Find Happiness This Time

I jolted awake, drenched in sweat.My heart pounded violently against my ribs, as if it was trying to break free from my chest. The residual fear of free-falling hadn't faded. My eyes darted around, taking in the familiar arrangement of my room.I glanced at the clock.I had been reborn to the day my parents were kidnapped.In five minutes, the kidnappers would call, demanding the ransom be prepared within an hour—or they'd kill my parents.I was the Bells' long-lost daughter, missing for eighteen years.It had been less than a year since I reunited with them. They were my entire world now.No matter what, I couldn't let the tragedy of my previous life repeat itself.I rushed downstairs and positioned myself by the phone. My policeman brother, Thomas Bell, followed close behind, dressed casually in a windbreaker and cargo pants."Wendy, what's with the theatrics? Mom and Dad aren't even here. Aren't they missing because you had them kidnapped?"Thomas's lips curled into a moc

Steven quickly stepped forward to shake hands with the arriving officers. "I'm a fellow officer. I'm just here to check on Thomas's little sister," he said casually. It was only then that I noticed he was dressed in plain clothes. The moment he reached the doorway, he tried to slip away. However, the two officers blocked his path with firm resolve. I rushed to explain the situation. "Officers! My parents really have been kidnapped! I have a recording as proof!" The phone call I had specifically recorded finally came in handy. As the kidnapper's voice played, Steven's face turned ghostly pale. "But Thomas said it was all an act…" he stammered. "He said you staged this whole thing yourself!" I let out a cold snort, unwilling to waste my breath arguing. Unfolding the crumpled paper in my hands bit by bit, I pieced together fragments of hazy memories from my past life. Carefully recalling every minute detail, I quickly sorted through my thoughts and came up with a plausib

An invisible force clenched my heart in a merciless grip. Beads of sweat rolled down my forehead like raindrops. Every tick of the clock hammered against my chest, each second a tormenting reminder of the passing time. I picked up the paper card with trembling hands, my lips quivering as I forced myself to speak. "There's still time," I said, my voice shaky but desperate. "We're withdrawing money from different banks. The amount you're asking for is too much—it takes time to gather it all." The kidnapper on the other end let out a derisive laugh. "With an empire like the Bells, you mean to tell me you don't have this kind of cash on hand?" I was so tense I didn't dare respond. In those fleeting seconds of silence, something caught my attention—a faint, familiar sound in the background. It was the distinct whistle of a train. The officers monitoring the call noticed it too, signaling for me to stall for more time. "Let me hear their voices again," I pleaded, g

By the time my father was loaded into the ambulance, he had already lost consciousness, but he was still murmuring Thomas's name. My mother, overwhelmed with fear, had fainted as well. When the light above the operating room switched on, I was left sitting alone in the hallway. Thomas and Lillian arrived, arm in arm, their faces twisted in indignation. "What the hell happened? It's bad enough when you act out, but now you've managed to hurt Dad too?" Thomas barked, his tone sharp and accusatory. I met his glare with cold detachment, too drained to argue. I simply replied, "The kidnappers did it." Thomas immediately exploded. "You mean the actors you hired? How could they hurt Dad?! Seriously, do you think the Bells are some kind of joke? Mom and Dad must've been out of their minds to take you back!" Lillian, standing smugly beside him, added fuel to the fire. "Look at you, messing up again. I told you this would blow up in your face eventually," she sneered, her voice

Thomas was completely stunned, and it took him a moment to regain his senses."Mom, what are you talking about? I'm your biological son!" My mother's eyes pierced through Thomas, as though searching deep within him. "So what if you're my son? What were you doing when it mattered? You were off having fun with your sister while your father and I nearly lost our lives!"Her voice quivered as her breath quickened in agitation. I hurried to support her, gently patting her back, letting her catch her breath."We've given you the house and raised you all these years. We never asked for anything in return." She paused, tears welling up in her eyes. "Lillian, from now on, stay away from us and the Bells."With that, my mother broke into quiet sobs. I knew this decision hadn't been made lightly. She must have thought it through a thousand times.Thomas looked helplessly at my father, only to receive a harsh glare in response."Dad, Lillian may not be your biological daughter, but she's