maybe it was because the holidays were approaching, but everyone in the household seemed busy. Dad was tied up with company affairs. Mom spent her days at brunches, afternoon teas, and spa appointments. My brother was focused on transitioning into his role at the company. And as for Stephanie? Her daily schedule revolved entirely around shopping—mall after mall, boutique after boutique. On New Year’s Eve, the family gathered around the dining table, laughing and chatting like the picture-perfect family. I sat there, watching them with indifference, like an outsider peering into a world that didn’t belong to me. I didn’t fit in with them, and honestly, I didn’t want to. I kept my distance, and they seemed to sense it too. Conversations rarely included me, and I preferred it that way. Finally, the day I had been waiting for arrived—school started again. The original Amanda, the one whose body I now inhabited, hadn’t had many friends. When we returned to school, it was no surprise that Stephanie immediately became the center of attention. Everyone gathered around her, showering her with compliments and endless questions about her winter break. Meanwhile, I sat quietly in a corner, unnoticed and alone. The students here were all from wealthy, influential families. For most of them, college entrance exams weren’t the only path to success. Their futures had already been paved for them with spots at elite universities overseas, secured by their families’ money and connections. Even the few students who excelled academically didn’t have to stress about exams. They had unique talents that had already earned them spots in special programs at prestigious schools. I was the only one who needed to work hard—truly work hard—if I wanted to leave the Cooper family behind. Fortunately, while the original Amanda hadn’t been exceptional in her studies, she had been diligent enough to maintain decent, above-average grades. Her knowledge was imprinted in my memory, and with my own natural ability to learn quickly, I had already mastered the basics of this world’s education system. Now, all I had to do was go deeper—study harder—and aim for the best possible score on the college entrance exams. During the afternoon free period, when most of the students were outside hanging out, I stayed behind, quietly reading in the classroom. That’s when a mocking voice rang out above me. “I heard you pulled a pretty stupid stunt over winter break.” Of course. In this world, there were no secrets—especially not in this circle. Everyone knew I was the Cooper family’s “adopted” daughter. And since I had no blood ties to them, most people didn’t bother hiding their disdain for me. Looking up, I saw a boy standing in front of me. He had a close-cropped buzz cut, with a diamond stud glinting in his left ear and another in his nose. Back in my previous life, only criminals who had been punished with mutilation would wear something in their noses. But here, in this safe and free world, I couldn’t fathom why someone would willingly choose such a look. As my memories pieced themselves together, I recognized him. His name was Benjamin—one of Stephanie’s admirers. Over the past six months, he had caused trouble for me more than once, all because of his infatuation with her. And now, it seemed, he was here to stir things up again.
“Did you pick another fight with Stephanie? She’s a good girl—kind and sweet, with no ill intentions toward anyone. But you? You grew up at the bottom of society, bitter, sharp-tongued, and—” I cut him off with a smile, my voice calm but biting. “And you’re not her fiancé. What gives you the right to lecture me?” “I… I’m just—” “You’re just a classmate, at most. What authority do you have to speak to me like this?” I stood up, my voice sharp and unwavering, completely different from the self-doubting Amanda of the past. “Move. A good dog doesn’t block the way.” His face froze, and then, flushed with anger, he spat, “You’re just an adopted daughter. How dare you talk to me like that? You won’t last a day at this school if you keep this attitude!” “Only weak people bully others,” I said coldly. “And with the school cracking down on bullying, I doubt you want to be their next example, do you?” Just then, the bell rang. Forced to back down, he stomped to his seat, but not before throwing me a glare. Throughout class, he kept turning to glare at me, clearly fuming. Over the next few days, Benjamin made it his mission to make my life miserable. During gym class, he deliberately threw a ball at my head. In class, he pelted me with crumpled pieces of paper. He slipped fake bugs into my pencil case, stuffed a live mouse into my backpack, and even organized a class dinner, inviting everyone except me. The original Amanda’s emotions flared up inside me, a mix of anger and helplessness. But I worked hard to push them down, transforming all of that frustration into motivation to study harder. As for Benjamin’s childish antics? I ignored them every single time. The more I acted indifferent, the more frustrated he became, often stomping his feet in anger like a child throwing a tantrum. But I had bigger concerns than dealing with him. My focus was on figuring out how to convince the Cooper family to let me live on campus. After thinking it over, I decided to approach Stephanie.
Stephanie was dressed to the nines, preparing to leave for yet another glamorous gala. She glanced at me with a smirk. “And why exactly should I help you?” “You dislike me. You’re wary of me. If I move into the dorms, you’ll remain the one and only Cooper family princess. Isn’t that reason enough to help me?” She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “I’ll think about it.” The next morning, during breakfast, I brought up the dorm request again. Before my parents could respond, Stephanie chimed in, her tone sweet and supportive. “Mom, Dad, I think letting Amanda move into the dorms could be a good idea. It’ll help her focus on her studies. She’s not like me or Lucas—you’ve already paved the way for us. Plus, she doesn’t seem comfortable living here. She’d probably be happier on her own.” Honestly, my parents adored her. A few words from her were all it took for them to agree. And just like that, I packed my things and left the Cooper family without so much as a backward glance. The first thing I did when I got back to school? Deal with Benjamin. His little pranks didn’t bother me much, but they were a waste of my time. I decided to put an end to it once and for all—something that would make him think twice before messing with me again. Benjamin had a habit of jogging at night, and though he had a single dorm room, he rarely stayed there. The plan came together easily. Under the dark night sky, a large golden retriever suddenly emerged from the bushes and chased him across the entire campus. The next morning, the school was buzzing with whispers. Benjamin, furious and humiliated, marched straight to the teacher’s office to complain. “It was Amanda!” he insisted. “She knows I’m terrified of dogs. She must’ve found one just to scare me!” His outburst only made things worse. Now the whole school knew about his fear of dogs. I stood calmly as he pointed fingers at me. “You’re accusing me of sending a dog after you? Do you have any proof?” He froze, his confidence faltering. I suggested we check the security cameras. Sure enough, the footage didn’t show me anywhere near the scene. Instead, it captured him pulling all sorts of pranks on me: placing bugs in my pencil case, throwing paper balls at me, and sneaking mice into my backpack. The golden retriever, it turned out, was a stray I had been feeding regularly near the school’s fence. I hadn’t expected the dog to repay the favor by targeting Benjamin, but I couldn’t say I wasn’t pleased with the outcome. The next day, Benjamin fell ill. He didn’t show up to school for several days. By the time the end-of-semester exams rolled around, he was still absent. I heard his family had requested a copy of the test for him to take at home. His scores were abysmal—nearly at the bottom of the class. I didn’t pay much attention to him after that. My priorities were elsewhere. In addition to studying, I started working part-time jobs. I needed to support myself for the next six months, and I refused to rely on the Cooper family for even a cent. I was determined to save enough for college and my future. My hard work paid off during the monthly exams—I scored among the top students in my grade. The school even invited me to participate in academic competitions. I gladly accepted. Winning competitions meant scholarship money, and I needed every penny I could get. Stephanie, meanwhile, was busy with her own competitions—dance recitals, violin performances, and other artsy showcases. Immersing myself in the world of knowledge, I stumbled across something unexpected in the history books. The country I once lived in, the one torn apart by war, was nothing more than a forgotten chapter in history. I saw names I recognized, names that had once been etched into my memory. Among them, I even found my own name. As for Owen, my loyal partner and closest ally? The records said he had endured unbearable guilt after my death. After assassinating the enemy commander in a final act of defiance, he took his own life under the very tree where I had fallen. With tears in my eyes, I closed the book. A wave of grief and bittersweet gratitude washed over me. How lucky I was to have been reborn into this world. This country was prosperous and strong—so strong that no other nation dared to provoke it. I made a silent vow to myself: I would do whatever I could to contribute to its future, to ensure this country grew even stronger and more powerful. As the intense pace of studying continued, spring arrived, bringing with it the annual tradition of Memorial Day. The Cooper family insisted I return home to accompany them on a trip to their ancestral home to honor the family’s heritage. I was positioned behind Stephanie the entire time, treated more like a servant than a family member. She glanced back at me with a smirk that was impossible to miss. “See? Even though you’re Cooper family by blood, in front of our ancestors, you’re still stuck behind me.” “And why should that bother me?” I replied calmly.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295264”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #校园School #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn
Leave a Reply