Chapter 1

My mother killed me.

All because of the fake daughter she had raised for eighteen years, she called me a bitch, slapped me across the face, and finally pushed me down the stairs.

I could still hear the sound of my skull cracking against the steps.

After I died, I was bound to a transmigration system.

Most people saved up their points to change their destiny, but I only wanted one thing: a custom-made return.

I chose to come back as the one person my mother feared most, her own mother-in-law.

I watched as my mother Elaine Lane raised her hand to strike the timid, younger version of me who had just arrived at the house.

Leaning on my cane, I marched over and caught her wrist in a tight grip.

"Elaine," I growled, my voice raspy and aged. "In this house, I'm the one in charge now."

*****

When I opened my eyes again, Elaine was holding my arm, helping me along.

"Monica, slow down," she said softly.

Her voice was gentle as she guided me toward the living room.

And then, I saw myself at eighteen, Charlotte Lane.

She was wearing washed-out old clothes, standing by the sofa with her head down, her fingers tightly clutching a worn cloth bag.

As soon as Elaine let go of me, she marched right up to Charlotte, her voice suddenly sharp and loud.

"You can't even stand straight. Charlotte, have you forgotten all the manners I taught you?

"You don't even know how to greet your grandma?" she shouted.

Charlotte flinched, her shoulders trembling as her lips moved, but not a single sound came out.

"You mute now?" Elaine barked.

Elaine jabbed her finger right at Charlotte's forehead. "Figures, a worthless brat crawling out of some gutter, stinking of poverty that never washes off.

"Spit it out. Did you steal Sophia's diamond necklace? You were the only one in her room yesterday."

Charlotte jerked her head up, her eyes rimmed with red. She bit back her tears and sobbed, "I didn't steal it."

"Still talking back," Elaine barked, swinging her hand at Charlotte's face.

I raised my hand and delivered a solid slap right to Elaine's face.

The atmosphere froze.

Elaine covered her cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief.

She asked, "Monica, you actually hit me? All for that wild girl?"

"You bet I did," I said, my voice rough and slow, every word landing like a hammer. "Charlotte is a Lane by blood.

"When you call her a worthless brat, you're insulting all our ancestors, too."

Sophia Lane, the imposter heiress who'd stolen my place and lived the good life in this family for eighteen years, cried.

Tears streamed down her pretty face like a broken string of pearls.

She said, "Grandma, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have told Mom I lost the necklace. She was just so worried, that's why she ended up blaming Charlotte.

"Charlotte just got home, and she's still not used to everything here. It's my fault for not looking after her better.

Her shoulders shook as she cried, making anyone watching feel sorry for her.

Elaine hurried over, her heart aching as she helped Sophia up.

"Good girl, get up. The floor's cold," Elaine coaxed.

When Elaine turned to Charlotte, her gaze was sharp as a blade, cold as ice. "Just look at how thoughtful Sophia is.

"You've only been back a few days, and you've already made a mess of things around here. I'm starting to regret—"

"Regret what, Elaine?" I cut her off, tapping my cane against the floor. "Are you regretting having her in the first place, or regretting bringing her home?"

Elaine's words caught in her throat, her face shifting between pale and livid.

"She's the one who ought to cry," I said.

Leaning on my cane, I walked step by step to the seat of honor and sat down. My clouded gaze fixed on Sophia's tear-streaked face.

"You planted that necklace in Charlotte's bag yourself, didn't you?" I said.

All the color drained from Sophia's face, but she stubbornly shook her head, her tears falling even faster.

She sobbed, "I didn't. Grandma, how could you believe I'd do something like that?

"I've been part of this family for eighteen years. You know what kind of person I am. How could I possibly do something so awful?"

She was crying so hard she nearly passed out, and Elaine rushed over, wrapping her in a hug, her eyes brimming with concern and love.

Elaine said, "Monica, you watched Sophia grow up. Don't you know what kind of person she is? You'd rather trust someone who just got back a few days ago."

"Fine, let's get the police involved," I said.

I turned to the butler, who was standing quietly nearby. "Charles, call them.

"And contact the forensic center. I want to see if Charlotte's fingerprints are on that diamond necklace."

The air went completely still.

Sophia's lashes trembled violently, and Elaine hurried to pull her behind, shielding her.

"Monica, don't air our dirty laundry in public.

"Are you really going to risk ruining the Lane family's name for some girl you barely know? What will everyone think if word gets out?" Elaine blurted out.

"The Lane family's honor," I said, fixing my gaze on her, "has never been upheld by falsely accusing our own blood.

"Or are you just scared that when the truth comes out, the person you've been fighting so hard to protect will be utterly disgraced?"

Elaine froze, her face going pale and contorted with shock and anger.

Elaine shot Charlotte a look so venomous.

The police showed up fast, processed the scene, snapped photos, and sealed the necklace in an evidence bag, all with their gloves on.

Sophia huddled in Elaine's arms the whole time, softly crying.

Charlotte kept her head down, her fists clenched so tight her nails bit into her palms.

The appraisal result was delivered to the Lane residence early the next morning.

It clearly stated that there were no fingerprints of Charlotte on the necklace. Instead, a faint trace of oil was detected on the inside of the clasp.

The ingredients were a perfect match for that fancy hand cream Sophia was always slathering on.

The truth was finally laid bare.

Elaine held Sophia, who was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe, and for several long minutes, she just sat there in silence. Finally, her voice came out dry and strained.

Elaine said, "Sophia was just scared.

"She was afraid of losing this family, of losing me. She just got caught up in her own head for a moment.

"Monica, she's still young. I promise I'll make sure she learns her lesson from now on."

At that moment, I saw Sophia lift her face from Elaine's shoulder and shoot Charlotte a quick look.

There wasn't a hint of guilt in her eyes.

Just a cold, poisonous glare.

It was like she was saying, "See? Even with the evidence thrown right in your face, Monica's still got my back."

Charlotte caught that look.

Her lashes quivered, and then she slowly dropped her head, as she'd finally accepted her fate.