When I was four, I was finally found by my biological parents and brought to a hillside mansion that looked like a palace. It was my first time being escorted by bodyguards. The fake heiress, wearing an exquisite tutu dress and a hair clip worth thousands, walked up to me and asked, "Are you the daughter of Mrs. Davis, the cleaning lady?" She looked so innocent and pure. Based on the personality my adoptive parents had beaten into me, I should have been terrified and completely overwhelmed by the grand scene. But... sorry to disappoint. I’ve been reborn. 1 I opened my eyes. Outside the car window, the scenery blurred past. Aside from me, curled up tiny on the plush leather seat, there was only a bodyguard in a black suit and sunglasses in the driver's seat. I stared blankly out the window. My eyes held no childlike innocence, only a hint of boredom. I couldn't understand why a chance at rebirth was given to me, someone with absolutely zero desire to live. Let's see... I tried to recall. In my past life, I think I committed... suicide? Yeah, I think so! The car sped along, following the exact trajectory of my past life, heading toward the place that had trapped me forever. The mansion oozed luxury from every corner; only those at the pinnacle of high society had the right to live here. Inside resided the happiest family of four: a father who was an immensely powerful CEO, a mother who was a beautiful and elegant socialite, a gentle and handsome brother who doted on his sister, and an innocent, obedient younger sister who was the apple of everyone's eye. The family adored their youngest daughter so much that they couldn't bear to send her to preschool until she was four. Ironically, it was during her admission health checkup that they discovered the shocking truth: the precious jewel they had loved with all their hearts for four years wasn't biologically theirs! Their true biological daughter had been swapped at birth and had spent the last four years living in a backward, remote fishing village. Although it was hard to accept, the wealthy parents immediately brought their biological daughter back from the fishing village. What they couldn't foresee was that later on, for the sake of the fake heiress, they would say to this returned daughter: "You are so vicious! I wish you had just died out there!" The brother, who was always warm and gentle to everything, would shield the fake heiress, glaring warily at his own biological sister, and warn her: "Learn to be forgiving." The fiancé, arranged since childhood and whom she had barely met, would look at her with eyes full of disgust. From the moment she was found, everyone thought the fake heiress was better, more obedient, and more pitiful. The true heiress, who seemingly returned to a life of luxury, lived her entire life being compared, despised, and framed. Desperate for love, destroyed by it. I felt a warm, wet sensation on my cheeks. Tears. But I didn't feel a shred of sadness. I tried to jumpstart my dull, numb brain. After a long moment, I could only curse this body for being so dramatic. I remembered a voice whispering in my ear right before I fell into darkness in my past life: "The protagonist's halo cannot be fought..." Cannot be fought? If it can't be fought, then why let me be reborn? Didn't you get enough entertainment watching me act like a pathetic, trapped beast in my past life? Or did you think my past life wasn't laughable enough? The car was completely silent. No one gave me an answer. 2 I was brought inside the mansion. Richard and Eleanor Sterling were already waiting on the sofa, with their nine-year-old son, Oliver, beside them. Perhaps they hadn't anticipated it, but no one had changed me into clean clothes before bringing me here. I was still wearing the filthy, worn-out undergarments handed down from my adoptive parents' older son. On my feet were a pair of dirty sandals with the soles peeling off. My dry, yellowish hair was matted into clumps. I didn't miss the flash of surprise and complex emotion in their eyes. I didn't know if they were disgusted by my clothes or by me. "Mommy~" From the spiral staircase, a girl wearing a tutu dress and sparkly hair clips in her slightly curled hair walked down step by step, closely followed by a nanny. Her dress was truly beautiful—bright colors with delicate embroidery of little bunnies and flowers. See! In an instant, she drew everyone's attention. I have to admit, in my past life, I secretly envied Mia too. Even while I ridiculously tried to put on airs as the true heiress, I envied her. Her parents loved her, so much that they swapped me out to give her a better life. My parents loved her too; barely anyone knew she was fake until right before I died. My brother loved her and favored her constantly. Everyone who was supposed to be mine loved her... I was the only one who hated her. 3 My name is Chloe Sterling. Before my biological parents found me, my name was Chloe Fisher. Because I lived in a fishing village, they stuck "Fisher" in my name as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and I had no choice. Later, Richard Sterling changed my last name, giving me a name that meant "beautiful and intelligent." I was so happy, like a dusty pearl finally wiped clean and plucked from the mud. Only later did I realize the meaning didn't matter, only how it sounded. In their eyes, I was just an "extra"—superfluous no matter where I was. My lifelong nemesis was named Mia Sterling. The name meant "lotus rising from the water," a beautiful wish and hope chosen by Richard and Eleanor together. Everything she had, before and even later, was originally mine. She was manipulative, but her disguises were clumsy, easily seen through with a single glance. Yet, I still couldn't beat her. The ending was that I lost. I didn't want to fight anymore. I was tired. I could no longer feel any joy from the tiny scraps of attention they occasionally threw my way. "Mia!" Eleanor instinctively stood up from the sofa and walked toward her. Then, remembering something, she stopped and cast a complex look at the nanny behind Mia. The nanny lowered her head awkwardly. Mia walked toward me. Like natural enemies, she noticed me immediately. Or maybe my attire was just too conspicuous among these wealthy people. I looked like a little beggar; even her nanny was dressed better than I was. She rubbed her slightly red eyes, as if she had just been crying, her tone somewhat innocent: "Who are you? Are you the daughter of Mrs. Davis, the cleaning lady?" The exact same words. Before Richard and the others could react, the people in the room watched us like an audience at a play. What did I do in my past life? Oh. In my past life, I was so terrified I plopped right down on the floor. Amidst my panic, I couldn't help but think how soft the floor was. It was covered in a beautiful rug, softer than the sand after high tide. First impressions are crucial. Mia had a massive, inherent advantage. From our very first meeting in my past life, I lost spectacularly. She was pale, chubby, and adorable, while I was sallow, emaciated, petty, and annoying. Tears fell from my eyes, plop, plop. My voice was tiny and timid: "Did my mommy sell me here? She said if I wasn't a good girl, she would sell me. "Chloe is a good girl." I suppressed my sobs, trying my best to show the audience the image of a pitiful little girl who was scared but trying hard to be brave. Mia loved using this trick. It instantly aroused everyone's sympathy, as if she were the most pitiful person in the whole world. I despised it in my past life, but now, I found it quite fun. She was never smart to begin with, and her tricks weren't clever. Relying on that so-called "protagonist's halo," she received endless, mindless favoritism, causing me to suffer untold grievances. Now, I wanted her to taste that feeling for herself. Fighting fire with fire, isn't that right? From the sofa, I heard Eleanor's heartbroken sobs. I thought with self-loathing: Is she really that sad? Could she guess that one day she would become one of the straws that broke my back? Forcing me to watch as my belongings were slowly taken over by Mia. I looked at Mia in front of me; her focus seemed entirely on me. A hint of a smile flashed across her lips. My pitiful state gave her pleasure. Like a princess, she looked down at me, skinnier and smaller than her, and said condescendingly, "You're so pitiful. I'll talk to my mommy later, and you can be my little maid from now on." I laughed inwardly at her clownish behavior, waiting for the real decision-maker to arrive. 4 "Nonsense!" A woman in her forties, looking regal and elegant, walked in through the doorway. An assistant carrying a briefcase stood beside her. The moment she spoke, the grand hall fell silent. Even my mother stopped sobbing. "Grandma~" With a sweet voice, Mia lifted her skirt and trotted over. It was obvious she was highly favored by her grandmother. But to her dismay, the elder she adored walked right past her and crouched down in front of the girl she considered a little beggar. Grandma stroked my dry, yellowish hair, her smile incredibly kind: "What's your name?" I dropped my previous act, my gaze very calm. "My name is Chloe Fisher." I pointed at Mia, who was standing a few steps ahead of me: "Did you bring me here to be her little maid?" I suddenly started crying as if I had suffered a massive grievance: "Can I refuse? I don't want to be someone's little maid." "The money my mommy got for selling me... I'll pay you back double when I grow up." I choked back a sob. In my past life, she was the only person not bewitched by Mia's protagonist halo. She was also the one who paid attention to my growth, saw my progress, and praised me. Of course! I wasn't narcissistic enough to believe I could defeat Mia's protagonist halo. It was just that Grandma prioritized family bloodlines and interests above all else. She would spoil you because you had Sterling blood, and she would abandon you if you didn't. To firmly grasp this singular source of attention, I desperately tried to grow into the person she wanted me to be. Even so, I still couldn't match the weight Mia held in everyone's hearts, and I still fell into Mia's clumsily constructed traps. I think, in the end, she must have been disappointed too... "Good child. Of course, Grandma wouldn't let you be a little maid. Do you know? You are Grandma's biological granddaughter. You are the little princess of our Sterling family!" she declared solemnly. She was saying this for me, but also for everyone else in the living room to hear. "Grandma! Waaah~ I am your granddaughter!" Mia ran over and threw her arms around her. The assistant instinctively pulled her away, and she struggled, crying even more hysterically. Eleanor covered her mouth, crying as if her heart was broken. Grandma stood up, took my hand, and led me to the sofa: "Chloe is a child of our Sterling family. The paternity test results show a 99% probability of biological relationship." The assistant let go of Mia and took the paternity test report out of the briefcase. Mia seized the opportunity to run to Eleanor's side, and Eleanor hugged her, crying sorrowfully. I felt absolutely nothing inside. In my past life, scenes like this played out frequently in the house. The result was always complaints directed at me, telling me to accommodate her, asking why I couldn't be more generous since Mia was so pitiful. Actually, they were just resenting me for being the biological daughter, getting in the way of the deep mother-daughter bond between Eleanor and Mia. "Our Sterling family bloodline has been wandering outside for four years. The incident of the babies being swapped back then looks suspicious to me. If it was a mistake, we can't pursue it. But if it was intentional, our family won't be made fools of." She glanced at Mia, who was shrinking back. "Furthermore, Chloe has suffered so much out there in Mia's place. I don't care about scandals. Pick a good date, announce this to the public, and let Chloe regain her rightful identity as soon as possible. "Richard, you are the father. You make the decision." The man sitting on the sofa, who had been silent the whole time, nodded, his stern expression unwavering. He glanced at his wife: "I agree. I'll have someone handle it in the next few days. During this time, let little... Chloe rest and recover at home. "As for Mia..." Grandma cut him off: "Even though our Sterling family can easily afford to raise another child, the situation between Chloe and Mia is awkward. Mia has also occupied Chloe's place for so many years, enjoying everything that was meant for her. It's best if she returns to where she belongs." "Whether that Fisher couple did something despicable back then is still unclear. But regardless of what they did, the child is innocent. Our Sterling family isn't heartless. We can provide Mia with some financial assistance, enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life." She turned to look at me, her decision swift and resolute: "While the children are still young, it's better to get things back on track early." Mia, nestled in Eleanor's arms, half-understood, but she knew they were going to send her away. She cried and screamed, begging her parents not to abandon her, not to send her away, promising she would be a good girl and eat all her food from now on. Oliver stood by her side, gently patting her back to comfort her. I stared at the filthy sandals on my feet, feeling absolutely no anticipation. I already knew the ending to this farce. Eleanor couldn't bear Mia's heart-wrenching cries and desperate attempts to please her. Richard was a deeply devoted husband, naturally inclined to accommodate his wife's wishes. In the end, Mia stayed in the house. It wasn't even difficult; we lived together under the guise of being fraternal twins. In status, one was the eldest daughter of the Sterling family, and the other was the second daughter. Eleanor looked at me guiltily, then looked down reluctantly at Mia in her arms. "Mom, how about... we keep Mia? She's the daughter I painstakingly raised for four years. "These four years represent over a thousand days of mother-daughter bonding. I didn't know Mia... wasn't my daughter. I always believed she was mine. I gave her the very best... "This mistake shows that Mia and our family have a destiny together. It's not like our family can't afford to raise one more child. "Chloe... she needs time to adjust too. Wouldn't it be better for her to have Mia as a companion?" I blinked, wanting to sneer. She's the daughter you painstakingly raised for four years. But me, your biological daughter? Not only did I not receive your meticulous care, I suffered for four years in someone else's place. And in the end, I'm expected to understand your 'painstaking effort' and generously accept you continuing to raise the thief who stole my life? Where in the world do you find such a good deal? I tugged at the hem of Grandma's skirt beside me. She looked down at me, before she could reply to Eleanor. "I'm hot," I said. Everyone looked at me. It was August or September, the weather was scorching. The mansion had central air conditioning set to a comfortable temperature, but I was wearing a tattered, fleece-lined inner shirt suitable for late autumn, with sleeves that were a section too long. It was safe to say that after Mia's biological parents swapped us, they never bought me a single piece of clothing. Everything I wore were hand-me-downs from their relatives' kids—regardless of size or gender, as long as it kept me from being naked. Hearing that I was hot, the assistant asked if he should take me to change into something else. Grandma nodded, but unexpectedly, I resisted violently. She was confused, but since there were more pressing matters at hand, she told the assistant to just roll up my sleeves a bit to help me cool off. Under everyone's watchful eyes, the assistant rolled the sleeve up to my forearm, revealing bruises of all sizes. I don't know who gasped. Eleanor pushed Mia away and rushed over to me, but Grandma was already in front of her, gripping my arm and interrogating me. "How did this happen? Chloe, tell Grandma, who did this?" Eleanor stood to the side, covering her mouth and crying, wanting to get closer but having no chance. 5 The Fisher couple loved abusing children. Their dissatisfaction with life made it a habit to vent their frustrations on their daughter. Sons were treasures; daughters were weeds. Especially a daughter who wasn't even biologically theirs. They believed the baby swap would never be discovered, so they acted with impunity. "If you dare tell anyone, I'll beat you to death." The warning after every punishment was deeply etched into a four-year-old child's heart. Even after being brought back by her biological parents, she didn't dare complain. Only the maid who took care of her knew, and a snobbish maid wouldn't cause trouble for an unfavored child. Marks on the body eventually fade. When I grew up, I regretted keeping the abuse I suffered at the Fishers' a secret. Maybe it was fear, or maybe a tiny bit of foolish pride. At four years old, I only knew that being beaten was bad; it meant I must have done something wrong. I didn't want my parents to see the "bad" parts of me. But now that I've been reborn, I refuse to suffer that grievance again. It's time for revenge. What does a four-year-old child need pride for?! I'm not going to be the silent victim this time! I stared at those bruises: "When Chloe is bad, Mommy and Daddy punish Chloe." A folder slammed heavily onto the marble coffee table. Richard stood up, his face flushed with anger. Mia was terrified by my injuries and burst into tears. Grandma glanced over, her brow furrowing with absolute fury: "This is a slap in the face to our Sterling family! We treated their child like a treasure, and this is how they treat Chloe, a child so young! "That settles it. I don't want to hear another word. Send Mia back!" Send Mia back?! The pain on my body was something I had long since learned to tolerate, but the slight deviation from the plot of my past life actually made me feel a bit of satisfaction. I just wondered if Mia's protagonist halo could still keep her here in the end. The servants moved quickly. Mia's room was cleared out in no time. It was the second-best bedroom in the mansion, right across from Oliver's. I pouted. Playing the pitiful victim really did work. I never got to live in that room in my past life~ Two months passed. I gained some weight, my skin became lighter and softer, and my facial features gradually emerged, inheriting the best traits of Richard and Eleanor. This was one thing I always had over Mia. But my past life taught me that beauty doesn't guarantee favoritism. A few days after I was brought back, Grandma resolutely sent Mia back to the Fishers. Even though Eleanor hesitated, the abuse crossed Richard and Grandma's absolute bottom line, rendering her halo ineffective. They also set about uncovering the truth of what happened years ago and sued the Fisher couple for child abuse. But I knew Mia's departure was only temporary. Sooner or later, she would return... 6 During these two months, Eleanor treated me impeccably. After all, I was the flesh and blood she carried for ten months. She wanted to overcompensate and build a bond with me. I just went along with it, comfortably accepting everything. Even though she would sometimes accidentally call me Mia, and in quiet moments, I could see her missing the child she had raised for four years. It didn't matter. After being reborn, I felt like a spectator watching a story unfold. I couldn't feel the highs and lows, the joys and sorrows, too deeply. My brother, who was five years older than me, was somewhat distant. Even though he was smarter than other kids and knew how to be polite and courteous, he still couldn't hide his emotions completely like an adult. When Eleanor brought me to him, hoping to foster a sibling bond, he would find a reasonable excuse to decline, leaving Eleanor with nothing to say. He didn't put up a hypocritical front for me. He probably thought I was too young to understand. The resentment in his eyes made me feel like I was a bandit who had torn apart his happy family of four, the little beggar who had driven away his sister. Fine! In a way, I was. But I found pleasure in that thought. In mid-November of that year, the family threw me my very first birthday party. It was exceptionally grand, as if to make up for the birthdays I missed in previous years. It was also an occasion to publicly announce my identity. Held in Richard's arms, I calmly accepted the blessings of various important figures. They wished me joy every year, a smooth path ahead, and a life free of worry. They praised me for being adorable and inheriting my parents' best features. For those few short hours, I truly felt like a princess held in the palm of their hands. But... being a princess has an expiration date. I was a Cinderella whose halo would fade when the clock struck. Richard had to stay at the venue to socialize, while Eleanor suggested taking me and Oliver home early. Her eagerness gave me a hunch. It was 10:30 PM when the car arrived at the mansion. In the foyer, Eleanor let go of the hand she had been holding and hurried toward the living room. Oliver, following behind us, also dropped his usual composure. "Mia!" Mia was sitting on the sofa, wearing a white dress. She looked much more sensible. She cried timidly in Eleanor's arms, saying how much she missed Mommy, Daddy, and her brother. "Mia, welcome home!" Hearing the joy in my brother's voice—the brother who didn't like me—I walked alone from the foyer to my room. Good kids go to bed early and wake up early. The next morning, Mia was already sitting obediently at the dining table. It seemed the two months of hunger at the Fishers' had cured her of being a picky, spoiled brat. When Eleanor saw me come down, she gently picked me up and placed me on a dining chair, softly asking if I slept well last night. Oliver's attitude had also improved; he moved the milk I couldn't reach closer to me. Mia, sitting next to him, looked at me timidly, not a trace of her former arrogance visible. "Chloe, Mommy wants to discuss something with you. Your sister's biological parents made a mistake and were taken to prison by the police. She has no one to take care of her and nowhere to live. Can we let her live with us?" I took a sip of the milk. I could never get used to the taste; it was too gamey to swallow. I listened quietly as Eleanor explained how pitiful Mia was. Richard had gone to the company early, and Grandma lived at the main estate. The three people at the table were eagerly waiting for my stance. I glanced at Mia's exposed, fair arms and lowered my eyelashes: "Isn't this something Daddy and Mommy decide?" I want to say no. I want to throw her out. I want her to be despised and looked down upon. I want her to be beaten black and blue like I was. I want her to suffer what I suffered. Would you grant my wish? Eleanor stroked my head and smiled with relief: "Chloe is so understanding. We'll be a family of five from now on." The Fisher couple was sent to prison by the Sterling family, and Mia was removed from the Sterling family registry. She would have no inheritance rights in the future. Grandma turned a blind eye, and Mia—no, Mia Fisher!—finally stayed as the adopted daughter of the Sterling family. I had to marvel at the power of the protagonist's halo. I seemed to have changed a lot, yet it felt like nothing had changed at all. 7 Eleanor loved the illusion of sibling harmony and always tried to group her three children together, but I clearly couldn't blend in. At first, Mia was well-behaved. Her biological instincts made her wary of me, so she could only subtly emphasize her presence in the house. But I still couldn't stand her "green tea" (manipulative and innocent-acting) posturing. When acting spoiled with Eleanor, she would always sneak a glance at me, as if showing off a possession. She would chatter endlessly, deliberately mentioning where the family had traveled or what gifts her parents had given her before I came back. She was even worse with Oliver: "Brother~ Why are you only holding my hand? Sister is right here too. "Brother, you are the best brother in Mia's heart! We'll be siblings for life." Listening to her made me want to throw up. I couldn't be bothered dealing with Mia's weak, manipulative attacks. Instead, I picked one of her many personas from my past life—the sickly, fragile "Lin Daiyu" type—and started acting it out. Medical exams obviously wouldn't find anything wrong with me, but after suffering four years of abuse since birth, wasn't it perfectly normal for me to be a bit frail? The constant, suffocating care followed. Grandma came from the main estate and scolded Richard and Eleanor. It scared Mia so much she hid in her room like a frightened quail, not daring to come out. After all, she had heard with her own ears when Grandma ordered her out of the house. Despite her age, Mia was already quite scheming. If nothing else, at least I didn't have to constantly sit between them, watching Mia's amateur manipulation and Oliver's brainless devotion. This persona was incredibly effective. In my past life, whenever Mia wanted something or was unhappy, she would just lie in bed for a few days, and someone would eagerly deliver it to her. But this time, the one waiting for things to be delivered was me...
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