I felt restless.Steven didn't seem like the kind of guy who took rejection well, especially when it also involved his daughter, Cindy.As expected, I got a call that day. My entry to the academy was denied.I knew Steven had to be behind this. He was forcing my hand.Right after that, bad things happened one after another.After Randal found out about this and Steven's visit, he had a heart attack.The doctor said he needed a new heart. Although it sounded simple enough, we all knew how many people were waiting in line for a donor.All of a sudden, Grandma fell sick.Although she was just as anxious, she saw my haggard appearance when she woke up, and the first thing she did was to comfort me."Rachel, don't worry. There will be a way."Steven approached me. He brought a pile of information on Randal's case, including the latest treatment plan, the post-operative recovery program, and the heart donor's information that was placed at the end.That was when I learned that Ran
After the authorities received public opinion and launched an investigation into the incident, people realized that I might not have been the first victim.Caleb's past female partners either went missing, died, or kept their mouths shut about him. Caleb, or rather Lucy, used their power and money to erase all evidence.By the time my parents arrived at the hospital, all they saw was a handful of ashes in a tiny jar. In order to minimize exposure of the crime, Lucy instructed someone to get rid of my corpse. By now, she was no longer in the mood to imagine the expression on my parents' faces once they saw my corpse.I followed from a distance, but was surprised to see Randal and Steven facing each other off.Randal's hair had grown long. His formerly pale face was now flushed with rage. He was sitting in a wheelchair, holding onto my ashes and refusing to let go."You have no right to take Rachel's ashes! Give the urn to me. I can let it slide," Steven said.Grandma stood behi
That was when Mark approached with shuffling steps. The hesitation on his face was obvious. Steven, who was too annoyed to make a guess, simply asked, "What did you want to say?""Huh? N-Nothing…." Mark stammered. He was startled by Steven's question."Hang on. That's not true." Mark scratched his head and spun in place twice before deciding to voice his findings."The last time we were at the store, I saw Cindy avoiding that woman's gaze. It seemed like she had known that woman for a long time.""What did you say?!" Sophia grabbed Mark's hand violently. Before Mark could cry out in pain, she let go of him and took a few steps back in bewilderment."She knew all along that she wasn't my daughter," she muttered under her breath.Agony was drawn all over her face. She found it hard to believe, but she had to.Mark froze for a moment when he heard this. He turned to Steven for help.Only then did Steven realize Mark hadn't found out about this yet. He sighed, and spilled the b
The last thing I saw was the electronic mouse clock on the table not far away. A small camera was hidden behind it.By the time Layla received the video, I would have probably died.It was necessary. I needed to atone for the wrong I had done.However, being hit really did hurt.Never had I imagined I would get the chance to witness my murderer's punishment. This was probably a reward from the heavens above.With the evidence, Caleb was soon caught. Lucy, the mastermind behind the crime, was arrested and brought to justice just before she was about to leave the country.Carpenter Group's stock price plummeted for days, and stakeholders cut ties with the group. The Carpenters were going down.The Lamberts weren't doing well, either.Some kind-hearted people posted all the information about how they treated me after I was swapped at birth twenty years ago.The Lamberts' public relations manager tried his best to suppress the news, but his efforts were rendered futile. They insta
Steven Lambert claimed my mother almost killed his wife and daughter, branding me as a sinner from birth. For twenty years, he and his family tormented me in the name of atonement. I was forced into a cruel marriage with the vile Caleb Carpenter in Cindy's place, only to suffer a tragic end. Only then did the Lamberts realize I was their daughter. Yet all this time, the very existence they believed to be a sinner enjoyed their bottomless affection and adoration. -With every vicious punch Caleb threw at me, my vision grew blurry. Eventually, my body grew numb. Apart from his twisted expression, the only other thing I could see was the electronic clock on the table not far away. A round yellow electronic mouse held up the rectangular display.'March 27, 2024, 19:37.'That day turned out to be my twenty-first birthday.'Oh, Rachel… It's the perfect ending.'Unable to help myself, I let out a sarcastic laugh. A strange lightness enveloped my body, such that I felt as I was
Sophia watched as Cindy blew the candles and closed her eyes to make a wish. She couldn't help but turn to look at my father, Steven, as she wiped her tears away.Steven quickly hugged Sophia. "Sophia, what's the matter?"Sophia shook her head. "It's nothing. I just suddenly recalled how tiny Cindy looked when she was born. In the blink of an eye, she's grown to be healthy and so beautiful."Steven chuckled in relief. "Oh, you…"However, he was interrupted before he could say anything further."Look at that! Dad and Mom are whispering."Cindy's crisp, clear voice was heard. Although she interrupted their conversation, nobody was upset with her.Mark moved closer. "That's right. Cindy's cutting her cake right now. Dad, Mom, you'll have all the time in the world to show your affection to each other."Steven pointed helplessly at his children.Suddenly, Cindy looked down and murmured, "I wonder how Rachel is doing. It's her birthday, too." When Steven heard this, he frowned. "W
Sophia was a kind person.However, I was the daughter of an enemy who almost got her and her daughter killed. She could only do her best not to shift her anger towards me.On top of that, her daughter, Cindy, had been in poor health since she was born, requiring her to put in even more effort to look after Cindy.Sophia was naturally too occupied to pay attention to me.Back then, there was a big fuss over this. Nearly everyone in our social circle knew where I came from. Naturally, the Lamberts' maids were no exception.They could see that my parents didn't treat me well. Although they wouldn't do anything obvious to a kid like me, they gossiped about me behind my back. Once I was old enough to understand, some of them began to bring up my sinful origin."She's a sinner's daughter!""A nasty child.""Her mother was evil. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"I could hardly count how many times I had heard such things. I didn't understand why I had to be blamed for my mot
Steven hardly doubted as much. The moment he saw Cindy was hurt, he decided I was the one who hurt her."You're just as evil as your mother!"As a result, I was moved to the small room closest to the maids' room. I was also ordered to follow the maids around daily. It was a fancy way of saying they would teach me to have better manners on behalf of my mother.I was powerless to resist.Fortunately, I was alert and clever. I was used to reading the room. Those who initially gossiped about me soon changed their attitude towards me. A few of the maids saw how hard I worked at such a young age, and began to sympathize with me.They secretly criticized my family for being inhumane. However, they only dared to take care of me in secret.That was the happiest time of my childhood.It was around then that Mark was born.He had a round face and dark eyes, his hands were soft and tender, and he was very healthy.Whenever he saw me, he would reach out to grab me with his fleshy fingers