The scene of my older brother, James, bleeding profusely after being hit by a stray bullet in the library, stung my eyes. Yet, I, who was passing by, chose to ignore it, even quickening my pace to flee the scene. This was because, in my previous life, I had frantically rushed him to the hospital. James had suffered a severe head injury and cranial bleeding, urgently needing surgery. At that critical moment, I called our mother, Dr. Elena Hayes, the city's top neurosurgeon, pleading with her to come to the hospital immediately. But she, believing I was merely jealous of her taking my adopted sister, Chloe, to the beach, accused me of fabricating the story of James's injury. No matter how much I begged, she refused to return. By the time my father and other family members arrived at the hospital, James had already passed away, having missed the crucial window for rescue. Our entire family blamed me for James's death, convinced that I had deliberately misled Mom and delayed his treatment. Mom, rushing back from out of town, completely broke down, pushing me down a flight of stairs, leaving me to bleed out and die. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day James was shot in the library. 1 The few seconds I lingered at the library entrance, the shocking crimson exploded in my vision, terrifyingly similar to the bloodstain that spread after my head hit the ground when Mom pushed me down the stairs in my previous life. Countless images flashed through my mind: the clamor of voices in the hospital corridor, Mom's icy glare, Dad's furious shouts, and the desperate sensation of freefall as I plunged. I spun around, sprinting in the opposite direction with all my might, hailing a taxi and diving inside. Even in the back seat, my body trembled uncontrollably. Chloe's parents had died in an earthquake, saving my brother. Orphaned, she was taken in by Mom and Dad. From that day on, she became the family's little princess, while I became an extra, a burden. Even James, who once doted on me, only showed tenderness to Chloe. No matter what I did or said, in their eyes, it was wildly wrong. In my previous life, I desperately tried to explain my true intention of saving James, explaining that Mom had misunderstood everything. But they not only refused to believe me; they even thought James being shot was a sinister plot I had orchestrated – such an absurd accusation, yet they swallowed it whole. In this life, I would never meddle again. After all, James knew Chloe was bullying me at school, yet he always stood by and did nothing. When I pushed open the front door, I heard Dad's cheerful self-congratulation. "These shrimps are really big, Chloe will definitely love them." He hummed happily. "I'll stew some black chicken soup for her when she gets back. She's looked a bit thin lately, needs some extra nourishment." It wasn't until I reached the dining room entrance that Dad looked up and saw me. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by a stern expression. "Sophia Hayes, I told you to buy some crabs. What took you so long? What time is it?! Where were you wandering off to? What if the seafood isn't fresh and she gets sick? Can't you be more responsible?" I stood at the doorway, still clutching the bag of crabs, which felt impossibly heavy. I lowered my head and mumbled, "Traffic was a bit bad…" "Traffic? Are you the only person in this entire city who got stuck in traffic?" Dad's voice grew increasingly impatient. "You're so sensitive. Say two words to you and you get upset, like a clam. You're nothing like Chloe, who's so sensible and considerate." Ever since Chloe came into this family, such comparisons had been constant. My every move, every expression, was always measured against hers, always concluding that I was inferior. Looking at the undisguised disappointment on my father's face, I tightened my grip on the bag, my nails digging deep into my palms. Suddenly, the phone on the cutting board rang urgently. Dad picked it up, his voice easy and cheerful. "Hello? Oh, it's Mr. Davis from the library. Hello, hello…" The next second, his voice abruptly changed pitch. "What? Shot? Library? James?!" He hung up, his face ashen. "Your brother got into trouble at the library. The teacher told us to go quickly." I feigned ignorance, following him as he rushed out of the house. We sped towards City Central Hospital. 2 This hospital was horribly familiar to me—Mom was a celebrity doctor here, a leading authority in neurosurgery. The operating room doors were already surrounded by family: grandparents on both sides were present. Grandma Grace wiped tears from her eyes, pointing at me, her voice choked. "You have the nerve to show your face! James is in such a bad state, where were you?!" Grandpa Frank, though silent, looked at me with immense disappointment and condemnation. Grandpa Robert, supporting Grandma Rose, also cast a blaming glance. "Exactly! Why weren't you with your brother at the library? How dangerous for him to be out alone!" Dad stood beside them, his eyes full of accusation. I felt like a target, pierced by countless gazes. In this life, I chose to stand by, to avoid involvement, yet I still became the scapegoat—it seemed no matter what I did, in their eyes, it was always wrong. I lowered my head, murmuring defensively, "I didn't know James would get into trouble. I'll go call Mom, she's working overtime at the hospital anyway…" Hearing the words "call Mom," Dad's eyes instantly panicked. He grabbed me. "Your mom's busy. Don't disturb her." Busy doing what? Probably with Chloe, pearl diving and making necklaces in Seaside City. In my previous life, it was at this point that I found out Mom had taken time off to vacation with Chloe. The entire family knew she wasn't in town, but they'd hidden it from me. Grandma Rose looked at Dad disapprovingly. "No matter how busy she is, can it be more important than James's surgery? Call Dr. Elena Hayes immediately! Tell her to come here at once!" "That's right, that's right," Grandpa Frank chimed in. "Such a big thing. What could be more important than this? Call her now!" I pretended to frantically pull out my phone and dial. I called over a dozen times, but no one picked up. "What's wrong with Elena?! James is like this, and she won't even answer her phone!" Grandma Rose grew more frantic, her voice laced with dissatisfaction towards Mom. Dad quickly tried to smooth things over. "Mom, she might be in surgery. You know, once she's in the operating room, she can't pay attention to anything else." However, just as he finished speaking, the call connected. "Didn't I tell you? Don't disturb me unless it's important! Sophia Hayes, are you insane?! Don't you know I'm busy here?!" I gripped my phone, my voice small and shaky. "Mom, James was shot. He's at your hospital, outside the operating room. Please come quickly…" I hadn't finished speaking when she cut me off with a scoff. "Ha, shot? Don't curse James like that!" Her voice was sharp. "James is perfectly fine, studying for his exams at the library. How could he be shot?! If he doesn't do well, it's all because of your jinx!" She didn't believe me. It was exactly the same as in my previous life. "Mom, it's true! James really was shot! Right outside the operating room here! So much blood…" My voice cracked. "It's true, Elena, please come!" My anxious grandmother, standing beside me, also shouted into the phone. Mom's voice instantly turned cold, tinged with obvious displeasure. "Mom, Sophia Hayes is being childish and talking nonsense, and you're joining in the commotion?" Her voice was dismissive. "Forget it, I don't have time for this with you all. I'm busy with work. I'm hanging up." The call was abruptly ended. "What could be more important than James's life?! She's completely insane!" Grandma Rose clutched her chest, her voice trembling. Dad tried to explain, "Mom, Elena really might have something extremely important…" Just then, a nurse rushed out of the operating room, her face anxious. "Are you Dr. Hayes's family?" She cried urgently. "Quickly, call her back! The patient has severe cranial bleeding; the situation is critical! Only she can perform the surgery!" She wrung her hands. "But she's off duty today and not at the hospital." Dad instantly panicked, looking helplessly at Grandma Rose and Grandpa Frank. Grandpa Frank stomped his foot, yelling, "What are you standing there for?! Call your wife back at once!" His voice was filled with righteous indignation. "She even dared to lie about working!" This time, the call connected quickly. Noisy background sounds filtered through the phone. Chloe's happy shouts were heard. "Mom, we only need 10 more pearls for a necklace! Keep diving!" Mom's voice was filled with doting affection. "Okay, Mom will keep diving for you." Dad frantically spoke into the phone. "Elena, please come back! James was shot! He has cranial bleeding and needs your surgery!" There were a few seconds of silence on the other end, then Mom's displeased voice came through. "Are you messing around too? Is that ungrateful Sophia Hayes talking nonsense again? She can't go a day without causing trouble!" She scoffed. "How many times have I told you, don't believe a word she says!" I stood by, listening to their conversation, feeling a chilling coldness spread through me. It was Chloe who was habitually lying, always framing me, and I was always speechless. Dad's voice was pleading. "Elena, I'm begging you, this time it's real! James is really dying, please come back and see him!" Mom's voice showed hesitation. "Robert, then I…" Just then, Chloe's voice came through the phone again, tinged with a hint of a whine. "Oh, I just wanted a pearl necklace! Sis is bringing the whole family to mess things up." Her voice turned dramatic. "Never mind, Mom, I don't want it anymore. After all, I'm just an adopted daughter, not as important as my sister." Mom's attitude instantly hardened. "Alright, stop it. I'll be back tonight. Stop trying to trick me using James!" She snapped. "He's tough as nails, what could possibly happen to him!" Grandma Rose couldn't take it anymore and roared into the phone. "Elena, do you have any conscience?! James is fighting for his life, and you're still thinking about that adopted daughter!" She shrieked. "Are you saying all of us are lying to you?! Is James's life less important than a string of pearls?!" Mom's voice was now full of impatience. "Alright, Mom, Chloe is my darling, no less important than James. I'll be back soon, don't push me!" She added, viciously. "Sophia Hayes is selfish and a liar, don't believe her!" She hung up again, leaving behind a group of anxiously waiting family members outside the operating room. This time, Grandma Rose and Grandpa Frank were clearly furious. They couldn't believe Mom was so reckless. For an adopted daughter, she disregarded her own son's life. And I stood by, watching their anxious and angry expressions, feeling surprisingly calm. In my previous life, I had done everything I could to save James's life, only to be met with my family's blame and Mom's coldness. In this life, I chose to watch, wondering what they would do about Mom's choice for Chloe. The nurse rushed out of the operating room again, her voice frantic. "Have you found Dr. Hayes?! The patient's vital signs are dropping!" She cried. "If we don't operate now, it will be too late!" Dad frantically tried to call Mom again, only to find he'd been blocked. Grandma Rose and Grandpa Frank also fumbled for their phones, shakily dialing. A moment later, both their faces turned ashen. "Can't get through! She blocked me too!" Grandma Rose's voice was filled with unbelievable pain. "Me too… that heartless woman! How could she do this?!" Grandpa Frank clutched his phone, tears and snot blurring his face. Despair instantly spread. Everyone knew that this time, James was truly gone. We could only stand helplessly outside the operating room, listening to the hurried sounds of resuscitation inside, watching James's life slowly ebb away. The operating room door opened again. The doctor emerged, looking exhausted, and gently shook his head. "I'm sorry… we did our best." Grandma Rose let out a desperate wail, collapsing onto James's body, sobbing heartbrokenly. "My James! My grandson!" Grandpa Frank stumbled in, clutching James's cold body, howling, "James! My grandson! How could this happen?!" Dad stood frozen, his body swaying, his face etched with extreme pain and regret. He looked at his lifeless son on the operating table and let out a raw, unrestrained roar. 3 Although Mom said she'd be back that night, she was still delayed by two days. James's funeral had already taken place by the time she finally arrived, trailing Chloe behind her. Chloe's neck was adorned with a shimmering pearl necklace, which gleamed ostentatiously in the dim light of the living room. Mom's eyes immediately landed on me. Before I could even react, a loud slap landed on my face. A searing pain instantly spread, making my head ring. "You home-wrecker!" Mom screamed, her voice raw. "I only went to play with Chloe for a bit, and you started lying and stirring up trouble! How dare you joke about something as serious as James's accident!" My face felt numb from the blow, my mind a blank slate. It took a while to find my voice again. "I didn't…" Chloe caressed the necklace on her neck, looking at me with an innocent expression, her eyes glinting with hidden triumph. "Mom, don't be angry, don't be angry because of me. Sophia is your biological daughter, after all. Maybe she just missed you too much, that's why…" Her words were supposedly conciliatory, yet each one poured gasoline on the fire. "I wish I never had a daughter like you!" Mom hissed through clenched teeth, as if I were a plague she couldn't escape. Dad, who had been silent, stepped forward and shielded me. "If you don't want this daughter, I do. You and Chloe can live your own lives." Mom and I both froze. Dad usually doted on Chloe as much as Mom did, but now he was completely out of character. "Robert, what's wrong with you?" Seeing this, Chloe quickly stepped forward, weakly tugging at Dad's sleeve, her voice even more aggrieved. "Did Chloe make Dad angry? Chloe doesn't want the pearl necklace anymore, Dad, please don't be angry." Her eyes flickered between me and Dad, a clear performance. She wanted to use her feigned hurt and sensibility to win back Dad's favor. Dad shook off her hand, his face expressionless. "Don't call me Dad." He looked at her coldly. "We're not related by blood." Chloe's face instantly went ashen, her body stiffened, and the tears in her eyes seemed to freeze. Grandma Rose finally couldn't hold back. "I don't know how you can call yourself a mother! Neglecting your own flesh and blood, but so attentive to an outsider!" I stood behind Dad, covering my burning cheek, watching Mom being reprimanded by the whole family. But this time, it wasn't me who was being scolded. Mom was completely bewildered. She could only vent her anger on me. "Sophia Hayes! What did you tell them?! What lies have you been spreading again?!" She refused to believe James was truly dead, refused to believe her own actions had led to all this. She only believed I was up to my old tricks, slandering her behind her back, stirring up trouble. Just as Mom was about to lose her mind, Grandpa Frank delivered a sharp slap across Mom's face. Before Mom could recover from the blow, Grandpa Frank slammed a piece of paper he had been clutching tightly onto Mom's face. "You still have the nerve to blame others! Look! See for yourself!"
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