When my biological father, James Sterling, finally found me, I was on my knees begging on the street. It was the dead of winter. While the imposter, Chloe Sterling, was bundled up in a thick designer puffer jacket, I was in rags, my skin mottled purple from the biting cold. In my past life, I never wanted to fight her. Yet, she killed my dog, stole my parents' love, and seized the inheritance that should have been mine. In the end, I was brutalized to death, all thanks to her orchestration. Now, my real dad held me tight, swearing to make everything up to me. I stared coldly at Chloe, who was holding my biological mother’s hand not far away, and smirked. Where should I start dissecting this snake? Chapter 1 My father carefully placed me into the passenger seat and cranked up the heat. Chloe, seeing me take her usual spot, pursed her lips and glared at me before turning to bury her face in my mother’s coat. "Mom... it's hot..." I looked at my mother, putting on a desperate, pathetic expression of yearning for maternal affection. My birth mother’s heart twitched with guilt, but she still looked down to comfort Chloe. "Honey, maybe turn the heat down a bit?" I sneered internally. Look at this. This is my mother. For me, she has only guilt. All her love belongs to Chloe. "Luna has been freezing. She can't get cold again," my father frowned, disagreeing. He glanced at me, limp in the seat, barely breathing, and panicked. He touched my forehead. "Burning up! We need to get to the hospital, now!" At the hospital, they ran a full checkup. When the nurse came to draw blood, I rolled up my sleeve, exposing my arm. My skin, tanned dark from exposure, was a tapestry of scars. Burns, whip marks, old wounds layered under fresh ones. Not a single patch of unblemished skin. All gifts from my adoptive parents. They forced me to beg. If I didn’t bring back enough money, I got beaten. They even talked about selling my organs. I had to beg on my knees, sobbing that I could fetch a good bride price later, before they let it go. Zero dignity. And I shouldn't have suffered any of this. It was my adoptive parents who secretly switched me and Chloe at birth, swapping our lives. Seeing my arm, Chloe screamed and buried her head in Mom's chest. "Mommy! A ghost! Ahhh!" I flinched violently. The needle slipped, and blood gushed out. "Enough!" My father glared at Chloe with genuine anger. "Luna, I will find the best doctors in the world. You will heal." I lowered my head. In my past life, I didn’t want to worry them. I always wore long sleeves and pants, even in summer. They just thought I was weird. This time, I'll make sure their hearts bleed for me. The results came back: severe malnutrition, anemia, widespread skin infections, chronic pneumonia. My father clenched the report, trembling with rage. After calming down, he hugged me tight. "Luna, don't worry. Those animals who hurt you... I won't let a single one go!" I didn't look at Chloe, but I knew she was sweating bullets. After all, those "animals" were her biological parents. If her real parents went to jail, her little act would be over. I stayed silent for a long moment, then spoke with a mix of hesitation and concern. "Father, Mom and Dad... I mean, Uncle and Auntie raised me for eighteen years. If you go after them, it might hurt your reputation. It's a family scandal... I don't want to make things difficult for you. You bringing me home is already enough for me. Let the past go." Every word was calculated, distant yet forbearing. A hot tear landed on my cheek. My father patted my head, moved. "Luna, you are so sensible." On the way back, my father arranged everything: a nanny, a driver, even a personal nutritionist and therapist. In the rearview mirror, I saw Chloe’s face twisted in jealousy. These were perks even she, the pampered princess, never had. This was the treatment for the real Sterling heiress. I smirked. If I’m right, the drama starts tonight. Chapter 2 We arrived at the Sterling mansion. My little brother, Max, came bounding out. He gave huge bear hugs to Mom, Dad, and Chloe, completely ignoring me. Mom looked at me awkwardly. I smiled. No surprise there. In my past life, Chloe painted me as a hypocritical villain, telling Max I was there to steal our parents' love. A ten-year-old kid naturally hated me. Worse, the day I brought my dog, Dodo, home in my last life, Chloe framed Dodo for biting Max. Dad was furious. He slammed Dodo to death right in front of me and slapped me when I cried. My puppy was four months old. Even if he bit someone, it wouldn't even break the skin. How could he hurt Max? "Max, this is your real big sister," Mom said gently, pulling Max's hand. Max clung to Chloe, eyes wide and glaring. "What smelly sister? I don't want her! I only have one sister!" Chloe squeezed out some tears right on cue. "Mom, Dad... now that Luna is back, will you kick me out? Sob... I only have you guys... please don't send me away. I'll be good. I won't fight with Luna for anything." Mom, soft-hearted as always, hugged Chloe and wiped her tears. "Of course not! Mommy loves you most. How could I send you away?" Dad stood there, smoking, deep in thought. Chloe was clever. Playing the victim perfectly, making my return look like I was wrecking their happy family. I squeezed out two tears of my own and stepped forward, grabbing Chloe and Mom's hands. "Forget Mom, even I couldn't bear for you to leave, sister. Besides, your biological parents haven't been found yet. Why not wait until then? I’m new here and don’t know how to be a good daughter. I still need you to teach me, sister." Seeing me so cautious and obedient, Dad looked pained again. "Chloe can stay for now. I'll have someone investigate her background." He didn't say she could stay forever, but he didn't kick her out. Compared to my last life where he promised we’d be a "happy family of five," this was a huge improvement. I winked at Chloe. Step one of killing a snake: Marinate it in fear. This is just the beginning, Chloe. I’m going to personally drag you into the hell I crawled out of. Back in my room, I finished the bird's nest soup and supplements the nutritionist prepared. I put on silk pajamas and lay in the soft bed, plotting. It was time to bring Dodo back. Thinking of his death made my stomach cramp. Chloe told Dad that he loved citrus scents, so I sprayed Dodo with Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin. Turns out, Dad was allergic to citrus. He sneezed constantly, never got close to Dodo, and scolded me, banning the dog from the house. The next day, Chloe brought Dodo inside, pinched Max until he screamed, and blamed the dog. Dodo died. I was kicked out, crying in the rain with his cold body all night. Chloe walked up to me with an umbrella, smiling. "Sister, I heard the dog meat place on the west side is great. Dodo was so well-fed, he must taste delicious, right?" I snapped. I strangled her. Just as I was about to finish her off, Dad showed up and knocked me out. When I woke up, I was deaf in my right ear from the blow. Someone filmed my attack on Chloe and posted it online. The internet called me a psychopath, a monster, and told me to die. I closed my eyes, pushing the memories away. Dad had already transferred me to a new school. Tomorrow, the battlefield shifts to the classroom. Chapter 3 In the morning, the nanny brought me several outfits. All of them were garish clashes of red and green, purple and orange. I glanced at her coolly. So, she’s Chloe's dog too. In my last life, I was too timid to refuse. I wore these clown outfits to school, embarrassing my parents and getting mocked by classmates. This time, I was prepared. I pulled out a black, understated suit I bought myself. High ponytail, pearl clip. Classy. Low-key. The nanny looked honest, but I saw the ambition in her dull eyes. Last time, she pretended to be my ally, teaching me all the wrong things while feeding info to Chloe. Chloe used her to turn me into a "vulgar redneck." Seeing her face made my blood boil, but I kept my cool. I smiled, eyes curving into crescents. "Auntie, grab me a bag of dried crab snacks. I'll eat them after breakfast." The nanny nodded and left. In the dining room, the family was already eating. Chloe was wearing a pink Chanel-style jacket, a white pleated skirt, and a pearl necklace. She was laughing while feeding Max sweet soup. I raised an eyebrow. Dressing like that for school? She’s really trying hard to sell the "rich princess" image. Too bad Dad hates flashy, frivolous styles. He prefers my vibe. Sure enough, Dad's expression softened when he saw me. Chloe, seeing me, immediately piped up with fake concern. "Sister, in the Sterling family, we wait for everyone before eating. You're late, the food is cold." The nanny told me breakfast was at 7:30. It was 7:20. I clutched my chest, feigning weakness. "Thanks for reminding me, sister. But my health is poor, and the doctor said I need eight hours of sleep. I got back late yesterday... I'm so sorry to keep you waiting." Mom and Dad immediately waved it off, eyes full of pity. I poured the crab snacks the nanny brought onto a plate. Suddenly, a pair of chubby hands snatched them. Max shoved the snacks into his mouth, crunching loudly, staring at me with triumphant, beady eyes. What a brat. Fighting over food. Dad frowned, about to scold him, but Mom laughed it off. Halfway through the meal, Max suddenly turned pale. He clutched his stomach and slid off the chair. "Max! Max, what's wrong?! Don't scare Mommy!" Mom was hysterical. Dad stayed calm, grabbed the car keys, and rushed Max to the hospital. Max was sent to the ER. Outside, Dad comforted a sobbing Mom. Chloe spoke up, voice trembling. "It was the crabs! Luna, how could you be so cruel? Poisoning a child! Max might not like you, but he's your brother! Aren't you afraid of breaking Mom and Dad's hearts?" She turned to me, eyes wide with disbelief and tears. Her accusation lit a fuse in Mom. She lunged at me. Slap! My face burned and swelled instantly. Her eyes were cold, like I was her enemy, not her daughter. Dad stood aside, watching coldly. My heart ached dully. If you never saw me as a daughter, why bring me back? In my last life, I only realized the truth as I was dying. I was just a pawn. Businessmen value profit over parting. Their "family love" is just a mask. They wanted a perfect doll. Between the broken me and the exquisite Chloe, the choice was obvious. Last time, I craved love and acceptance, and I lost everything. This time, I only want revenge, money, and power. I looked at Dad, eyes misty, voice trembling. "I didn't do it." "I didn't hurt him. I wanted to eat those snacks myself. He snatched them." Chapter 4 Dad looked conflicted. The doctor walked out, sighing. "Who is the family?" Dad raised his hand. "How is my son? Poisoning?" "Poisoning? No. Kids have sensitive stomachs; he just choked on the dry crab. He's fine now. But—you can't mix tangerines and white radishes! Don't you parents have common sense? That causes goiters!" "We didn't give him that!" Dad protested. "Impossible. We asked the kid, he's been eating it for a while. You people are so careless!" Dad’s face darkened. Max was watched by the nanny, and the nutritionist wouldn't make that mistake. The only suspect... was the sweet soup Chloe made for him. Dad realized it too. He glared at Chloe, whose face was draining of color. "Father, I didn't..." Mom stood there, torn between worry, guilt, and grief. Ignoring the drama, I walked into the ward. Max was lying there, rosy-cheeked, eyes tight shut. I sat down and poked his face. "Get up, Max. Stop faking." His lashes fluttered, but he didn't open his eyes. I continued, "Max, you ate those crab snacks on purpose, didn't you? Looks like you were bullying me, but really, you knew Chloe's soup was bad news. She's too good at acting, so you had to cause a scene to expose her, right?" Max's eyes popped open. He sat up like a spring. "How did you know?!" I pinched his nose. "Because I'm your real sister. Why didn't you just tell Mom and Dad?" He pouted. "Real sister, so what? If it wasn't an accident, she'd hurt me worse..." "Is it because when you told on her before, no one believed you, and they blamed you for not loving your sister?" Max went silent. I knew I hit the mark. I sighed and hugged him. "Max, remember this. I came back not to hurt you, but to protect you and kick that snake out. You can always trust me." Chloe's crying echoed from the hallway. After a long silence, Max spoke, and I felt my shoulder get wet. "I'm sorry." Parents eventually figured it out. Chloe, in the name of love, had been feeding Max a toxic combo to make him sickly so he couldn't compete for the inheritance. Dad was disappointed. He cut off one of her credit cards. Moving her from Dad's heart wasn't going to be easy. The next day, I went to school with Chloe. Dad transferred me to Class A at B City Foreign Language School—Chloe’s class. In my last life, Chloe promised to take care of me but sabotaged me at every turn. First day intros? She asked what talents I had. I turned red and said "nothing," becoming the laughingstock for three years. I didn't know English. In an all-English class, the teacher asked me questions, and Chloe translated them wrong on purpose, making the teacher hate me. They framed me for stealing, slapped me... I remember it all. I lowered my eyes to hide the hate. Chloe, you're in for a surprise. Chapter 5 To save face, Dad told the school I was a daughter raised by my grandparents in the countryside, kept out of the public eye. When the teacher introduced me, I started my self-introduction in flawless, Oxford-accented English. In my last life, to please my parents, I spent countless nights practicing English. To them, it was worthless. Luckily, no effort is ever truly wasted. Chloe interrupted, feigning innocence. "Luna, what talents do you have? Tell us so we can play together!" I smiled at her. "Chloe, you're so silly. We're family. Don't you know what I can do?" Chloe's face stiffened. I ignored her and addressed the class confidently. "I've loved piano since I was small. I'm proficient in Go, calligraphy, and painting. Ballet, Latin dance, swimming, skiing—I can do them all. You're all welcome to come over and see." In my last life, people said I was timid, nothing like a Sterling. So I learned everything. Whatever Chloe could do, I learned. Whatever she couldn't, I learned too. But Dad just called me a cheap imitation. Well, now I'll use everything you despised to slap you in the face. Chloe leaned back, eyes full of suspicion. And... anticipation. Calculating the date, Dad should be planning my "Welcome Home" banquet soon. Good. Time to strike back. Even though I knew the high school curriculum by heart, I didn't slack off. I studied hard while watching Chloe like a hawk. Chloe was chatting with her bestie, Jessica Liu. "Chloe, where did this sister come from?" "Luna... her status is special. She just came home recently." Chloe hesitated, acting like she needed courage to speak, tears welling up. What a move. "Special status." In rich families, that means illegitimate. A bastard child brought home means she's dangerous enough to threaten the legitimate heir. She was implying I was the homewrecker's daughter. Jessica, a hothead with a big mouth, exploded. Rumors spread like wildfire. Everywhere I went, I heard insults. "A bastard competing with the real princess? Does she deserve it?" "Born from a mistress, born cheap." Then came the bullying. They called me names. Asked my price for a night. They tore my homework, wrote curses on the walls. They stalked me, investigated me... even tried to assault me. It was a carnival of cruelty. That day, Chloe led a group of girls dressed like punks to block me in the bathroom. They laughed, grabbing my arms. Long nails dug into my skin, drawing blood. Chloe, looking arrogant, kicked me in the stomach with her metal-tipped heels. I doubled over in pain, looking up with fake confusion. "Sister, how did I offend you? Why are you doing this?" Chloe's exquisite face twisted. "Don't think just because Dad spoils you, I can't touch you. Blood related? So what? I am the only Miss Sterling! Listen, bitch, you are my dog. I own you." She signaled, and the girls ripped my clothes. Chloe stood over me, taking photos with her phone. "This is just a warning. Next time, it won't be this simple." She slapped me, then stomped on me with her heels before storming out. I curled up, coughing, but a smile crept onto my lips. Sister, thanks for the "gift." What should I get you in return?
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