My foster brother stood at the gate of St. Jude's, his shirt faded. But my sister Nina, who always loved shiny things, ran past me and hugged him, sweetly calling him "brother." I knew then—she had also been reborn. In our past life, when choosing between the wealthy Dyers and the poor Millers, Nina shoved me aside for the limousine. "I won't live miserably. You can, sister," she sneered. She got her luxury but died miserable on the streets years later. Meanwhile, I earned a scholarship, studied abroad with my foster brother Liam, married him, and built a happy life. Now, with a second chance, Nina chose differently. I looked at Liam, waiting for a word. Instead, he shielded her and warned me coldly, "Stay away from my sister." As Nina smirked, I turned toward the Dyer’s limousine. Fine. I was ready for a different life too. 1 “This way, Miss.” The Dyers had sent no one but a driver. As the city scrolled by, he recited a list of house rules I was to follow upon arrival. Soon, the car purred to a stop before a villa that looked more like a palace. I followed the driver inside. “Ma’am, I’ve brought her.” An elegant woman drinking tea on a plush sofa lifted her head. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe before she beckoned me closer. “Come here.” “What’s your name?” “Elara.” She nodded, a flicker of approval in her eyes. “Good. From now on, you’ll be Elara Dyer.” “Alfred, show her to her room.” “Right away, Madam.” I followed the butler, my steps echoing softly on the gleaming marble floors. The banister of the grand staircase was carved from rich, dark sandalwood. Everything reeked of opulent luxury. But these were all things I had earned for myself in my previous life through sheer hard work. The spectacle didn't faze me. The butler glanced back, a hint of surprise in his expression. He pushed open a door, revealing a princess-like bedroom. “Miss, this will be your room from now on.” “Please, rest for a while. I will return shortly.” He bowed slightly and left, closing the door behind him. I stepped inside, my eyes sweeping over the room. It was exquisite. Clearly, the Dyers didn't skimp, even on an adopted daughter. Every detail screamed high-society refinement. A deep thrill shot through me. In my past life, with no powerful family to back me, I had clawed my way up, step by painstaking step, to afford a life like this. This time, with the Dyer name behind me, I could achieve so much more. 2 My thoughts were shattered by a shout from the hallway. The door flew open, and a basketball came hurtling toward me, smacking me hard on the head with a dull thud. “Hey, charity case, toss me my ball.” A cocky, arrogant voice rang out behind me. I turned slowly. A boy, about my age but taller and built with a careless confidence, stood there. He had his chin tilted up, radiating an air of superiority. If I remembered correctly, this was the sole heir of the Dyer family, Wyatt Dyer. A typical rich kid, obsessed with extreme sports like racing and skydiving, with zero interest in the family business. In my past life, a racing accident had crushed his legs, leaving him paralyzed and his temper permanently soured. “Hello? You deaf or something? Didn't you hear me?” he snapped, his voice laced with impatience. I shook myself back to the present, picked up the basketball, and held it out to him. Remembering the driver’s instructions, I kept my voice soft. “Here you go… brother.” He flinched. “Playing nice already? Don’t think that’ll get you a piece of the Dyer fortune.” He scoffed and walked away. In the days that followed, I rarely saw Mrs. Dyer. Wyatt was a ghost, never in the same place twice. Alfred, the butler, showed me around the sprawling estate. Once I had my bearings, he handed me a schedule. It was a dense grid of business management courses. “These are your upcoming lessons. Starting tomorrow, you will have one-on-one tutoring on corporate management. Mrs. Dyer has arranged everything. All you need to do is study hard. Do this well, and you will be rewarded in the future,” he explained coolly. “Can you handle that?” This was material I hadn’t touched in my previous life until Liam and I were starting our own company. To learn it now, at fifteen? I was ecstatic. “Of course,” I nodded. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but he said nothing more and continued with his instructions. To ensure I didn't fall behind in my regular studies, Mrs. Dyer also hired a private tutor for my middle school curriculum. But I had already mastered this material in my past life, so it was a breeze. In just a year, I had absorbed all the new knowledge and was applying it with ease. “This child is a remarkably fast learner,” the tutor gushed to Mrs. Dyer. “She’s not only mastered the high school curriculum but is also grasping the complex principles of business management. It’s astounding.” I sat quietly to the side, listening. “At this rate,” he continued, beaming, “she won’t even need to attend high school. She could go straight to a university abroad.” But that wasn't Mrs. Dyer’s plan. She wanted me to go through high school with Wyatt, then have us attend college abroad together. She framed it as us “looking out for each other,” but I knew the truth. She wanted me to rein in her untamable son. Mrs. Dyer paid the tutor generously, and when she looked at me again, her eyes held a new level of approval. “Come here, Elara.” She pulled me down to sit beside her and handed me an acceptance letter. “You’ve done well. Wyatt’s grades are a disaster. I need you to help him. The bar isn’t high—just get him to pass.” “Once you both graduate, I’ll send you abroad. How does that sound?” Her proposition was direct, with no sugarcoating. Without hesitation, I replied, “Thank you, Mom.” Her eyebrows shot up, a genuine smile spreading across her face. She squeezed my hand. “Good girl.” 3 As a reward, Mrs. Dyer gave me a credit card and a day off to myself. It was the first real break I’d had since arriving. The driver dropped me off in the bustling city center, and I stepped out alone. I hadn’t walked more than a few steps when a familiar figure caught my eye. It was Nina—or Nina Miller, now. She was standing under the blazing sun, handing out flyers. The Millers were poor; I knew they barely had enough to get by. It was no surprise she was forced to work. My last life had been the same. During summer breaks, I juggled three part-time jobs while trying to keep up with my studies, not to mention all the chores for my foster parents. They claimed to treat us equally, but they never let Liam lift a finger. I only found out later that they hadn’t adopted me because they wanted a daughter. They’d wanted a free laborer. “Hello, would you like to see this—” A flyer was thrust in front of me. Nina’s voice died in her throat when she looked up and saw me. “Elara?” Her gaze flickered over my designer clothes and my well-cared-for skin. A flash of raw jealousy crossed her face before she forced a smile. “Well, you look like you’re living the good life. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. The Dyers will chew you up and spit you out. Mrs. Dyer is far more terrifying than you can imagine. You’ll see soon enough.” “Oh.” My flat response seemed to annoy her. She immediately began to brag. “My new mom and dad are wonderful to me. I feel so fulfilled every day. And my brother helps me with my homework. Oh, speaking of which, we were both accepted into Northwood High on special merit this year.” Northwood High… The acceptance letter Mrs. Dyer had just given me was also for Northwood. It was a school for the elite, for kids with powerful families—and a handful of exceptionally brilliant scholarship students. In my past life, Liam and I were those scholarship students. “Our lives are only going to get better and better,” Nina declared, her voice filled with a strange certainty. “While you… you’re doomed to die a miserable death on the streets.” I parted my lips to say something, but a voice cut me off. “Nina!” “Liam! You’re here!” Nina’s face lit up as she threw herself into his arms. Liam was holding a lunch box. “Mom sent me with your lunch. It’s too hot out here. Let me take over for a while.” “It’s okay, Liam. I can do it.” The Millers would pinch every penny to send Liam to expensive tutoring sessions, but they wouldn’t let Nina rest for a moment. I knew that kind of exploitation all too well. “You work too hard,” Liam said softly. Then, he noticed me standing nearby. “Liam, this is my sister, Elara. You saw her at the home,” Nina introduced me. Liam’s eyes swept over me, his expression cold and tinged with disgust. He ignored me completely, turning back to Nina. “Stay away from shady people like her. Let’s go.” Without giving me a chance to speak, he pulled Nina away. “Liam, why were you so harsh? You might have scared her.” “You’re too naive, Nina,” his voice drifted back, sharp and cutting. “Someone like that is trouble. Stay away from her, or she’ll stab you in the back one day.” The sharp words stung. I didn’t understand his baseless hostility, but the flicker of pain it caused was brief. Using the card Mrs. Dyer had given me, I went on a shopping spree. 4 When I walked out of the department store, my arms laden with shopping bags, Nina’s face turned green with envy. “Hmph. What’s there to be so proud of?” she muttered. “You’re just going to end up dead anyway. Not like me and my brother. We’re going to build a huge company one day.” I smiled at her naivety and headed back to the Dyer mansion. In truth, none of the gifts were for me. They were for Mrs. Dyer, Wyatt, and the household staff. When I got back, Wyatt was surprisingly home. He saw me and sneered. “Well, look at this. How long have you been here, and you’re already hauling stuff in like you own the place? Do you really think our family’s money is yours?” “Wyatt!” Mrs. Dyer’s voice was a sharp warning. “She is your sister.” Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Since when? I don’t have a hick for a sister. It’d be embarrassing to be seen with her.” He’d always been hostile, and I knew better than to provoke him. I started unpacking the bags, presenting each gift. “Mom, this is for you.” I handed her a box containing a delicate silk scarf. Next, I gave gifts to Alfred and the other servants who had looked after me. I saw a look of genuine appreciation on Mrs. Dyer’s face, while the staff seemed both shocked and pleased. Wyatt’s face soured. “Pathetic. You really think a few cheap gifts can buy them over? As if you’re—” “Brother, this is for you.” Ignoring his tirade, I held out the last gift. It was a detailed model of a race car. “I heard from Mom that you like racing. I saw this at the mall and thought of you.” He paused, taken aback. He mumbled something under his breath and snatched the box from my hand. 5 The first day of school arrived faster than I expected. I was about to call a cab when I saw the family car idling by the curb. A small spark of joy lit inside me. I hurried over. “Brother!” “Who’re you calling brother? I told you, I’m not your brother,” Wyatt snapped, yanking the car door open. “What took you so long? Get in. My time is precious.” “Okay, okay.” I slid in beside him and handed him the breakfast our cook had packed. “Mom said we each get one.” A flicker of something unreadable crossed his face. “Who needs breakfast?” he grumbled, but he took it anyway. I raised an eyebrow. He was all talk, wasn't he? Before we got out of the car, he shot me a warning look. “Listen, at school, you don’t tell anyone you’re my sister. You don’t tell anyone we know each other. Got it? Or else…” With that final threat, he slammed the door and stalked off. “Don’t mind him, Miss,” the driver said kindly. “The young master has always been like this.” I just shook my head and got out of the car. And just my luck, two familiar figures were standing by the school gate. Liam’s handsome, aloof demeanor had already attracted a crowd of admiring girls, who swarmed around him and Nina. “Did you hear? That’s the top-ranked student in the city this year. He’s a genius! And his sister is amazing too, ranked fifteenth.” “I’m so jealous. I wish I had a brother like that.” Based on my entrance exam scores, I was placed in the top class—Class 1—the very same class as Liam and Nina. Wyatt, on the other hand, was dumped in the very last class. Nina strutted over to me, a smug look on her face. “What a coincidence, sister. I can’t believe we’re in the same class. Then again, with the Dyers’ power, getting you in here was probably easy. Not like my brother and me, who had to work our butts off.” She glanced around theatrically. “By the way, where’s that good-for-nothing Dyer heir? Knowing his mother, I bet she pulled strings to get him in here somewhere, right?” My brow furrowed. I was about to respond when I was cut off. “Nina!” Liam walked over, his eyes still holding that familiar look of distaste for me. He pulled Nina behind him. “I told you to stay away from her.” “Liam, she’s not a bad person,” Nina muttered, feigning innocence. “How would you know?” Liam retorted grimly. The day’s classes were a blur of information. I had no time for their drama, so I pulled out my business management notes and studied. At the end of the day, Wyatt and I met at the school gate as planned to go home together. Over the next few days, though he still acted reluctant, he started bringing me snacks from the food stalls near the school. One afternoon, he shoved a small cupcake into my hands. I stared at it, surprised. “I see the other girls in your class eating this stuff. What, you don’t like it?” he asked, a defensive edge to his voice. “I love it. Of course, I love it.” A smile bloomed on my face as I took it. The following week, he brought me something new every day—fries, fruit cups, yogurt… We were working our way through every stall near the school. As the semester wore on, our relationship slowly thawed. One day, I went to our usual meeting spot, my heart full of anticipation, but he wasn’t there. I searched the campus, a knot of unease tightening in my stomach. Then, I overheard a snippet of conversation. “Hey, did you hear? Wyatt Dyer agreed to a street race on Blackwood Mountain.” “For real?” “Yeah, man. The race is probably starting right now.” My blood ran cold. I finally remembered. In my past life, Wyatt had also been goaded into a race. His car had been tampered with. That, combined with the treacherous mountain terrain, led to a horrific crash. Because he didn’t get help in time, he was left paralyzed for life. I broke into a dead sprint, my lungs burning as I raced toward the mountain. By the time I arrived, the race had already begun. A large crowd was cheering, their shouts and screams deafening. A blur of speed shot past me, kicking up a cloud of dust. The next second, there was a deafening roar of twisting metal. The red sports car—Wyatt’s car—spun out of control right in front of me. It slammed head-on into the rocky cliffside. The crowd scattered like frightened birds. “WYATT!!” I scrambled toward the wreck. I was so close, just inches from pulling him out. Suddenly, a powerful force yanked me back, throwing me to the ground. “He your brother?” A brutish, snarling face loomed over me. “Call an ambulance! Please, my brother’s dying!” I screamed, my eyes fixed on Wyatt, who was crushed and motionless in the driver's seat. My heart hammered against my ribs. “Your brother pissed me off. You think I’m gonna let you save him? Dream on.” A heavy hand slapped my cheek, not to hurt, but to humiliate. I shoved him away and slapped him back with all my might. “This is attempted murder! It’s illegal! I won’t let you get away with this!” I shrieked, hoping to intimidate them as I fumbled for my phone. The phone was ripped from my hand and thrown against the rocks. A vicious slap sent me sprawling to the ground. “Who do you think you’re yelling at, you little brat?” A heavy boot pressed down on my face, grinding it into the dirt. A wave of pain washed over me. Through a dizzying haze, I saw a familiar figure in the distance. It was Liam. “Liam, help me!” I screamed, pouring every last bit of my strength into the cry. He started walking toward us, but Nina grabbed his arm. “Liam, what are you looking at? This isn’t our business. Let’s go, come on! Those guys are dangerous.” I watched the expression on Liam’s face shift from struggle to grim acceptance. He gave me one last, long look, then turned and walked away. The thug picked up a heavy hammer from the trunk of a car. “Nobody’s ever dared to hit me before. Today, you’re gonna learn the price of that little slap.” My cries for help were swallowed by the wind. He raised the hammer high, and brought it crashing down.
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