The charity case my mom sponsored was impersonating me at school. At the bustling school gate, she beat me to it, skillfully sliding into the back seat of my family's car. Loud enough for everyone around to hear, she shouted at me: "Chloe, I know we're close, and I don't want to hurt our friendship over petty things." "But just because we're friends doesn't mean you can always hitch a ride. We don't even live in the same direction. You can't just keep relying on my family's driver to take you home." As soon as the words left her mouth, disdainful looks shot my way from all directions. In the past, I would have flushed crimson, speechless and mortified. But unfortunately for her, I had just been reborn. So, in front of everyone, I yanked her out of the car without mercy. I climbed in, rolled down the window, and spat at her: "Lived the good life for a few days and forgot your own last name, huh?" "Your family's driver? Go ahead, call him that. See if he dares to answer." 1 The noisy crowd fell silent at my cold words. With a look of utter disgust, I glanced at Bella, her school uniform disheveled from being dragged out of the car. She didn't say another word. Bang. I slammed the car door shut and ordered the driver to go. Outside, a recovering Bella banged on the window, putting on that inexplicable air of arrogance, demanding I open the door. "Miss, this isn't good, is it?" The driver turned to look at me, his tone filled with hesitation. "Not good?" I sneered. Bella wanted me to open the door? Fine. I'd grant her wish. Wait for the moment she was distracted, I unlocked the door. Just as she pulled it open, I leaned back slightly, lifted my leg, and Bang! kicked the door hard. Bella didn't dodge in time. The door slammed into her head with immense force, knocking her flying. "Ah!" A scream pierced the air as Bella hit the ground. I leaned casually against the door frame, watching her sprawl awkwardly on the concrete, scrapes on her arms and legs bleeding, a bump instantly swelling on her forehead. "Chloe Chen!" Regaining her senses, Bella screamed my name hysterically. Even now, eyes red, she tried to twist the truth: "It's not like I won't ever give you a ride! Even if we're best friends, you can't just mooch off my family's car every single day!" "This is my family's car! Aren't you going too far?!" "Me? Going too far?" I pointed at my nose, amused, and let out an undisguised scoff: "You asked me to open the door, and I did, didn't I?" "You didn't dodge in time and hit the door yourself. I haven't even accused you of insurance fraud yet." "Besides, since when can anyone just run their mouth? You say this is your car? Where's the proof?" "Open your dog eyes and look. Do you even recognize the brand of this car? Wore fancy clothes for a few days, put on a human skin, and you really think you're somebody now?" I didn't waste another word on her. I slammed the door shut again and told the driver to drive. Seeing the driver, Uncle Lee, look out the window at the crying Bella with pity in his eyes, my face darkened instantly. "Uncle Lee, don't forget who pays your salary." "When my dad gets back from overseas, I'll tell him everything that's happened lately." "Think about your son. Rein in that overflowing sympathy of yours. Don't waste it on people who don't deserve it." Uncle Lee's sympathetic expression vanished instantly. He was originally my dad's driver. Since my dad spent most of his time abroad managing the branch office, he assigned Uncle Lee to me. His son was my dad's assistant, and his wife was a maid at the Chen family estate taking care of my grandmother. The whole family worked for us. I knew why Uncle Lee sympathized with Bella. Ever since my mom brought her home six months ago, she had been sucking up to everyone to secure her place. She'd help the maids prep food, chat with Uncle Lee while he washed the car... Over time, the staff grew fond of her, pitying her background and taking extra care of her. My warning was a reminder: don't forget who your real boss is. Since my dad assigned him to me, he should serve me wholeheartedly, not be distracted by some two-faced manipulator. 2 When I got home, Nanny Liu immediately came to take my schoolbag. Seeing I was alone, her smile faltered. She asked immediately: "Miss, why are you alone? Where's Bella? Didn't she come back with you?" I ignored her and went straight to the dining room to wash my hands and eat. The table was full of Bella's favorites. The braised beltfish I specifically asked for yesterday was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Bella's favorite braised pork ribs sat in the center. In that instant, fury burned in my chest. But Nanny Liu, oblivious to my darkening face, ignored Uncle Lee's attempts to stop her and kept rambling: "Madam might be late tonight. Miss, should we wait for Miss Bella before eating?" "Did you have a fight with Bella again? Miss, really, why must you always make things difficult for such a good girl like Bella?" "Old Lee, go back and pick up Bella quickly. The poor child doesn't know the area well, what if she gets lost again like last time?" Nanny Liu nagged on. It sounded like questions, but the tone was full of blame. I tapped my fingers on the table, watching coldly as she turned to urge Uncle Lee to go back for Bella. "Shut up, stop talking." Seeing Nanny Liu's cluelessness, Uncle Lee couldn't help but scold her in a low voice. Finally, I spoke, my voice calm: "Nanny Liu, where is the braised beltfish I asked for yesterday?" Nanny Liu froze, finally realizing something was wrong. She turned slowly to explain: "Well, um, I went out a bit late today, and the market was out of beltfish, so I didn't make it." "If Miss wants it, maybe tomorrow—" "Is our city so small that there's only one market?" I cut off her clumsy lie coldly. "Went out late? Out of beltfish? How come they weren't out of ribs?" "Was there really none, or did you just forget because you didn't want to make it!" I picked up the plate of mouth-watering ribs and dumped the whole thing into the trash can. I don't lose my temper often, but these people seemed to have forgotten who the real master of this house was! "Nanny Liu, if you listen to Bella so much, let her pay your salary from now on." "I don't want to repeat myself. Clear this table." "I want beltfish today. If I don't get it, pack your bags and retire early!" I turned and went upstairs. As I turned, I heard Nanny Liu and Uncle Lee whispering: "What's wrong with the Young Miss today?" "She never used to care about these things." 3 Lying on my bed, exhausted after making a call, I stared at the ceiling and rubbed my throbbing temples. Nanny Liu was right. The old me wouldn't have cared. But at the school gate, Bella beat me to the car and humiliated me publicly. "Chloe, I know we're close..." Those words echoed in my mind. If it were the past, I would have been flushed with embarrassment, unable to react. But coincidentally, at that exact moment, I was reborn. In my past life, she impersonated me, deliberately embarrassing me in public, kicking me out of the car, making everyone think I was a thick-skinned moocher. I wanted to clarify my identity at the parent-teacher conference, to expose Bella's lies. But my mom showed up instead of Bella's parents. In front of everyone, she announced that Bella was her only daughter. I cried and asked why she treated me like this, why she wouldn't acknowledge her own daughter. She just waved her hand and "clarified" to everyone: "Who's your mom? You're just the daughter of my maid." "I pitied you and sponsored you, but you delusionally want things you don't deserve." "What a sin!" Her words were like a thunderbolt, casting me into hell. With my mom's favor, Bella had no fear. She instigated her lackeys to bully me at school, driving me to near depression. I called my dad crying, pouring out my grievances. My dad, who loved me dearly, rushed back from abroad but died in a plane crash. My only other support, my grandma, fell down the stairs and died upon hearing the news of my dad's death. I was underage, so everything naturally went to my mom. After inheriting my dad's company and assets, my mom immediately adopted Bella. To prevent me from being supported by the board of directors when I came of age, they concocted a lie that I had schizophrenia and sent me to a mental asylum. Under their orders, I was tortured to death in that asylum. Before I died, I learned a massive secret. The pain of my past life flashed before my eyes. I didn't want to make useless vows to heaven. Being reborn was enough to steel my heart. Everyone who hurt me would pay. And those who truly loved me, I would protect them from their tragic fates. ... A knock on the door broke my thoughts. Nanny Liu nervously called me down for dinner. On the dining table, my favorite braised beltfish sat in the center. The other dishes had been swapped for seafood I usually loved. Nanny Liu looked at me cautiously, fawningly calling me "Young Miss." I didn't say a word, didn't even look at her. I sat down and ate with relish. The taste of the beltfish melted in my mouth, salty, fresh, and sweet. Just a common dish, but it took me a lifetime to taste it again. Because Bella was allergic to seafood, it had vanished from our table the moment she moved in. But why? The master of this house isn't named Zhou! Starting today, I will fulfill every regret from my past life. 4 When my mom returned from the hospital with a bandaged Bella, she saw me feasting on a table full of seafood. Smelling the seafood, Bella turned pale and retched. When my mom looked at her, she covered her mouth, apologizing for not holding it in. Already angry about me hurting Bella, my mom exploded. She rushed over and swept all the seafood onto the floor, ignoring that I was eating. "Eat, eat, eat! You've got some nerve!" "You hurt Bella like this, and you have the face to eat? And seafood at home? You selfish animal, don't you know Bella is allergic?" "What does her allergy have to do with me?" I looked up into my mom's eyes. In my past life, she always told others I had a bad temper, unlike the obedient Bella. To please her, I kept a low profile and didn't fight, but she still scolded me for being scheming. Since nothing I did satisfied her, I might as well show her what a real "bad temper" looked like. I took the half-eaten crab from my mouth and threw it at Bella standing behind her. Good aim. It hit her right in the face, eliciting a scream. I sneered, looking at her with disdain: "She's just a charity case begging at our door. Why should I, the young mistress of the Chen family, accommodate her?" "What is she? Me giving her leftovers is already doing her a favor." "Picking and choosing all day long. Who does she think she is? Look in the mirror and see if you're worthy." I leaned back, speaking casually. Truthful words, but Bella acted like she was wronged by the heavens, eyes red, sobbing uncontrollably. But I could see the venom she could barely suppress under that mask of grievance. "Bella!" My mom was shocked. She quickly picked the crab off Bella's face. Seeing the tearful Bella, she hugged her, comforting her distress. Once Bella calmed down, she remembered me, the culprit. "You vicious little bitch! Do you think I won't discipline you?!" "Look at what you did to Bella! I'm going to beat you to death today, you animal!" "I dare you!" Just as my mom raised her hand, face twisted in rage, a shout rang out from the entrance. My mom froze, her hand suspended in mid-air. As the sound of a cane tapping the floor drew nearer, the expression on Zhou Yaqin's face turned to terror. "Grandma!" I was instantly excited, running past Zhou Yaqin to embrace the newcomer. "Grandma, I missed you so much!" I threw myself into her arms like a child. Thinking that in my past life, my beloved grandma's death was indirectly caused by me, my heart bled, and tears fell uncontrollably. "Oh my, my precious Chloe, why are you crying?" "Let Grandma look at you. Have you lost weight?" "Don't cry, baby. Grandma is here! Grandma will back you up. Who dared to make my Chloe cry?" Seeing my tears, my grandma's eyes filled with pain. She patted my back gently, just like when I was little. Once I stopped crying, she touched my face lovingly, then pulled me behind her, her face changing instantly as she looked at Zhou Yaqin. "My son isn't home, so you think you run the place?" "If Chloe hadn't called saying she missed me and I decided to visit, I wouldn't have known this house had a new master!" Grandma sat me down in the living room. Zhou Yaqin hated my grandma but was too terrified to look up. Seeing her silence, Grandma snorted and banged her cane on the marble floor. Zhou Yaqin visibly trembled. "Mom, this was Chloe's fault. I was just teaching her a small lesson—" "Lesson? What right do you have to teach her a lesson!" Grandma barked. She had always looked down on my mom's background and despised her for continuing to work in showbiz after marrying, disregarding the Chen family's reputation. Scandals with tycoons one day, young idols the next. Countless people in the elite circle laughed at my grandma and dad behind their backs. In my past life, I tried to mediate their relationship, making up good things about my mom, but it was a thankless task. "I don't care what you do outside, but don't forget how you got your position and status. If you let my granddaughter suffer even a little bit again, there's no need for you to stay in this house!" "And you!" Grandma's gaze shifted to Bella beside Zhou Yaqin. The sharp look almost made Bella kneel. She stammered in fear: "G-Grandma, I..." "Don't call me Grandma. I only have one granddaughter, Chloe." Grandma's disgust was palpable. She said coldly: "I heard you've been impersonating the Chen family's young mistress at school?" "No, I didn't, I—" "Whether you did or not, you know best." Grandma pressed on, giving Bella no chance to argue. Another cold snort, and sweat rolled down Bella's forehead. After my grandfather passed away when my dad was a teen, the massive Chen business empire fell into my grandma's hands. Until my dad was capable enough to take over, Grandma ran the Chen Group. Back then, the group wasn't as successful as today. Grandma led it through its toughest times, transforming it into a thriving business. Her methods and courage were unmatched. Decades of decisive leadership meant even in her old age, a single look could make people tremble. "I'll put it here today. The Chen family has only one young mistress, and only one future successor: Chloe." "Some people who want to play dirty tricks better weigh their own worth. Are you qualified to go against this old woman?" "If I hear anyone playing games and making Chloe suffer again, don't blame me for being ruthless!" With that, she pulled me up and ordered Nanny Liu behind her: "Pack my things. I'm staying here for a while." "I want to see who dares to act up under my nose!"
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