I was born with a system that rebounds rumors. Anyone who spreads a lie about me suffers the consequences of that lie themselves. In high school, a boy started a rumor that I was "easy" and had slept with several old men. That same day, he was picked up by a group of sugar daddies and transformed into a gigolo. In college, while I was dating someone, his childhood friend spread a rumor that I was the star of a leaked adult video. That night, every deepfake video on the internet suddenly wore her face. Since then, no one dared to whisper a word about me. Until my biological parents found me and brought me back to the wealthy Sterling family. The fake heiress, Chloe Sterling, linked her arm affectionately with mine: "Sister, I heard you got pregnant out of wedlock and had a baby with a murderer." "Since you're home now, why not bring the baby too? We are family; we won't look down on you!" 1 As soon as the words left her mouth, my father's face turned a sickly shade of gray. "You have a bastard child?" "Annie! How could you do something so shameful at your age!" Hearing Dad scold me, the corners of Chloe's mouth twitched upward, but she quickly covered it with a dramatic gasp. "Oh my god... Sister didn't tell you, Dad?" "I'm so sorry, Sister. It's all my fault... I shouldn't have blabbed." Then, she turned to Dad, her tone earnest and pleading. "Dad, don't blame Sister. She's been alone out there all these years... she must have had her reasons." "Sister, don't worry." She turned back to me, eyes sincere. "From now on, I'll help you keep this a total secret. I won't let anyone gossip!" Just as she finished, a woman dressed in designer clothes rushed out of the villa and hugged me tightly. "Annie! My daughter... Mommy finally found you!" She wept on my shoulder, taking a long moment to notice the eerie silence around us. "What's wrong? Why are you all staring at Annie? What were you talking about?" "It's nothing, Mom. Sister must be tired from the long drive. Let's go inside," Chloe interjected quickly, winking at Dad, playing the role of the protective sister perfectly. I spoke calmly: "She said I got pregnant out of wedlock and had a baby with a murderer." Mom's face went pale instantly. "What! Annie, you—" "I didn't. She's spreading rumors." "Sister!" Chloe's voice pitched up, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I meant well! How can you say I'm spreading rumors?" She choked back a sob and took a half-step back. "Do I have to expose all your dirty laundry right here?" She bit her lip at the perfect moment, looking at Mom and Dad with hesitation. "What else is there?!" Veins popped on Dad's forehead. "Chloe, speak! We need to clear this up today!" Chloe looked like she was making a huge decision. She bowed deeply to me. "I'm sorry, Sister... I know you want to hide it, but Mom and Dad have a right to know the truth." She sighed deeply, voice soft. "When I heard Sister was coming home, I asked around about her hobbies... and accidentally found out..." She took a deep breath, as if it was too shameful to say. "Sister has been... doing that kind of work... since high school..." Boom. The air in the garden exploded. Dad was shaking with rage. "Disgrace! How did the Sterling family produce such a lowlife!" Mom stumbled back two steps, looking at me with utter disbelief. But I just looked at Chloe with a faint smile. "Are you sure these things are true? Spreading rumors brings bad karma, you know." "Of course it's true! You—" URGH—! Before she could finish, she convulsed with a violent dry heave, her stomach slightly distended. I blinked, the corner of my mouth lifting. I told you, karma is real. "Chloe! What's wrong? Why are you throwing up like that?" Mom and Dad rushed forward in panic. I stood there and tilted my head. "Oh my, Chloe, you're throwing up like you're pregnant." The air solidified for a few seconds. "What nonsense are you spouting!" Chloe shrieked, acting like she was deeply wronged. "I don't even have a boyfriend! How could I be pregnant?" "Just because you... you aren't clean and did dirty things, don't project onto me..." Seeing her tear-streaked face, Mom and Dad's hearts broke. Dad glared at me with fury. "Annie Sterling! You dare spread rumors about your sister's virtue? No manners at all!" Mom looked disappointed. "Annie, that's too much! Your sister has never even been with a man. How could she be pregnant?" I blinked, expression innocent. "I was just saying." "But throwing up like that... maybe she should see a doctor!" "No!" Chloe blurted out, then covered her mouth and coughed lightly, eyes darting around. "I just ate something bad. I'll be fine after a rest." Saying that, she feigned weakness and collapsed onto Mom. Mom and Dad hurriedly helped her into the villa. I watched their backs thoughtfully. Chloe's reaction was off. It was like... she knew she was pregnant. A strong sense of gossip ignited within me. I immediately followed them into the villa and stood by her bed with Mom and Dad. "Chloe, Sister is really worried. I called a doctor for you; he'll be here any minute." "Better to check and be safe, so Mom and Dad can rest easy." Hearing my considerate words, Mom and Dad looked satisfied. But Chloe's face lost all color. She whimpered and burrowed into Mom's arms. "Mommy... I don't want to see a doctor..." Mom patted her back soothingly and was about to speak— "No need." A deep voice came from the door. My brother, Liam, walked in, looking me up and down with undisguised disgust. "You're Annie?" "Let me tell you, even if we share blood, Chloe is my only sister." "You have no right to interfere in her business." He walked straight to Chloe's bed and gently wiped her tears. "If Chloe doesn't want to see a doctor, she doesn't have to. Big brother is here." Hearing this, Chloe threw herself into Liam's arms and wept. "I knew Big Brother was the best!" I watched them, a thought sparking in my mind. I said innocently: "Brother and Chloe are so close. Even though they aren't biological, they're surprisingly intimate!" As soon as the words left my mouth, everyone's expressions changed. Liam let go as if scalded, ears turning red, eyes full of anger. "What nonsense are you talking about!" Chloe sobbed quietly, looking at me with teary eyes. "Sister, how can you say that about me and Brother?" "Are you trying to divert attention? Are you spreading rumors about me just so Dad won't pursue your pregnancy out of wedlock?" She bit her lip, looking disappointed. "Actually... I found out Sister was being bullied and wanted to ask Mom and Dad to help you... I didn't expect you to treat me like this..." Mom instantly got nervous. "Bullying? Annie, who bullied you?" I sat down, amused. "I don't know either, Chloe. Who bullied me?" "Sister, don't be scared. It's not your fault..." Her eyes filled with sympathetic tears. "I found out... a few months ago, Sister... you were dragged into an alley by seven or eight thugs..." "They did... that to you..." She sighed, reaching out as if to hold my hand. "Originally... it wasn't your fault. But Sister, how could you be so confused? To keep entangled with them?" "The first time was forced, but later... how could you invite them over..." "Neighbors say... every few days, they see that group of men coming out of your room half-naked..." She stopped at the perfect moment, lowering her head as if she couldn't bear to say more. "Bastard! How can you be so shameless!" Dad roared, his face as ugly as it could get. Mom clutched her chest, pointing a trembling finger at me. "Annie... tell me this isn't true..." "Annie Sterling, you are utterly shameless!" Liam glared at me furiously. "The Sterling family has no place for someone like you! Get out now!" Looking at their twisted faces, I felt it was absurd. Setting aside the fact that I didn't do it. Even if I had encountered something like that, shouldn't my family's first reaction be concern that I was assaulted? "Sister, although... although you messed around, I believe you aren't beyond saving." Chloe advised me. "As long as you admit your mistake and cut ties with those men... Mom and Dad will forgive you." I chuckled lightly, looking at her calmly. "I don't know any thugs, why should I admit a mistake?" "And... Chloe, didn't I just tell you? Spreading rumors brings bad karma." "Sister, why are you accusing me again?" Chloe squeezed out a few tears, tremblingly taking out her phone and shoving the screen in everyone's face. "If I'm spreading rumors, then how do you explain these photos?" In the photo, I was wearing revealing clothes, lying ambiguously among several men. Probably fearing the evidence wasn't strong enough, she swiped to another photo of me holding a baby. Mom and Dad's faces were pitch black. "These photos are fake." I reminded Chloe again. "I'll say it one more time. Rumors rebound." "I didn't spread rumors! I—" "Fine," I interrupted her calmly. "Just don't regret it." With the rebound system, I can't lose. Chloe's mouth was writing checks her reality would have to cash. Seeing my nonchalant attitude, Mom, Dad, and Liam's anger soared. "Sister, it's good you admit it." Chloe smirked triumphantly, offering fake comfort: "Mom, Dad, don't be angry... Sister was just confused for a moment..." Mom hugged her gratefully. "Chloe, you're the sensible one." "You're not feeling well, so we won't disturb you. Sleep early." "If you still feel bad tomorrow, Mom will take you to the doctor." They closed the door reluctantly, their eyes full of disdain when they looked at me. I didn't care. The corners of my mouth kept rising. Until the next morning. I slept soundly until dawn, when I suddenly heard a scream: "Chloe! What... what happened to you?!" "Who did this?! Who did this!!" Chloe's crying echoed through the villa. I stretched and walked over slowly to watch the show. In Chloe's room, seven or eight shirtless men were pinned to the floor by bodyguards. Her eyes were swollen, red marks covered her body, and she was curled up in the corner of the bed, shaking. "Animals! Who gave you the guts to touch my daughter!" Dad kicked the nearest man over, eyes bulging. "Who touched her? She threw herself at us!" The man turned to Chloe with a lewd grin. "Little vixen, explain to your parents." "You called us over last night. We're all familiar, why act innocent now?" He took out his phone and shoved the chat logs in everyone's face. "Big brothers, come keep me company tonight." "I miss you guys. I'm waiting at home. It's more exciting here." Mom and Dad stumbled back, thunderstruck. Liam stared at the screen, eyes full of disbelief. "Fake! It's fake!" Chloe screamed, tearing her voice. "I don't know them! I didn't send those messages!" The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, tears falling non-stop. "Why are you spreading rumors about me? I don't know you at all..." "Rumors? We aren't spreading rumors! The chat logs are here!" The man shoved the phone closer. Chloe's face was white. She opened her mouth to explain but couldn't say a word. I leaned against the doorframe, watching with a cold smile. Now she should know what it feels like to be the victim of rumors. "It's you!" Chloe suddenly looked up and glared at me. "Annie! You hired these thugs to frame me!" I looked helpless. "Me again?" "Yes! It's you!" Chloe shouted righteously, crying like a pear blossom bathed in rain. "Sister, how did I offend you? Why did you hire people to harm me!" "These men... are clearly your clients from before!" A cold laugh escaped my chest. "You mean, I have improper relations with these men?" "Fine, Chloe. Show the evidence. Let me see clearly." "I will!" Chloe looked prepared, glaring at me viciously. "Sister, you forced me!" A trace of malice flashed in Chloe's eyes. She quickly tapped her phone and played a video for everyone to hear. Ambiguous moans and panting instantly filled the room. Slap!!! Dad didn't even think. He turned and slapped me hard across the face! "I knew it! Chloe has always been well-behaved. She couldn't do such dirty things! You orchestrated all of this!" My cheek burned, ears ringing. "I even defended you, and you harm your sister like this!" Mom looked at me with venom. Liam hugged the trembling Chloe, roaring at me: "You shameless bitch! Get out of the Sterling house immediately!" Chloe glanced at me triumphantly, then put on a magnanimous act. "Sister, I don't blame you. As long as you apologize, I'm willing to forgive you..." My gaze swept over their hateful faces and landed on Chloe's pitiful expression. "Apologize?" "Why should I apologize?" I reached out and pointed at the video still playing. "The person in that video is clearly you." As my words fell, the air instantly died. Everyone's eyes snapped to the video. The screen was dim and shaky, but the woman on it was undoubtedly Chloe! "This..." Chloe frantically turned off the video, fingers trembling, eyes wide. "Impossible... how is this possible..." "How can the person in the video be me... I didn't..." She shook her head wildly, as if encountering the most shocking thing in her life. I silently gave the Rebound System a thumbs up and shed tears of grievance. "Chloe, you said I spread rumors about you, but clearly you've been framing me all along." I deliberately looked at Mom and Dad, who were frozen in place, sobbing softly: "It's all my fault. If I hadn't been kidnapped as a child, Mom and Dad wouldn't distrust me so much." "The moment that video played, no one even looked at the face. Everyone just assumed it was me." I paused, covering my cheek while sobbing. "Annie... I..." Dad snapped out of it, looking guiltily at the red mark on my face. "Dad was too impulsive just now. I shouldn't have hit you..." Mom held my hand in heartache, her eyes full of disappointment as she looked at Chloe. "Chloe, what is going on?" "You kept saying Annie was messing around with men, doing dirty things." "But these thugs are all in your bed, and those chat logs, photos, videos..." "How... how could you have the face to accuse Annie?" Chloe's face was ashen, eyes swollen. "I... I didn't..." "Mom, listen to me! These people really have nothing to do with me! The video has nothing to do with me!"
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