Chapter 1

Everyone in the Garrett family could hear Daphne Garrett's thoughts.

When Lois Garrett brought me home, Daphne greeted me with a polite smile, but her thoughts were a different story.

Daphne thought, 'Oh, it's the girl who stole Mom's necklace at the mall last time. She must have had her reasons. I should be especially kind to her.'

But what she didn't know was that I had time-traveled. This time, I could also hear her thoughts.

*****

"Hello, I'm Daphne Garrett. Welcome home, sister," Daphne said.

She was dressed in the trending light yellow suit, her round, droopy eyes making her look both innocent and lively.

But her thoughts were nothing like the sweet and harmless image she showed on the outside.

Daphne thought, 'She looks so familiar. Have we met somewhere before?'

'Wait, I remember now. We met at the mall last time. She stole Mom's necklace.

"Her foster parents must have treated her horribly. I need to make it up to her. That's what I should do.'

I noticed the excited look on my mom, Lois, suddenly froze, her fingers that were gripping her designer handbag turned white.

I could clearly hear Daphne's voice, but Daphne wasn't even speaking.

I felt that I had just uncovered a secret.

I thought, 'So that's how it is. No wonder everyone in the family sees me as a threat to Daphne, though I have never done anything to her.'

The reason I didn't eat the mangoes was that I was allergic.

However, in Lois's eyes, I was shutting Daphne out and refusing to eat the cakes she made for me.

Because I didn't want to wear Daphne's old clothes, my brother, Zachary Garrett, thought I was a scammer who came for the Garrett family's money.

When I used my part-time job money to buy a school uniform for myself, my father, Jordan Garrett, thought I was not as warm and caring as Daphne was.

I suddenly wanted to laugh, but the laugh just wouldn't come out.

My foster parents always favored their son over me. I suffered from frequent bouts of acute gastroenteritis and couldn't even absorb nutrition from any food.

I lived under the stairs and wore clothes my brother no longer wanted.

My foster mother even tried to make me drop out of school and marry her idiot nephew. If Daphne had to live my life, I wondered if she would ever be as positive as me.

To me, even smiling was a luxury.

"Polly Romero," I stated my name plainly, then headed straight for the living room to drop off my backpack.

In my previous life, the rest of the family all lived upstairs on the second floor.

My room located downstairs, right next to the servants' quarters.

This time, I was not going to let myself be pushed around like that.

I used to cling to the tiniest scrap of motherly affection, but I would not make that mistake again

As soon as I left, Zachary couldn't hold back. "What's with her attitude? Didn't she hear Daphne say hello? What an ill-mannered bastard!"

Lois frowned as well. "She really doesn't seem easy to get along with. I'm just worried she'll end up resenting Daphne.

"Honey, she is the girl who stole my necklace at the mall. Her foster parents seemed honest and simple.

"How did they raise a kid like that? Some people are just born troublemakers, never meant to be close to us."

Jordan nodded in agreement. "Daphne really does seem more like our true daughter."

Daphne's eyes sparkled with joy, but her thoughts told a different story.

Daphne thought, 'Even if she doesn't want to talk to me, I guess I deserve it. After all, I stole her life from her.

"Of course, she hates me. But I really love Mom and Dad. I just hope she won't make them send me away.'

Lois and Jordan exchanged a look.

Lois said gently, "Even though your sister is here now, that doesn't mean Mom and Dad will love you any less.

"You don't have to feel like you stole someone else's life. None of this is your fault. This is your home, and no one can ever make you leave."

Daphne nodded, still looking a bit lost.

I looked at their touching family moment with a cold face. There wasn't even a flicker of emotion left in me.