Chapter 1

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 floating in the air.

By the time I came back to my senses, I was already standing in the center of the living room. I could see Caleb still raining down punches upon me like a madman, devoid of rationale.

That wasn't all—I could also see my corpse underneath him, blood spattering all over my face. Caleb didn't seem to notice that I was already dead.

It was quite strange to watch myself getting beaten up from a third point of view.

Oddly enough, I didn't feel an ounce of anger or sadness. Perhaps, ever since I agreed to marry Caleb in Cindy's place, I had been waiting for this day.

Speaking of, Cindy and I shared the same birthday. By now, the entire family had probably gathered together to celebrate her turning a year older.

With that thought in mind, my vision suddenly turned blurry once more as I floated around in the living room. When I could see again, I found myself in a crowded and brightly lit living room.

The crowd stood around a large, three-layered cake covered in buttercream. Cindy, who stood directly in front of the cake, was at the center of attention.

She looked stunning. Her face was beautiful: round, bright eyes, small lips, and a prominent nose. Her light yellow dress made her look like a noble, dignified princess. One could hardly tell she was born a sickly baby in her early years.

The rest of the Lamberts—Steven, Sophia, and Mark—surrounded her in the center, just as I thought they would.

Everything seemed to be in perfect harmony.

Steven, standing at Cindy's side, took a document from the butler and handed it to her solemnly. Then, he turned to the guests and some of the specially invited journalists for a grand announcement.

"Effectively immediately," he said, "my daughter Cindy will receive ten percent of Lambert Group's shares."

An uproar followed his words.

Although Lambert Group was not as big as Carpenter Group, which had been growing rapidly over the years, it was still one of the pioneering companies in Arkam City.

Steven's declaration was equivalent to announcing Cindy's right of inheritance.

Amidst thunderous applause and flashing cameras, Steven whispered to Cindy, "Happy birthday, Cindy. Go ahead and make a wish."

It was expected that tomorrow's news headlines would either be 'The Lamberts throw a grand birthday party for their daughter' or 'Shocking! This was his birthday gift to his daughter!'

As I watched it all happen, I found everything absurd.

'Hahaha! This is ridiculous.'

While I was being beaten to death, Cindy was on her way to the top.