My sister took credit for a rescue I performed and was adopted by a wealthy family from the city. I studied hard, got into college, and graduated, eager to reunite with her. But she locked me in a basement and starved me to death. “Only when you’re dead,” she’d said, “will the credit for that rescue truly be mine. Go to your grave with that secret, dear sister.” What she didn’t know was that I had already reconnected with my billionaire biological parents. I never wanted a share of that glory. I opened my eyes and I was back at the moment of the rescue. 1 “Help… help me…” The moment my eyes opened, I saw a middle-aged man struggling in the lake, his body slowly sinking. The familiar scene, my own thin, frail body—I knew I had been reborn. Without a second thought, I plunged into the water, swimming with all my might toward the drowning man. I knew who he was. A wealthy tycoon from the capital, Ashton Stark. He was here sketching and had accidentally fallen into the lake. In my previous life, I was the one who saved him. But while I was gone changing my wet clothes, my sister seized the opportunity to claim my heroic deed as her own. We were both orphans from the same home. To repay the favor, Mr. Stark adopted my sister, Maya, and took her back to the city with him. I hadn’t cared then. I believed an older sister should always yield to the younger one. I let her take the credit and even wrote her many letters after she left, all of which went unanswered, disappearing into a void. It wasn't until my junior year of college, when I found my real parents, that I went to the city to see her, worried she wasn't doing well. Instead, I walked straight into my own grave. I still remember the bone-chilling cold of the basement, the utter despair of being trapped with no one to call for help. And outside the iron door, Maya’s cold laughter. “You came looking for me because you wanted to tell Dad the truth about the rescue, didn’t you? Well, too bad! The credit is mine and mine alone!” “As for you, you can take that secret to your grave!” Only in my dying moments did I understand. Maya had never seen me as a sister. She despised me, looked down on me, saw me as a stain on her life that had to be erased. Since I’ve been given a second chance, I’m taking back all my kindness. As for all the evil she did in my last life, I’ll be returning it to her twofold in this one. Right now, I was only twelve. Saving a grown man nearly depleted all my strength; I almost drowned myself. After finally dragging Mr. Stark ashore, I gritted my teeth and performed CPR, pressing on his stomach until he coughed up water. Once I was sure he was breathing, I collapsed beside him, gasping for air. That’s when Maya ran over. Back then, she wasn’t Maya Stark. We both used the director’s surname. I was Chloe Reed, and she was Maya Reed. Maya was two years younger than me. She covered her mouth in feigned shock. “Chloe, you saved someone?!” I was too busy catching my breath to answer her. Her gaze fell on Mr. Stark, sizing him up before she recited the exact same lines as in my past life. “Chloe, your clothes are soaked. You should go back and change. I’ll watch him for you.” She wanted me out of the way so she could take the credit when he woke up. This time, I wouldn’t let her have her way. 2 “Maya,” I said, my voice weak, “I’m too tired to walk back. Could you get me a towel?” “Oh…” Maya was clearly reluctant. She tried to change the subject. “Chloe, who is this man? He’s not dead, is he?” Who he was didn’t matter. What mattered were his expensive clothes and the gold watch on his wrist. I knew what Maya was thinking. Just then, Mr. Stark groaned and began to stir. An idea sparked in Maya’s mind. She rushed to the lake, splashed water all over herself, and then ran back to help Mr. Stark sit up. Her small face was a mask of concern. “Are you alright? You nearly drowned! It’s a good thing I saved you!” I watched her performance with cold detachment. I’d missed this scene in my past life; I had to get a good look this time. She was a natural. Her hair was soaked, her expression flawless. “I wanted to call 911 for you, but your phone is waterlogged, and I don’t have one…” She lowered her head, her voice dropping to a pitiful whisper. “Our orphanage is nearby. Why don’t I take you there to rest for a bit?” I had caught my breath. I got up and helped Mr. Stark from the other side, adding, “Yes, you can change into some dry clothes at the home. You don’t want to catch a cold.” Mr. Stark looked between the two of us. “You two saved me?” Maya gritted her teeth. She desperately wanted all the credit, but I was still here. She had no choice but to nod. “Yes, we pulled you out of the lake together.” “Thank you. You’re my saviors!” Mr. Stark thanked us profusely as we helped him towards the orphanage. On the way, Maya was eager to impress him, fawning over him constantly. She asked if he was tired, offered him a piece of candy, playing the part of the innocent, sweet child to perfection. I remained silent, only offering a kind smile whenever he looked my way. When we reached the orphanage and the director took over, Maya and I both breathed a sigh of relief. But it wasn’t long before the director called us back. I knew the moment had come. The adoption. Since Mr. Stark already had a son, he could only adopt one more child. So the director asked us, who wanted to be adopted? Maya immediately rushed forward and hugged Mr. Stark’s leg. “Mr. Stark, please adopt me! I’ll study hard and be a good girl. More than anything, I want a family!” Mr. Stark looked at me. I lowered my head, my voice filled with sadness. “Then you should adopt Maya, Mr. Stark. She always says the orphanage is a horrible place. This is her chance to leave.” I turned to walk away, but “accidentally” stumbled and fell. The director rushed over to help me up. “Chloe, what’s wrong with your leg?” I whispered, “Mr. Stark is so tall and heavy. I used up all my strength saving him. I haven’t recovered yet.” “Oh, that’s not right!” I feigned panic and quickly added, “I mean, Maya and I saved Mr. Stark together! We swam in the lake and pulled him out together!” The director, always straightforward, blurted out, “Since when does Maya know how to swim?” In that instant, Mr. Stark’s face darkened. In my past life, worried about Maya, I had thoroughly investigated Mr. Stark. I knew he was a kind and upright man who couldn’t stand lies and deceit. Now that her lie was exposed, how could she possibly be adopted? Sure enough, Maya’s face fell. She stared at me, her almost-crying face filled with venom. I just raised an eyebrow at her. It’s just acting, isn’t it? I can do that, too. 3 In the end, Mr. Stark adopted me. But he also promised to sponsor Maya, covering her living and educational expenses, and even offering her a job in the future. It was a happy ending for everyone—except Maya. Soon, Mr. Stark’s assistant arrived at the orphanage to handle the paperwork. It was time for me to leave. The director and the other children came to see me off. Maya, feigning reluctance, clung to my hand. She stared at me, her grip tight. “Sister, I never knew you were this kind of person. Willing to abandon even me just to escape this dump.” I smiled faintly. “I just told the truth, Maya. And I never knew you were the kind of person who would lie about saving someone just to be adopted by a rich man.” “You…” She gritted her teeth and huffed, her fists clenched. “So what if you’re adopted? Mr. Stark is sponsoring me, too. Sooner or later, I’ll come find you!” “You’re just moving to a big city. You probably won’t even be able to adjust. You’ll be sent back in a few days!” “Did you hear me? You…” She was still shouting, but I had already turned my back on her, leaving her with a dismissive wave. The road ahead was long. I was curious to see how she would navigate it this time. I went to the capital with Mr. Stark and changed my name to Chloe Stark. Mr. Stark’s wife had undergone a hysterectomy after a difficult birth, so they only had one son, a year younger than me, named Leo Stark. On my first day at the Stark’s, Leo threw a snake on my bed. But I just grabbed the snake and threw it right back in his face. After that, Leo never dared to mess with me again. He obediently called me “sister.” Now, I had the perfect conditions I never had in my past life. I transferred to a top junior high school, had a private driver, and caring adoptive parents. I was like a newly sprouted sapling, greedily absorbing nutrients and growing. In my past life, I hadn’t found my biological parents until my junior year of college. At this point, they were still abroad, so I wasn’t in a hurry to reconnect. With the memories of my past life and the hard work of this one, I quickly became the top student in my school, a position I maintained until high school graduation. My adoptive parents adored me, and even Leo genuinely accepted me as his sister. I remembered my adoptive mother divorcing my father during my high school years in my past life, but in this life, they were exceptionally loving. Our family of four lived a peaceful and warm life. After the college entrance exams, I chose a local top university and visited my family regularly. Life was orderly and on track. Until the summer before my sophomore year. I went home to visit my parents for the weekend and saw a long-unseen figure in the living room. Maya was wearing a delicate slip dress, her face lightly made up. She greeted me with a provocative tone. “Sister, long time no see.”
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