Category: English

The poor student I sponsored stole my family. She drugged my water, turning me into a manic-depressive, unable to control my temper, and I ended up shouting at my parents in a rage. She smeared my character, claiming I was evil at heart, bullying classmates at school, and even pushed her down the stairs at home. As a result, my entire family despised me. My mother said I was evil, and my father said I wasn’t his daughter, choosing to adopt the poor student instead. I was thrown out into the icy cold, and when my manic episode hit, I ran naked in a frenzy to the rooftop, jumping off in a suicidal attempt. But then, I was given a second chance. I was reborn with the ability to hear people’s thoughts. At the dinner table, I revealed Ashley’s thoughts to my parents. “That bitch Monica has been on meds for three years, and now she’s finally lost it! “They still don’t know that Monica’s brother, Parker, isn’t really their son. He’s actually Lena’s child… “Once we kill these two off, the Ford family will be ours!” “Mom, Dad, next week’s adoption ceremony for Ashley needs to be grand. We should invite all the prominent people in town. Can’t let our new member feel neglected.” “Exactly, darling. I’ve already arranged for Ashley to have a custom outfit, one that costs a million dollars. And I’ve invited a bunch of high society ladies. Ashley can’t be embarrassed; she’s part of our family now.” Opening my eyes, I found myself sitting at the marble dining table, where my parents were planning the adoption ceremony for Ashley, the poor student I sponsored. My dad finally made a decision. “We should change your name too. From now on, you’re part of our family. How about we pick a beautiful name for you?” Ashley smiled sweetly at him, “It’s all up to you.” Shocked and angry, I dropped the fork in my hand. “Monica, what’s wrong with you? If you’re not happy, then leave the table!” My dad turned his face, and his expression went from kind to cold. I looked around in disbelief. I was reborn! I was actually reborn into the moment when my parents decided to adopt Ashley. Ashley had been a poor student sponsored by our family. In my past life, both of her parents had passed away, and our family, feeling sorry for her, had been helping with her tuition and living expenses. We gave her the best of everything. While other kids were using cheap phones, she had the latest iPhone and other Apple products. My brother convinced my parents to let Ashley move into our house and transfer to my school. Now, she had lived with us for three years. She seemed to treat me nicely on the outside, but secretly, she tore up my books and even used a knife to hurt me. When my parents found out, she hid behind them, acting all wronged, saying, “It’s nothing. Monica didn’t mean it. I’m fine.” My mom slapped me twice across the face. When I showed them the cuts that Ashley had given me, my dad looked at me with contempt. “You violent psycho. Self-harm and then blame Ashley? This is so disappointing!” “That artery’s right here. Make sure you cut the right place next time,” my older brother, who was a doctor, mocked me while pressing down on the scar. At school, Ashley and a group of bullies had no hesitation in tormenting me, and because I had a history of manic-depression, my parents never believed me when I tried to tell them. The night before the adoption ceremony, Ashley even rolled down the stairs herself, pretending that I had pushed her. My condition worsened, and I snapped, going up to hit her. My parents were utterly disappointed. My mom yelled that I was an evil monster and that she regretted giving birth to me. My dad disowned me from the Ford family, and they embraced Ashley like she was their real daughter. Thrown out into the freezing snow, I ran up to the rooftop during a manic episode and ended my life by jumping off. After I died, I found out Ashley had been drugging my water every day. I wasn’t sick at all. She had made me manic-depressive! Coming back to my senses, Ashley looked at me with feigned concern. “Monica’s freaking out, huh? No matter how much she panics, it’s too late. I’ll soon be the lady of the house!” Her lips didn’t move, but I heard her thoughts clearly.

I was stunned. After being reborn, I found that I now had the ability to hear people’s thoughts. And I could even choose to make those thoughts public. Ashley’s mocking and cursing thoughts came pouring in relentlessly. “What’s with that attitude? If you’re not eating, just leave!” My mother scolded me harshly. I turned around and headed back to my room, my mind already devising a plan. The next morning, the maid, Lena, brought me a glass of milk. “Miss, why aren’t you drinking? It’s still warm.” Lena’s eyes gleamed with something malicious as she smiled at me. I took the milk and slammed the door shut with a loud bang, almost catching her hand. Lena’s face darkened, and she muttered curses to herself for a long while before walking away. Since I knew the milk had been drugged, there was no way I was drinking it. I poured the milk into a flowerpot, and just then, there was a knock on the door. Ashley stood outside, wearing an innocent smile. She entered the room and shut the door behind her. She glanced at the empty milk cup, a satisfied smile crossing her face. She said to me, “I’m going to be part of this family now. You won’t be upset, right? “And don’t hurt yourself just because you’re sad.” With that, she put on an innocent grin and pulled out a small knife. Then, she swung it toward my arm. I sneered. She had drugged me to make me manic-depressive? Well, I was now a real maniac! I slapped Ashley hard, leaving her dazed. She was always the one hitting me; she never imagined I’d actually dare to strike her back. “You… you dare hit me? I’ll tell Dad and Mom…” I delivered another heavy slap, and her cheek immediately swelled up. I didn’t hold back. With each resounding slap, her face quickly became a swollen mess. Ashley had no strength to fight back. She just glared at me with pure malice in her eyes. “Don’t take it personally,” I said, tossing my hand casually, then forced a smile. “I’m just a manic-depressive, you know? Hitting someone when I’m having an episode is totally normal, right?” In my past life, I had been constantly suppressing my emotions. When I had an episode, I’d lock myself in my room and suffer alone. This time, I wouldn’t restrain myself. “Besides, do you really think my parents treat you as their daughter? You’re just a poor student they’ve taken in. They’ve already reached their limit by adopting you. Mom and Dad said all the company shares belong to me!” Ashley clutched her swollen face, her eyes filled with deep resentment. She remained silent as she went downstairs. Sure enough, the moment I entered the living room, my dad slammed a glass onto the floor. “You jealous brat! What did you do to Ashley?” Mom hugged Ashley and cried, “I’d rather not have a daughter like Monica. Ashley, I’m so sorry.” Ashley pressed her hand to her swollen cheek, biting her lip, and said, “I know Monica is upset with me. I don’t blame her…” However, her thoughts were filled with curses. I immediately broadcasted her thoughts. “Why hasn’t that bitch Monica died yet? I’m going to scar her face! “That old hag always cry and hug me. So disgusting! “Just wait, I’ll make sure Monica gets kicked out of this family. I’ll be their only daughter!” Mom, who had been holding Ashley and crying, suddenly stopped, her face frozen in shock as she looked at Ashley. “Why is this old hag glaring at me? Look at her wrinkles; it’s terrifying!” Mom’s eyelid twitched, and she pushed Ashley away, her arms dropping. Ashley quickly shifted her gaze to Dad, whose expression was changing rapidly. “That stupid man just keeps throwing things around. Why can’t he give me a few million in compensation? If he could offer me company shares, that’s even better!” Dad’s face shifted from shock to displeasure. No one wanted a daughter who was already eyeing the company’s assets before even being formally adopted. The atmosphere in the room grew tense, and my parents’ expressions darkened as they looked at Ashley, their gazes now sharp.

They never expected that the sweet and gentle girl that Ashley always presented herself as would hide such malice inside. The strange atmosphere was shattered when my brother, Parker, walked in from outside. When he saw Ashley’s swollen cheek, a flicker of anger passed through his eyes. Without asking a single question, he strode toward me and kicked me hard. “Ashley is your sister! How could you be so cruel?!” If that kick had connected properly, I would’ve likely had internal injuries. But I reacted quickly, dodging, and with one swift move, I tripped Parker, sending him crashing to the ground. He climbed up, his face red with anger, and tried to strike me again, but was stopped by a stern yell from our parents. In the end, our family barely ate anything before scattering in haste. As I thought back on Parker’s attitude toward me, suspicion began to rise in my mind. Ever since I was a child, Parker had always been indifferent toward me. I had assumed he was just cold and distant, but toward Ashley, he was nothing but gentle and patient. It almost seemed as though Ashley was his true family, and I was just an insignificant stranger. Even bringing Ashley into the house and adopting her had been Parker’s ideas. With that thought, I dialed a number. Then, I prepared to head out. As I reached the corner of the stairs, I saw that Ashley’s cheek had noticeably swollen less, and she was glaring at me with venom. “Did you give Mom and Dad some kind of mind-altering drug?” She took two steps back, positioning herself near the edge of the stairs, almost on the verge of falling. In my past life, Ashley had fallen down the stairs in this exact same spot. I had watched her tumble down helplessly, stretching out my hand in an attempt to catch her. But just at that moment, my parents had walked in and assumed I had pushed her. From that point on, they hated me more than ever, treating me like I didn’t exist. Seeing that I wasn’t approaching her, Ashley seemed a bit anxious. She continued to spew venomous curses. “Once I become the Ford family’s daughter, I’ll make sure Mom and Dad kick you out of the house. “Then you can live in the school’s bathroom. How does that sound? You seemed to be fine there before.” I remained motionless, quietly watching her. A flicker of confusion flashed in Ashley’s eyes. Bipolar disorder was easy to trigger, and in the past, she would just need to provoke me a little, and I’d end up arguing with her. This time, I was completely silent. Just then, footsteps approached. Ashley gritted her teeth, then deliberately threw herself down the stairs. “Ahhh!!!” Her shrill scream echoed through the house. My parents and brother immediately dropped their papers and rushed up, helping Ashley, whose mouth was now bleeding. “Ashley, are you okay? We need to call a doctor!” “It’s not Monica’s fault, I was too careless…” Ashley grimaced, her voice filled with feigned pain. “Monica! Did you push Ashley?!” Mom pointed at me, screaming in accusation. I remained expressionless and chose to publicly reveal Ashley’s thoughts. “Well, at least my fake injury worked. Now Dad and that old hag will be completely disappointed in Monica.” Mom’s cry caught in her throat. She glanced down at Ashley, and her face immediately turned livid. “Stop touching me, you old prick! Your disgusting, stinky hands are revolting! If I weren’t pretending, I’d never let you near me!” Dad suddenly stood up, and with a loud thud, Ashley’s head hit the ground. “Damn you, old man! Just wait until you’re bedridden! I’ll slap you senseless! “And Monica… Why didn’t she go crazy? Did the drug not work enough, or did she develop a resistance to it?” Mom and Dad froze, their faces rapidly shifting from confusion to shock.

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The hotel for our wedding caught fire out of the blue. Without hesitation, my fiancé, Damien Galloway, scooped up my fainted cousin, Zara Linwood, and rushed out of the building. My parents, Everett and Seraphina, along with my brother, Cassian, scrambled to carry the wedding gift Zara had painstakingly crafted, afraid she’d be upset. Meanwhile, with a sprained ankle and barely able to move, I was forgotten in the blaze, suffering from severe burns all over my body. As I lay there wrapped in layers of bandages, I could see the disgust on their faces. “You’re such a jinx. How could the wedding catch fire like that? Now, even Zara fainted from the shock!” “Anyway, you can’t even show your face like this. Since Zara is about the same size as you, why don’t you let her take your place for the wedding?” I nodded calmly and agreed. Then, I turned around and arranged with my boss about an overseas assignment. One month later, on the day I boarded the plane, it also happened to be the day of Zara and Damien’s wedding. My blind fiancé, my biased family—I was done with them all. But why did they all regret it so much once I left? Fifteen days before Zara and Damien’s wedding, I received a call from Cassian. He didn’t even say hello before launching into accusations. “Did you have your friend comment on those ridiculous things under Zara’s post? “I was wondering why you were being so quiet. Turns out you’ve been plotting this. “Do you know that Zara cried because of those comments? You’d better apologize to her!” He didn’t know that I could barely hold my phone, my hands trembling. The infection on my wounds had caused dozens of blisters to break open, large and small. Even after taking a bunch of painkillers, the pain was unbearable. I wanted to tell him that I had no idea what was going on. I was in so much pain that it felt like thousands of ants were biting at my body. But the call was already over. The pain from my wounds had been so intense that for a moment, I almost forgot. Cassian wasn’t the same anymore. He was no longer the one who promised to protect me forever. Now, he called, but not once did he ask if I was okay. He only cared about venting on behalf of Zara, the one he placed on a pedestal. I sighed, enduring the pain as I opened Zara’s social media. The latest post was a picture taken by the photographer of her and Damien’s backs. She was wearing a gorgeous wedding dress, and Damien was in a suit. The two of them held hands, looking like a perfect couple. The caption read: [Taking a wedding photo instead of my sister. Does it look good?] The first few comments were from my parents and Cassian. [Of course! You’re a match made in heaven.] [Of course, our Zara is the most beautiful little princess!] [It’s great there’s no eyesore now. You and Damien make the perfect pair.] I stared at these comments with no emotion. I had already gotten used to it. After all, in their eyes, I, the legitimate girlfriend who had been with Damien for seven years, was just an obstacle keeping him from being with Zara. I scrolled down and saw a few of my friends’ comments. They were standing up for me. [You and Damien look so good together. Just get married already!] [I can’t believe my day was ruined by this ridiculous piece of trash!] Strangely enough, I felt like crying when I saw these comments. It was as if my numb heart had been struck by something, stirring up a tiny, aching pain. I stared at the ceiling for a long time before I managed to hold back the tears. After thanking my friends in their individual chats, I opened the family group chat I had pinned. They were all discussing the wedding arrangements eagerly. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Throughout the entire process of the wedding that was ruined by the fire, I was the only one who worked with the wedding planners. When the setup was finished, Zara merely said it looked a bit plain, wanting something more dreamlike. It was then that Damien finally contacted the wedding planners. Next to the crystal decorations I had designed, they added a bunch of pink feathers that didn’t match at all. Since the fire had been that intense, those feathers definitely played their part. Yet my family and my fiancé didn’t remember a word of Zara’s suggestions and placed all the blame on me. In this group chat, all five of them used the same cartoon profile pictures. Zara was the little princess surrounded by stars, my parents and Cassian were the king, queen, and prince. My fiancé, Damien, used a profile picture of a knight that clearly showed they were a couple. But before, he had told me he couldn’t use a childish profile picture because all his colleagues and bosses could see it. Maybe when he met Zara, his principles changed. I stared at their matching avatars for a long time before finally sending a message. [The wedding photos look good. I don’t know anything about the comments. Sorry.] My message made the group, which had been filled with lively discussions about the wedding arrangements, go completely silent. A few minutes later, Zara replied, pretending to be understanding. [It’s okay, Nelia. I don’t blame you.]

The group chat, which had just fallen silent, suddenly became lively again. Everett: [At least Zara knows how to behave. Nelia, you should really learn from her.] Seraphina: [Exactly. You don’t compare to Zara at all. You should reflect on yourself.] Cassian: [Just apologize properly. No need to act like you don’t know anything. You really have a rotten heart!] In the face of their insults, I didn’t cry or argue like I used to. After all, this had happened far too many times over the years. I knew that no matter what I said, they wouldn’t believe me. So why waste my breath? I calmly muted the group chat, unpinned it, and didn’t say another word. Thankfully, after the pain passed, my wounds started to slowly heal. My time in the hospital was relatively peaceful. Compared to the constant stream of visitors in other wards, mine was eerily quiet. Only a few friends took time off to visit me, but they had their own lives to tend to and couldn’t be there all the time. Even the nurse couldn’t help but ask if there was no one left at home to care for me. I just smiled and thanked her for her concern. I never expected that, ten days before the wedding, I would suddenly see my parents and Cassian in the hospital. They had never come to visit me before. They looked anxious, and worry was written all over their faces. It would be impossible to say that my heart wasn’t stirred, but it only lasted for a brief moment. I knew very well that they weren’t here to see me. As expected, the elevator doors opened, and Zara was wheeled out by a man. When she saw my parents and Cassian, a joyful smile spread across her face. “Auntie, Uncle, Cassian, what are you all doing here? I just twisted my ankle, nothing major.” “You poor thing, twisting your ankle isn’t trivial at all. Must have hurt so much.” Seraphina’s eyes were full of tenderness. I quietly watched from the corner, lowering my head to glance at my ankle, which had almost fully healed. During the rehearsal for that wedding, Zara pushed me, causing me to fall and twist my ankle. But back then, Seraphina had wrapped Zara in her arms. She had said, “It’s just a twisted ankle. How bad can it hurt? Zara didn’t do it on purpose!” She told me not to argue with Zara over something so trivial, yet now, she was saying that twisting an ankle was a big deal. I took a deep breath, feeling like a fish stranded on the shore. My home was so close, yet I couldn’t return. I would never be able to go back.

Three days before the wedding, I handled my discharge procedures by myself. As I walked out of the hospital, no one was there to pick me up. Everyone was busy at the wedding venue, helping with the rehearsal. My dear sister Zara was afraid I wouldn’t know, so she sent me pictures of all the sweet and warm moments. After seeing so many of them, the pain in my heart started to numb over time. I took a cab back home, intending to pack my bags for the trip abroad. But when I entered the password, one I hadn’t changed in years, it was actually incorrect. The original password was Cassian’s and my birthday. When we set it up, Everett and Seraphina said it would ensure they would never forget our birthdays. But over time, even with that password, they’d forgotten my birthday countless times. And now, they’d changed it without telling me. I tried several more times before giving up and calling Everett and Seraphina. After two rejections, the call finally went through. It was noisy on the other end like they were eating. I could hear Cassian teasing Damien, saying his eyes were glued to Zara. The next moment, Seraphina’s voice rang out. “Don’t you know we’re eating? Can’t it wait?” I listened carefully. Her tone wasn’t just impatient. It carried a hint of guilt. Probably because of Damien. I thought to myself but didn’t say anything. “The password to our house has been changed. I can’t get in.” There was a pause, and Seraphina seemed surprised. “You’ve been discharged?” Realizing how silly the question was, she went silent for a moment but still didn’t tell me the password. “You should go stay at the house in the south of the city.” Her avoidance made me sharply aware that something was off. “Did you do something to my room?” The question slipped out with suspicion, and immediately, Seraphina flew into a fit of rage. “Why are you so paranoid? What’s there to do with your little room? “Enough! We’re trying to eat!” The call ended abruptly. I stood at the door, staring at the password lock for a long time. After entering Cassian and Zara’s birthdays, the door opened. I couldn’t quite put my feelings into words. Was I sad? It didn’t feel like it. Angry? Not really. It was more like… Everything was expected. Entering the home that I had lived in for over twenty years, I realized how much had changed. At my last wedding, Seraphina, Everett and Cassian had found it troublesome, so they had me get married at the hotel with no decorations, not even a wedding banner. But this time, the house was decked out with festive decorations, even the bathroom had something posted on the door. The family portrait next to the TV had been replaced with another four-person photo I had never seen. My heart skipped a beat, and I walked straight to the tiny bedroom in the corner, the one that was supposed to be mine. I opened the door, and the bed was gone, along with the desk and the cabinets. The room was now full of wedding supplies. No wonder Seraphina wouldn’t tell me the password. It seemed this house no longer had anything belonging to me. No space left for me either. I found it strange. At this point, I actually found myself smiling. Though my face felt oddly itchy. As I stepped outside, the wind blew, and I realized my hands were sticky. I had been crying without even noticing. I guess I was just unlucky. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I happened to run into the five of them returning from dinner. Everett, Seraphina and Cassian were walking behind, while Damien and Zara walked hand in hand in front. They looked like a loving couple. When they bumped into me, they awkwardly let go of each other’s hands. “Nelia, it’s not what you think.” Zara put on a look of innocence, though the smugness in her eyes was nearly overflowing. Damien, standing beside her, protectively moved in front of her, as if afraid I might do something. “Zara is right. Nelia, we were just following the photographer’s advice to work on our chemistry.” I looked at him, the man I had loved for seven years, and forced a smile. “Mm, it’s all right.” Everett, Seraphina and Cassian hurried over, immediately starting to scold me. “Nelia, can’t you be a bit more understanding?” “Look at how you’re acting now. If it weren’t for you, Zara wouldn’t be with Damien…” “I know!” I cut them off, my voice louder than theirs. “I know it’s all for my own good. I really appreciate you all. “Mom, didn’t you want me to go live in the house in the south of the city? I’m leaving now. My taxi is almost here.”

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The day the bandages were removed from my eyes, I jokingly pretended I was blind. My husband and best friend were standing by my bedside, pouring out their hearts. “It’s okay if you can’t see anymore. We’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.” But that same night, all three of us ended up in the same bed. They were lying with their backs to me. My best friend was on top of my husband, panting heavily. Realizing that I couldn’t see, their faces were full of satisfaction and pleasure. Worried that I might hear something suspicious, my best friend whispered, “Hmm… Jasmine, I’m just giving your husband a massage.” The disgust inside me nearly made me vomit, but I held it back. When they were finally done, I tried to find an excuse to leave the room, but my five-year-old son suddenly ran in. “Mom, I missed you so much!” My heart softened. I was about to open my arms to embrace him, but he ran straight past me and snuggled up beside my best friend. The three of them looked like a perfect family, all smiles, but when they looked at me, their faces twisted with disdain. I couldn’t take it anymore. I stepped out of the room and dialed my lawyer’s number, telling him to bring the divorce papers. If they were so happy as a family of three, I would give them what they wanted. I just wondered if my best friend could afford to support this pair of freeloaders… “Hm… Jasmine, don’t mind the sounds. A massage needs to be firm, so it’s bound to make some noise…” When I heard Clara Merling’s voice, I bit my lip so hard that I almost drew blood, but I stayed silent. I let out a faint “Mm” and pretended to be asleep. The bed was shaking. The three of us were lying there—me, my husband Tim Grant, and my best friend Clara. It was the third day since I was discharged from the hospital. Ever since I’d told them I was blind, Clara had moved into my house to take care of me, which also included giving my husband his “massage” at night. Their clothes were all tangled together on the floor. They were curled up in the bed, trembling under the covers, the atmosphere charged with lust. One was my husband, and the other was my best friend. Weren’t they afraid of being seen? Of course, they weren’t afraid, because they thought I was blind. Opening my eyes in the dark, a wave of nausea surged in my stomach. I had to bite my lip to hold it down. They didn’t know I was pretending. They thought I couldn’t see, and they did whatever they pleased. For the thrill of it, the three of us ended up in the same bed. Clara wore my million-dollar jewelry, ate luxury meals in my mansion, dressed in my designer clothes, and carried my bags. Even my son, who’d always been so stubborn with me, changed his tune. He happily jumped into her arms. In a daze, I heard my son, Gordon, call out for “Mom,” but it wasn’t me he was calling. It was Clara. “Ah…” As I recalled all of this, a gasp suddenly came from the bed. The two of them had finished. “No more. I’m exhausted!” Clara shuddered, immediately crawling out from under the covers. She sweetly said, “The massage is done.” With my back to them, I kept my eyes closed under the soft night light, silently watching their figures as they dressed. “I’ll go back to bed. See you tomorrow, Jasmine,” Clara said. She wore a seductive nightgown, blushing as she waved at Tim. I pretended to be asleep, waiting an hour before Tim quietly got out of bed. Once he’d left the room, I grabbed my phone and saw the message my lawyer had sent. [The divorce papers are ready.] As I thought about the scenes that had unfolded these past few days while I was “blind,” my eyes turned cold. I scanned the room and sent another message. [By the way, don’t forget the prenuptial agreement.] [I want Tim to leave with nothing.] And that son of mine, who wanted Clara to be his new mom, well, I would let him have his wish. I couldn’t wait to see Clara’s hopes all shatter into nothing.

The first day I got home, Clara and Tim decided to give me a little surprise. They said they were going to take good care of me. But now, one of them was wearing my dress with the other’s hand under it. And that was just on the first day. When I found out Tim and Clara were cheating right in front of me, I didn’t make a scene. Instead, I quietly turned on the villa’s security cameras and acted like everything was fine, letting them “care” for me however they liked. But what really broke my heart was my son, Gordon. He was exactly like Tim. They shared the same cold, calculating look. Not only did Gordon cover for his dad, but he even slipped sleeping pills into my milk and brought it to me. “If Mom drinks this milk every day, can Clara be my mom forever?” Hearing those words as I hid behind the door sent a chill down my spine. I’d been there for him from the moment he was born, taking care of him non-stop. I even sacrificed most of my work to focus on him and our family. He had everything—expensive toys, trips to the amusement park every chance I got, the best clothes and food. Even when he threw tantrums, I handled it with patience. I never once thought about hurting him, even when he bit me hard enough to draw blood. But now… “Mom, have some milk.” He stood there with that cup of drugged milk, looking so excited, urging me to drink it. I felt disgusted but tried to hide it. I pretended I didn’t know, took a sip, and played along. Afterward, Gordon ran off, happy and skipping as he left. He didn’t forget to call back to me, “Faster, Mom!” At that moment, everything shifted. This kid, my own son, had always been cold toward me. Even after I “lost my sight,” he was poisoning me and even hid blades in my towels. Whenever I lectured him, Tim always said, “He’s just a kid. He doesn’t know any better.” But is that really true? Gordon’s gaze was filled with disgust. It was clear that wasn’t just childish ignorance. Some kids were just bad, no matter what. I didn’t want him anymore. I spit out the milk and watched him leap into Tim and Clara’s arms on the security footage. The three of them being so happy made my blood run cold. Their smiles were a knife to my heart. But what cut even deeper was the stuff they said. “She’s just a blind woman. Who cares when she dies? “If it weren’t for her money, I wouldn’t have married her. “From now on, we’re a family. This is our home now. Even Gordon calls you mom…” The smug look on their faces stung more than I could even explain. I sent the video to my lawyer. When Clara mentioned she wanted the house, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. She was so caught up in Tim’s promises, imagining a life of luxury, completely unaware that Tim was just a house husband. This house belonged to my family. I almost wanted to see her face when she found out the truth.

“Jasmine, dinner’s ready.” As Clara helped me to the dining table, I saw Tim and Gordon eating steak and lobster, chewing loudly with grease dripping from their mouths. In front of me were a few plates of vegetables, and Clara and Tim had a bottle of expensive red wine opened in front of them. “Oh no, I accidentally spilled the wine. There’s a strong smell of alcohol!” Clara waved her hand dramatically, her face plastered with fake sympathy, as she gently sat me down and served me some vegetables. “The doctor said you need a light diet, so I made all vegetarian dishes for you.” Vegetarian? Across the table, lobster, steak, and chicken soup were on display, and she was telling me this was a vegetarian feast? Gordon, feeling like I’m no longer in charge, chewed his food loudly and deliberately took huge bites of the steak right in front of me. He mumbled as he reached for a lobster. “Mom, look at me! I can eat broccoli all by myself now!” He shoved a piece of lobster into his mouth as he said it. Tim chuckled, exchanged a pleased look with Clara, and grinned proudly. “Our son’s awesome, huh?” I might be blind, but my nose still worked. My fists clenched under the table, and I could feel Clara’s gaze on me. She seemed a bit confused. “Jasmine, are you really blind?” I shuddered. My heart skipped a beat as her eyes locked onto me, suspicion creeping into her voice. Maybe she realized something was off, but it didn’t matter. I steadied myself and suddenly grabbed her wrist. She flinched, startled, and instinctively tried to pull away. “What are you…” “Clara, why do I smell beef and chicken soup?” I beat her to the punch. Clara froze for a second, her brows relaxing, and then she smiled. “You’re mistaken, Jasmine. It’s probably from the neighbors.” She picked up her fork and started stirring my bowl, but I caught the moment when she spat into it. She picked up a piece of veggie and moved to feed me. “Just eat up, Jasmine. The food’s getting cold.” Tim and Gordon looked on, a mix of smugness, excitement, and mild disgust in their expressions. No one stepped in to stop this. I took a deep breath, turned my head, and dodged her hand. “Ugh, Clara, this smells terrible. This vegetable’s gone bad, right? “Just throw it away. It’s not worth eating.” The fork clattered to the floor, and Clara clenched her jaw. “Fine,” she muttered through gritted teeth. As disappointment spread across the faces of Tim and Gordon, the last thread of hope I had shattered. I was indeed blind. I had actually gotten tangled up with a bastard and gave birth to a terrible child. Fortunately, I still had a way out. The dinner was awkward, the air thick with tension. The next day, after Gordon left for school, Tim and Clara made their move. Clara, doused in perfume and dressed in as little fabric as possible, linked hands with Tim, ready to head out. “Oh, Gordon has some school activity, so I’m going with Tim to attend. He’s just so cute, you know? “I’ll tell you all about it when I get back!” Tim’s hand rested on Clara’s backside as he urged her to hurry, saying they’d be late if they didn’t leave right now. Their smiles were so obnoxious that it almost hurt to look at them. Without waiting for me to say anything, they rushed out the door. Once they were gone, I stood up from the couch and stepped on the clothes Clara had left behind, my mind racing. I sent a message and waited by the door. I couldn’t take it anymore. Today, I was going to kick them out of this villa for good. A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. A group of men appeared, and behind them was my lawyer. I couldn’t help but smile. I waved my hand, signaling them to come in. “Take everything from the second-floor room, the children’s room, the walk-in closet…anything that belongs to the men or the child, throw it all out. “Oh, and don’t forget the guest room. Get everything out of there, too. “Keep the valuable stuff. Those are stolen from me.” The sound of things being moved around filled the air, and I rubbed my chin, giving one last instruction. “And I need new locks. Don’t let those three back in.”

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It was time for the exchange of rings at the wedding, but my fiancé, Darren Shaw, was still refusing to say those two words, “I do.” The reason? His former love, Xandra Young, had just announced an hour ago that she had broken up with her boyfriend. The picture accompanying the announcement was of a flight ticket with a landing time of just an hour later. My “brother,” Landon Carter, suddenly stepped forward and told the guests the wedding was postponed. Without a word, Darren and Xandra left me standing there, making me the center of attention—the laughingstock of the entire event. I calmly handled everything, staring at Xandra’s latest Instagram post. In the photo, my “brother” and fiancé were both surrounding her, presenting her with the best of everything. I bitterly laughed as I dialed my biological parents’ number. “Dad, Mom, I’m willing to come home, for the family alliance.” ***** After hanging up, I gazed at the wedding decorations still filling the hotel, a flash of sarcasm crossing my eyes. The guests had all left, and Landon and Darren still hadn’t returned. I thought back to five years ago when my real parents, Margaret Greene and Edward Greene, found me. A DNA test revealed that I was their daughter. “Sorry, darling, for making you suffer all these years,” Margaret said, her eyes soft with affection. “We’ll make sure you become an outstanding heir, and we’ll create a bright future for you. Will you come back home with us?” I looked at the couple in front of me, a hint of complexity in my gaze. I’d grown up in an orphanage, but I never felt like I lacked love. I had Landon and Darren by my side. So, three years ago, I firmly rejected their offer to return to them. I didn’t belong to the elite world, and more importantly, I didn’t want to be a calculated heir. Especially not one who’d be sacrificed in a family marriage arrangement. “Sweetheart, I know you’re torn. We respect your decision, but we just want you to be happy,” Margaret said. “My father and the head of the Rhodes family made a betrothal arrangement many years ago, so if we had a daughter… well, here we are,” Edward sighed. “Of course, if you want to come home, to become part of our family and share the responsibilities, the doors of the Greene family are always open to you.” I’d always seen Landon, who grew up with me in the orphanage, as my real brother. How could I leave him behind? They reluctantly left, understanding that I was their flesh and blood. Over the years, I knew Carter Enterprises had succeeded in large part because of their behind-the-scenes support. Yet, the loved ones I’d personally chosen had abandoned me at my most crucial moment. Time ticked on, and various eyes were on me. Still, they never returned. I called them again and again, the phone finally picking up to Darren’s angry voice. “Hannah, we can have the wedding anytime! Xandra’s health is worse, and she’s going abroad, so her condition is deteriorating. Can’t you just give her a little space?” I was about to speak when Landon snatched the phone from Darren. “Hannah, stop it! Xandra’s situation is different from yours. She’s lost the only family she had. Now she’s sick and needs us. This wedding is off for now, and we’ll plan it later.” With all eyes on me, I cleaned up the mess they’d left behind. Soon after, Xandra updated her Instagram. Xandra: [No matter when or how far, you’ll always come running to me. I will always be your princess.] My wedding ring and the high-end gown I’d planned to wear were given to Xandra as gifts to celebrate her return, by Landon and Darren, and placed on her hand. At that moment, I could no longer deceive myself. I was done. Completely done.

“Sweetheart, have you really thought this through?” My parents’ voices on the phone carried disbelief. Three years ago, I’d firmly told them I wasn’t willing to marry without love. Returning to the Greene family would mean sacrificing my own happiness. Marrying the carefully chosen match for the family was what was best for both families. Margaret sighed and then spoke seriously, “Even in a family alliance, you’re still our daughter.” I looked out the window at the darkening sky, wiping away a tear. “Dad, Mom, I’ll need about another week to handle the remaining matters here.” “Alright, take the time you need to say goodbye to your loved ones. You don’t need to worry about the wedding—we’ll take care of everything. No matter what, we’ll always be your support.” My eyes started to redden. Landon and Darren had said the same thing to me once. “Hannah, don’t be scared.” “From now on, we’re your family, and we’ll always be by your side.” The orphanage director, Lillian Harris, smiled as she looked at them. “You better take good care of her, gentlemen. A man of his word keeps his promises.” Darren blushed, his face turning as red as a tomato. “Of course, I’ll marry Hannah!” From that moment on, I was moved by their sincerity. Landon took care of me like an older brother, while Darren always thought of me first, presenting me with anything good he came across. They were my family, my loved ones. So, when my biological parents found me, I didn’t tell Landon or Darren about them. The elite world was full of complications, with too much deceit. The simple, warm happiness I had with them made me reluctant to leave. But it wasn’t until Xandra appeared that I realized how wrong I had been. Xandra was the daughter of the housekeeper and had lost her father at a young age. And her mother had passed away from illness two years ago. During Christmas, we invited her to spend the holiday with us, feeling sorry for her being alone. After that, she started clinging to us. She grew closer to my “brother” and fiancé more and more. I approached her one day, gently reminding her that Darren and I were about to get married, urging her to respect the boundaries between us. But instead of listening, she left me a letter and went abroad by herself. In her letter, she expressed her admiration for me and her sadness about leaving everyone. Darren immediately grew cold toward me. “Are you really this intolerant of her?” Landon, who had always looked after me, was also deeply disappointed in me. “Hannah, you’re being so selfish!” They were convinced that Xandra needed love more than I did. So, they gave all the love I thought was mine to Xandra. This wedding had been my dream since childhood. The wedding dress, the ring, even the floral patterns on the invitations—I had designed them all myself. I couldn’t help but close my eyes. Standing alone in front of the guests at the wedding, I felt the calm composure I had maintained until now finally shatter. “What’s going on? I’ve never seen a wedding canceled halfway through!” “Did the groom run away?” “Why did even the bride’s family leave?” “Who knows? If even her own family won’t stand by her, she must have done something shameful, something unforgivable!” “Look at her face—she just doesn’t look trustworthy!” The mudslinging came crashing down on me from all sides. Those two men who had promised to always protect me were now like daggers piercing my heart.

After dealing with the mess, I returned to the house Darren and I shared. As soon as I pushed open the door, I was shocked to find someone inside! “Hannah, long time no see!” Xandra stood there in a cool, revealing nightgown, her body on full display. She walked out of my and Darren’s bedroom, her face wearing a mock apology tinged with provocation. “Landon and Darren didn’t feel comfortable leaving me alone, so they let me stay here.” I looked around my meticulously decorated bedroom, now intruded upon by Xandra. All the matching home décor, which I had carefully chosen, had been unceremoniously dumped into the study. In its place were her belongings. “Darren said this room has good ventilation. I just had surgery abroad, and I need to recover.” A dark glimmer crossed my eyes. The room she was in was my and Darren’s bedroom. The door opened again, and Landon and Darren walked in, carrying cake and flowers. Their eyes, when they turned to me, held traces of dissatisfaction. “What are you trying to do now? You’ve already sent Xandra away once.” Darren looked at me, his voice filled with frustration. “Xandra’s part of the family now. This is her home.” Landon shot me a cold glance. I gazed around the villa—this was a gift from Landon. He had told me it was mine, that as long as he was here, I would always have a home. But then Xandra moved in. Out of sympathy for her mother’s memory, I had agreed to let her stay. She had promised to leave as soon as she found a place of her own. But instead, she pushed further—stealing my things and even ending up in bed with a drunk Darren. I couldn’t take it anymore, and I slapped her. But Darren shoved me to the ground. “Xandra lost her family. She sees us as brothers. You’ve always had us by your side. Xandra’s different—she’s been through so much! You’re older than her—can’t you treat her like a sister and protect her?” I looked at my hand, now bloodied from the broken glass. For the first time, I felt a stranger standing in front of me, not Darren. And now, she was back—occupying our bedroom again, acting like she owned the place. “Hannah, all these years, you’ve been feeding off me. You owe me some gratitude. And now, Xandra is my sister. You have no right to make her leave! If you hadn’t forced her to go abroad, her condition wouldn’t have gotten worse. You’re moving to the study until Xandra’s better,” Landon warned me, his tone cold. “Xandra needs care right now. We haven’t even registered the marriage. If you keep making trouble, then forget the wedding,” Darren added, his eyes full of suspicion and annoyance. I looked at them, a trace of mockery flickering in my gaze. If this were the old Hannah Greene, I might have been heartbroken. But now, all I felt was disappointment. I wasn’t welcome here anymore. It was time to return to the home that belonged to me. Since I had already decided to leave, there was no reason to engage with them further. I didn’t respond to Darren. Instead, I turned and walked into the study. Inside, my things were scattered everywhere, everything I had personally chosen and designed. They represented my dreams and hopes for the future. Silently, I threw the wedding supplies that Xandra had destroyed into the trash. Darren nodded with satisfaction. “These things weren’t worth much. We can buy new ones when the wedding happens.” A dark thought passed through my mind. If these things were worthless, what else could be? There would be no wedding. This place was no longer my home.   Before I left, there was only one person I wanted to say goodbye to. And after saying goodbye, there would be nothing left to hold me back. “Here to see Ms. Harris again?” The cemetery caretaker recognized me and greeted me with a smile. Every year at this time, I come to visit Lillian. I placed a bouquet of flowers at her grave. “Ms. Harris, I’m leaving now.” A soft breeze passed by, and in the photo on the gravestone, she still looked as gentle as ever. I walked out of the cemetery, aimlessly strolling down the street. The sweet scent of baked goods wafted out from the bakery. I suddenly remembered the cakes that Landon and Darren used to buy for me. Even though they were cheap, with simple frosting, they were filled with real sweetness. My phone vibrated furiously—”Happy Birthday.” It was a message from my real parents, accompanied by a large transfer of money. Even though I didn’t want to go back to them, they still sent their wishes on holidays, without fail. Two hours ago, Xandra had posted on Instagram. Three photos—new movie tickets. Before I even realized it, I had walked to the gates of the orphanage where I grew up. It had since been turned into an amusement park, bustling with activity even at night. “Hannah!” Xandra saw me and ran over, her eyes gleaming with a smile. “What a coincidence! I’m feeling a bit down today, and Landon and Darren insisted on taking me out to have some fun.” Her sudden proximity made me instinctively uncomfortable. But then, a strange, almost wicked smile crossed her face. She grabbed my hand, and before I could react, she fell back. A speeding scooter crashed into us, throwing us to the ground. From Landon and Darren’s perspective, it looked as if I had pushed her in front of the vehicle. As we lay on the ground, I saw their faces darken with fury, while Xandra’s forehead and legs bled heavily. They ignored me, the pale one standing to the side, my right hand pinned beneath the scooter. It felt like the hand wasn’t even mine anymore. When we arrived at the hospital, the nurse told Landon that only one doctor was on duty. “Get Xandra into surgery first! She can’t have scars!” Darren shouted as soon as we entered. Xandra’s injuries—on her forehead and leg—looked alarming, but anyone with basic knowledge could tell they were just superficial wounds. The nurse looked at my twisted hand and said, “Sir, we can treat her injuries, but this young lady’s injury is more serious. If not treated immediately, her right hand—” “Get Xandra into surgery first!” Darren and Landon’s voices were sharply in sync, their decision final. My face had gone completely pale—if I lost this hand, I would never be able to hold a paintbrush again. “But… can I at least have my surgery first? My hand hurts so much!” “Hannah, why are you targeting Xandra?! You’re an orphan! If I hadn’t taken you in, you’d have starved to death on the street! From today on, Xandra is my sister! Don’t even think about hurting her again! If it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t have been hurt in the first place! You didn’t even break the skin, what are you acting for?” With that, he slapped me to the floor. My face instantly drained of color. It wasn’t until my hand hung limply, twisted at an odd angle, that he realized something was wrong. “Hannah… are you okay?”   The pain was so intense I couldn’t even speak. The hopelessness in my eyes was impossible to ignore. It seemed that, in their eyes, my future, my life, was worth less than the scrape on Xandra’s skin. “Get her into surgery, quickly!” Fortunately, the hospital director arrived just in time, so there was no need for them to make a decision. “Sorry…” I ignored Landon. I didn’t blame him. This was just me paying them back for all the years they’d given me. When the operating room door closed behind me, the bond between us was severed. From that moment on, we owed each other nothing. When I woke up, I saw Darren standing at my bedside, his face full of coldness. “Awake? Xandra needed ten stitches on her wound. If it weren’t for you, none of this would’ve happened. Xandra’s room is upstairs. Once you’re feeling better, go apologize to her.” I looked at Darren like he was a complete stranger. “I didn’t do anything wrong!” I said softly, my heart sinking. “If you don’t apologize, don’t bother coming back home! And forget about the wedding!” With that, Darren stormed out. I turned my head, no longer looking at him. I didn’t want any of this anymore. At least the surgery had been timely, and with my hand properly set, I could move again. Landon and Darren never came back to my room. They even had the nurses pulled away, waiting for me to give in. A bitter smile spread across my lips as I changed my flight to the next day at noon. Even with my hand in a thick cast, I boarded the plane without looking back. The next day, the headlines were filled with a trending topic: “The heirs of the Rhodes and Greene families were quickly engaged.” The grand wedding was set to take place in a month. My parents looked at me with concern, and so did my older brother Aaron Greene. His eyes seemed like they were drilling into my right hand. “How did you end up like this? Does it hurt?” “It doesn’t hurt anymore, but it might not look great at the wedding,” I said, a little embarrassed. In high society, appearances mattered, and I felt guilty about that. “Your health is more important. The wedding can be postponed.” Aaron said, his face expressionless. “You’ve suffered, sweetie…” Edward sighed as he looked at me. “Dad, Mom, it’s okay. I’ll get better.” The warmth of their care made my eyes well up for a moment. Meanwhile, Landon and Darren frowned as they waited but still hadn’t gotten the apology they were expecting. By the time they thought of me, all that was left in my hospital room was emptiness. I had blocked them early on and left my bank cards and a farewell letter in Landon’s study. The wedding of the Greene and Rhodes families was the talk of the town, and many in the business circles had received invitations. Landon and Darren were no exception. Over the years, their businesses had flourished with support from the Greene family. “Landon, can’t reach Hannah yet?” Darren frowned in the hospital room. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have hoped for warmth from you…” Xandra said, her voice tremulous with fake tears. “Xandra, this isn’t your fault,” Landon said, his brow furrowing, clearly irritated. “I’ve frozen all her cards. When she runs out of money, she’ll come crawling back.” Landon paused before continuing, “I’m curious to see how long she can hold out. That brat really has some guts.” Landon handed the invitation to Darren, his tone serious. “The most important thing right now is attending the wedding of the Greene family heiress. We’ve received a lot of help from them over the years. If it weren’t for the Greene family, we might’ve taken years to get to where we are now. We need to prepare a generous gift.” “I heard the heiress just came back to the country. The Rhodes family is a prestigious family, so this wedding is a perfect match.” Darren smiled as he opened the invitation. But as soon as he saw the bride’s name, the smile instantly vanished from his face. “The bride’s name… why is it Hannah Greene?”

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The power went out at home, and my mom’s adopted daughter was trapped in the dark for five minutes. My mom, who knew I had claustrophobia, locked me in the small, empty room. “You know full well that Erica is terrified of the dark, and yet you deliberately tripped the circuit breaker to scare her! I must teach you a lesson!” I begged my mom through tears, but she responded with a merciless slap. “What claustrophobia? You’re just faking it, you little liar!” Later that night, I sensed someone had entered the house. I quickly called my mom, who was a well-known criminal psychologist, and begged her for help, only to be harshly scolded. “You’re pretending again just to get my attention, aren’t you? “A criminal? Fine! Let him kill you, then! Don’t bother me!” Just as she wished, I was brutally murdered and buried in the flowerbed she loved most. After my death, my soul was trapped inside the body of a cat. All I could do was circle around my mom. Five days later, the police brought in a mutilated corpse and asked her to provide a psychological profile of the killer… “The victim is female, aged between 16 and 20, and the time of death is within the last three days. “Based on the initial examination of the dismembered body, it appears the victim was… skinned, and heavy objects like hammers were used to inflict blunt force trauma, causing multiple fractures. “The victim likely underwent a horrific and inhumane torture before death…” Upon hearing the medical examiner’s preliminary assessment, all the officers in the room sucked in a sharp breath. Even some of the younger female officers, upon hearing the cruel details of the murder, were brought to tears. My mom, who had rushed over upon being notified, also looked grim as she listened. When she arrived, Oscar greeted her. “Martha, you’re here. Can you help with the sketch?” “Of course. It’s my responsibility.” Mom walked directly to my dismembered body, turning to Oscar to ask, “How many cases has this been?” “This is the fifth, but this time… the killer is especially brutal…” As a renowned criminal psychologist, my mom entered the crime scene and gazed silently at the shattered bones on the ground. A tiny spark of hope rose in my chest. Would she recognize me? Seeing her remain transfixed, staring at the body in silence, Oscar grew anxious and asked, “Any progress? Can you make a sketch of the victim?” My mom sighed, sounding somewhat helpless. “Oscar, even with my abilities, I still need a skull to work with.” The next instant, her expression grew serious. “We need to find the skull quickly. As long as the body hasn’t started to decompose, I can reconstruct the victim’s features as best as possible.” The skull! I knew where the skull was! I rushed to my mom’s side, mewing and tugging at her pants, leading her toward the flowerbed. Mom looked at me in confusion, but it was Oscar who spoke first. “Let’s follow her. They say animals have a sense of these things.” They followed me skeptically to the flowerbed, and when Mom saw it, she froze for a moment. Oscar, seeing me stop, took a shovel and started digging. “There it is…” Oscar muttered aloud when he uncovered the skull, now covered in maggots. Mom picked me up and gave me the first smile I had seen in twelve years. “Thank you, Officer Kitty.” That smile, so rare and warm, made my heart ache. If my mom knew that the cat’s body contained my soul, she would probably disinfect her hands with formalin right away. Oscar, still furious at the gruesome discovery, muttered angrily, “What kind of monster could do this?” Mom’s eyes softened with pity as she looked at the remains. “Such a young life… ending so horribly. If her family finds out, they’ll be heartbroken.” Heartbroken? If my mom knew of my death, she would probably celebrate it with immense joy.

Oscar surveyed the neighborhood and couldn’t help but give my mom a heads-up. “I’ve noticed that the spots where the bodies were buried are very close to where Zoe lives. Maybe you should call her and tell her to stay safe.” Upon hearing my name, a flash of disgust crossed my mom’s face, and she tightened her grip around me. “Don’t mention her in front of me! How could anything happen to her?” Oscar paused mid-drag on his cigarette, letting out a sigh. “It’s been so many years since that incident. You should’ve let it go by now. No matter what, Zoe’s still your biological daughter. Even as an outsider, seeing how you’ve treated her over these years breaks my heart.” When the past was brought up, my mom’s eyes immediately filled with tears. “If it wasn’t for her lying about having a stomachache, Jack wouldn’t have died! Erica’s parents wouldn’t have died, either! “It’s all because of her lies. She killed them! Unless she dies, I will never forgive her in this lifetime!” Twelve years had passed, and no matter how much I explained, she still saw me as the murderer. I lied, and my lies killed Dad and Erica’s parents. She sent me to the countryside, adopted Erica, and gave all her love to her. If it hadn’t been for my grandmother and my dad’s friends helping me secretly over the years, I would have died a long time ago. Held in her arms, I couldn’t stop trembling. “Mom, I’m already dead. Can you forgive me now?” I asked quietly. Noticing the shaking in my arms, my mom immediately tried to comfort me. “Don’t be scared, little kitty. I wasn’t talking about you.” My skull, now covered in maggots, made it impossible to continue the sketch. So, mom took me back to the car. The moment she sat in the car, her phone rang. “Martha, have you heard from Zoe recently? She hasn’t called me in days, and I can’t get through to her. Do you think something happened to her?” Grandma’s voice was filled with worry and anxiety. But as soon as Mom heard it, she furrowed her brow. “How would I know? That girl’s as tough as nails! If she’s not dead, don’t bother me with her problems!” Grandma tried to say something else, but Mom hung up the phone harshly. Oscar, standing beside the car, spoke in a concerned tone. “Zoe’s not that kind of person. You should at least try calling her.” Mom sneered. “She’s nothing but trouble. She’ll never be the one to suffer!” With that, she opened our chat box and sent multiple voice messages to me. “Zoe! Still playing the disappearing act, huh? You better call your grandma back right now, or I’ll have you thrown out of the house!” She didn’t even notice that I, who always messaged her daily, hadn’t sent a single message in days. The special ringtone she had set for Erica suddenly played, and her angry expression softened immediately. “Erica, don’t worry. I will be home soon. “Hungry? Well, order takeout. I will be back in a bit.” Mom drove us to a flower shop, grabbed an entire bouquet of sunflowers, then ran over to a nearby bakery to grab a strawberry cake, smiling as she returned to the car. Cake… I’d love to have some, but since that incident, I haven’t been able to eat cake again. When we arrived home, Mom carried the cake in one hand and the flowers in the other, pushing open the door. Erica immediately ran to her and hugged her tightly, not letting go. Mom wasn’t impatient at all, but instead gently soothed Erica in a loving tone. Watching their affectionate interaction, my heart twisted with bitterness. Before I was six, I was my mom’s treasure, too. She’d buy me beautiful princess dresses, make me little cakes, and stay by my side all night when I had a fever. She’d stand up for me when I was bullied. But sadly, all of that came to an abrupt halt on my sixth birthday.

After Mom adopted Erica, I became the unwanted presence in the family, someone who was hidden away. I started living cautiously, walking on eggshells. The room had to be given to Erica, all the pretty dresses were hers, and even the nice stationery no longer belonged to me. I took on all the household chores. Washing dishes, doing laundry, and cleaning floors. Anything I could do to win Mom’s favor, I did. When Mom had a fever in the middle of the night, it was me who used a damp towel to try to cool her down. That night, when she woke up and saw my hands, red from the cold as I tried to bring down her fever in the dead of winter, I felt that maybe Mom’s attitude had softened. But the next day, Erica came down with a high fever. “You’re such a liar. It was Erica who stayed by my side last night, but you stole her credit when she fell asleep! “Your lie killed your father and Erica’s parents, and now you’re still lying! Zoe, how could I have a daughter like you? “Get out of my house!” Erica, weakly leaning on Mom’s shoulder, spoke up for me in a soft voice. “Mom, don’t blame Zoe. She probably stayed up to take care of you, too.” But when Mom looked at me, her gaze only grew more filled with disgust. Erica flashed me a smug expression. I clumsily tried to prove that I had taken care of Mom all night, but Mom locked me in the storage room as punishment. “Still lying? Go in there and think about what you’ve done!” From that day on, I developed claustrophobia. When Grandma came to visit, I was locked in the dark room, trembling uncontrollably. When Grandma found me, she brought me to Mom, who was comforting Erica as she got an injection. Mom just sneered. “Mom, Zoe is a liar. She lied and got Jack killed back then, and now she’s lying about having claustrophobia? “She’s just trying to steal my attention, pretending she’s afraid of the dark because Erica is. “Zoe, don’t you dare lie to me. I can see right through you!” Even in the final moments of my life, as I made my last phone call, she called me a liar. The moment she hung up the phone, the murderer on the other side of the wall laughed and opened the storage room door. “Found you, little mouse.” The excruciating pain lasted all through the night. I watched the killer’s savage grin as he peeled off my skin and snapped my bones. When I woke up again, I had become a cat. For the past few days, Mom had been taking me with her to work. In her office, I had a little space of my own. The space I’d never been allowed to enter as her daughter, I could now move around freely in as a cat. As Mom carefully reviewed the latest information from the police, Grandma barged in. “Martha! Is Zoe here with you? I haven’t heard from her in days. I went to her house, but she wasn’t there either.” Hearing my name, Mom instantly became furious. Her brows furrowed. “This is my office. What’s with barging in like this? “Are you acting for her now? Is that troublemaker the one who told you to do this? Don’t worry, she’s fine. “How could a wicked liar like her ever die?” Grandma’s panic lessened a little, but the worry was still there. “Has Zoe contacted you recently? After what happened, she’s probably terrified.” Mom gave Grandma a dismissive reassurance. “Mom, don’t worry. Zoe’s fine. How could anything happen to her? “Troublemakers live forever. She’s probably going to outlive all of us.” Grandma looked at her with helplessness in her eyes. “Martha, I know you’re angry with Zoe for lying all those years ago, but how could Zoe have known… “It’s been so many years now. You should let it go…” Mom suddenly stood up, her anger flaring. “I can’t let it go! If she hadn’t lied, Jack wouldn’t have died! Erica wouldn’t be an orphan!” She grabbed her phone and sent me a voice message. “Zoe, who the hell are you hanging out with now?” “If you don’t come back, just go to hell!” “I’ll tell you now. I don’t have a daughter like you! My daughter is Erica!” Congratulations, Mom. You got your wish. Hearing her words, Grandma started crying uncontrollably. “Martha, how could you even say that? “You treat other people’s children like treasures, but Zoe is your real daughter! “Tell me, how long has it been since Zoe last contacted you?” Mom glanced at her phone, her voice dripping with disdain. “Mom, don’t worry. She once ran away from home and went to stay with some guy from school. “She’s fine. Someone like her can’t get into any trouble. “She’s probably just trying to get attention. Once I find her, I’ll make sure to teach her a lesson!” She was about to dial my number when she received a call from Oscar. “Martha? The identity of the victim has been confirmed…” Oscar’s voice was filled with concern, unsure of how to break the news. “Really? That’s good news, right? Has the family been contacted?” “Martha, my condolences.” My mom was confused. She chuckled, then asked with a mocking tone, “Condolences? What’s there to mourn? Nothing happened to my family…” But when she looked up and saw Grandma’s tear-streaked face, something clicked. Her face slowly began to lose its color, turning pale.

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While traveling abroad with my family, a sudden flood hit. My fiancé, Eddie, immediately picked up my sister, Kyla, and ran out. My parents didn’t even think to check on me, but they remembered to take the little parrot they’d just bought for Kyla. They flew back home that night and didn’t forget to share the news in the family group chat, celebrating their narrow escape. But they had forgotten something. Their eldest daughter was still stranded in the flood, with no one to help. When I woke up, I made a resolute decision and called my mentor. “Professor, I’ve decided to join you as a doctor with Doctors Without Borders. I’m never coming back.” Half a month later, I returned home, covered in scars. Inside, the house was filled with laughter. Colorful ribbons and presents littered the floor, a clear sign of the family’s recent celebration. I saw it in the family chat. Relatives and friends had gathered to celebrate their survival. When Eddie saw me, a flash of guilt passed through his eyes. During the flood, his first priority had been to save Kyla, completely disregarding that I was his fiancée. And my parents’ expressions were no better. They thought of everything while escaping, even remembering the parrot they bought for Kyla, but they forgot about their own daughter. Eddie approached me hesitantly and said, “Sophie, are you okay? The situation was so urgent. Kyla couldn’t move on her own, so I had to save her first.” He reached out as if to pat my head just like he used to. I subtly avoided his touch, looking at him coldly. Mom’s eyes reddened slightly as she pulled me into a tight hug. “Sophie, you’ve been through so much. Your dad and I never meant to leave you behind.” Since Kyla had returned home, I hadn’t felt the warmth of Mom’s embrace in so long. I would have been moved before, but now, I just took a couple of steps back, keeping my distance. My mother seemed hurt. At that moment, Kyla hobbled over, wrapping her arms around Mom sympathetically. “Sophie, how could you treat Mom like that when she’s so worried about you? “I know you’re angry because Dad and Mom focused on saving me, but you shouldn’t embarrass them in front of everyone! “Sophie, I don’t blame you for what happened when I got lost. So, please don’t blame Mom and Dad. It’s all my fault… If only they hadn’t taken me in…” Kyla cried so hard that it made Dad go from guilt to anger. “Sophie, what do you mean? Are you trying to make everyone think your mom and I didn’t care about you? “You two are sisters! When you caused your sister to go missing and get abducted, shouldn’t you be the one trying to make up for it now? Of course, we had to save Kyla first! “I thought you would have learned your lesson after all these years, but you’re still as vicious as ever!” Eddie also stepped in, shielding Kyla behind him and joining Dad in scolding me. “Sophie, this is enough! Kyla has already suffered so much because of you. You owe her, and now you’re making things harder for her and your parents!” I stared at them in disbelief. These people were my own parents and my fiancé, the person I trusted most. I had been swept away by the flood, my body battered by branches and rocks, and dozens of cuts across my skin. I barely managed to grab hold of a tree in the raging water, stranded on it for a whole day and night before finally being rescued. When I woke up, the first thing I wanted to do was let my family know I was safe. But when I opened the family group chat, there was a message celebrating their safe return: [Really a close call. Thank goodness we were all together.] The dozen photos they posted were like daggers to my heart. My parents, my sister, and my fiancé, all huddled together, looking like the closest family. While I was stuck in a foreign land, nearly dead, my body was covered in deep scars. The doctors said if I had been any later, I would have lost my hand. For a clinical doctor, those hands were everything. I nearly died in this disaster, and when I barely escaped, my own father blamed me for being vicious. Even Eddie, who had promised to always stand by my side, was now against me. I suddenly had no desire to explain myself. I turned and went back to my room. Kyla, still pretending to be sympathetic, continued to argue for me. “Dad, Eddie, don’t blame Sophie. She didn’t mean it.” Dad sneered. “Kyla, you’re still too understanding. Why was it you who got abducted instead of Sophie?” I slammed the door behind me, collapsing on the floor. Since Kyla had returned, she had made vague accusations that I had intentionally let her get lost. Ever since, I had no place in this family. My parents ignored my protests and gave my princess room to Kyla. I was pushed into the small converted storage room. Whenever Kyla cried, they would stop listening to me. I should have gotten used to their attitude by now. My mentor sent me a message saying everything was ready. I could leave whenever I wanted to. My parents didn’t know that, while in the hospital abroad, I had already made the call to my mentor. “Professor, I’ve decided to join you as a doctor with Doctors Without Borders. I’m never coming back.”

The next morning, Mom came to my room with a few gifts, clearly leftovers picked out by Kyla. Her tone was soft, but there was a clear undertone of reproach. “Sophie, can’t you be more sensible? Why didn’t you tell us in advance that you’re coming home? And why are you being so cold toward your dad? We may not have taken care of you, but you can’t hold that against us…” Before she could finish, I pulled open the curtains, and the bright sunlight shone down on me. I was wearing a thin nightgown, and that’s when Mom noticed the scars covering my body. Only then did she realize what I had gone through. Her hands trembled as she reached out to touch my scars, but I coldly pulled away. Eddie entered the room just in time to see it. “Sophie, you’ve been hurt so badly? Why didn’t you say anything…” I looked at them coldly. What did they mean, “Why didn’t I say anything?” They were so consumed with Kyla that they didn’t even notice me. Kyla had suffered so much at the hands of the traffickers that she was malnourished and weak. Every time she had even the slightest cold, the whole family had to rush her to the hospital. Meanwhile, when I had acute gastroenteritis and was on the verge of fainting, they ignored me, only focusing on taking Kyla to the hospital for a mild fever. It was a kind neighbor who saw me and called for an ambulance. But when they saw me in the hospital, they thought I was just pretending to be sick, trying to compete for attention. Perhaps my cold gaze gave them some hint of discomfort, a fleeting panic crossing their faces. After all, since Kyla was brought back, I had always been humbled in front of my parents, constantly trying to please them, fearing they might abandon me. Eddie, flustered, grabbed my hand and noticed that the engagement ring was missing from my finger. “Sophie, where’s your ring?” I shrugged casually. “It was washed away in the flood.” A flicker of disappointment crossed his face, but he quickly smiled again. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll buy you a better one!” “No need.” I had personally thrown it into a drain while I was abroad. Once, Eddie had been my only support, and I had cherished everything he gave me. Back when my parents had rejected me, I met the gentle and kind Eddie in college. He treated me well and believed that I hadn’t intentionally abandoned Kyla. But somewhere along the way, he had taken Kyla’s side. He told me Kyla had suffered so much, and I needed to be more understanding, to give her and my parents more consideration. So, I no longer needed him. I didn’t care for him anymore.

Soon, it was mine and Kyla’s birthday. To be precise, it was just Kyla’s birthday. Although we shared the same birthday, it was on her seventh birthday that she went missing at an amusement park. She was lost for ten years, and my parents searched for her for all those years. Finally, she was found at the age of seventeen. But the first thing she said when she came home was, “If it weren’t for Sophie abandoning me, I wouldn’t have gotten lost and been kidnapped.” That day, for the first time, my parents looked at me with disappointment. Dad didn’t listen to my explanation and slapped me hard across the face. Since then, I had no place in this family. Now, my parents celebrated only Kyla’s birthday. They, along with Eddie, surrounded Kyla, who was wearing a delicate dress, and gathered around the cake, lighting candles and singing the birthday song while waiting for her to make a wish. No one noticed me in the corner. Even the housekeeper said, “Sophie, you might want to avoid appearing in front of your parents, since if it weren’t for you, Kyla wouldn’t have gone missing for so many years.” Kyla made her wish and, under the soft candlelight, quickly pecked Eddie on the cheek. My parents didn’t stop her. Instead, they looked on with satisfaction. They had always known Kyla had feelings for Eddie. When I first brought Eddie home, Kyla had fallen for him at first sight, crying and throwing a tantrum. Mom had also urged me several times. “Kyla is your sister. She’s suffered so much, and it’s all because of you. You should make it up to her.” Back then, I had stubbornly refused, and Eddie had declared in front of my parents that he would love only me for the rest of his life. But now, he looked down at Kyla, who was smiling serenely, with eyes full of affection. After blowing out the candles, Kyla handed me a small piece of cake. I reached out to take it, but she pulled her hand back just before I grabbed it, and the sticky cream splattered all over me. Kyla’s eyes welled up with tears. “Sophie, don’t you like me? You even made my birthday cake fall to the ground…” My parents’ faces immediately darkened. I knew they would soon start lecturing me on how thoughtless I was and start listing all my wrongdoings. Before they could say anything, I grabbed Kyla’s hand, removed the bracelet from my wrist, and placed it on hers. With sincerity, I said, “Kyla, this bracelet was a gift from Eddie’s mother. She said that anyone who wears it becomes part of their family. Since you like Eddie, you can have him. Consider it your birthday gift from me.” Kyla blinked, a flash of joy crossing her eyes. My parents were pleased. After all, they had told me many times to let Kyla and Eddie be together. Mom smiled widely and no longer scolded me for dropping the cake. She hurriedly said, “Sophie, my dear, you’ve finally come around. When your birthday comes, your dad and I will make sure to celebrate it properly!” I smiled faintly and said, “I share the same birthday as Kyla.” For a moment, my parents looked embarrassed, realizing their mistake. Eddie, who had just figured out what was going on, rushed over and grabbed my hand angrily. “Sophie, what do you mean? I’m your fiancé! You want to give me away to another woman?” I yanked my hand out of his grip. “You remember that you’re my fiancé? Then when you were messing around with my sister, did you ever remember your place? Since you couldn’t say it, I’ll say it for you.” I glanced at Kyla, who was standing behind Eddie, her eyes welling with tears. “If you say one more word, my dear sister might just faint!” Hearing that, they all rushed to support Kyla. I looked at the scene with a sneer and walked away without a second glance.

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After confessing to the police for a crime I didn’t commit, my fiancé rushed over, seething with anger. “Why would you confess if you didn’t steal anything?” I shrugged, resigned, ready to accept whatever consequences came my way. In my past life… My fiancé’s childhood friend, Angela, returned from abroad and caused a stir wherever she went. She first shoplifted, then ate without paying at restaurants, and finally ran a red light while driving and killed someone. When the mall manager, the restaurant owner, and the victim’s family all came after me, I was confused. Why were they accusing me of Angela’s misdeeds? It wasn’t until they blamed me, in front of the police, for stealing, dining and dashing, and causing a hit-and-run that I realized they had mistaken me for Angela. But we didn’t even look alike! I requested that they check the security footage. The footage revealed that the person who committed those evil deeds was indeed me. There was no way to deny it. The footage couldn’t lie. I was stabbed to death on the spot by the angry family of the victim. But even in death, I couldn’t understand why all of Angela’s crimes had ended up being pinned on me. Then, I opened my eyes again and found myself back on the day Angela shoplifted… “Perla, what on earth are you doing? You didn’t do anything wrong. Why are you confessing to the police that you stole something?” I looked up at the familiar face of my boyfriend, Karl, his expression full of frustration. I gazed at him, completely innocent. “Karl, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.” I said flatly, “Admitting fault and correcting it is a fundamental moral trait for every citizen. How can you be encouraging me to change my statement?” The police officer, listening to this exchange, shot Karl a disapproving look. He tapped the table sharply and said, “Sir, your mindset is quite inappropriate. “Perla’s theft of the bread from the store is on the security footage, and she’s confessed to it. With concrete evidence like that, how could you try to guide her into avoiding responsibility?” Karl’s nose flared in disbelief as he stared at me, pounding on the glass of the holding room in anger. “Perla! Have you lost your mind? “You’ve got millions of dollars, and you’re stealing a cheap loaf of bread? What on earth is wrong with you?” No matter how much he raged, I ignored him, my head bowed. Karl was overwhelmed by rage. “Perla, I’m asking you one more time. Are you coming with me? “I’m warning you. My parents will never let a woman with a criminal record marry into our family!” But in the face of his threat, I could only shake my head with tears in my eyes. “Karl, even if you say that, I can’t leave. “If your parents refuse to let me marry you just because I’m willing to admit my mistakes, then perhaps we’re not supposed to be together.” Karl was completely disgusted by my words, and his desire to argue with me vanished entirely. He glared at me, turned, and walked away in frustration. As I watched him go, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. In my past life, after Angela returned to the country, Karl’s heart was completely consumed by her. After ten years of knowing Karl, I had always been the joke in their shadow. Though Karl and I were on the brink of getting engaged, seeing him so focused on Angela, I knew I couldn’t be the one to hold him back. I decided to step aside and let him have her. But just when I was about to let go, Angela was exposed for her theft, her unpaid meals, and even running over someone while driving and fleeing the scene. In an attempt to help, I told Karl to encourage Angela to turn herself in, hoping it would lead to a more lenient punishment. But Karl had looked at me like I was crazy, saying, “What are you talking about, Perla? You’re the one who committed those crimes, not Angela!”

I wanted to ask Karl what he meant. But soon, the mall manager, the restaurant owner, and the victim’s family had all found me and accused me of stealing, dining and dashing, and causing a hit-and-run. I thought they had mistaken me for someone else because Angela and I didn’t even look alike. I tried to explain calmly, but then the three victims pulled out security footage. Sure enough, the person committing those crimes on the footage was me. I had no words left to say, and the victim’s family, devastated by the loss of their only son, went into a complete breakdown. In a fit of rage, they stabbed me repeatedly. Even after I died, I couldn’t understand why all the security footage clearly showed that it was me committing the crimes. One faulty camera could be blamed, but it was far harder to manipulate multiple surveillance systems. So, what had gone wrong? Reborn into this life, I was determined to get to the bottom of the truth! I was locked up at the police station for three days. After those three days, the police lectured me and then let me go. The moment I got my phone back, I immediately searched for news that had happened in my past life. As expected, I saw Angela once again involved in every one of the same bad deeds. But this time, instead of panicking like I did before, I remained calm. After all, I had already been locked up in the police station for three days. There was no way the person in the footage could still be me. However, to my surprise, as soon as I stepped out of the police station, while I was buying food from a food stand, a group of people stormed toward me. The man at the front raised his hand, trying to slap me. “Perla! Finally found you!” he yelled. “You ran a red light and killed my son! I want you to pay with your life!” Other voices echoed around him. “You stole luxury items from our store and broke public property in the mall. You won’t get away without paying us back!” “You dined without paying at our restaurant. It was 8,888 dollars. Pay up!” Some of the victims, afraid I might deny it, even set up cameras and started broadcasting live. “Everyone, take a look! This is the deadbeat Perla! She owes us money and even killed someone!” Faced with all the accusations, a question flickered in my mind. I had been locked up in the police station for three days. Why did these people still come after me? But this time, unlike the panic I felt in my past life, I remained incredibly composed in front of these victims. With calm confidence, I said, “You’ve got the wrong person. The one who did all of this is Angela, not me. If you don’t believe me, check the security footage.” One of the victims sneered. “We knew you’d say that. In case you deny everything when we hand you over to the police, we’ve already prepared for this.” They pulled out the same security footage I had seen before. And once again, the footage showed… me.

The screen was flooded with a barrage of comments. [With such a big world, there’s no shortage of crazy people. Never seen anyone so shameless.] [Not only is she shamelessly denying the bad things she did, but she’s also framing someone else. Why doesn’t she just die?] My heart sank a little. Before I was locked up, I had anticipated that Karl and Angela wouldn’t give up and would try to pin the blame on me. But I never thought the worst-case scenario would actually happen. The way I lowered my head in silence only made me appear guilty, like someone caught in a lie. A shopkeeper from the restaurant waved the receipt right in front of my face. “You filthy woman! You ate in my restaurant without paying, and then you threw plates around! How can someone like you even exist? “The bill is 8,888 dollars for the meal, plus 2,000 dollars for the damage to the tableware and lost business. That’s a total of 10,888 dollars!” The mall manager, followed by staff from the luxury goods counter, stepped forward with frowns. “You took a luxury bag from our store. That bag alone costs a hundred thousand dollars, and with the accessories, it’s worth 300 thousand dollars. Add to that the damage to the public facilities… you owe us 400 thousand dollars in total!” The victim’s family, whose son had been killed, were even more agitated. One of them pointed a finger at my nose and yelled, “The police station is right there! If you don’t give us an explanation, I’ll call the police and have them arrest you. I’ll make sure you get the death sentence!” I took a deep breath. “I really didn’t do any of these things you’re accusing me of. The person who did this is Angela. I know her. She’s my ex-fiancé’s childhood friend. If you don’t believe me, I can bring her here to confront you. Also, I’ve been in the police station for the past three days, so…” Before I could finish, Karl and his childhood sweetheart, Angela, arrived in a hurry, interrupting me. The moment Karl saw me, he slapped me hard across the face. “Perla! I’m calling off our engagement!” He glared at me with disgust. “I knew you’d be released today, so Angela kindly offered to come pick you up. And now you’re slandering her? “You did something wrong and still won’t admit it! I don’t want someone like you as my fiancée. You don’t deserve to be part of my family!” Angela looked at me with teary eyes. Her voice quivered as she said, “Perla, I know you’ve never liked me because I’m Karl’s childhood sweetheart. “In the past, when you broke plates and blamed it on me, or when you hit the neighbor’s kid and said I did it, I endured it all just to protect your relationship with Karl. I always kept quiet, even though it hurt, because I didn’t want to ruin anything between you two! “But you can’t do this… you can’t accuse me of things that could cost someone their life!” With that, she pushed Karl away and took several steps back, distancing herself from him. “Karl, if being your childhood friend means I have to keep enduring these false accusations and being blamed for things I didn’t do, then maybe we shouldn’t even be friends anymore. “I can’t take it anymore. It’s exhausting to be blamed for something I didn’t do. I’ve had enough of apologizing when I’m innocent and even being hit sometimes. I just can’t handle being treated like this anymore.” Her words sent a ripple through the crowd. The looks of the people around me instantly shifted from confusion to condemnation and anger. Some even bent down to pick up stones and threw them at me with force. I didn’t manage to dodge in time, and a stone grazed my cheek, drawing blood. For a moment, the crowd fell silent, and the live stream paused. But after that brief moment of stillness, they raised their fists again, shouting for an explanation. At that moment, the police finally noticed the commotion and sent a team of officers to check things out. When the lead officer, Tyson, saw me, he was momentarily stunned. “Perla, why aren’t you going home? What are you doing here?”

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My best friend decided to steal my life, pretending to be the CEO of my company. She started throwing money around like it was nothing, buying homes for all these so-called “longtime employees” in the city center. Suddenly, she became the boss everyone adored. And as if that wasn’t enough, she swooped in and took my husband, too. Now, even my son called her mom. So, when I got falsely accused of having bipolar disorder, not a single person spoke up for me. My kid didn’t even remember me as his real mother, and everything my parents left me was stolen by her. I ended up dying in a mental hospital, my body decaying from some horrible disease. But then, I woke up. And when I opened my eyes, I was back to the day my so-called best friend was happily spending my money on those employees. She was surrounded by a crowd, grinning from ear to ear. “Ms. Norris is so beautiful and kind! She not only takes care of us, but she even gives out bonuses and is starting a foundation to buy us homes! I’d work for her till the end of my life!” I didn’t even flinch. I just quietly went online and changed the password to the bank account she’d been draining. This time around, I wasn’t letting her or my idiot of a husband get away with it. I was going to make them taste their own medicine. “I’m so lucky to work for Ms. Norris. I’d do anything for this company!” “I can’t believe Ms. Norris is giving us homes. She’s the best!” “Ms. Norris, please, come up! Everyone’s waiting for you!” Everything was spinning, and the noise around me became deafening. When I opened my eyes, I saw Katrina Bentley surrounded by a group of employees, getting ready to take the stage. What was going on? I looked down at myself in disbelief. My skin wasn’t falling apart, and my legs weren’t broken. I was still trying to process it when one of the employees shoved me aside, barely looking at me. “Hey, isn’t this the maid from Ms. Norris’ house? What are you doing here? Go wait outside and don’t cause any trouble.” The sharp pain in my shoulder brought me back to reality. I wasn’t dreaming. I had really gone back in time. Katrina, noticing me, shot me an annoyed look. “What are you doing here? Trying to mess things up? Can’t you be any dumber? Don’t forget what I told you to do later.” In my last life, after I had my baby, I was a mess physically. I barely showed up at the company, so Katrina suggested she attend events for me. I thought she was being kind, letting me rest. But no. She was slowly taking over, plotting to steal my place, my fortune, and my life. “Fine, I’ll go back to my office,” I muttered, walking straight in. I didn’t waste a second and changed the password to my bank account. “Katrina, you can have your little spotlight for now. But just wait, your time’s coming,” I thought.

The day when I finally left confinement, the rain came down in buckets. Katrina showed up at my doorstep, drenched to the bone, begging me to take her in. She said her parents were planning to sell her to some fool in the village for a dowry of 200 thousand dollars, and now I was the only one who could save her. She didn’t care if it meant becoming a maid at my house. She just needed a way out. Katrina was my best friend. How could I let her fall into that mess? So, I let her stay. I even gave her parents two million dollars to settle things for good. Since she was studying medicine, I asked her to help me with my health. In the beginning, my husband was always traveling, and with her around, I felt a lot better emotionally. I never actually made her do maid work, though. Instead, I gave her a card to spend however she wanted. But over time, things started feeling off. The servants at home began ignoring my orders. Even something as simple as wanting a snack would have to go through Katrina first. My husband started taking Katrina with him on business trips, and then my son, who had just started speaking, called her “Mom” before he called me. My husband told me Katrina was my best friend and that he’d asked the servants to go through her for anything, so I could take my time to recover. As for our son, he was too young and didn’t understand a thing, so it was normal for him to call her “Mom.” I was his biological mother, and that was never going to change. I believed him. When Katrina saw I was getting suspicious, she acted all hurt and said she was thinking of leaving. I figured I was just being paranoid, so I apologized to her and agreed to her suggestion of attending some company events in my place. The company was my parents’ legacy, and as the CEO, I had to show up at these events. But I couldn’t, since I was sick, so having her step in seemed like a good idea. Back then, I thought I was the happiest woman alive. My kid was well-behaved, my husband loved me, and my best friend was so thoughtful. But over time, my health kept deteriorating, and Katrina started more openly suggesting she go on business trips with my husband. The breaking point came when I forgot to take the medicine that she had prepared for me. That was when I found out about their affair. When they realized they couldn’t cover it up anymore, they worked together to have me committed to a psychiatric hospital. I still remember the agony before I died, my skin rotting away, the pain unbearable. Katrina, in her high heels, had pressed them into my face, cursing, “Hailey, if you kept pretending to be deaf and dumb, I might’ve spared you and let you rot away in this mental hospital. But you had to go and make things worse!” I shuddered, remembering the pain. But maybe fate had another plan because this time… I had a second chance.

I sat in the CEO’s office, my phone buzzing nonstop with messages from Katrina. [Hailey, are you out of your mind? Why did you change the password? The staff is watching!] [Send me the new password NOW! Hailey, are you just trying to embarrass me?] [Hailey! You ungrateful brat! Don’t forget who’s been taking care of your health all this time!] I couldn’t help but laugh at the dozens of messages on my phone. Who exactly was being ungrateful here? She said she was helping with my health, but in reality, she was probably trying to poison me. The foundation Katrina wanted to set up was supposed to help buy properties for key employees, and I didn’t have a problem with that. But as I looked at the name list, I couldn’t hold back my laughter. Key employees? More like the usual group of old timers who just stuck around her like parasites. Not a single person who actually helped my parents build the company was on that list. “Move!” Katrina collapsed, and someone had to carry her into the office. That someone was my husband, Nobert Vance. “Hailey! What are you waiting for? Katrina’s passed out!” He yelled at me. Then, the employee who had shoved me earlier stormed in, indignant. “How dare you sit in the CEO’s chair! Get over here right now! Can’t you see Ms. Norris passed out? “Mr. Vance, Ms. Norris is such a kind-hearted person, that’s why she’s so tolerant of her maids. You should talk some senses into her,” the employee added. Only then did Nobert bother to put Katrina on the couch, but his gaze avoided mine. I kicked my feet up on the desk, “So I’m the maid, and she’s Ms. Norris, right? Is that it, my dear husband?” Before Nobert could say anything, Katrina woke up, “Of course not! Hailey, everything’s a mess today because I fainted. I’ll explain everything to you later. Can you go home now? Don’t forget to take your psychiatric meds.” “Yeah, you really picked the worst time to act out. Katrina’s been more than patient with you,” Nobert chimed in. The employee shot me a look of disdain. “So, it’s the meds you’re missing, huh? No wonder you dared to sit in Ms. Norris’ seat. Mr. Vance is your husband? Who do you think you are? Shameless.” “Enough,” Katrina interjected, her face pale but ready to defend me. “I’ve always been the best friend to Hailey, even when she’s sick. I’ll never give up on her.” Looking at her, I couldn’t help but think how foolish I was in my past life to not notice how these two toxic people were slowly destroying me. It seemed like the employee wanted to show off in front of Katrina. After giving her a quick glance, she came over and tried to grab me. “Ms. Norris has been kind enough to you by not telling everyone that you’re her maid. You better get out of here and go take care of her!” I turned and slapped her across the face.

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After my family went bankrupt, my parents insisted it was time for me to learn independence. They sat me down, did the math, and declared that raising me for over two decades had cost them five million dollars. Naively, I believed them when they reassured me they didn’t actually expect me to pay it back and signed the promissory note. To ease their burden, I handed over my bank card, worked long hours during the day, and took on extra shifts at night. I told myself I was doing it so they could live more comfortably. But when I was diagnosed with a tumor and asked them for 100 thousand dollars to cover my treatment, they refused without hesitation. “All the money in your account went toward repaying debts,” my mother said flatly. “You’re still young; it’s probably just a misdiagnosis.” As I hung up, my phone lit up with a notification. Claudia had forgotten to block me from seeing her latest post. A brand-new luxury bracelet, worth tens of thousands, gleamed in the picture. Stacks of property deeds and car keys lay beneath it. The caption read: [Thank you, Mom and Dad, for the best graduation gift ever!] I laughed. So it had all been a lie. The bankruptcy, the debt, the burden of my existence. Only their exploitation of me had been real. ***** I stumbled home in a daze. The house was empty. The lights were off. Darkness swallowed every corner of the tiny apartment I rented. A string of unread messages waited for me on my phone. Mom: [Your father and I have plans tonight, so we won’t be home for dinner.] Claudia: [Going out with friends. Won’t be home.] But her social media told a different story. [Graduation party at the villa! Love you, Mom and Dad!] I turned off my phone and collapsed onto the worn-out sofa. This was the place I had rented for them. The location wasn’t great, but it was cheap. Two bedrooms, one for my parents, one for Claudia. I slept on the couch. A cheap couch, carrying the persistent smell of mold, just like my life. No wonder they despised it here. A dull ache throbbed in my skull. Nausea crawled up my throat. I staggered to the bathroom, clutching the toilet as I emptied the meager contents of my stomach. It was worse than any night of heavy drinking, worse than any work exhaustion I’d ever experienced. If this continued, I might really die. For a brief moment, my mind cleared. I reached for my phone, desperate to call for help. Before I could dial, my mother’s name flashed on the screen. I hesitated, then answered. “Mom, I…” She cut me off before I could finish. “Christie, don’t forget to pick up some cupcakes from that shop on the south side. Your sister’s been craving them. “Oh, and the water and electricity bills are due. Make sure you take care of them tomorrow.” Her tone was casual as if nothing was wrong. After all, these were indeed my duty. A tightness gripped my chest. “Mom, I’m sick. I feel terrible. Can you—” Can you save me? I wanted to tell her about the tumor and the surgery I needed. I wanted to beg her to call for an ambulance. I was still young. I didn’t want to die. But she had no patience for me. A scoff crackled through the receiver. “Oh, quit pretending. If you didn’t want to go, you could’ve just said so.” Her voice sharpened. “Is this because of the money? Are you really that petty? After everything we’ve done for you, you can’t even be grateful?” She hung up before I could say another word. My phone slipped from my fingers, landing with a dull thud on the floor. My body followed. Consciousness slipped away. I thought that was the end. But then, a sudden splash of ice-cold water shocked me awake. I gasped, shivering and disoriented, just in time for a stinging slap across my face. The sound echoed through the bathroom, snapping my foggy mind into painful clarity. My cheek burned. My eyes fluttered open to see my parents standing over me, fury burning in their faces. Behind them, Claudia stood with red-rimmed eyes, feigning distress. But when our gazes met, she smirked wickedly. Then, she spoke, her voice dripping with sweet malice. “Mom, Dad, look at her wrist. Isn’t that my missing bracelet?”

“Christie, how could you steal from your sister? “We were actually foolish enough to worry about you when we saw you lying on the ground! “Putting on a show, huh? Don’t even think about getting our money by faking illness! You brat!” My father’s furious gaze bored into me. His anger was a living thing, bristling and violent. Before I could respond, he raised his belt and brought it down hard. A sharp, stinging pain tore across my arm. I gasped, a cry escaping my lips. My mother seemed a bit distressed. “Christie, how could you do that? “Just return the bracelet, apologize to your sister, and your father will let this go.” They didn’t even give me a chance to explain. How ridiculous. “I didn’t take it.” I shook my head, my voice steady. “I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do.” Their faces darkened. My father’s belt lashed down again, harder this time. Pain bloomed across my skin. A red mark was now visible on my arm. Claudia, standing by my mother’s side, played her role flawlessly. “Maybe Christie had her reasons,” she said, her voice soft. “She did ask for money yesterday, didn’t she? Maybe she really is short of money. That’s why she took my bracelet…” My father’s rage only grew as he cut her off. “Short of money? Impossible. “Christie, did you get yourself involved with some lowlifes? Is that why you suddenly need money?” I saw the disdain and suspicion in his eyes and felt myself sinking. They didn’t just distrust me. They despised me. How could my own father ask such a question? Clenching my fists, I lifted my wrist, showing off the diamond-studded bracelet. “I have a question for you as well. If we’re so ‘bankrupt,’ how can Claudia afford this?” Why did my entire family keep me away from the truth? Why was I the only one who suffered? My face was probably too pitiful to look at. My father took a step back, his grip on the belt loosening. He looked at me, his face filled with guilt. My mother’s expression also faltered. They had almost forgotten their own lies. Such an expensive bracelet shouldn’t belong to a family that had gone bankrupt. My parents fell silent. They didn’t know how to explain. Claudia recovered first. Her voice wavered just enough to sound genuine. “It’s fake, Christie. “I love it so much, so Dad and Mom bought me a fake one as graduation gift.” My parents latched onto the excuse like drowning men grasping at straws. “Yes, just a cheap imitation,” my mother added quickly. “Claudia’s your sister. Why are you so bitter?” “Regardless,” my father said, voice regaining its strength, “you stole. And that’s your fault.” They clung to this pathetic lie, using it to regain their footing and once again turn their accusations on me. No one noticed my pale face or my unsteady stance. No one cared about the redness and bruises on my cheeks and body. Even now, they refused to tell me the truth. I felt like a balloon stretched to its limit, on the verge of bursting. “I’ll say it again. I didn’t take her bracelet!” But the look in my parents’ eyes made it painfully clear—they didn’t believe me. “Still denying it?” My father roared. “Our family has never had a thief! No matter how poor we are now, we won’t resort to stealing! “Christie, looks like we have to teach you a lesson today!” Ignoring my struggles, they grabbed my arm and, despite my weakened state, dragged me onto the balcony. The door locked behind me with a decisive click.

The balcony of the rental apartment was half-exposed to the elements. It was late autumn, and the temperature had long since dropped. I must have been unconscious for an entire day. The sky had darkened once again. A gust of cold wind swept through, making me shiver uncontrollably. When I came home yesterday, I had left my coat on the rack. Now, all I had on was a thin sweatshirt, completely inadequate against the biting chill. I pounded on the balcony door, desperate for them to let me in. Inside, my parents and Claudia clearly heard the knocking. But they only spared me a cold glance before turning back to the cupcakes I bought. Laughing and chatting, they sat together, sharing the treat. I watched them through the glass, helpless. I hadn’t had a single drop of water since I passed out last night. My stomach twisted painfully, made worse by how violently I had thrown up before. Claudia took the cake Dad handed her and, with a smug grin, deliberately waved it in my direction. She looked ready to burst with glee. This was her favorite snack. Even though the shop was miles away, my parents had gone out of their way to bring it back for her. I couldn’t recall them ever doing something like that for me. Probably because they never had. Because even I had no idea what my favorite food was. All my life, my parents had drilled a single rule into me—never fight with my sister over what she liked. If I did, they said, I’d be selfish. And no one liked selfish people. I had been terrified of that, scared they would dislike me if I was deemed selfish. At first, I did as they wished, always yielding, always giving up what I wanted. But as time passed, after countless times of stepping aside, it simply stopped mattering. Something was good? Something was bad? I liked something? I didn’t? It made no difference. If they gave it to me, fine. If they didn’t, that was fine, too. I once overheard them saying I was becoming dull, emotionless. I had wondered if there was something wrong with me, but I never found an answer. Until now. Until I saw Claudia’s triumphant smirk. It wasn’t just about giving up the things she liked. They had taught me to give up myself. I stopped knocking. I didn’t want to watch their picture-perfect little family any longer. I turned away and looked outside. This neighborhood was old and rundown, but the rent was cheap, so nearly every unit was occupied. I crouched down, watching as one window after another lit up, the smell of home-cooked meals wafting through the air. For the first time, I realized how much I resembled a tiny boat. A small, directionless vessel, drifting aimlessly on an endless sea. Inside, my parents grew furious when they saw me turn away. The cakes were rich and heavy; the three of them couldn’t finish them all. They had planned to let me in if I caved and apologized. But they never expected me to be this stubborn. Dad lost his appetite. Mom also found the food tasteless. Only Claudia was still eating, though her stomach was small. After two more bites, even she stopped. She glanced at Dad, then at Mom. “Should we save some for her?” Dad scoffed, “Save it for her? I’d rather feed it to a dog!” “That rotten attitude! Who does she think she got it from? She did something wrong and won’t even apologize!” The more Mom thought about it, the angrier she became. Then, she swept the cakes into the trash. “She doesn’t deserve them. Let’s go to bed. “Claudia, don’t bother with your sister. Let her reflect on herself.” Claudia hesitated for a moment before nodding. Once they were gone, she strolled up to the balcony with a grin. “Sis, you’re so pathetic.” She sneered in a whisper before skipping back to her room. I never turned around. But I heard every single word, clear as day. My fingers brushed over my chest. I should have felt hurt. Once upon a time, I had loved them so much. I had longed for their approval. Back then, nothing made me happier than seeing them smile on payday. Now, I only felt one thing. Claudia was right. I really was pathetic.   By now, I had finally come to understand. Those moments when Claudia accidentally forgot to block me from seeing her social media posts weren’t accidents. She did it on purpose to taunt me. While I worked myself to the bone, desperately trying to earn our parents’ approval, setting myself on fire just to keep this family warm, she only saw me as a joke. Because she was the one they truly cherished. She didn’t have to lift a finger, yet our parents would always give her the very best. I had to admit it—I was jealous. What I had spent my whole life chasing, she got with nothing more than a flick of her hand. The night had fully settled in, and with it, the temperature plummeted. I felt frozen to the bone. One by one, the windows that had glowed warmly moments ago began to darken, and soon, the entire neighborhood was swallowed by the night. I curled up in the corner of the balcony, trying to preserve what little warmth I had left. Hunger gnawed at me, the cold seeped deeper into my skin, and a dull, throbbing pain crept back into my head. I knew I needed my medication. If I didn’t take it soon, I might pass out again, just like last night. Once, I had been lucky enough to wake up. But luck wasn’t something I could count on forever. But the pills were in the pocket of my coat. My coat was inside, and I was locked out here, with no way to get to it. Even my phone had died, shutting off completely. “When it rains, it pours,” I thought bitterly. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. Nothing was more important than staying alive. Even if it meant lowering my head and admitting to something I hadn’t done. Raising my hand once more, I started knocking. In the dead of night, the sound was jarringly loud. I had no idea how long I knocked, long enough for my knuckles to swell. Even the neighbors poked their heads out, shouting at me to stop, calling me crazy. But the door to my parents’ room never opened. I wasn’t sure which hurt more—the throbbing in my hand or the pounding in my skull. I bit my lip, vision blurring with tears. It hurt. God, it hurt so much. I lifted my gaze, staring at that tightly shut door. And at last, I understood. No one was coming to save me, not even the people who were supposed to love me most. So I made a choice. I shuffled toward the edge of the balcony. Taking a deep breath, I clenched my teeth and swung a leg over the railing. Then, I jumped.

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On the thirtieth day of the zombie outbreak, there was no sign of anyone alive in town. A note came from upstairs which read, “”Hello, I’ve been observing you for quite a long time.”