Chapter 1
I was the real heiress of the Monroe family.
The day I came home, the fake heiress, Lily Monroe, died.
She became everyone's beloved angel, while I ended up as her replacement.
My parents asked me to fulfill her dreams and turn myself into an idol influencer.
My brother, Ryan Monroe, made me go under the knife just to become her clone.
My husband, Simon Sterling, completely unhinged, forced me every night to write out memorial prayers for his beloved angel.
This was the fifth year I'd barely survived.
In the end, my mission failed.
The system warned me, "In three days, I won't be able to hold back the cancer cells in your body. They'll consume you, just as it was always meant to, and there's no way to save you.
"Before you go, I can still grant you one last wish."
My last wish?
I smiled, a strange relief washing through me.
I replied, "Then help me. Bring their beloved angel home."
*****
The system was caught off guard by my wish.
After a long silence, it finally said, "Alright. Lily will return to the Monroe family in three days."
I froze.
It took me a while to find my voice, and when I did, it was trembling.
"So, she's still alive?" I asked
A wild, absurd thought flashed through my mind.
"Do they... do they all know she's still alive?" I asked.
The system didn't say a word.
That silence was like a thousand knives stabbing into me all at once. The pain was so sharp that it stole my breath and brought cold sweat to my skin.
All this time, I believed that if I just swallowed my pride and pain, if I tiptoed through every quest the system threw at me, I could finally earn my family's love and maybe get my health back.
I just wanted a few more years. Just a little more time with them.
The system said this was my final mission.
On my 26th birthday, I had to do exactly what my family wanted.
Whether it was my parents, Ryan, or Simon, I had to obey every order. Only then would the system count it as a success.
Only then could I change my fate as Lily's stand-in, maybe even beat the cancer eating me alive.
My chest was tight, and all I could taste was bitterness.
Ever since I returned to the Monroe family, I'd been treated as nothing but Lily's stand-in—my looks, my figure, the way I dressed, even my dreams and ambitions... I'd become her in every way that mattered.
Hadn't I been obedient enough?
My birthday was also the day we honored Lily's memory.
My parents headed out early in the morning, bouquets in hand, to visit Lily's grave.
Ryan locked himself in his room, brooding over drinks as he stared at photos of Lily, his "sister."
Simon was already gone before the sun came up.
Every year around this time, he made the pilgrimage to that historic chapel on the cliffside. He climbed every one of its three thousand steep stone steps on foot. Then, inside, he lit a votive candle and spent hours in silent prayer for Lily, his beloved angel.
I slipped into the dress my assistant had laid out for me and sat quietly in front of the camera, waiting for the live stream to start.
The front door swung open, and my parents and Simon came in, looking worn out from their trip. Right behind them was the director and his crew, all set to film my birthday live stream.
I swallowed the tightness in my chest and forced a smile.
But no one even glanced my way. The director just kept rambling on about the details for the shoot.
"Serena, we're going to film a family segment later. The theme is gratitude—thanking your family for supporting your rise to fame. We've planned a part where they give you a few small requests. You just follow along, alright?"
I nodded, playing the obedient daughter. So this was it. The system's final mission. To do as I was told.
The live stream kicked off, and the chat was blowing up with compliments about how gorgeous I looked.
Mom was practically glowing. She'd always been so proud of Lily's natural beauty. Now, every compliment about me felt like a victory to her—proof that the replica she had created was perfect. Any praise for me was, in her eyes, praise for Lily, her favorite daughter.
"Oh, I know. Thank you all for loving my daughter. My Lily is really beautiful," Mom said, practically beaming for the camera.
Right, your precious Lily.
The fans in the chat went wild, even more hyped now that my mom had joined in.
No one seemed to notice or care that she'd called me Lily instead of Serena, my real name.
While I was lost in my thoughts, Mom turned to me with a smile. "Come on, dance in memory of our angel for everyone."
The dance in memory of Lily, their angel.
I stood up, feeling nothing, and danced in front of the camera like a puppet.
As soon as I finished, Dad jumped in, "Now that you've made it, it's time to give back. You should donate half your savings to Lily's Angel Foundation."
Dance for Lily. Donate in her name.
Fine. I did exactly as I was told.
I picked up my phone and transferred the money on camera, just as they asked. Then I looked up at them, hoping—just for a second—to see some kind of warmth. Maybe if I were obedient enough, they'd really see me this time.
But their smiles disappeared, and their eyes went icy cold.