Chapter 1
In a spacious, sunlit bedroom adorned with luxurious furnishings, Eliana Garcia stirred, her consciousness returning like a slow tide. She opened her eyes, blinking against the golden rays spilling through the curtains.
Then, like a shot, she bolted upright.
“Ow–damn it,” she muttered, clutching her pounding head. It felt like someone had taken a jackhammer to her skull.
Wait a second… Her thoughts scrambled. “What’s going on? Wasn’t … dead!‘
Her eyes darted around, taking in the cream–colored walls, the intricately carved furniture, and the sparkling crystal chandelier above. Her breath hitched. This was her old bedroom in the Garcia mansion–exactly as it had been seven years ago.
Her pulse quickened. No way. This can’t be real
Just then, the door creaked open, and a maid, Nancy, stepped in, carrying a tray.
When she saw Eliana sitting up, her eyes widened, and the tray clattered onto the table. “Miss Garcia Oh, thank goodness you’re awake!” Nancy practically squealed, nishing over. Her voice wavered between relief and disbelief.
Fliana blinked, still dazed. Her hand instinctively reached up and brushed against the thick gauze wrapped around her head. And just like that, it all came flooding back, hitting her like a freight train.
She wasn’t just alive–she’d somehow traveled back in time. Seven years back, to the very day Willow Garcia returned to the family.
Back then, she’d been living in a blissful bubble, completely unaware of the storm about to shatter her world. She’d grown up as the cherished daughter of the Garcia family, doted on by her parents, Andy and Victoria, But all of that had come crashing down after the car accident.
Her blood type hadn’t matched. One test led to another, and the truth came out she wasn’t their biological daughter. She’d been swapped at birth. a mistake made at the hospital
When she’d woken up, Willow–the real daughter–had already been found and welcomed home with open arms.
At the time, Eliana had seriously thought about stepping aside and giving up her place for Willow. It only seemed fair, right? But Willow, with her sugary–sweet smile and warm assurances, had talked her out of it-
“Nothing has to change, Willow had said, her soft voice dripping with sweetness. We can be like real sisters–closer than blood. This is your home too, Eliana. You belong here.”
Eliana had hesitated but ultimately agreed. After all, she had grown up in the Garcia family. She was attached to them, to this life, to everything she’d known. And she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving, especially not her parents
So, she stayed, convincing herself she could make it work, that Willow’s promises were genuine. What she hadn’t realized was that staying would be her biggest mistake.
From the day willow returned, she started working her magie–subtly but steadily shoving Elia out of the picture. At first, Eliana tried to make peace with it. She told herself, “Willow’s the real daughter. It’s only right she gets her chance to belong here!
But as the days dragged on, it became painfully obvious: Willow didn’t just want a spot in the family. She wanted everything Eliana had–her relationships, her dreams, her whole life.
And weirdly, since Willow’s return, Eliana’s world had started falling apart. It wasn’t just a streak of bad luck; it was like some invisible force was working against her.
Her closest friends Gone. Her family! Suddenly cold. Even the boy she secretly liked? He drafted away, wrapped up in Willow’s spell like the rest of
them.
It was almost eerie. Willow seemed to know Eliana’s every move before she made it. She’d swoop in first, flashing that perfect smile, and somehow, Eliana always ended up looking like the bad guy.
No one saw the strings Willow was pulling behind the scenes. To everyone else, she was an angel And Eliana? Just the bitter, jealous impostor who couldn’t handle being second beu.
In the end, Eliana lost everything. She’d tried to fight back–God knows she tried–but Willow always stayed one step ahead, playing some twisted game Eliana didn’t even know the rules to. And then, on the day she died, Willow dropped the ultimate bombshell.
Leaning in close, with that smug smile eiched on her face, she whispered the truth, “I came back from the future to take everything you were supposed to have. You were going to be happy, successful, loved. I couldn’t let that happen.”
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Chapter 1
Eliana had been too stunned to even process it ‘Going back in time? It sounded insane. Back then, she couldn’t wrap her head around it.
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But now! Now she understood it all too well.
Nancy approached the bed, her brows knitted in worry as Eliana sit there, lost in thought. She gently placed a hand on Eliana’s forehead. “Miss Garcia! Are you feeling okay? Is this from the accident?”
Eliana blinked, snapping out of her daze. Her voice was steady as she asked, “Has Willow come downstairs yer?”
Nancy froze, her eyes widening. “Miss Garcia, how do you know about that already?”
Eliana’s
na’s lips curled into a wry smile. ‘How could I not?” In her past life, the day she woke up
up from that accident was the day Willow returned to the family.
The truth that followed had been devastating; she wasn’t the Garcias‘ biological daughter, Willow was. Back then, she’d been naive enough to stay, thinking they could make it work. But staying had only led to heartbreak after heartbreak.
Not this time.
This time, she wasn’t about to let history repeat itself. She’d take her fate into her own hands, starting with finding her real family.
With renewed determination, Eliana tossed off the covers and swung her legs out of bed, starting to
ing to gather her things.
Nancy froze, her eyes widening. “Miss Garcia, what are you doing?
Eliana turned to her with a cool expression. “Stop calling me ‘Miss Garcia‘ I’m not part of this family anymore”
Nancy’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “W–What__)”
Eliana paused mid–step, glancing around the room. The realization hit her like a cold slap–there wasn’t much to pack. None of it was truly hers. She let out a slow, deliberate breath, as if exhaling all the ties that bound her to this house.
Without another word, she turned and walked out, her steps steady, her resolve unshakable.
Downstairs, Andy and Victoria were clinging to Willow like she was the greatest miracle of their lives, tears streaming as they spoke in choked
voices.
“Oh my poor sweet girl, Victoria sobbed, holding Willow tightly. “You’ve been through so much. I can’t even imagine the pain you’ve endured all these years.”
Andy nodded, his voice thick with emotion. “Willow, we’ll do everything to make it up to you. You’re finally home where you belong.”
Eluna paused at the top of the stairs, watching the overly dramatic reunion with a calm detachment. It was like seeing a scene from a bad soap opera, but this time, she wasn’t the one swept up in the script.
Her gaze shifted to Willow, sitting there in her too–perfect getup–washed–out jeans and a plain T–shirt, the classic “I’m so humble” look. Her red- rimmed eyes glistened as the blinked up at the Carcias, looking like the embodiment of pure, sweet innocence.
Then Willow glanced up and saw Eliana coming down the stairs. In an instant, she jumped to her feet, plastering on that fake, sugary smile Eliana knew all too well.
“Eliana,” Willow greeted softly, her voice dripping with fake modesty. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
Elana scoffed inwardly. Please. Cut die act. How had I never seen through your act before she thought, her blood simmering. That faux sweetness had fooled ber once, but not this time.
She kept her face neutral, her expression unreadable, as she strode down the stairs without acknowledging Willow’s greeting.
Victoria wiped her tears, trying to compose herself, and turned to Eliana. “Eliana, you’re awake. Good. Come here, sweetheart, we have something to tell you”
Andy’s voice grew serious, even somber, as he nodded. “Eliana, the truth is you’re not our biological daughter. Willow is. After your accident, we
na DNA test and found out there was a mistake at the hospital. You were… switched at birth
“Now that Willow’s back, we’ve decided it’s best for her to take your room. You’ll be moving into the dorms since school starts soon They were
were so eager to get it out in the open, as if they couldn’t wait to sweep everything under the rug. It was like her recovery didn’t even matter. Their hearts had already shifted toward Willow–no hesitation, no second thoughts.
Before her tune travel, Eliana had clung to the naive hope that the Garcias still loved her. She’d convinced herself they only wanted to make things
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Chapter 1
night with Willow, But she’d been blind–willfully so. This time, she wouldn’t fall for the same trap.
Straightening her back, Eliana strode over and settled onto the couch. Meeting their gazes without flinching, she said evenly, “Mom, Dad, thank you for raising me for the past eighteen years. Now that your real daughter is home, it’s only fair for me to move out. I’ll pack my things and leave.”
Willow’s eyes went wide, her face twisting in confusion. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Eliana was supposed to throw a tantrum, cry, beg to stay–just like before. This? This was all wrong.
Andy and Victoria looked just as rattled. “Eliana, we didn’t mean it like that,” Andy said, his voice tight with urgency. “Willow’s return doesn’t mean we’re asking you to leave.”
Willow quickly moved to Eliana’s side, grasping her hand with a gentle, pleading look in her eyes. “Exactly, Eliana! Don’t be like this. We can live together, just like real sisters, can’t we?
“You’ve been part of this family for so long. If you leave, people might think Mom and Dad pushed you out. How would they hold their heads up if rumors like that spread”
