Chapter 2

My mother immediately noticed something was wrong and followed me into my bedroom.

"What is it, Crystal? What's happened?"

The moment I saw my mother standing there, safe and unharmed, all the fear and humiliation from my previous life came rushing back.

Tears spilled down my face before I could stop them.

"Mom! Dad is trying to hurt you! That necklace is cursed. If you wear it, you'll switch bodies with Vanessa. You can't touch it!"

My mother's brows knitted together instantly.

She was the CEO of a major corporation, a woman with sharp instincts and a clear mind.

In truth, she had long suspected there was something inappropriate going on between my father and Vanessa. She only endured it all for my sake.

"Slow down. Tell me exactly what's going on."

She gripped my hand tightly.

I told her everything that happened in my previous life, leaving out nothing.

When I finished, the shock on her face gradually gave way to a coldness that seemed to settle into her bones. Ice filled her eyes.

After a long silence, she gently wiped away my tears.

"I was foolish. You've suffered because of me. I noticed there was something going on between them, but I never imagined they could be this vicious."

A ruthless edge flashed across her eyes.

"Don't be afraid, Crystal. This time, they won't get away with it."

The burden I carried for an entire lifetime finally lifted from my heart.

In my previous life, I died alone.

But this time, my mother and I would stand together and make those two pay for everything they had done.

I wiped away my tears, a calculating glint flashing across my eyes.

"Mom, I've already figured out how we're going to deal with them."

My mother immediately called in her connections and tracked down a master jeweler known for creating flawless replicas.

After photographing every detail of the necklace, she paid six hundred thousand dollars upfront and had him produce an identical copy overnight.

While the replica was still being made, my mother put on the real necklace for a few seconds, took several photos, and sent them to my father.

Just as we expected, he was thrilled. He showered her with compliments, completely falling into the trap we had set.

To avoid having my father discover the switch too early, my mother came up with an excuse and temporarily moved out of the house.

My father was still clueless enough to remind her repeatedly not to take the necklace off and to wear it every single day.

The next day, as soon as I walked into the classroom, I spotted Samuel Cook admiring himself in a compact mirror.

He carefully touched up his lipstick and fussed over his perfectly styled bangs.

His school uniform had been tailored to fit closer to his waist, making him look even slimmer and more delicate than some of the girls in our class.

A passing boy couldn't resist teasing him.

"Well, look at that. Samuel's pretending to be a girl again. Want me to buy you a dress?"

Samuel immediately shot him a glare and planted his hands on his hips.

"Mind your own business. Keep running your mouth and I'll scratch your face off."

The boys laughed and walked away.

Everyone at school knew Samuel had always wished he'd been born a girl.

He loved pretty clothes, makeup, and anything fashionable. Deep down, he hated being trapped in a male body.

I walked straight over and tapped him lightly on the shoulder.

He jumped and looked at me warily.

"Are you here to make fun of me too?"

I pulled a velvet jewelry box from my backpack and held it out to him.

"I'm not here to make fun of you. I'm here to give you something special."

Samuel opened the box in confusion.

The diamond inside was so large and dazzling that it practically blinded him.

"I-Is this a real diamond?"

I spoke casually.

"This necklace was blessed by a renowned spiritual medium. It's said to possess a special power. Wear it continuously for three days, and your deepest wish will come true."

Samuel's eyes lit up instantly.

"Really? If I wear it for three days, I'll turn into a woman?"

"More effective than surgery," I replied calmly. "You won't become a teenage girl, though. More like a woman in her thirties—beautiful, sophisticated, and absolutely stunning."

Before I could finish, Samuel cut me off excitedly.

"I don't care how old I am! I'll take it! As long as I can finally be a real woman!"

He snatched up the necklace and immediately fastened it around his neck, treating it like the most precious thing in the world.

"Don't worry! I won't take it off for three days. I'll sleep and shower in it; I'll wear it every second of the day!"

Over the next few days, Samuel guarded the necklace as if his life depended on it.

Anyone who so much as touched it earned an instant outburst.

Even during gym class, he kept one hand clamped over his collar, terrified it might fall off.

Meanwhile, I quietly counted down the days.

In just one more day, the soul-swapping ritual would take effect.

Coincidentally, it would also be the sixteenth wedding anniversary charity gala for my parents.