Chapter 1

Three years after Emily Lane, the daughter of my dad's old army friend, moved into our home, I plunged into the icy, bone-chilling sea. After I died, my spirit floated back home, hovering above the living room. Driven by stubborn hope, I just wanted to see if any of them would cry for me—even a single tear.

But the dad who once cherished me barely reacted to the news of my drowning, "Childish." My mom, who had always been gentle, just froze for a moment, then quietly let out a sigh of relief. My brother was now gently holding Emily, comforting her as she wiped away fake tears. The four of them were the picture of a happy family, all smiles and warmth.

I drifted above them until even my thoughts went numb. Without thinking, I reached for my chest—just emptiness. The icy chill seeped into my soul, dragging me down into utter hopelessness. When I blinked open my eyes, the blinding lights of the living room left me dazed and confused. I'd been sent back—to the exact day Emily Lane first stepped into our home.

"Anna, come here," Dad called out. He pushed open the living room door and spotted me sitting there. He casually nudged the girl next to him forward. "This is Emily, Mr. Lane's daughter. From now on, she's your sister, and she'll be staying with us."

Mrs. Shaw followed him in, gently placing her hand on Emily's head, soothing her. She glanced at me with a hint of expectation. "Don't be scared, Emily. This is Anna. This is your home, and no one here will bully you."

"Hi, Anna," Emily said softly. Emily kept her eyes down, tears threatening to spill over. She timidly looked up at me, so fragile and sweet, like she'd been wronged and hurt.

In my previous life, I was resentful because of this sudden intruder. I never treated her kindly, acting spoiled and harsh. My parents and brother thought I was just spoiled and couldn't handle having someone else around, never caring about the anxiety and fear bubbling inside me.

Later, Emily kept scheming and framing me. Every time, they always took her word for it without ever hearing me out. They'd scold me, saying I was childish and petty. All those grievances eventually turned into despair, driving me closer and closer to the ocean.

But this time around, I just looked up calmly, gave a slight nod to Emily and the others, not a flicker of emotion crossing my face. My heart would never waste another ounce of feeling on this family.

My indifference clearly took them by surprise. Mr. Shaw's gentle expression stiffened for a moment, his brow barely creasing, as if disappointed that I wasn't as welcoming as he expected.

Mrs. Shaw stepped forward, pushing Emily a bit closer to me, her tone carrying a hint of subtle pressure. "Anna, why aren't you saying anything? It's Emily's first time at our house. As her sister, you should try to get closer to her."

Get closer?' I couldn't help but scoff inwardly.

In my last life, I actually tried to accept this so-called little sister, but no matter what I did, they always saw me as the bully picking on Emily. In the end, I was left to rot at the bottom of the sea.

And now, they expect me to show warmth to the girl who wormed her way into my family and threw me into the abyss herself.

Emily's eyes reddened right on cue, her little hand clutching Mrs. Shaw's sleeve as she spoke in a pitiful voice. "Mrs. Shaw, does Anna not like me? It's all my fault... I shouldn't have come here and messed up your lives." Last time around, this pathetic routine had everyone dancing to her tune.

Mrs. Shaw immediately wrapped Emily in a protective hug, then shot me a look full of blame. "Anna, look at your sister—she's terrified! Is this how we brought you up? Where are your manners?"

Mr. Shaw's expression turned grim, his voice colder. "Anna, apologize." Just two words, but the command was absolute—there was no room for refusal, exactly the same as my last life.

They never bothered to ask why, never cared about the truth. No matter what, they'd always defend that outsider first, always pin every mistake on me.

In the past, I would argue desperately, begging them to believe me. But now, I just stood there quietly, watching them shield Emily like a real family, treating her as one of their own.

I slowly lifted my eyes, my gaze brushing past the smug satisfaction in Emily's eyes, past the familiar blame etched on my parents' faces. My voice was barely more than a whisper, "Why should I apologize when I haven't done anything wrong?"

My words made the atmosphere in the living room instantly turn to ice. My dad clearly hadn't expected me to push back. His expression darkened even more. "Anna, say that again."

"I said, I won't apologize," I repeated. My tone stayed calm, but there was a determination in it.

Emily Lane started crying even harder, her body trembling. Mrs. Shaw's face went pale with anger. She pointed at me, unable to speak for a long time, and finally her voice came out dripping with disappointment. "Anna, you're getting more and more unreasonable."