Chapter 2

In my last life, after I learned the truth, I had fallen apart.

I obsessively picked apart every fact, praying for a reason to believe in my family.

Yet, each new discovery only fueled the cold realization of their betrayal.

I knew that Bella needed a large sum of money for her son's kidney transplant.

And when I had been "welcomed" back into the family, my parents had given me a black card with no limit.

So, it was a simple matter to ensure that Bella, who wasn't on call that day anyway, declined the request to operate on Rachel.

Looking at the prominent X on Rachel's face, I smiled.

In my past life, I endured a world of scorn because of a scar just like that, while she lived in a mansion, enjoying the profits of the company I built and basking in the warmth of a family that had abandoned me.

She plotted to disfigure me, hoping my family would cast me aside in disgust.

Now that she bore the same ruin upon her own face, I wondered if she could withstand the same bitter abandonment when the "love" of the Moore family inevitably turned to stone.

A cup hit my back hard.

I spun around. William was glaring at me, gritting his teeth.

"This is all your fault," he snarled. "You street rat from the orphanage. You've brought nothing but bad luck since the day you came back."

Rachel was sobbing, her face buried in her hands.

My parents rushed to comfort her and turned to me, their eyes burning with accusation.

"Everything was fine until you showed up! What is it you want?

"I wish you had never been born!"

So, even when their own schemes backfired, it was still my fault.

I accepted the role they gave me.

I turned, picked up the shattered cup from the floor, and threw it.

It struck William squarely on the forehead.

Blood spurted from the gash.

"I know you don't like me, Mr. William Moore," I said coldly. "But that doesn't give you the right to treat me like dirt.

"With this, any bond between us is broken. From now on, you have only one sister."

"Emily, are you insane? Apologize!"

My parents rushed to William's side.

Rachel threw herself in front of him, glaring at me.

"Emily, you've gone too far!"

William clutched his bleeding brow, and for a fleeting moment, he looked almost thankful.

"See? The one who grew up with me is the one who truly cares. Rachel is my real sister. Who the hell are you?" he barked at me.

My parents glared at me with furrowed brows.

"If you don't apologize this instant, you are no longer a daughter of this family!"

"Fine by me," I said.

Rachel's eyes lit up.

William stared at me, stunned.

I let out a cold laugh.

"If I'm the source of all your bad luck, then clearly we were never meant to be.

"Mr. and Mrs. Moore, this is goodbye."

I turned and walked away.

Coming to her senses, Melody reached out to stop me. But before she could touch me, William held her back.

"Emily, you'd better remember this!" he shouted after me. "I won't forget what you did today!

"I'll be taking over the company soon, and I'll make sure you lose everything! I'll get revenge for what you did to Rachel, and when you come crawling back, I won't show you any mercy, you bitch!"

I laughed.

He really thought he, a spoiled, useless brat, could compete with me, a woman who had already lived this life once?

I knew when every stock would rise and fall. I knew that the moment he took over the company, a massive industry crisis would hit.

In my last life, he had been powerless to stop it, and in their desperation, the family had pushed me forward as a last-ditch effort.

I, so desperate for their approval, had worked myself to the bone to save them.

This time, without me, I was very curious to see how he would fare.

And as for me, with eight years of management experience from my past life, it was time to start planning for my own future.

I glanced back over my shoulder and gave him a smile.

"We'll see about that."