Chapter 3

Even after everything, their long-lost daughter still couldn't compare to the girl they had raised by their side.

"Mom, Dad, you're not actually having second thoughts, are you?" Alex demanded. "Jennifer is still hospitalized. If you give up on our plan now, what is she supposed to do?"

"Of course not!" Mom blurted out. "Throughout all these years, Olivia has suffered a lot. Once the swap is complete, we'll just make it up to her by showering her with love and affection!"

"Exactly," Dad agreed. "We'll make up for all the years we weren't there for her. Besides, after the swap, she'll be able to stay with us forever."

…

After that day, my parents began treating me with excessive care.

They started asking about my favorite foods and hobbies. Little by little, they began to show an interest in me.

At the dinner table, they'd always insist that I take the first bite. If one of my favorite soups was served, Mom would patiently blow on each spoonful before bringing it to my lips. Meanwhile, Dad started coming home every evening with a new gift for me.

"Look, Olivia. This is your third birthday present," he said. "I know you've missed out on a lot over the years, so we're going to do everything we can to make it up to you."

At that moment, Alex happened to walk past. Once he caught sight of the exchange, he stopped in his tracks and stared at me coldly.

Not to my surprise, his thoughts echoed in my head immediately afterward.

"She's putting on such a convincing act. She's just pretending to be pitiful so she can take some of our attention away from Jennifer. How dare she? The mere sight of her makes me sick."

My gaze drifted to the framed photograph on the wall. In the picture, Alex was hugging Jennifer with a bright smile on his face. The image was almost painful to look at.

I averted my gaze. When I lifted my head again, I flashed Alex a shallow smile and asked, "Isn't Jennifer being discharged from the hospital today, Alex?"

The atmosphere in the living room instantly shifted.

A long silence followed. Then, Mom let out an awkward laugh.

"That's right. You haven't had a chance to meet your sister, right? Since she's returning home today, let's have a proper family dinner together," she said.

The truth was, they had already told Jennifer about the entire plan yesterday after she regained consciousness. They were terrified that she'd do something to affect her recovery if they had kept her in the dark.

There was only one day left before the seven-day period was up. The closer they were to achieving their goal, the more anxious they became. They didn't want anything to go wrong at such a crucial time.

As the atmosphere in the room turned tense, a sharp pain twisted in my chest. Despite the newfound love and concern they showed me, their resolve remained unchanged.

…

By evening, Jennifer was sitting on the couch in the living room.

She stared at me the entire time. When she finally spotted the necklace around my neck, the hostility in her expression eased slightly, and a phony smile appeared on her face.

"Dad, Mom? I want to have an apple!" she requested.

"Of course!" Mom replied immediately. "I'll peel one for you right now."

The entire room came alive after she uttered one single sentence.

While Mom was in the kitchen, Dad and Alex gathered around her and showered her with concern. I, on the other hand, stood there like a stranger in my own home.

Feeling lost, I quietly slipped out of the living room.

I had just reached the pool when I heard someone approaching me from behind. Not a moment after, Jennifer leaned in close to my ear and hissed, "Do you really think you can waltz back into this house and take everything from me?"

"Dream on!" she snarled. "Mom, Dad, and Alex will only love me. You're nothing but a tool and a pathetic little clown!"

Her lips curved into a cruel smile before she added, "How about a bet? If I win, you leave the Lowe family and never show your face again."

Before I could respond, I was shoved forward. Following a huge splash, I was engulfed in the ice-cold water.

Memories of drowning in a manure pit came rushing back to me. Overwhelmed by a familiar sense of terror, I desperately tried to stay afloat, but I couldn't stop the darkness from swallowing me whole.

After observing me from the edge of the pool for some time, Jennifer jumped in as well.

"Alex! Help me!" she screamed.

Upon hearing her cries, Alex came running to her rescue.

Without a moment of hesitation, he dove straight into the water and swam toward her.

After he pulled her out of the water, my parents yelled, "Olivia is in the pool too! Why isn't she moving? She's almost at the bottom of the pool!"

"Hurry! Get her out of the water!" They cried frantically.

Alex whipped his head around before the color drained from his face. Panicking, he dove back into the pool and dragged me out of the water.

I curled up on the cold, hard ground, coughing uncontrollably.

Alex pursed his lips as worry flickered across his face. But before he could say anything to me, Jennifer burst into tears.

He stared at her reddened eyes before he abruptly recalled something. Subsequently, his expression darkened, and he barked, "Did you push Jennifer into the pool?"

"Get on your knees and apologize to her right now!" he demanded. "Can't you see that you've frightened her?"

I wanted to defend myself, but my body began to shake even harder.

Upon seeing this, the last trace of warmth disappeared from Alex's eyes.

"Have you gotten too used to playing the victim, Olivia Lowe? When are you going to drop the act? You're just jealous of Jennifer!" he roared as he stormed toward me, clearly intending to teach me a lesson.

My parents rushed forward to stop him.

"Have some patience, Alex! The seven-day period is almost up. Wait until the swap is complete. If you harm her now, Jennifer will be the one who suffers!"

As I lay on the cold ground, I felt my heart gradually grow numb. It almost felt as though it had stopped beating entirely.

As my mind grew hazy and my consciousness began to fade, I heard a bright tinkle.

All of a sudden, the pain that had plagued my body for years vanished, and warmth returned to my limbs.

Before I could process what just happened, Jennifer let out a bloodcurdling scream.

"Mom! Dad! Alex—everything hurts!"

The air around us instantly fell silent.

Then, I realized that the seven-day period had passed.

Alarmed by her screams, Alex and my parents rushed toward Jennifer in panic. However, just as Alex tried to carry her to the hospital, a metallic clatter echoed across the air.

The flesh-colored prosthetic attached to her body had been accidentally pulled off. Rusted screws clattered onto the tiles and rolled across the floor beneath everyone's horrified gaze.

Color drained from my family's faces as they stared at the empty pant leg hanging from my former body.

Meanwhile, I lay on the floor, barely conscious.

For the first time in years, I felt complete.

I kept my eyes on them and flashed them a smile.

Mom? Dad? Alex?

Why weren't they smiling anymore?