Chapter 1

When I was brought back to my wealthy biological parents, the fake daughter, Margaret Lawson, burst into tears and said she had a nightmare.

She sobbed, "Mom, Dad, are you going to abandon me?

"I dreamed that once my sister came back, she would take everything from me and drive me to my death. If she's in this house, there will never be a day of peace."

My parents believed her. They told everyone I was only their adopted daughter.

They even set rules for me, making it clear that everything in the family would revolve around Margaret.

I didn't cry or argue. Instead, I calmly suggested we cut ties.

I said calmly, "I never planned to be part of this family anyway. It's better if we stay out of each other's lives."

Because I was the one who had come back from the future.

Everything Margaret described was exactly what had happened to me in my previous life.

This time, I only want to live well for myself and stop begging for love.

*****

I pulled out the severance agreement I'd already prepared and signed my name without a second thought.

When I handed it to them, my parents' faces fell.

Their expressions were a mix of confusion and doubt, but not a trace of guilt.

Mom sighed, disappointment written all over her face. "Seriously, after all those years we spent searching for you, this is how you treat us? Where's your heart?"

Dad frowned, clearly annoyed. "It's just a name. Is it really such a big deal?"

They probably thought I was angry about only being allowed into the family as their adopted daughter.

But honestly, I couldn't care less about any of that.

To me, nothing matters more than just being alive.

Taking a deep breath, I kept my voice steady. "I've been alone for so many years, I'm honestly used to it. I really..."

Before I could finish, Margaret rushed over, grabbed my hand, and tears started streaming down her face.

She said, "Colette, are you upset with me because of what I said earlier?

"I'm sorry. That dream felt so real, I was just so scared. I said the wrong thing. It's all my fault. Please forgive me, I'm really sorry."

As she spoke, Margaret made a show of kneeling in front of me.

She always played this game.

In my previous life, I got punished more than once because of her manipulative words.

The worst was my parents made me kneel outside in the snow all night.

My left ear was permanently deaf from the freezing cold.

After that, most jobs were out of reach for me.

Thinking about all those miserable experiences, I finally couldn't hold it in and pushed her away forcefully.

Margaret crashed to the floor, letting out a startled scream.

My parents were the first to react. They rushed over, helped Margaret up, and then shot me furious looks.

Dad barked, "Colette, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you suddenly acting crazy?

"I knew it. All this talk about cutting ties is just you trying to get attention.

"Let me tell you. So long as I'm alive, Margaret is my daughter. There's no room in this family for someone as manipulative as you."

Margaret started quietly sobbing, putting on her usual act with a hint of restraint—like she was the wronged one.

Seeing that, anyone would feel a pang of sympathy for her.

Dad, Mom, and the others all stared at me like I was their worst enemy.

But I suddenly let out a quiet, self-mocking laugh. "You lost me back then, and then you turned around and adopted someone who could pass for me.

"I'm not even holding it against you anymore, but on my very first day home, you call me manipulative and crazy.

"I'm your real daughter. Isn't that just absurd?"

My desperate gaze cut Dad and Mom to the core.

Maybe they were reminded of happier times. Mom's eyes showed a flicker of compassion.

Mom was about to reach for me, but Margaret rushed in first and hugged her tight.

"Mom, Colette's gone crazy. I'm so scared," Margaret cried. "My dream was right. She really does want to ruin me."

As soon as she said that, my parents' expressions darkened.

They stared at me with cold, uncaring eyes.

Dad said coldly, "We didn't mean to lose you, but you're still here, aren't you?

"You can't be so hung up on things. How are you supposed to handle the Lawson family business if you're like this? It's all for your own good."

What a joke. All for my own good?

In the end, it even cost me my life.

I let out a bitter laugh. "No need. Just sign it.

"Or I won't mind letting everyone know just how hypocritical the so-called philanthropists really are behind closed doors."

My parents froze on the spot.