Chapter 2

"Maya, your sister just took some of your money, right? Do you have to be so petty?"

When Mom Eleanor's chilling voice rang in my ears, I realized I had been reborn.

In my previous life, my love-struck sister stole my emergency funds for plastic surgery, desperate to win back her boyfriend.

When I found out, Chloe scoffed, "Maya, I'm enhancing my looks, pursuing happiness! Unlike you, who's ugly and fat and totally clueless about it!"

I was so furious, I could only laugh. "You're destroying yourself to meet beauty standards!"

But Chloe shrugged it off, even cried to Mom, claiming I bullied her.

Eleanor, hearing this, immediately glared at me viciously and personally signed my death warrant. "You burden! Chloe is our family's darling, how dare you bully her? Go die!"

Snapping back to reality, I met their arrogant gaze and smiled coldly. "Fine. I know the law better than I used to. Grand theft is ten years in prison! If you're not afraid of jail time, go ahead and try it!"

My words made Chloe's face go pale. "Maya, you're so cruel!"

Her tears started flowing immediately. "Is it wrong for me to want to be beautiful? Are you just jealous that I'm younger and prettier, that's why you're treating me like this?"

Eleanor looked at Chloe's reddened nose and instantly felt sympathy. She pointed a finger at my face and yelled, "Maya! You vicious, venomous girl! Chloe is your own sister, don't you care about family ties anymore? You ungrateful wretch!"

She wielded the knife of 'family love' without hesitation, each blow aimed to kill.

Looking at her familiar yet strange face, my heart ached.

We were both her daughters.

Why could Chloe openly enjoy her favoritism?

What did I do wrong? Why did she hate me so much?

My thoughts returned.

I looked at Eleanor, each word torn from my soul. "Eleanor, I need money for my treatment too! I'm your daughter too! Why are you always so biased towards Chloe? Tell me, what do I have to do to earn your affection?"

I wanted to find even a flicker of remorse or affection on her face.

But there was nothing.

Eleanor shielded Chloe, her cold eyes held only distance and indifference. "Chloe is younger, shouldn't you, as the older sister, be more understanding?"

I laughed, tears welling up.

It seemed no matter how much I screamed and begged, her ability to deflect was more brutal.

Perhaps she was tired from yelling. She glared at me fiercely and walked out of the hospital room. "Forget it, I don't want to be around a heartless creature like you. You're bad news!"

The door slammed shut, echoing dully.

Leaving me standing there, like a discarded clown.

That afternoon, Chloe sought me out.

The girl's face had lost its earlier pitiful look, replaced by a hint of triumph. "Want to know why Mom hates you so much?"

She raised an eyebrow, her tone full of provocation. "Give me seven thousand dollars. And I'll tell you."

I gritted my teeth and paid her.

After Chloe saw the transfer notification, she gave a cold laugh. "Alright, if you want the truth, just look at this photo."

She picked up a yellowed photo and shoved it into my hand.

I lowered my gaze.

My eyes involuntarily widened.

The woman in the photo had eyes that curved into crescents, and a pair of shallow dimples appeared when she smiled.

She looked almost exactly like me.