Chapter 1

When I died, my parents were celebrating the wedding of their cherished adopted daughter. The groom was my own fiancé.

With my final breath, I made a desperate call for help. "Stop fooling around," they said coldly.

I died that same day, while they raised their glasses in joy.

After I was reincarnated, I gave up. I stopped trying to win their affection.

I handed everything over to their adopted daughter and walked away from that family.

Yet, my parents and older brother wept, begging me to forgive them.

*****

My eyes opened to a pink, princess-themed bedroom. The sight was familiar but strange. How long had it been since I last saw this room?

In my previous life, after Waverly Langford joined the family, she envied my room. Out of pity, my parents remodeled hers to look exactly like mine.

"Madison, Waverly, you're both our precious girls. We love you equally and won't play favorites," they told us.

I stared at the matching princess bed, the identical teddy bears. Fury surged through me. I lost control and tore the room apart. How could she have the same things I did?

Just like that, the room I'd had for ten years was gone. And all I got was a sharp scolding.

The housekeeper's entrance pulled me out of my thoughts. "Ms. Langford, your parents are back," she said.

I wandered downstairs in a daze. And there she was, the girl I once hated most—Waverly.

Waverly sat stiffly on the couch in a washed-out yellow dress, her shoulders hunched, looking small and uneasy.

"Madison, come here. This is Waverly. She's going to be your little sister now," my mom said warmly.

Since I didn't respond, my dad gently added, "Waverly's parents died in a car crash. She has no one left. Her father was my comrade-in-arms. I couldn't let his daughter suffer."

"Madison, wouldn't it be nice to have a little sister?" my mom coaxed.

In my previous life, I was ten when I threw a tantrum and told them I didn't want a sister. For the first time, my loving parents scolded me, "Madison, how could you be so heartless? Waverly has nowhere else to go."

My older brother, Marcus Langford, chimed in too, "Now you'll have someone to play with, Madison. Stop throwing a tantrum."

With her fragile act and sweet smile, Waverly stole Marcus and my parents away from me.

I tried everything to drive her off, but that just made my family love her more and hate me more.

Now that I'd returned from death, none of it mattered anymore.

I lowered my eyes and muttered, "Whatever."

*****

That night, my mom came into my room. "Madison, honey, were you upset today?"

I shook my head. "No."

"You'll always be my favorite little princess. Even with Waverly here, that will never change," she reassured me. "Now you have someone to play with, too."

Liar. Everything would change. Everything that was mine would be shared with Waverly.

My mom sang a lullaby softly and watched until I closed my eyes. Then she tiptoed out.

I knew she'd head straight to Waverly's room after that, cradling her the same way.

Two months later, my birthday arrived.

The house was decorated with balloons and plush toys. The housekeeper helped me into a new dress, and I wore the pink tiara my dad had given me.

I walked downstairs, expressionless. My mom rushed over in a panic. "Madison, have you seen Waverly?"

I shook my head. In this life, I didn't bother her, but I couldn't get along with her either. All I could do was ignore her.

Marcus frowned. "Madison, did you do something to Waverly? She wouldn't just vanish on her own."

I looked at him, remembering how he used to adore me. I used to tell everyone at school he was the best big brother ever.

But now, after just one month, he was already treating Waverly like she was his real sister. He even questioned me because of her.

Maybe Marcus was right. Blood wouldn't mean anything in the end.

Waverly always called out to him in her soft, sweet voice. She'd bring him a glass of milk and say, "You must be tired from studying, Marcus."

On the other hand, I'd scream until he gave in and played with me.

They searched the house from top to bottom, but there was no sign of her. My parents looked ready to call the police.

"Madison, be a good girl and wait here. We'll be right back," they said. Then, they rushed out with Marcus, desperate to find Waverly.

I sat calmly on the couch with my book. Night fell, and still, they didn't come back.

The housekeeper helped me light the birthday candles. I took a fork and scraped off the "Happy Birthday" icing. From now on, I'd never have a happy birthday again.

Because that day was also the anniversary of Waverly's parents' deaths.

Every year, my birthday would be clouded by her grief. My parents and Marcus would comfort her, and I'd be left behind.

The next morning, I came down to find them comforting Waverly gently.

They only remembered when they noticed me. "Madison, we missed your birthday yesterday. Let me make it up to you with a gift, okay? Don't be upset," my mom said.

I said quietly, "It's fine."

This wouldn't be the last time. They still felt guilty now, but eventually, they'd get used to forgetting me.

In my previous life, I waited all night for them. When they finally came home, I lost it. I yelled and cried because I felt so wronged.

My parents explained that Waverly had a heart attack from grief. I didn't even know what that meant. All I knew was they left me alone for her.

I hated her.

Everyone's patience had limits. They were so consumed with Waverly that they had no strength left for me.

Eventually, my parents snapped, "Madison, why must you be so selfish?"

I'd never be that foolish again, begging them for scraps of love.

My mom came over and hugged me softly. "Yesterday was the anniversary of Waverly's parents' deaths. She was so heartbroken, she had a heart attack. Thank goodness we found her in time."

"I'm sorry, Madison," Waverly whispered.

Marcus immediately spoke up. "Come on, Madison, she didn't mean it. Don't be mad at her, okay?"

This time, I said nothing. I didn't cry or argue. As for the makeup gifts they gave me, I tossed them into the corner, unopened.

I acted like Waverly didn't exist. My parents were desperate to make us close.

To help us bond, they enrolled us in the same class.

"Madison, Waverly's health isn't great. Please be patient with her, okay?" they told me.

"Did I make her sick? Do I owe her anything? Why do I always have to be the one who gives in?" I tilted my head and voiced the confusion that had been plaguing me.

The room went quiet. My mom gave me a disappointed look. "Madison, Waverly has suffered so much. We're a family now. Families love and support each other."

Sure, she lost her biological parents. But she ended up with adoptive ones who adore her.

My biological parents were still alive, yet they loved her more than they'd ever loved me.

Did she really deserve more sympathy than me?