Chapter 2

In my past life, I rejected Holden's idea of recognizing Leah as his sister, causing the latter to down an entire bottle of sleeping pills to take her own life. It was quite fortunate for her that a maid spotted her and rescued her in time.

It was from that day onward that the tension between me and the rest of the household grew deeper. They all considered me a malicious woman, capable of being jealous of someone on their deathbed.

Holden responded to the national directive and relocated to the northwest region to stimulate economic development later on. He departed without hesitation, taking Leah with him.

I was completely disregarded when Leah passed away; Holden officially acknowledged Leah as his sister and even had her buried in the family mausoleum.

Charles said, "Leah spent her entire life suffering and sacrificing for Dad, and in the end, all she wanted was some formal recognition, Mom. Is that really too much to ask? You need to realize that if it weren't for you, the two of them would have been a perfect, happy couple long ago!"

Sierra said, "You're nothing but someone from the countryside, whereas Dad comes from an elite family background. You two were never a good match to begin with. Why are you so obsessed with holding onto the title of Mrs. Gunning anyway, Mom?"

I even questioned myself sometimes, wondering if I really was this awful, evil person. I eventually reflected on it and found out that I was the only one who cared for Charles and Sierra whenever they were sick.

I was the only one who stayed by my mother-in-law's side day and night to care for her meticulously when she suffered a stroke and lay paralyzed in bed.

I was the one who used my wedding gifts to cover the deficit when the Gunning family encountered financial distress and suffered a shortage of capital, even tapping into Dad's massive fortune.

I spent every day in agony at home, my heart filled with unspeakable pain. Holden, on the other hand, was out with his beloved first love, indulging in romantic intimacy. Charles and Sierra were still admiring their fairy-tale romance.

Why did everyone expect me to just swallow my anger, suffer in silence, and act like a spineless doormat who always bent over backward for them?

I looked at my younger self in the mirror, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. I maintained my smile as the painful memories of my past life flashed before me one after another. I had been reborn, so I would give them exactly what they wanted. I was going to live only for myself for the rest of my life.

It was around noon, and I was still working with my lawyer to calculate how much money I had put in and how the assets should be divided when I heard a knock on the door and Leah's timid voice.

She walked in looking totally helpless, holding a bowl while saying, "I know I've been a huge hassle recently, so I went to the kitchen today to make some fish chowder for you. It's really delicious, so please have some, Raelynn."

I noticed that Charles and Sierra were standing outside as well, though they were staring at Leah the entire time, as though she were their real mother.

I simply waved my hand in refusal and said, "I don't want it."

Leah staggered back as if she had been pushed. She spilled the fish chowder onto the floor, with some splashing onto her hand. She cried out repeatedly from the pain as her hand turned red almost instantly.

Charles snapped, "You didn't have to push Leah even if you didn't want any of it, Mom!"

Sierra added, "You've really gone too far this time, Mom. You actually injured Leah."

Leah said, "It's not Raelynn's fault. It's my own fault for not holding onto it properly."

Upon seeing Leah trying to frame me yet again, I remembered that she had pulled this exact trick in my past life—except back then, she was even more ruthless. She had deliberately broken her own leg just to pin the blame on me and win over my family's sympathy.

I knew for a fact that she wasn't someone with a terminal illness who was about to die at all; in my past life, she had lived happily with Holden in the northwest region.

I wasn't going to hold back in this life, though. I instantly raised my hand, slapping her hard across the face.

I hadn't even had the chance to slap her again when someone suddenly caught my hand in a tight grip.

Holden held my hand in a death grip, looking absolutely furious. He regarded me with a frigid gaze before snarling, "It seems I've spoiled you too much, allowing you to act in such a manner, Raelynn!"

Leah was still dazed, having never expected me to actually hit her. She hurriedly threw herself into Holden's arms after coming to her senses.

She then sobbed while saying, "I was the one at fault here, Holden. I was just worried about getting in the way of your relationship, so I made fish chowder today, especially for Raelynn. I had no idea she'd refuse to eat it, let alone push and slap me…"