Chapter 1

I was involved in a brutal car accident with my parents. To rescue them, I ended up severely injured and was in a coma for two years.

When I was discharged from the hospital, no one came for me.

They had already adopted another daughter and were busy throwing her a birthday party.

After I died, my parents gave her my paintings, holding an exhibition for her.

The daughter built her fame on my grave and was hailed as the new rising artist.

When I returned to the past and woke up in the hospital again, I realized it was the day I was supposed to go home.

This time, I won't beg for their love. It was me who would dump them.

*****

"Kaia, why are you back?" my dad Arthur Harper asked.

He was about to put a birthday hat on Ada Jackson when he suddenly saw me. His hand froze in mid-air, unsure of what to do next.

My mom Sarah's smile also froze. It took her a moment before she walked over and took my hand.

"Why didn't you tell me you were getting discharged? I could've come to pick you up," she said, sounding concerned.

But really, all I heard was blame in her voice—like it was my fault for showing up at the worst possible moment.

Watching her fake concern when she obviously didn't care, I dug my nails into my palms. That was when it hit me—I really had returned to the past.

I parted my lips, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.

Seeing me stare at Ada in silence, Sarah quickly pulled Ada into a protective hug.

"Kaia, this is Ada. Both her parents are gone—she's had a really tough life. You always complained that your brothers never paid attention to you, right?

"Well, Ada is thoughtful, so I brought her home to be your sister. From now on, you need to be a good big sister to her," she said.

Watching her shield Ada behind her and speak with such conviction, I wanted to laugh, but I just couldn't.

I wondered if she was seriously afraid I'd hurt Ada.

Ada had lost her parents, but here she was, with my parents acting like her second set of parents.

And me? I had parents, but it was as if I didn't have any at all.

If I remembered correctly, Ada was 19 this year, while I was only 18.

She was a year older than me, but Sarah still expected me to be a good big sister and protect her.

"Kaia, come on, greet your sister," Sarah urged, her tone growing firmer.

In my last life, she did the exact same thing.

Back then, I couldn't accept that after saving my parents and being in a coma in the hospital for two years, I'd wake up to discover they'd replaced me with a new daughter.

I felt hurt and resentful.

I refused to acknowledge Ada, stubbornly insisting I was their only daughter.

Sarah didn't care that I'd just gotten out of the hospital. Right in front of all our relatives and friends, she slapped me hard and called me immature.

This time around, I was done expecting anything from her.

I gave Ada a smile and said, "Happy birthday, Ada."

Sarah's serious face broke into a smile as she turned to Ada. "From now on, you'll have a big sister to care for you. Isn't that great?"

Ada nodded quickly, but then hesitated. "Isn't today also Kaia's birthday?"

My heart ached and a wave of bitterness washed over me.

That was right. Today was my birthday too.

I had hurried out of the hospital, hoping to give my parents a surprise on my birthday.

But instead, I ended up giving myself a shock.

Ada's voice grew quiet as she thoughtfully took off her birthday hat. "Mrs. Harper, since today is Kaia's birthday too, let her wear the hat instead."

I didn't say or do anything, but Sarah still shot me a glare.

Then, looking at Ada with motherly affection, she said, "Today is your birthday, so of course you should wear the hat. And call me Mom—if you call me Mrs. Harper again, I'll really be mad."

Then she gave me a warning look. "Kaia, your dad and I have celebrated your birthday for years. This is the first time we're celebrating Ada's birthday, so don't make a fuss."

I nodded. "Got it."

In my previous life, I tried to snatch the birthday hat for myself, only for my parents to clear out all the guests and took Ada out to celebrate instead.

They left me all alone at home.

Now that I know how things end, I didn't bother arguing, knowing I'd just end up even more humiliated.

Once I sat down, Sarah sliced me a piece of cake.

"Go on, eat. Don't go thinking we only care about Ada," she said.

I just shoved the cake into my mouth, feeling numb.

I told myself I wouldn't cry, but I just couldn't hold back the tears.

In the end, Arthur dragged me upstairs.

"Kaia, you already acknowledged Ada as your sister, didn't you? So why are you sitting there crying while eating cake? Are you just trying to make Ada feel bad on purpose?" he said.

He let out a deep sigh. "I never thought you'd be so cunning, acting all pitiful in front of us. Why can't we just be a happy family?"

When I opened the door to my old room, I froze. Everything was different—the paintings I'd hung on the walls, the plushies on the window seat… all of them were gone.

Arthur smacked his forehead like he'd just remembered. "Oh, right! You were in the hospital for so long, and Ada just moved in with a ton of stuff, so we turned your room into her dressing room."

He led me down the hall to the maid's quarters. "You'll have to stay here for now. Ada's new to the family, and if you suddenly take her dressing room back, she'll just feel terrible.

"She's such a sweet and sensitive girl, you know?" Arthur said, looking at me nervously.

I nodded calmly. "Okay."

He looked a bit taken aback by how calm I was, but before leaving, he warned, "Your mom and I decided all this, so don't go bothering Ada about it."

Of course I knew they were the ones calling the shots. They hold the purse strings—who else would make the decisions around here?

The next day, Sarah handed me a giant plushie to celebrate my discharge from the hospital.

Maybe it was because I played the perfect daughter—no tears, no drama, and I didn't mess up Ada's birthday. Moreover, I didn't embarrass my parents.

But I instantly recognized it—it was the same plushie Ada had tossed aside in the farthest corner of her dressing room.

I didn't need their hand-me-downs.

I didn't want to get tangled up with anyone from the Harper family ever again, or waste another ounce of my energy on them.