Chapter 1: The Welcome Gift

It wasn’t until I hit the pavement—dead, broken, and alone—that I finally got it: my rich parents never wanted me.

But they were bound to a system, and if they didn’t conquer me, they would die. That’s the only reason they dragged me back into their pristine, magazine-perfect life.

They reluctantly brought me home, but the house they gave me was filled with poison. The moment I stepped inside, my eyes stung from the sharp, chemical tang. It was the kind of smell that clung to your clothes, burning the back of your throat.

They yanked me out of the testing center, my number two pencil still warm in my hand. No explanation, just a cold car and silence.

The partner they introduced me to was unstable, manic. And eventually, I was shoved off a high-rise balcony by that same partner, falling to my death. Not a single family member shed a tear. They didn’t even bother to hide their relief.

That’s when I understood—no matter what the system demanded, my family would always choose the fake heiress over me.

But when I opened my eyes again, I was back—reborn on the very day I’d first been brought home.

Bethany, the so-called daughter of the Thompson family, burst out laughing as she saw the pink house Dad was about to gift me. “Wow, Rachel. Dad really went all out for you, huh? You’d better show him how grateful you are and move in ASAP.”

This time, I didn’t accept it with wide-eyed gratitude.

Instead, I flashed her a wicked smile. “If you think this villa is so great, why don’t I give it to you as a welcome gift?”