Chapter 2

The strange words that had appeared seemed fixed in front of me.

Even if I waved my hand to scatter them, they would reappear seconds later.

And the content of the words grew more and more alarming.

**[That devil, at three years old, she’d stab her sister’s eyes with a fork. At ten, she’d put mercury in the milk her sister was about to drink. Her sister was lucky to even survive to adulthood.]**

**[Yeah, and she only lived to adulthood, right? At eighteen, the devil sister sold her off to some remote place…]**

**[If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t swap them back. This sweet girl from the nanny’s family is so much better. At least you wouldn’t have to worry about dying any day.]**

My hand, poised to pick up the baby and swap my biological sister back, froze in mid-air.

I didn't know what these sudden, strange words were, but I felt an overwhelming fear growing inside me.

If I swapped my sister back, would I really end up like they said?

Living in constant anxiety and danger until I was eighteen, only to be sold off to the countryside by my sister before I could truly enjoy the world.

I instinctively wanted to wake Mom, but she wouldn't open her eyes no matter what.

All I could do was clutch my dress, squatting on the floor and sobbing uncontrollably.

Before my sister was born, Mom and Dad had told me countless times to be good to her.

Because I was the older sister, and older sisters were naturally supposed to be good to their younger siblings.

I knew I should run to the hospital front desk and tell the nurses and doctors that my sister had been swapped.

But I was too scared. I didn’t dare.

I was terrified that if I brought my sister back, my future would be ruined by her.

My eyes were red from crying, gasping for breath.

Just then, my dad came panting up the stairs.

He’d just finished scolding me for dawdling and taking so long to fetch the keys.

The next second, he saw me sobbing, almost collapsing, and quickly hugged me, soothing me gently.

"What's wrong, Alice? Don't cry, don't cry. Did someone bully you?"

I clutched my dad’s shirt collar, shaking my head through my tears.

After finally catching my breath, I blurted out a flimsy excuse with red-rimmed eyes.

"No, I just… suddenly missed Mom."

My dad sighed helplessly, stroked my head, and said I was a good daughter.

Then, telling Mom and my sister to rest well, he picked me up and carried me out.

Before he closed the door, I glanced back at the bassinet. The baby Mrs. Davis had given birth to was awake.

Her big, clear eyes stared directly at me. Then she smiled, showing off her soft, pink gums.

In that moment, I suddenly made my decision—

I’d take a chance. I’d trust the the live commentary just this once.

Staying alive was what mattered most!