Chapter 1

Yvette glanced anxiously at the clock.

“But where can we even run to? Ms. Hovard said the Grant family will be here in one minute.”

Yvette and I grew up in the same orphanage. We shared the same birthday and even looked alike, so everyone thought we were best friends. However, only we knew the truth—we were rivals.

She once stuffed a toad into my slipper while I poured capsaicin into her drink. She slipped laxatives into my food, making me embarrass myself in front of the boy I liked. That very night, I snuck into her room and gave her a disastrous haircut while she slept.

In my first life, the Grants came to the orphanage, saying their child had been kidnapped and abandoned here. I figured if anyone was going to benefit from it, it definitely could not be Yvette.

Hence, I beat her to it, threw myself at Mrs. Grant, clung to her leg, and tearfully called her 'Mom'. That was how I got taken home.

Not long after, Mr. Grant dragged me to the hospital, saying they needed a DNA test. They said they would only take one vial of blood, but there were already three bags beside me when I woke up.

Before I could process anything, both of them grabbed me. Their eyes blazed with rage, calling me a liar.

“You’re already deceiving people at such a young age!”

“You’re not the one we’re looking for!”

“A fake like you deserves to pay for your lies!”

They tightened their grip around my throat until my face turned blue, and I could not even cry.

With the last of my strength, I forced out a broken string of words, “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please send me back to the orphanage…”

Mrs. Grant hesitated for a moment and was about to let go of me, but Mr. Grant stopped her cold.

“If you go soft now, when will we ever find our daughter…”

I never heard the rest. They strangled me to death.

In my second life, I learned my lesson. I deliberately gave myself food poisoning and was sent to the hospital that same day. From my hospital bed, I watched Yvette beat me to it, clinging to Mrs. Grant’s leg.

I thought, since I was not their real daughter, perhaps she was.

Sure enough, by the time I was discharged, I was told Yvette had already been taken home by the Grant family. I thought I could finally breathe easy, but while watching TV at the orphanage, I saw a news report.

A mummified corpse had been found abandoned in the wilderness, completely drained of blood. Even though the image was censored, I recognized the watch on the corpse’s wrist at a glance.

It was the birthday gift the director, Ms. Hovard, had given both Yvette and me!

In the present moment, both of us turned pale as we recalled the fates of our past lives.

I gripped my suitcase and quickened my pace. “If we avoid them now, maybe…”

Before I could finish, Ms. Hovard walked in with a smile on her face as she ushered Mr. and Mrs. Grant inside.

I quickly shoved my suitcase aside.

“Mr. Grant, we have two children here who fit the criteria.”

Mr. and Mrs. Grant stared at Yvette and me without saying a word, so the director said awkwardly, “Queenie, haven’t you always wished for someone to take you home? Mr. Grant’s child might be…”

I looked at Ms. Hovard, then at the Grant family, and suddenly pushed the stunned Yvette forward.

“Ms. Hovard, please don’t lie to me. Yvette clearly resembles this lady more. How could you make me call someone else’s mom my mom?”

Mrs. Grant’s eyes lit up as she looked at Yvette.

Yvette shot me a glare, then quickly fired back, “Ms. Hovard, why listen to Queenie? I think she looks more like that mister! Besides, we're best friends! I’m staying with her. I’m not going anywhere!”

Mr. Grant raised an eyebrow at me when he heard that.

Ms. Hovard was stuck.

“Mr. Grant, well… These two children are a match for your description. I can’t be sure right now…”

Mr. Grant made the decision on the spot. “It’s not like the Grant family can’t afford two children. We’ll take them both.”

I swallowed and exchanged a glance with Yvette. Despite the terror of being killed in my previous life, I gathered my courage and asked, “Sir, how do you know one of us is your biological child? What if neither of us is?”

“Impossible!” Mr. Grant answered without hesitation. “My child is one of the two of you.”