Chapter 1

Mom and Dad's voices rang out from a corner of the meeting hall. I heard them say outright that they were going to choose my sister, Lisette Calder, this time.

I clenched the hem of my blouse, lowered my eyes, and pressed my lips together, pretending I hadn't heard a thing.

In my previous life, on this very day, they had chosen to keep me.

Lissy might've been bubbly and vivacious, but she was also boisterous and often caused trouble for the family. Mom and Dad were often embarrassed and had to apologize on her behalf, cleaning up her messes for her.

But after they chose me, they started feeling that the house was too quiet and empty without Lissy.

Whenever they saw me sitting quietly with my books, they couldn't hide the regret in their eyes and the longing they felt for their other daughter.

"Miriam, Barnaby, it's time," Mr. Hawthorne, the town chief, called out as he tapped his ceremonial staff against the floor.

I trailed behind Mom and Dad, my head bowed. Dim candlelight flickered throughout the meeting hall, and the eyes of every town elder fell upon us.

Seated at the head of the hall, Mr. Hawthorne opened our family's register.

"Two souls bound to one vessel. Past the first midnight of the 18th year, only the chosen can remain," he chanted. "Miriam, Barnaby, who have you decided to keep once the night is over?"

Dad stepped forward, his voice shaking with emotion as he declared, "Mr. Hawthorne, we're keeping Lissy."

The other elders around us frowned slightly and began whispering among themselves.

"I thought Lissy did nothing but cause trouble all day long."

"Romy has always been so sensible and well-behaved. She even helps out around the house. Why have they chosen Lissy?"

Mom hurried forward and tugged on Dad's sleeve before explaining to the elders, "Romy is sensible, yes, but she's such a scheming and crafty child. We never see her smile. She always walks around the house with a cloud of gloom hanging over her head.

"Lissy's not like her. Lissy's a cheerful and outgoing girl. She brightens up the house and brings warmth into our lives."

Standing behind them, I listened as they listed my shortcomings one after the other.

In their eyes, my careful and considerate nature made me boring. My reserved personality and willingness to yield to others meant I was scheming and crafty.

Mr. Hawthorne stroked his moustache and eyed me critically. "It's true that she barely ever talks. Well, you two are her parents. Since you've decided, we'll proceed with—"

"Wait a minute!"

The doors to the meeting hall burst open, and Finnian Godfrey came running in. He was panting hard, his head covered in sweat and his eyes bloodshot.

He didn't even bother offering the customary greetings to the elders. Instead, he rushed straight to my parents and cried out, "Mr. and Mrs. Calder, you mustn't choose Romy!"

As I stared at him, the very last bit of warmth in my heart died out.

In my previous life, after the soul selection ceremony on my 18th birthday, Finnian's attitude toward me changed once he found out that Lissy's soul had been returned to the Morrow River. He started blowing hot and cold, giving me mixed signals.

Every time I thought he didn't like me and wanted to give up on our relationship, he'd buy me a gift to appease me.

As a result, we ended up getting married. I thought marriage was my salvation, but on our wedding night, I found out that Lissy was the one he loved.

Finnian only kept stringing me along so he could have an excuse to stay close to the body Lissy had once inhabited. He treated me as her replacement, making my life miserable while refusing to let me go.

Now, watching him stare anxiously at my parents, terrified that they would choose me just as they had in my previous life, I knew that my parents weren't the only ones who had returned.

He had been reborn, too.

"Perfect timing, Finnian!" Dad said with a sigh of relief. "We were just about to announce that we've chosen Lissy."

Finnian froze for a moment before looking positively elated. "Are you serious?"

"Of course." Mom looked at him affectionately. "We know how close you and Lissy have been since you guys were little."

Finnian turned to look at me. A flicker of disgust passed through his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

He turned to Mr. Hawthorne and declared, "Mr. Hawthorne, Romy isn't nearly as sensible as everyone thinks. The truth is, she's the most selfish person I've ever met."

Standing right in the center, Finnian spoke with conviction, his clear voice carrying throughout the meeting hall.

"Last month, during an exam at school, a classmate asked to borrow her notes for a quick look. She stubbornly refused to lend her notes and even caused the other student to get punished.

"At home, she's always giving her family the silent treatment and shutting them out to hurt them. If even the slightest thing displeases her, she'll go days without saying a word, making her parents worry about her."

The elders' expressions changed.

"Now we know Romelia's true nature."

"She seems like an honest and well-behaved girl. Who would've thought she'd have such a vicious heart?"

"She may seem quiet and harmless, but with a temperament like that, she'll be nothing but trouble if her parents keep her around."

I stared at Finnian in silence.

That classmate he mentioned had torn up my notes and thrown them into a ditch. I hadn't spoken for days because I'd been running a high fever and lost my voice.

He was perfectly aware of the truth, but he had no qualms about slandering me all for the sake of protecting Lissy.

I stood in silence without defending myself.

A moment later, Mr. Hawthorne rang the bell and sealed the outcome.

"Since it has been decided that Lissy is the one who remains, Romy, at midnight, you're to drink the water from the Morrow River of your own volition and surrender this body."

Finnian let out a long sigh of relief. He walked over to me and lowered his voice so only I could hear him, his tone cold and warning.

"Don't blame me for this. You owe her after what happened in the previous life. You'd better go quietly tonight. Don't even think about causing a scene."