Chapter 1

My name is Emily Bennett, the true heir of the Bennett family, swapped at birth.

After being reunited with my biological parents, they and my fiancé send me to marry a man in a coma in place of the fake heiress, Sophia Bennett.

"Emily, your sister is fragile. She can't marry into the Ford family. You go in her place, as compensation for the 18 years you've lost," my mother's cold words echo.

I obeyed.

Everyone thought I had accepted my fate, not knowing that in another life, it was this man, whom they called a "vegetable," who gave me my only warmth.

Now, Sophia has returned, and she's determined to take him from me.

I was locked in a room for three days by my biological parents and fiancé after slapping Sophia in front of everyone at the welcome home party.

She had tried to steal my necklace, the only keepsake my adoptive mother left me.

But they all saw it as jealousy from a country girl who had come back to bully the perfect Sophia.

"Emily Bennett, apologize now or you'll never leave this room!" My father, Richard Bennett, yelled from the hallway.

"Charles, just look at her! How can she treat Sophia like this? Sophia has been so kind. Look at how Emily has treated her!" My mother, Linda Sue, cried to my fiancé, Charles Grant.

Charles' voice was cold: "Emily, I'm so disappointed in you. Sophia is so kind, how could you hurt her?"

Leaning against the cold door, I laughed at myself

In my past life, I was locked away like this too.

I starved myself in protest, and eventually, they dragged me away to a mental hospital.

After breaking me down, they handed me over to a man- Alexander Ford, the man in a coma after a car accident.

Sophia, the woman supposed to marry him, ended up with Charles.

This time, I'm not making a scene.

I opened the door, facing the angry, disappointed trio, and calmly said, "I'll marry him."

When I gave in, Linda Sue's crying stopped abruptly.

She wiped her eyes, which hadn't even shed a tear, and softened her tone."Emily, I'm glad you've come to your senses. The Ford family, while complicated, is one of the top families. Marrying into them will secure your future."

Richard Bennett cleared his throat. "The Ford family promised that if we marry you off, they'll give us the land in the south of the city. You'll be doing your part for the family."

See? They're not even pretending anymore,' I thought to myself.

One sees my entire future as leverage, the other sees my marriage as a business deal.'

Charles Grant looked at me, his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with both suspicion and displeasure.

"Emily, are you sure about this? Don't pull any tricks," he said.

I gave a faint smile. "I'm sure. But I have one condition."

Linda Sue's expression turned wary. "What condition? Don't push your luck, Emily."

"I want Sophia's jewelry box, the one on her nightstand inlaid with shells," I said softly.

Inside that jewelry box were love letters Sophia had written to a man.

In my past life, when Alexander Ford woke up and found those letters, he was so furious that he nearly bankrupted both the Bennett and Grant families.

It was only after Sophia knelt before him, crying, and claiming she was just a foolish young girl back then, promising that after marrying Charles, she would only love him, that the situation was resolved.

This time, I won't let Sophia get off so easily.

Linda Sue paused, clearly surprised by my request.

It was just a jewelry box, nothing valuable.

She nodded without hesitation. "Alright, I'll go get it for you."

Soon, she returned with the delicate seashell jewelry box, shoved it into my hands like I was some beggar.

"Are you happy now? Hurry up and get ready. The Ford family's car will be here soon." she said.

I clenched the box tightly and nodded.

Sophia Bennett came out of her room, dressed in a pure white princess dress, her eyes red and swollen, looking at me with a pitiful expression.

"Emily, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. If I weren't so frail, you wouldn't have to do this for me." She said, tears falling from her eyes.

Charles Grant immediately pulled her into his arms, comforting her gently. "It's not your fault, Sophia. You're just too kind."

Then, he turned to me, giving me a cold warning. "Emily, once you're with the Fords, you'd better stay in line. If I find out you're bullying Sophia, I won't let you get away with it."

I looked at them, filled with irony.

In my past life, it was Sophia who constantly flaunted her perfect relationship with Charles after I married into the Ford family.

She mocked me for being stuck in a loveless marriage, ridiculed me for never finding happiness.

Now, she was playing the innocent victim again. Who was she trying to fool?

I knew. She had also been given a second chance.

She was scared I would reveal everything from our past life and ruin all that she had now.

But more than that, she wanted to steal Alexander Ford from me.

She knew he would wake up and become an unrivalled titan of the business world.

She wanted to be Mrs. Ford again.

Too bad I wouldn't give her that chance.