Chapter 3
Before I could react, Bella pulled out the necklace and reached for my neck, pretending to trip backward as if I were pushing her.
But I was ready for this. As she leaned back, I grabbed her arm, and instead, I lost my balance and fell to the ground.
Bella was taken aback by my move, while I calmly stood up, dusting myself off.
“Thanks for the gift, but you should be more careful. You almost hurt yourself. Good thing I caught you. Otherwise, you’d be the one on the floor,” I said, my voice steady.
Bella was speechless, her plan foiled.
I wasn’t naive. I knew exactly what she was up to.
In the previous life, it was the room, and in this life, it was the necklace. Bella had always been a master of backup plans, scheming to make me her shadow.
But I wasn’t falling for it. I had changed my path this time, and her schemes seemed almost comical to me.
I had learned to love myself in this life, and I wasn’t interested in anything she cared about.
Chapter 3
When I was reborn, all I wanted was to leave this family, be independent, and find my own worth.
“I’m really too clumsy. I just wanted to give you the necklace and get along with you, but I ended up causing trouble,” Bella said, still quick on her feet.
Her words, of course, were not for me but for our parents.
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“I’m just a burden. Everything I do seems to cause trouble,” she continued.
Sure enough, my mom couldn’t bear to hear that. She pulled Bella into her arms and comforted her, “Of course, you’re not a burden. No one in this family is a burden. You’re all my treasures.”
My dad chimed in, “Parents never think their kids are a hassle.”
When similar things happened to me, I was just a troublemaker. But with Bella, they assured her that no parent would ever think their child was a burden.
In my past life, when I stumbled, they called me clumsy and told me not to embarrass them.
I didn’t want to watch their act anymore, so I walked straight into my room and shut the door.
Through the thin walls, I could faintly hear Bella’s voice.
“Does Zoe not like me?”
Chapter 3
“Zoe’s just tired,” my mom quickly replied.
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My dad added, “She left without saying a word. Kids from the orphanage really need to be taught some manners.”
I pulled the blanket over my head with a cold laugh, blocking out their voices.
What was there left to expect from a family like this?
When I came downstairs, the only people around were the maids cleaning up.
As expected, my parents were probably comforting Bella after her little performance and taking her out to cool off.
I grabbed my book and headed for the door.
It was time to start planning my future. I was still a student. Getting into a good university was my only way to a better life.
Just as I was about to leave, Alex was walking back in. We locked eyes, and he looked at me warily, like I was some thief.
“Where do you think you’re going, Zoe?” he asked.
“To the library to study,” I replied honestly.
Alex let out a mocking laugh. “Don’t be pretending. Are you
Chapter 3
really going to study or just trying to act like the perfect child and steal Mom and Dad’s attention from Bella?”
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I ignored him, but he wasn’t done. “I’m warning you. No tricks. No matter how hard you try, you’ll never replace Bella in their hearts.”
In both lives, Alex had always seen me as someone out to steal the love meant for Bella, as if I were the villain trying to break up their perfect family.
But who cared what he thought?
I walked past him without another word, heading for the library.
Alex wasn’t giving up. “Watch it, Zoe. Keep your fox tail hidden. I’m onto you!”
Dinner was a family affair–Mom, Dad, Bella, and Alex were all
there.
They had planned a big dinner to announce me as their child.
In my past life, I had eagerly anticipated this dinner, competing with Bella every step of the way.
But it never happened. I kept asking, and they kept making excuses. In the end, they blamed me for being selfish and vain.
“You only think about yourself. You never considered how Bella would feel, and how she might be judged at this dinner. You’re so selfish and conceited!
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“You’re nothing like a Brooks. You only think about yourself and don’t care about others. How could I have a daughter like you?”
Back then, I didn’t understand. It was their idea and their promise, so why did they turn it around and call me selfish?
So, in this life, I refused when they brought it up.
“There’s no need to waste time and money on a fancy dinner. It’s enough that we know the truth among ourselves,” I said.
My parents were shocked. After all, I had grown up in an orphanage, and they hadn’t expected me to turn down such a grand event.
Bella couldn’t hide her relief, but she still pretended to persuade
- me.
“A dinner would help more people get to know you.”
“No, thanks. I don’t like noisy dinners. It doesn’t matter if people know me or not,” I insisted.
My firmness pleased my dad, who was worried about the cost and didn’t think I was presentable enough for such an event. He was afraid I’d embarrass him.
My refusal made them happy, but they were too concerned with appearances to let it go.
“This dinner could help you expand your social circle. It’s a good
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idea,” they insisted.
Their act was so transparent. It was almost funny.
Thinking of what I was about to do next, I said, “Since you’re so concerned about me, I guess I can’t say
no.”
Their smiles froze as soon as the words left my lips.
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11 Gifts
After I died, my whole family breathed a sig… 1/3
