Chapter 4

It was not anyone else. It was my parents.

“Mom, Dad, I was just dealing with those thugs. They were trying to scam us! Why’re you angry?

“Wait… I thought you were dead?

“Matthew, you broke the news of their deaths. You even put it in the papers and online. What’s going on?”

My barrage of questions froze their raised hands in midair.

“Well, we…”

“Serena, shouldn’t you be glad Mom and Dad are alive? Why’re you questioning them?” Jane said as she walked over and gave them a way out of the situation.

They nodded.

“That’s right. We ran into the typhoon, but Jane stayed calm and saved us!”

I did not answer and just stared at the three of them.

It was no wonder they had faked their deaths so easily.

Lying was like second nature to them. Their faces did not even change as they did it.

My mom looked around and covered her nose in disgust.

“Get rid of this mess and apologize to Jane! This is sickening!”

My dad scowled.

“Serena, you’ve really disappointed us. Go restore our records at the registry office. Without an identity, how am I supposed to run my company?”

Jane smiled as she helped them sit and turned to me.

“Come on, Serena. Don’t tell me you’re not happy to see us alive!”

I stayed where I was.

“Sorry, but in the eyes of the law, the three of you no longer exist.

“And Dad, don’t worry about the company. Since your death, I inherited everything as your heir. I am already the new shareholder.”

The funeral hall went silent at my words.

My dad clutched at his chest and gasped for breath.

My mom’s face twisted in rage. She looked at me as if she wanted me to drop dead on the spot.

Jane screamed and pulled out his heart medicine.

“Dad, are you all right?!

“Serena, how could you be so cruel? The Jameson family company belongs to me! When Dad recovers, you’ll have to hand everything back!”

I crossed my arms and stepped back. I looked at the three of them with a cold smile on my face.

“That depends on whether you have the talent.”

Relief surged through me as I sipped my tea.

This particular tea really did taste better than the tap water I once poured into used bottles in my past life.

As Jane and my mom fussed over my father, I said to them, “You’d better go to a smaller clinic. Hospitals can’t treat people who don’t have legal identities.”

Jane cursed at me. I ignored her and thought about the houses, cars, and shares I had inherited. I was about to walk away when I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned and saw Matthew’s twisted face. Then, everything went black.

When I woke up again, sunlight filled the room. My head throbbed. I tried to move, only to realize that my hands and feet were tied up.

The four of them sat on the couch nearby. They had not noticed that I was awake. They were talking loudly.

“Jane, your idea was perfect! We saw Serena’s true colors.

“She dares to covet what belongs to me? She can keep dreaming! Don’t worry, Jane, I’ll make her give everything back.”

“Mom, Dad, you’re the best! But owning the world means nothing if I can’t get into a good university.”

“Don’t worry. We already decided. Once we’re done with Serena, we will give you her identity. You will get into a top school and officially become our daughter.”

Hopelessness surged inside me. I stayed quiet and struggled to reach the kitchen for scissors.

Unfortunately, I bumped into a vase. It fell with a heavy thud.

My parents and Jane rushed over.

“Serena, you think you’re clever trying to take over the Jameson family? You failed the test. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.”

Their fists and kicks rained down. My mom’s heel slammed on my face. I turned my head, and pain tore through my ear.

Jane stood above me with an elegant smile and watched me suffer.

“Serena, you have only yourself to blame for being so greedy.”

Then, she handed my dad a boning knife.

“Dad, your health isn’t good. Use this. Be careful not to hurt yourself.”

Furious, my father grabbed the knife and raised it high. At that moment, there was a heavy pounding at the door.

“Does Serena live here?”