Chapter 1

In my previous life, I was a girl who knew exactly how to play innocently while hiding my claws.

By a cruel twist of fate, I got a new life as the long-lost biological daughter of the Clark family.

The day I returned to the Clark estate, Wendy, the girl who had taken my place, jumped from the second floor.

My biological brother Zachary looked at me with open disgust. "Why did you come back?" he said coldly. "If you hadn't returned, Wendy wouldn't have done something so extreme."

The family surrounded Wendy and rushed her to the hospital.

I looked up at the second-floor room, its window still wide open, then turned to the anxious housekeeper. "Ronnie," I said softly, "I'll stay in that room."

*****

My parents, tears streaming down their faces, clung to my hands like they'd never let go.

"Melissa, we finally found you! Our poor, precious girl," they sobbed.

Holy crap, I really got a new life. I got a new life as the long-lost biological daughter of the Clark family.

They told me there was a car crash on the way to pick me up, and I nearly lost my life before I even made it home.

I glanced around this massive hospital room and caught my baby-faced reflection in the mirror.

I snickered inwardly. In my previous life, I went through all kinds of crap just to marry into a rich family.

Who would've guessed that after dying a miserable death, I'd open my eyes and boom. I was the heiress now.

Talk about karma coming full circle.

After my parents left, I did some digging on the Clark family.

They were one of the richest families around, with their company valued at a whopping 200 million dollars.

They had a reputation for being upright and traditional, the parents were happily married, and they had a son and a daughter.

But they lost their daughter to a kidnapping when she was just three, so they took in Wendy as their adopted daughter.

So, the girl whose life I now lived was the real heiress. Melissa Clark, kidnapped when she was just a kid.

I started digging through her memories in my mind.

Since she was just a little kid when she got snatched, all she could remember was the orphanage. And it was all just bullying, day in and day out.

What a pitiful little rich girl. Just when she finally found her real parents, a car accident.

When I saw how much my parents' hair had gone gray, I knew they'd spent years worrying about their lost daughter.

Don't worry, I'd make sure to look after Mom and Dad for you.

Since I was in good shape, my folks brought me back home.

I was just about to step into the huge mansion, grinning from ear to ear.

Suddenly, a scream tore through the air, followed by a heavy thud.

Someone came running out of the mansion and dashed straight across the lawn.

My parents rushed over, their faces pale with worry. I walked over, totally confused.

Zachary was holding a girl in his arms, a girl dressed in pajamas.

Judging by her size, she looked about the right age to be Wendy, the Clark family's adopted daughter.

Wendy's lips were smeared with blood, and she looked weak as she whispered, "She's your real daughter. If she's here, there's no place for me."

Mom looked heartbroken. "Don't talk like that! You'll always be our girl."

Zachary shot me a look full of disgust. "Why did you have to come back? If it weren't for you, Wendy wouldn't have lost it like that."

Dad scooped Wendy up in his arms. "Let's get her to the hospital."

Through the gap, I caught a flash of smugness in Wendy's eyes.

The crowd hurried out, leaving the big mansion quiet once more.

I glanced up at the second-floor room with its window still wide open, then turned to Ronnie, who looked all kinds of nervous. "Ronnie, I'll take that room."

Ronnie froze. "But... that's Miss Clark's room."

I gave him my best harmless smile. "I know. Wendy's been struggling with suicidal thoughts lately, and that room's just too risky for her. Why not move her somewhere without windows, or at least with a window that only faces the hallway? Don't worry, I'll talk to Mom and Dad about it."

Ronnie looked doubtful, but still replied, "Yes, Miss Clark."

Wendy's room was cleared out in no time.

Sprawled out on the dreamy pink princess bed, I couldn't help but giggle to myself.

Wendy, oh Wendy. You really thought you could drive me away with a stunt like that? I wasn't some shy, innocent little daisy.

I wasn't some delicate flower. I was the scrappy grass that got run over by life again and again, but just kept growing back.