Chapter 1

The day I reunited with my family, the fake heiress, Jessica, jumped into the sea. She was rescued but suffered lasting brain damage that left her with impaired cognition.

She tampered with my college applications, ruined my dress, and spread compromising photos of me everywhere.

My long-awaited birthday party was completely ruined.

Even my brother mocked me, saying, "You brought this on yourself for hurting Jessica."

My parents sided with her. "Her mind isn't the same anymore," they said. "She's barely beyond a seven-year-old. Can't you be more patient?"

Without hearing me out, they canceled the party meant for me. From that day on, I was labeled the illegitimate daughter, a laughingstock, not just in my family but in every circle we moved in.

Later, Jessica relapsed into depression and set our house on fire.

My childhood sweetheart, who had loved me for years, rushed in recklessly to save her.

Amid the roaring flames, he knelt on one knee and placed my bridal veil on her, sealing their love with a sweet kiss and a promise.

And I? I was left struggling in the smoke, gasping for air, and in the end, I died in agony.

However, when I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Jessica jumped into the sea.

"You stole my parents and made me jump into the sea. Go to hell, bitch," Jessica screamed.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Jessica Monroe with her hands gripping my neck, her face twisted in rage.

Gasping for air, I shoved her off me.

Jessica staggered, lost her balance, and crashed to the floor.

My parents burst out of the ward, scooping her up into their arms and soothing her.

In a daze, I reached up and touched the raw wound on my neck.

I finally managed to escape the burning pain.

I was really back on the day Jessica had her accident.

Back in my previous life, just as I entered my last year of high school, I was told that I finally had a family after growing up as an orphan.

However, when I came back to the Monroe residence, all excited, I hadn't even stepped through the door before I got hit with bad news.

Jessica, the girl who'd been swapped with me at birth, had jumped into the sea to end her life. She even left behind a gut-wrenching note.

It read: [I'd rather die if she's taking everything from me.]

My mom fainted on the spot, and my dad sent his favorite cup flying, smashing it into pieces.

Philip Monroe, my elder brother, glared at me like I was his worst enemy. "This is all your fault. You hurt Jessica. Why did you even come back?"

I stood there, helpless and stunned, as all the joy I had felt all day evaporated into nothing.

Jessica was pulled from the water by kind strangers, but the blow to the back of her head left her mentally regressed, dull, and oblivious to everything.

She spat in my food, hid razor blades in my towel, and even tossed dead rats into my room in the middle of the night.

She always said, "I was just playing a prank on Leah."

That innocent face became a nightmare I just couldn't shake.

My life turned into a total mess because of her, but everyone around me said I had it coming.

They said, "If it weren't for you, Jessica would never have been driven to jump into the sea. You owe her."

Therefore, Jessica ended up getting all the love and attention, just like she always wanted.

She doubled down on making my life hell.

She tampered with my college application, ruined my dress, and handed out photoshopped, humiliating pictures of me to anyone she saw.

The birthday party I'd been dreaming about was destroyed.

The place was trashed, with people all around jeering and mocking me. Not a single soul came to my defense.

Philip sneered at me, saying I got what I deserved. "You're the reason why Jessica became like this. You have to pay."

My parents stood protectively in front of Jessica, scolding me. "She's only got the mind of a seven-year-old. She's still just a kid. Why can't you be more patient with her?"

Without hearing me out, they canceled the party meant for me. I was branded as the illegitimate daughter and became a joke in the family and among everyone who knew me.

It was sad that Jessica was ill, but what had I done wrong by coming home to be recognized by my family?

I tried to explain myself, but all I got in return was their harsh scolding.

They said, "You made Jessica suffer, and all you care about is yourself. You cruel wretch. You're rude and disgraceful. You don't deserve to be a Monroe."

I was left speechless, utterly powerless.

I couldn't help but vent to Samuel Wells, my childhood friend, but he just called me cold and heartless.

He said, "Leah, why are you so mean? Yeah, I know you've had it rough, but Jessica is really suffering. Can't you just give a break?"

Whenever he brought up Jessica, I could see that deep, lingering sadness in his eyes.

I just stood there, totally stunned. It felt like someone had slapped me hard, and my face was burning from the sting.

I could never forget that night. Jessica went into depression and set the house on fire.

Samuel, risking everything, charged inside to save her.

With flames roaring all around, he dropped to one knee and gently placed the veil that was meant for me onto Jessica's head.

It was such deep, unshakable affection.

He forgot that day was our engagement day, and that I was still trapped in the burning house.

The thick smoke burned my throat, like I was coughing up pieces of myself, but nothing compared to the suffocating pain crushing my chest.

Being betrayed just hurt so much.

Samuel knew I was in the house. Why didn't he save me?

I kept waiting, desperate to survive, praying I'd somehow make it out alive.

There really was a chance, but in the end, the flames swallowed me whole. Nothing left, not even my bones.

As my spirit hovered above, I saw Jessica nestled in Samuel's arms with a triumphant smirk on her face.

It turned out that Jessica was never really sick. That whole jumping-into-the-sea thing was just an act.

She was obsessed with being the heiress of the Monroe family, couldn't bear the idea of a tough life, and deliberately plotted against me.

My life was supposed to be something beautiful, but it got wrecked by someone as rotten as her.

Seething with resentment, I opened my eyes, only to find I was back on the day everything went wrong for Jessica.