Chapter 1
The day the Mason family came to take me away, the whole town said I was lucky.
In my previous life, I went with my brother, Logan.
I thought I finally found my biological parents and would have a stable home.
Instead, the moment I arrived at the Masons' place, they pushed me in front of Leanne Mason, their fake daughter. She had been switched with me at birth and was sickly since childhood.
My mother's eyes turned red as she said, "Shelby, Leanne is sickly. You'll stay at the old mansion for now. When she gets used to it, I'll bring you home."
I lived in the old mansion for four years.
The first year, I donated blood to Leanne for an entire year.
The second year, I donated bone marrow.
The third year, I gave her one kidney.
In the winter of the fourth year, Logan stood in front of me holding a heart transplant consent form.
"Shelby, Leanne is dying," he said. "You're her sister. Donate your heart to her. Consider it repayment for our parents giving birth to you."
Afraid I would resist, Logan drugged me every day until my body had no strength left.
The day before the surgery, I seized the chance when no one noticed and smashed my head into the wall, dying.
Only then did I understand I was never the Masons' daughter. I was just the heart donor they wanted.
When I returned to the day Logan came to take me away, I pulled out the paternity test report I prepared in advance and handed it to him.
"You got the wrong person," I said calmly. "I'm not related to the Mason family."
*****
The results were clear as day. Logan Mason and I weren't related by blood.
Logan frowned, skimmed the report, then let out a laugh.
"Shelby, your little reverse psychology stunt is amateur," he scoffed.
He tossed the report into the mud and reached out to grab me.
"Drop the act and come with me. Mom and Dad are waiting for you back home," he said.
I stepped back, dodging his hand.
"I told you, I'm not the one you're looking for. You've got the wrong girl," I said.
"You think you can get away?" Logan said, his voice cold.
His face grew even darker as he shot a look at the neighbors watching nearby.
"You think the Mason family would accept any girl as their own? Spare me. You think I'd fall for your cheap tricks?" he scoffed.
"I'm not going there. I told you, I'm not who you're looking for," I said.
I turned to go inside, but Logan grabbed my wrist hard.
His grip was so strong it hurt.
"You're coming with me today, like it or not. Mom and Dad are waiting for you back home," he said. "If you don't come, I'll tear this place down and make sure you've got nowhere to stay in this town."
Back in my last life, he was the same.
He forced me back to the Mason family, whether I wanted to or not.
Since there was no way out, this time, I was done hiding.
I let go of the doorframe and met Logan's eyes.
"Alright, I'll go with you," I said, keeping my voice steady. "But remember, you're the one who insisted I return the Mason family. Whatever happens next, don't regret it."
Logan froze for a second, not expecting me to say yes so fast.
"Regret? Please. I've never regretted anything in my life," he shot back, all swagger and confidence.
As the car rolled out of the town, I shot one last look at that old house where I'd spent twenty years. I didn't feel any nostalgia.
In my previous life, I was nothing but a stepping stone for the Mason family, just there to keep Leanne alive.
This time around, I would make sure every single one of them knew that I was no pushover.
*****
By the time the car pulled up to the Mason family's villa, the rain had just stopped.
At the entrance, my mom stood there in a gown, waiting for me.
As soon as she saw me get out of the car, she hurried over.
But she stopped just a couple of steps away, her eyes full of complicated emotions.
Leanne, supported by a maid, stood behind my mom, her face pale.
She was wrapped in a thick cloak, looking so frail it seemed like a breeze could blow her away.
"Shelby, you're finally back," my mom said, her voice thick with emotion.
She tried to reach out and touch my hair, but Leanne gently tugged at her sleeve.
Leanne coughs weakly and murmured, "Mom, Shelby just got back. She must be exhausted from the journey. Let her come in and rest. Actually, I'm not feeling so great myself."
My mom immediately withdrew her hand and turned to support Leanne.
"Leanne, are you feeling unwell again? Go on in. The doctor said you can't catch a chill," Mom said, fussing over her.
Logan was right behind me and shoved me forward.
"Why are you just standing there? Get inside. Don't make things harder for Leanne," he barked.
I watched their phony family act and couldn't help but laugh.
How did I ever get fooled by their act in my previous life?
I had thought Leanne was really some delicate flower, and thought Mom actually felt guilty.
Turned out, I was the joke all along.
Once we stepped inside, we saw the table in the living room was loaded with food.
My dad was sitting at the head of the table, newspaper in hand. He didn't even bother to look up.