Chapter 3

Looking up at the clock on the wall, Mom told me to sit comfortably on the sofa and wait for dinner.

"Your brother Daniel will be home from work soon. You two siblings can have a good chat then."

Victoria, however, seemed to have thought of something and quickly walked to her room. She then came out holding a radio.

"Daniel specially bought this for me. How about it? I bet a country bumpkin like you has never seen anything this nice in your whole life.”

"Let me tell you something. Don't even think about competing with me. In this house, Mom, Dad and Daniel will always love me the most."

Victoria pointed to the stylish bicycle outside the door and said proudly, "See that bicycle? It's the only women's bicycle in the entire town. Dad specially bought it for my 18th birthday and said that I'll always be his beloved little princess.”

"Whether it's watches, bicycles or radios, they'll do everything they can to give me whatever I want. You're just a novelty that'll wear off soon."

Victoria glanced at the shadow by the doorway and kept fiddling with the items in her possession, trying to provoke me.

In my past life, I really did fall for her trick and complained bitterly in my heart about Mom, Dad and Daniel. However, this time, she was destined to be disappointed.

I looked at Victoria and smiled without saying a word. In my heart, I kept thinking, 'I'm so envious of Victoria. She's so lucky to have grown up with such a loving family. I slept in a cold shed and never even knew things like radios existed.'

'But why does she call Daniel ugly and fat behind his back? Why does she say Mom and Dad are cheap? If I were in her place, I would treasure every bit of this.'

With these thoughts, I lowered my head and looked utterly heartbroken.

"Daniel, you're back?" Just then, Victoria's excited voice rang in my ears. Seeing my brother's ashen face, a trace of satisfaction flashed across her eyes.

"This is our sister who was just brought back home. From now on, I'll definitely treat her well. I can share whatever I have with her!" Victoria bounced over and clung to Daniel's arm, acting cute while spouting endless sweet words.

"Oh really? If that's the case, why don't you give Bernice this radio as a welcome home gift?"

Without looking at Victoria, who stood frozen in place, he pulled me by the hand to sit at the dining table. Watching Mom and Dad beam at us siblings, I sighed inwardly.

'If only life could continue like this forever, but soon Dad and my brother will lose their jobs because of Victoria's report letter.'

'Mom and Dad love her so much, yet Victoria will harm the whole family because she's jealous that I'm getting some attention. She'll cause everyone to meet terrible ends.'

'No, now that I'm reborn, I absolutely cannot watch Mom and Dad get publicly criticized again.'

All three of them froze upon hearing my thoughts, looking at each other with shock and uncertainty.

'I just don't know if Mom and Dad would believe me if I told them. If I remember correctly, that letter should still be in Victoria's drawer. The accusations in it are really serious.'

Mom's hand trembled as she served me food, and a piece of beef fell onto the table. She then pretended nothing happened and smiled stiffly.

Victoria, however, still wore her bright smile. "Mom, Dad, I'd like to go hang out at Lily's house after dinner."

'There she goes. She’s looking for a chance to deliver that letter to the police station. How can I save Mom and Dad?'

My face showed traces of anxiety, and my heart kept searching for solutions. Mom, Dad and Daniel showed signs of wavering, but still could not believe that the daughter they had raised for all these years would do such a thing.

After dinner, Mom absentmindedly cleaned the dishes in the kitchen. Victoria returned to her room once, then quietly left the house with a small bag.

Watching her departing figure, I could no longer contain myself and followed her.

Amidst the quiet night, Victoria looked at the empty street and let out a triumphant laugh.

"Let's see if they'll still let her stay in the house after their own biological daughter reports them and they lose their jobs! When that happens, everything in the house will still be mine."

With that, Victoria carefully took out a letter from her bag and prepared to stuff it into the complaint box at the police station's entrance.

'If they really get reported, the Harrington family will be finished,' I thought desperately.

Before I could react, a dark figure rushed forward, grabbing Victoria's hand and demanding, "Victoria, please explain why you're here and what you're holding in your hand?"