Heiress Swap: They're Stealing My Life

"Welcome home, Olivia. I got you this gift to celebrate your return," my brother, Alex Lowe, said eagerly.

As he spoke, he handed me an exquisitely crafted gift box.

I opened the box with a smile. But the moment my fingertips brushed against the necklace inside, my entire body froze.

My parents, who had been watching from the side, chuckled at my reaction.

"Olivia, your brother went to more than 20 different malls to search for the perfect gift. In the end, nothing was good enough. So, he had this necklace custom-made just for you."

As I stood there in a daze, my family assumed I was feeling shy and wanted to help me put on the necklace.

Without thinking, I abruptly pushed them away and stumbled backward.

Alex caught the necklace before it hit the ground. Even though I had nearly fallen over, he didn't spare me a single glance.

Once my parents made sure that the necklace was still intact, they turned to me with displeased expressions.

"Your brother went through a lot of trouble to get you a gift, Olivia Lowe," they barked. "What's with the attitude? Come here and put it on right now!"

I stared at their anxious expressions and felt my heart sink.

The moment I touched the necklace, their unspoken thoughts instantly began to echo within my head.

"I wonder how Jennifer is doing…"

"Once this idiot keeps the necklace on for seven days straight, our beloved Jennifer will be able to make a full recovery!"

"Olivia may be our biological daughter, but Jennifer is the one who's always been by our side. Look at Olivia—she's so lifeless. How could she possibly compare to Jennifer?"

Jennifer.

Jennifer.

Jennifer.

Her name echoed through my mind over and over again.

It took me a long time before I finally pieced the truth together.

My family wasn't unbothered by the fact that Jennifer—their adopted daughter—was hospitalized with severe injuries. On the contrary, they were trying to use my "healthy" body to give her the freedom she had always dreamed of.

Jennifer was born with a congenital heart condition. For 20 years, she couldn't run, jump, or go anywhere without being accompanied by her family.

She felt trapped by her illness, and their hearts ached for her.

But what about me?

When my biological parents brought me home last night, I was elated. Initially, I thought that I was finally going to have a family. As it turned out, I had walked straight into another nightmare.

When I stayed still and remained silent, Alex and my parents finally lost their patience.

Feeling frustrated, my parents held me in place while Alex swiftly fastened the necklace around my neck. Afterward, they let out a breath of relief.

"Your brother went out of his way to have this necklace blessed by a priest. It's meant to keep you safe and bring you good luck. Do make sure to wear it at all times. You mustn't take it off no matter what."

As I listened to their seemingly caring reminders, I gradually teared up, and my heart began to grow cold. Instead of resisting, I straightened the necklace and gently traced the pattern on its surface with my fingers.

I desperately wished that the next seven days would pass by in the blink of an eye. I couldn't wait to see what would happen after Jennifer and I swapped bodies.

Mom, Dad, Alex. I genuinely hoped you'd still be smiling when that day came.