Chapter 1

When Mom gave birth to my little brother, Alex Hardy, Dad booked the entire floor of a private hospital.

He stayed by her side with me in his arms, pacing around the room and breaking out in a nervous sweat whenever she cried out in pain.

Right then and there, he declared that the moment Alex was born, he would make a public statement regarding his assets.

50% for me, 50% for Alex—no favoritism whatsoever.

When he said those words, he had no idea that right in that very room, the young, attractive nurse's eyes lit up the moment she heard him.

In my past life, the day after Alex was born, Mom was resting in her hospital bed while Dad was utterly exhausted after holding me and watching over her all night.

That was when the young nurse, Zoe Scott, walked in, saying it was time for the baby's feeding.

To avoid disturbing Mom's rest, she offered to take Alex next door to feed him.

In that life, I knew nothing, and Dad didn't think twice about it. He assumed Zoe was just being thoughtful, so he handed Alex over without a second thought.

That single handoff was all it took. Zoe and Alex vanished, never to be seen again.

Unable to face the harsh reality, Mom fell into a deep depression and took her own life before she even recovered from childbirth.

Dad couldn't forgive himself. He entrusted me to Grandpa before taking his own life to join Mom in death.

Losing his son left Grandpa heartbroken, and his mind quickly deteriorated.

Meanwhile, I became severely withdrawn after losing both my parents one after another.

When I was five, a nanny's carelessness led to me falling from the balcony. As I took my last breath, I was still calling out for Mom, Dad, and Alex.

Now, I'd been reborn and returned to the day Mom gave birth to Alex when I was three.

Looking at the happy expressions on Mom and Dad's faces and Alex's tender little face, I quietly clenched my tiny fists.

This time, I would never let that evil woman get her way!

Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I snuggled closer to Alex in his swaddle.

Dad chuckled, gently tousling my hair. "Look at that. She's already so attached to him."

Zoe pushed the door open. "Mr. Hardy, it's time for the baby's feeding. I'll take him next door."

She offered a sweet smile, her crisp uniform bathed in the warm overhead light.

Had it not been for the memories of my past life, I never would have pegged her for a monster.

Mom was still asleep, and Dad, having stayed up all night, was struggling to keep his eyes open.

Without a second thought, he murmured, "Thank you so much…"

"Don't touch my brother!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, snapping Dad awake.

Zoe's expression stiffened for a moment. Then, as if she suddenly thought of something, she quickly smiled again. "Looks like someone doesn't want to let go of her baby brother."