In my past life, my parents divorced.
My younger sister, Brianna, was taken by our wealthy mother, while I stayed with our bankrupt dad.
Who knew Mom would remarry a domestic abuser, her life spiraling downwards? Meanwhile, Dad became more ambitious and eventually found success.
Brianna was consumed by jealousy. She plunged a knife into my stomach.
When I opened my eyes again, we were back to the day our parents officially finalized their divorce.
This time, Brianna spoke first:
I love Dad! I want to stay with Dad.
I was secretly thrilled. I definitely wasn’t going to live that life of hiding again.
Brianna clung to Dad’s arm, pouting sweetly.
Please, Dad, let me stay with you! I love you most in the world, and Im not afraid of a little hardship.
Spoiled and headstrong her whole life, my sister saying something like that really touched Dad.
He didn’t even notice Moms furious expression beside him.
No! Brianna will suffer with you. I have to take her.
Mom stepped forward to stop him.
Brianna would suffer with Dad? What about me? Didn’t I matter?
My parents were fiercely fighting over Brianna’s custody, as if I were invisible, completely forgotten.
Finally, they couldn’t argue with Brianna, who was dead set on going with Dad.
Mom reluctantly chose me.
I got into my stepfathers luxury car with Mom.
Brianna skipped away, holding Dads hand.
Before leaving, she cast a provocative glance my way.
I didn’t care.
After all, Mom was loaded now, and Dad’s side was nothing but trouble.
In my past life, Dad dragged me around, constantly hiding from creditors.
I couldn’t focus on school at all.
The business failure and Mom leaving had hit him hard. He completely gave up, drinking heavily in a cheap rental, not caring about anything.
I was an excellent student, but I couldn’t afford tuition, and I had to take care of him. I dropped out of school early to support us.
Even though we came from the same family, Brianna was always luckier.
She was prettier, knew how to charm our parents.
And since she was younger, they always told me,
“You’re the older sister, you should set an example. Give in to Brianna.”
Even after the divorce, both parents only wanted her.
But in this life, she ultimately chose Dad, giving him a moment of triumph over Mom.
Sitting in the car, Mom immediately started lecturing me.
You’ve always been plain and unlikeable. Now that we’re living with Mr. Caldwell, don’t you dare embarrass me.
It was laughable. What kind of mother says that to her own daughter?
But whatever. The car drove into an affluent neighborhood with sprawling estates.
I knew my stepfather was rich in my last life, but I never realized *how* rich.
Mr. Caldwell enrolled me in the best private school in the city.
I had a dedicated driver picking me up and dropping me off every day.
Determined to make up for my missed education in my past life, I studied relentlessly.
I really made him proud, consistently ranking in the top three every year.
Mom, who had always been distant, was now more than happy to attend parent-teacher conferences.
When she went, other parents envied her, and teachers praised her as an exemplary parent.
Plus, Mr. Caldwell had no children of his own, so I had a pretty comfortable life in that house.
Mr. Caldwell, I want to study abroad.
You’re just a kid. Why go abroad? Don’t think a few good grades mean you can achieve anything you want.
Mr. Caldwell hadn’t even spoken, but my own mother was already agitatedly cutting me off.
Later, I learned that there truly is no reason to hate someone.
Even between a mother and her own daughter.
Mr. Caldwell wasn’t like Mom and Brianna had described in my past life C temperamental, overbearing, and violent.
Instead, I found him incredibly intelligent, though proud and strong-willed.
His conflicts with Mom surfaced soon after we moved in.
Mom was a complete airheadall looks, no brains.
Honestly, she and Dad were a match made in heaven.
Dad was a true trust-fund kid, always more brawn than brains. It was pure stubbornness and money that got him Mom.
While my grandparents were alive, they propped him up.
After they passed away, those useless friends of his dragged him into bad investments. He lost all his wealth and everything my grandparents left him.
Mom immediately found a new husband and divorced him.
My plans to study abroad were thwarted by Moms interference.
But with my grades, I could easily get into a top university in the country anyway.
Brianna’s here!
Maria, is Mom home?
Your mother went shopping, but your sister is upstairs reading.
I heard Briannas footsteps approaching my room.
She just barged into my room without a knock or permission.
Amber, what’s with the act? Nobody’s home. Who are you trying to impress with all this studying? She walked straight over and snatched my book away.
Brianna was supposed to be living with Dad.
But almost every month, shed come to our house to get money from Mom, along with various jewelry and clothes.
She’d leave with an entire carload.
Then, the next month, shed still be wearing ragged clothes.
All the good stuff ended up being pawned by my gambling dad to fuel his wasteful habits.
In this life, Dad wasn’t just an alcoholic; he was also a heavy gambler.
Mom actually felt bad that Brianna was living a hard life with Dad.
She even talked to Mr. Caldwell about bringing Brianna to live with us.
He agreed, but Dad wouldn’t let her go.
He was relying on Brianna to keep squeezing money and things out of Mom to support his lifestyle.
You’ve studied yourself stupid! What’s the point of all those books? You’re not even as pretty as me, and neither Mom nor Dad even like you.
These good days you’re living? I handed them to you. Enjoy them while you can, because they won’t last.
She casually rummaged through my belongings in my room.
Right. In my past life, this room was her princess room.
She searched everywhere.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. You don’t even know how to enjoy a good life! What trash is all this stuff?
All you do is bury your nose in those boring books every day.
I ignored her, letting her wreak havoc.
Brianna, is that my precious Brianna?
I watched them coldly, putting on their pathetic mother-daughter charade.
Mom saw my room completely ransacked.
What good stuff could you possibly find in her room? Come on, let’s go to my room. I just bought a bunch of clothes, jewelry, and accessories. Take whatever you like.
With that, she dragged Brianna out.
She didn’t spare me a glance, not even a single word of concern.
Maria brought up a glass of fresh orange juice.
She walked into my room and expertly started tidying up.
Ive never seen a mother so biased, she muttered.
Whatever. Her good days were numbered anyway.
↓ ↓ Download the Novel Master app, Search 【 304227 】reads the whole book. ↓ ↓
NovelShort
