It all started because my brother, the billionaire philanthropist, made a casual comment while handing out scholarships: "Funny coincidence. You and my sister share the exact same birthday. Down to the minute." Because of that one sentence, the scholarship student, Sarah, convinced herself she was the real heiress who had been switched at birth. She hired two thugs, kidnapped me, and planned to kill me to "reclaim" her identity. In my past life, in that moment of crisis, I called my fiancé for help. But the moment he picked up, he sneered impatiently: "Serena, you stole Sarah’s life. This is the price you have to pay." When I was pushed off the cliff into the river, my fiancé’s uncle suddenly appeared. He dove into the freezing water to save me. But exhaustion took him. We both drowned, sinking to the bottom of the river together. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to the day of the kidnapping. This time, when Sarah smirked and told me to pick someone to call for my last words, I didn't hesitate. I called my brother. 1 "Serena Vanderbilt, you shameless thief! You’ve been squatting on my life for twenty years. Today, I’m taking it back!" Sarah signaled the thugs. They immediately moved in, tearing at my clothes. Seeing the panic on my face, Sarah laughed, a sound dripping with triumph. She kicked my phone across the dusty floor toward me. "You aren't walking out of here alive. But I’m generous. I’ll give you one phone call to say your goodbyes." I looked up. Sarah was staring at me with eyes that were beautiful but filled with pure venom. I knew exactly what she wanted. She wanted me to call Chad—my fiancé—so I could be humiliated and rejected by him one last time before I died. That’s how it went down in my previous life. But not this time. I dialed my brother’s private line. I never imagined that my brother’s casual remark about our birthdays would fuel such an insane delusion in Sarah. I tried to explain, but Sarah was dead set on her fantasy of being the "True Heiress." Even Chad, the man I was supposed to marry, bought into her garbage. If my brother knew how Chad treated me, he wouldn't just ruin him financially; he’d make him wish he were dead. The call connected. I screamed before anyone could speak. "East Hampton, Cliffside Villa! Sebastian, save me!" Sarah snatched the phone from my hand and smashed it onto the concrete floor. "You didn't call Chad?" She looked at me in disbelief, then sneered. "Doesn't matter. Even if you called your 'brother,' he won't save a fake like you." "Alright, hurry up. Tie her up and toss her in the river. Make it look like a suicide." I knew Sebastian would move heaven and earth to get here, but I needed to stall. My heart was pounding out of my chest. "Let me go! This is a felony! I already sent out an SOS. If anything happens to me, you’re all going down for life. Is it worth it?" The thugs didn't care. They dragged me toward the edge. Just as the rushing water came into view, a familiar figure sprinted out of the woods. He kicked one of the thugs in the chest and pulled me into his arms. "Serena, I’ve got you. Don’t be scared." Hearing Julian’s voice, tears instantly blurred my vision. He was Chad’s uncle, but only three years older than his nephew. In my last life, I thought we were strangers. But when it mattered, he was the one who died trying to save me. Since fate hit the reset button, this time, I’m going to protect him. "Julian, run! I can handle them!" I yelled, seeing his pale face. He had been sickly since childhood, rarely leaving his estate. Fighting two thugs was suicide. Predictably, the thugs recovered and knocked him to the ground. Sarah frowned. "Where did this random hero come from? Whatever. Toss him in too." Seeing Julian struggling to get up to protect me, I screamed at Sarah. "Sarah! That’s Chad’s uncle! He’s a Kensington! If you hurt him, the Kensington family will hunt you to the ends of the earth!" Sarah hesitated for a second, then scoffed. "I’ve never heard Chad mention an uncle. And look at him—he’s a sick weakling. He’s probably a reject of the family." "You think the Kensingtons would go to war with me, the Vanderbilt heiress, over a reject? Please. Besides, dead men tell no tales. I write the history today." Julian was beaten half to death. I was hogtied on the ground. I glared at Sarah. "I don't know what kind of mental gymnastics you did to convince yourself you’re a Vanderbilt, but I am my parents' daughter. I can forgive a lot, but if Julian dies, I swear I will make you beg for death." Sarah threw her head back and laughed maniacally. "Serena, you really are delusional until the end. I get it. Who would want to give up the billionaire lifestyle?" "But denying it won't help. I already did a DNA test. I am the Vanderbilt heiress!" I stared at her, stunned. A DNA test? How? My parents passed away years ago. It’s just me and Sebastian. How did she get Sebastian’s DNA? I didn't have time to ask. The thugs dragged Julian and me to the cliff's edge. Below us, the river raged. It was a hundred-foot drop. "Break her legs before you throw her," Sarah commanded, her voice sweet and cruel. A thug raised a metal pipe. Julian, blood streaming down his face, threw his body over mine. "Serena, I'll hold them off! Run!" "Die, hero!" The thug swung the pipe down. SCREECH! A convoy of black SUVs skidded to a halt mere feet away. "Freeze! Drop it or you die!" My brother’s head of security, Marcus, jumped out. Behind him was an army of Vanderbilt guards. Finally. The thugs were pinned instantly. Sarah shrieked, "Who are you?! Unhand me! I am the Vanderbilt heiress!" Marcus didn't hesitate. He chopped her neck, and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious. "Take the trash to the warehouse," Marcus ordered. "Ms. Serena will decide their fate." Julian and I were rushed to the hospital. The doctor said I only had superficial wounds. Julian was worse—severe concussion, broken ribs. When he was finally stable in the VIP ward, I borrowed a nurse’s phone to call Sebastian. "Serena," Sebastian’s voice was shaking. "I’m stuck in a board meeting in London, or I would be there myself. Are you okay?" "I'm fine, thanks to Marcus. Leave some guards here, let Marcus go back to you." Then I took a breath. "Sebastian, cancel the engagement. I don't want to marry Chad anymore. I love his uncle, Julian." There was a pause, then a dark chuckle. "Good. That Chad kid has no spine anyway." "Since you're done with him, I’m pulling all Vanderbilt funding from the Kensington Group starting today. Let’s see how he likes the real world." After hanging up, I sat by Julian’s bed. In both lives, Chad was a disappointment. He ignored my calls for help and sided with a delusional stalker. But before I could even plan my revenge, Chad burst into the hospital room. He looked furious. Without a word, he slapped me across the face. Smack! "Serena! Are you insane?! You stole Sarah’s life for twenty years, and now you hire thugs to hurt her? When your brother finds out, you’re dead! Don't drag me down with you!" I tasted blood. I didn't cry. I didn't flinch. I slapped him back with everything I had. "You believe her? You grew up with me and Sebastian. Does she look anything like us?" Chad touched his cheek, stunned, then scowled. "Stop lying! Sarah showed me the DNA test." Then his tone shifted to fake sympathy. "Look, I know you don't want to lose the money. If you confess and give Sarah her identity back, I’ll keep you as a mistress. You won't be Mrs. Kensington, but you won't starve." I was still trying to figure out the DNA test angle when a voice screeched from the hallway. "Serena Vanderbilt!" Sarah marched in, face unscathed (she must have woken up), followed by... my family’s own security guard? "Who let her out?" I asked, shocked. The guard stepped forward and kicked me in the shin. I dropped to my knees. He grabbed my hair and slapped me. "You fake! How dare you act like the boss in front of me? Tired of living?" My ears rang. This guard looked at me with pure disgust, like he knew I was the imposter. "Did Marcus not tell you?" I gasped. "Sarah is lying." The guard sneered. "Ms. Sarah is the real bloodline. You’re just a cuckoo in the nest." Sarah waved her hand dismissively, and the guard stepped back, bowing to her. She looked at my swollen face and turned to Chad. "Chad, babe. She stole my life, tried to kill me, and nearly got away with it. If my loyal guard hadn't arrived, I’d be dead." "So, as her boyfriend, how are you going to handle this?" Sarah’s story was full of holes, but Chad ate it up. He stepped on my hand, grinding his heel into my fingers. "You’re toxic, Serena. Apologize to Sarah now!" "Chad, we’re still engaged! You think you can get away with this?" I screamed. He pressed harder. "Engaged? To a fake? Dream on. I’m marrying Sarah. I know you’re obsessed with me, but it’s over. Beg Sarah for forgiveness, and maybe she’ll let you live." Pain shot up my arm. I glared at them. "You prize a delusional psycho over me? Just wait until you fall from your pedestal, Chad." The word "psycho" triggered Sarah. She grabbed a baton from the guard’s belt. "I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!" She swung the baton at my head. I closed my eyes, waiting for the impact. It never came. "Leave her alone!" Julian had dragged himself out of the hospital bed and thrown himself over me. The baton cracked against his back. He collapsed, coughing blood, but still managed to gasp: "Chad... don't be an idiot. Serena is real. Sarah... she kidnapped us..." Chad looked at his bleeding uncle, hesitation flickering in his eyes. But Sarah started sobbing. "He’s your uncle? Chad, maybe we shouldn't get married. Serena kidnapped me, and now your family is bullying me too..." "I can't handle a family with such... loose morals." Chad’s hesitation vanished. He kicked Julian in the ribs. "Uncle, how could you side with this fraud against Sarah? You’re a disgrace." Chad grabbed the baton. "Serena, today I’m breaking your leg as payment for Sarah’s suffering." He raised the weapon. I couldn't move. Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the hall. A voice, cold as the grave, boomed: "STOP! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
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