Chapter 1

"Crystal, what are you daydreaming about? Come take a look at the necklace I bought for your mother. Isn't it beautiful?"

My father's voice pulled me back to reality. A gentle, refined smile rested on his face.

The moment I saw the diamond necklace gleaming with its icy brilliance, my scalp went numb.

Cold sweat broke out across my back, and my fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

The hellish scenes from my previous life came flooding back in an instant.

After stealing my mother's soul, Vanessa Moore took over her identity and spent every day tormenting me.

She beat and berated me whenever she pleased, threw away all my belongings, and spread rumors everywhere, telling people I was bitter, ungrateful, and difficult.

When I discovered the truth, I went to the police and begged our relatives for help.

But my biological father, Richard Lowe, was determined to protect the comfortable life he gained through his connection to a wealthy family.

He joined forces with Vanessa and turned everything against me.

They twisted the truth, claiming I was mentally unstable and suffering from delusions.

They forcibly dragged me into a psychiatric institution when I was still only a teenager.

It was never a place for healing. It was a living nightmare.

Whenever the orderlies were in a bad mood, they would hit and curse at me without reason.

They would lock me in a freezing, pitch-black isolation cell and leave me there for days.

They forced bitter sedatives down my throat until I was dizzy, nauseated, and barely conscious.

The violent patients bullied me, stole my meals, ripped my clothes, and shoved me onto the cold floor before trampling over me at will.

I cried and begged for mercy countless times, hoping my father would remember that I was his daughter and come take me home, away from that hell.

But even until my death, I never received a shred of compassion from him.

Richard lived comfortably off the fortune Vanessa stole from my mother's family.

Meanwhile, Vanessa wore my mother's face and basked in wealth, admiration, and endless luxury.

Just as my mother reached toward the jewelry box, I deliberately stumbled and swung my arm hard across the table.

Crash!

Half a cup of warm water splashed directly onto the jewelry box.

"I'm sorry, Dad! I didn't mean to!"

I pretended to panic, quickly grabbed some tissues, and began wiping it off.

My father's expression darkened instantly. His eyes filled with impatience, and it was obvious he was about to lose his temper.

My mother immediately stepped in front of me and spoke gently:

"It's alright, it's alright. Crystal must be exhausted from studying and simply got distracted. Don't blame her."

She looked at me with concern, her eyes filled with the warmth and affection that had belonged to my mother before she was replaced.

My real mother still stood before me, untouched and unchanged. The sight made my nose sting, and I nearly teared up.

This was really my mother.

I forced down the hatred and sorrow surging inside me and spoke as naturally as I could.

"Dad, Mom's hands are covered in sauce. It'd be a shame to get a necklace that expensive dirty. She can put it on after we finish eating."

My father's gaze darkened as he stared at me. He was just about to object when his phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the caller ID and hurried off to the balcony to take the call.

I took advantage of the opportunity and quickly hid the cursed necklace.

When he returned after finishing the call, I smiled and spoke in an obedient tone.

"Dad, if you're busy, go ahead. I'll help Mom put it on later."

My father looked hesitant, but he didn't dare make it too obvious. In the end, he could only nod.

"Alright. Take a photo and send it to me after she puts it on."

With that, he hurried out the door.

My mother was still sitting beside me, absentmindedly placing pieces of crab onto my plate, completely unaware that anything was wrong.

"Mom, come to my room with me. I need to tell you something important."