Chapter 1

When I went to Velmora for my studies, I found out that my sponsored companion, Yara Scott, whom my dad arranged for me, had been using my name and pretending to be me the whole time.

She kept swiping my clothes and jewelry.

She'd dress up as me and show up at award events, pretending to be me.

She even told everyone I was the broke sponsored companion.

I thought my dad would have my back, but he just ignored everything and did nothing.

Cornered by Velmora street punks in a dark alley, I finally heard the bomb drop: Yara was my dad's illegitimate daughter.

Yara smirked and said, "You know why I'm telling you all this, Sylvia Ludwing? Because you're never going back."

After I died, my spirit drifted after Yara as she returned to Clusia.

I watched Yara and her mother wrench our front door open and hurl my mom onto the street.

Devastated by the loss of her daughter and her cheating husband, my mom died in a car crash.

Yara had fully stepped into the role of the Ludwig family heiress. She wasn't pretending anymore; she was living my life for real.

The so-called "companion" was just a trap they had plotted from the start.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the very day Yara and I first arrived in Velmora.

"Sylvia, let me help you with your luggage," Yara said, her voice sweet and innocent.

I looked at Yara, who still hadn't shown her true colors, and just felt a wave of disgust wash over me.

Given a second chance at life, I wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

"Sure, go ahead," I replied, my tone casual.

I didn't miss the flicker of surprise in Yara's eyes.

After all, up until now, I'd always treated her like my best friend.

Seeing Yara still standing there, I reminded her, "Aren't you coming?"

She snapped out of it and immediately grabbed my suitcase.

I didn't wait for her; I headed off without looking back.

Yara was lugging two suitcases behind her, struggling to keep up as she called out, "Sylvia, wait for me."

I pretended I didn't hear her.

This was only the beginning. Since Yara wanted to play dirty, I'd play along and make it hurt.

Yara tagged along with me to Velmora as a needy scholarship girl.

Everyone bought the straight-A saint act, but she was pure fluff. She couldn't even hold a pencil.

Last time around, she was always mooching off my homework.

She'd put on her sad little act every day, and I just looked the other way.

But this time around, no way I'd let her take what was mine.

I could've easily called a cab to our place, but nope. I decided to walk instead, just to make Yara suffer a little.

I shot a look over my shoulder at Yara, who was drenched in sweat and struggling to keep up.

I took my sweet time and said, "Man, the weather's perfect. Let's just walk back, okay?"

Yara stared at me like I'd lost my mind. She exclaimed, "Walk back?"

I blinked at her, putting on my best innocent face. I said, "Yep, that's right."

Just to make sure she couldn't argue, I added, "Didn't you grow up in the countryside? This little stroll should be a piece of cake for you, right?"

Yara forced a smile through clenched teeth and said, "No problem, let's walk back then."

I gave a satisfied nod and headed off without a second glance.

Right now, Yara hadn't taken my place yet.

She couldn't make waves even if she tried.

After all, all those people only ever flattered the Ludwing family's heiress.

Just as I expected, Yara ended up totally lost.

Not surprising. I'd gone out of my way to take the most confusing route possible.

In my previous life, after Yara snatched everything that was mine, I spent what felt like forever ducking through these twisting alleys, trying to stay out of sight.

If I ever stopped running, those punks would catch me and torment me in ways you couldn't even imagine.

When Yara called me, I was lounging on the couch in my apartment, sipping a cold drink.

Yara said, "Sylvia, you walked off so fast. I'm totally lost. Can you come get me?"

I pretended to be shocked. I exclaimed, "No way! How could that be? How'd you get lost? Didn't my dad say you were super smart?"

I was itching to see Yara's face right now. Her sweet little façade had to be slipping right off by now.

"Why don't you just ask a random passerby for directions? Even if I tried to come get you, I wouldn't have a clue where you are," I said, pretending to be all worried.

It was already ten at night when Yara finally dragged herself back.

She was a wreck: face smudged, sweat-soaked, feet blistered and ready to bleed.

Honestly, she was a sorry sight.

But it was not even a drop in the bucket compared to what I went through.

She still saw me as the naive heiress who'd crumble at a few fake tears and hand out designer goodies, and I almost pitied how wrong she was.

Yara said, "Sylvia, I'm back. Your suitcase is totally fine."

She sounded like she was just hoping I'd shower her with luxury gifts for dragging my suitcase around.

Keep dreaming.

I barely glanced at her and said, "Thanks for your hard work." Then I dragged my suitcase off to my room without another word.

About ten minutes later, there was a knock at my door.

I smirked and got up to open it.