I was the "White Moonlight"—the unforgettable first love—of a wealthy dynasty. Four years after my death, I was resurrected. But by then, my replacement had already climbed to the top. Wearing a face identical to mine, she smirked at me with triumphant arrogance. "Everything you had is mine now. You're too late." What she didn't know is the true power of a White Moonlight: The moment I appear, everyone abandons their principles and runs back to me. Chapter 1 "Mom, I'm home." I pushed open the heavy oak doors of the Sterling estate with ease, smiling brightly at the woman sitting on the sofa. Just like every time I used to come home from school. Ordinary. Routine. Crash. The teacup in her hand smashed onto the floor, the sound muffled by the thick Persian rug. Her response was a scream that sounded like it tore her throat apart. "Serena! My Serena is back!" I am Serena Sterling, the eldest daughter of the Sterling empire. I died of heart failure. But on the brink of death, I was bound by a "Quick Transmigration System." That's when I learned the truth: I was just the early-dying "White Moonlight" in a novel about a substitute lover. The real protagonist was a body double who looked 90% like me. Because of her face, she would transcend her social class, catch the eye of the elite, and become the darling of the Sterling family. My parents would adopt her. My childhood sweetheart would fall in love with her. My little brother would obey her every command. She would gain everyone's love. But all of this was based on one premise: I had to be dead. So when the System asked if I wanted to complete missions to earn a resurrection in my original world, I agreed without hesitation. Why should my life be a stepping stone for someone else? Why should my tragic death be the starting point of her happiness? So, I came back. "Mom, it's me. I'm back." My mother's embrace was as warm as I remembered, but tight to the point of suffocation, as if she feared I would vanish if she let go. I sighed and gently patted her thin back, comforting her. The System had altered memories. Instead of dying in the hospital four years ago, the world now believed I went missing in a shipwreck. She thought she had been searching for me, day after day, year after year. And now, the lost was found. But this tearful reunion didn't last long. A commotion at the door interrupted us. Chapter 2 "Mom! Look what we bought for you!" A voice, sugary sweet and unfamiliar, rang out before the person even appeared. A girl ran in first, carrying a box of pastries. A moment later, a voice I knew better than my own followed, filled with indulgence. "Slow down, don't run." Just one sentence, and I knew who it was. My childhood sweetheart, Julian Thorne. "Mom? Do we have guests? Why are you crying?" That was my little brother, Leo Sterling. He walked in as he spoke, but my back was turned to him, so he didn't recognize me. He only saw our mother hugging a stranger and crying. He paused, confused. I felt my mother's grip tighten. Her eyes were red, her lips trembling, trying to speak but choked by tears. "Mom, stop crying. What's wrong? Who is this?" "Ouch, Julian, why did you pinch me? That hurts!" The sweet voice spoke again, this time with a whining, coquettish tone. Julian seemed to sense something. His burning gaze bored into my back. He ignored the girl's complaint. His Adam's apple bobbed as if trying to force out a name that had been familiar yet foreign for so long. "Why are you all acting so weird? The security guard at the gate said I already came home once today. So strange." The girl muttered, looking from my crying mother to my silent brother, and finally to Julian, whose emotions were clearly volatile. Finally, her gaze landed on me. A bad premonition rose in her heart. As if to confirm her fears, I pulled away from my mother's arms, turned around, and looked at them. "Leo. Julian. Long time no see." Chapter 3 "Serena..." Julian's voice trembled almost imperceptibly. Leo, however, had no filter. "Serena Sterling! You dare come back?! Where the hell have you been all these years? Do you know I really thought you were dead! How dare you! How dare you..." At eighteen, he wasn't exactly composed. He spoke through gritted teeth, but his eyes were terrifyingly red, and tears fell one after another uncontrollably. I patted his shoulder guiltily. "Leo, you've grown up." Back then, he was just a fourteen-year-old brat. In the blink of an eye, he was a man. He finally broke down, burying his head on my shoulder, sobbing softly. "Sis, I missed you so much." While we were caught up in the joy and sorrow of reunion, the pastry box crashed to the floor. Only then did everyone notice the girl standing at the door, who hadn't made a sound. I looked at her. That face, so highly similar to mine, had lost all color. She looked terribly pathetic. We sat together for a dinner filled with hidden currents. The table was full of my favorite dishes. Mom kept piling food onto my plate. Leo peeled shrimp for me without being asked. When Julian subconsciously put a piece of sweet and sour ribs—my favorite—into Chloe's bowl, everyone froze. "Thank you," Chloe said calmly, clenching her palm. It was the first time she had spoken since realizing who I was. "Mmh," Julian paused, giving a faint response. I ignored the undercurrents at the table and ate calmly. "Your room hasn't changed. I cleaned it myself every day. Go rest after eating. The doctor will come check on you later. Your dad comes back tomorrow." Mom rambled on with her worries, and I agreed to everything. They didn't say much about Chloe, but I wasn't panicked. That's the confidence of being loved. However, I didn't expect that even if I didn't go looking for trouble, trouble would come knocking. Late at night, there was a knock on my door. Chapter 4 I opened the door to see Chloe's familiar face. She stood there holding a glass of milk. I raised an eyebrow at her, surprised. I thought she was here to smooth things over. But unexpectedly, she dropped the silence she held at dinner and wore a sneer on her face. "You died once, why did you have to come back? Do you think you can compete with me?" "I've spent four years conquering them. Except for this room, everything you owned is mine now. You're too late, understand?" Conquering? That's a familiar term. Before I could react, she splashed the milk onto her own face, screamed, and threw herself to the ground. The glass shattered with a crisp sound. She wept like a pear blossom bathed in rain. "Sister, I'm sorry! I just wanted to be nice, I didn't mean any harm!" How long has it been since I experienced such a low-level frame-up? For a moment, I actually found it funny. I looked coldly at the girl on the floor. She was wearing thin clothes, milk dripping from her face and hair, eyes red, looking at me with fear and horror. In short, pitiful enough to break anyone's heart. Actually, I wasn't keen on fighting with Chloe. Whatever the reason, she was the one who comforted my family these past years. I didn't have much malice toward her. I just wanted her to back off on her own. But her hostility toward me was clearly significant. Noise at night always attracts attention, especially on a day like this when no one in the house could sleep. So when Chloe screamed, several other doors opened one after another.
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