I jump off the seventh floor on my wedding day. Why? Because everyone has abandoned me to pick up a fake heiress from the airport, my fiancé included. I expect to see them riddled with heartbreak and regret after my death. However, my father merely shakes his head stoically and looks at my body while saying I was too willful. My mother bites her lip and sighs in relief. My fiancé, Magnus Gilmore, shields the fake heiress. He's afraid she'll see the horrible state of my body. The fake heiress is scared to tears at this, and everyone crowds around her to console her. No one cares whether I'm still breathing while lying in a pool of blood. I'm stunned when I see this, but I soon laugh self-deprecatingly. When I open my eyes again, I've been brought back seven years in the past. It's the day I've just stepped foot at home.
Lihat lebih banyakI shook my head and dialed the police. They arrived soon after and took Rosa away. Once I gave my statement, I called Mom.She was so thrilled to hear my voice that she practically started babbling, "You finally reached out, Cora! You haven't been home in ages. How are you? I heard your startup is doing amazing. Are you feeling tired—"I cut her off. "Pick up Rosa from the 20th Precinct.""What?"I quickly explained what had happened and was about to hang up.She broke down in tears. "You're my real daughter, Cora. Rosa is out of our lives now, and I don't want her back. Will you come back, please?"I was busy."No," I replied.After being named Outstanding Female Entrepreneur of the Year, another year was drawing to a close.I leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window of my office, kicked off my heels, and poured myself a glass of red wine. I took a slow sip as I watched the busy streets below.I was already 30 at that point. Those 15 years, from 15 to 30, felt like a lifet
"Rosa has no place here! She's not even my real daughter, so why would she deserve any of this?"Mom's remark took me by surprise, but I wasn't bothered by it. I gave a quiet hum and told her I was only passing by and wouldn't be staying long.Panicked, Mom gripped my hand tightly. "Why the hurry? You haven't even seen your dad yet. Actually, he wasn't sick from anger. He was attacked."I furrowed my brow, confused. "Who would do something like that?""Rosa!" Mom hissed through clenched teeth. "That good-for-nothing teamed up with our competitors to steal confidential files. Your dad caught her in the act, and she actually stabbed him in the shoulder with a paring knife!"Things got pretty intense, and I found it amusing. "Did you report it to the police? Rosa should be locked up, right?" I asked.Mom shook her head. "We prefer to deal with this privately. Either way, she's no daughter of ours anymore!"Oh? Fine by me.It was getting late, so I turned to go. Mom hurried after
"Fine, let's settle this now. Call Rosa and get me enrolled in a university," I said, meeting Dad's eyes with resolve.He stumbled over his words. "Well… What if we wait until Rosa's awake and talk it through then?"I grabbed my luggage with a smile and waved goodbye.Mom and Dad didn't hurry after me. They silently watched as I faded into the distance, feeling embarrassed.When I started at Quinver University, I threw myself into my studies like never before. I wasn't about to be the same fool who had once given up on life. I was determined to make something of myself.Magnus came to Basleton on business during my sophomore year and stopped by to see me.The moment he showed up, he started grumbling, "That bitch has gone off the deep end overseas. She's gone wild!"I asked him what had happened.After a moment of hesitation, he admitted through clenched teeth that Rosa had cheated on him while abroad. Worse still, she had been gambling, doing drugs, and hitting up nightclubs.
The shop offered pizza and breadsticks at a bargain, both of which I loved.Usually, I'd stick to just one type of pizza per day, along with breadsticks. But today, I got two different pizzas and dug in happily.Magnus walked in after me, immediately coughing at the heavy scent of grease. He pinched his nose as he sat across from me."You actually eat here?" he asked, clearly shocked.I nodded, telling him it was delicious.He remained quiet for a while, his frown deepening before he sighed. "Rosa's living the dream abroad. She gets 300 thousand dollars a month to blow and spends her time shopping."I kept my focus on the pizza and remained silent.Magnus pulled out a card and passed it to me. "We were once promised to each other. Now that you've become the state's top scorer, which is amazing by the way, I'd like to reward you with 200 thousand dollars. Use it for your university expenses."How generous of him to give me a reward worth less than what Rosa got in a month.I di
"No, thanks," I said, keeping it short. "I've got class now. I'm hanging up.""Oh, alright... You're always so independent. Sweetheart, I really care about you, and I hope you'll reconsider the engagement," Mom's voice softened with concern.I ended the call and went back to my studies.After Rosa got engaged, she left for her studies abroad.Meanwhile, the SAT was fast approaching. It was just another minor obstacle for most rich kids, but it was make or break for me.I needed to get into the best university in the country, and I was determined to be the valedictorian. I knew I could do it.When my last exam ended, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing.My deskmate rolled her eyes at me. "What's with the tears? Back to wallowing before the mirror?”Back in my rented apartment, I stood before the new mirror I'd just bought. Not long ago, the idea of owning something this "luxurious" would have felt impossible. I didn't even have a makeup mirror, let alone a full-length one.
Magnus' slap sent a spinning wave through my head, stripping away whatever dignity and hope I had left. I broke down, my sobs consuming me as my vision blurred with tears.I clawed at my hair in a frenzy, my voice raw as I screamed in agony, "How could you hit me? I'm the one who was promised to you! You've all betrayed me! You've never seen me as part of this family! You've always wanted me out of your lives! Would you be happy if I just died?"The room went silent before the anger erupted around me. Mom's mask of composure crumbled, and she screeched, "Cora Jagger! Have you lost your mind? Have you no shame?"Dad dismissed the housekeepers with a wave before bellowing, "Shut up! You're a Jagger, not some shrew!"Magnus smirked in silence.I shook uncontrollably. Three years had gone by, and I still couldn't understand why I was even alive.My thoughts went blank, and over and over, I cried out, "Would it make you all happy if I just died?""Yes! Go ahead, then!" Magnus sp
In my final year of high school, I'd often imagine myself as a woman of power and success, admired by everyone.My past life now seemed absurd. I spent seven years desperately chasing love, trying to earn the affection I never received from my family.I desperately wanted the love of Mom, Dad, and Magnus. But on my 22nd birthday, I jumped from a building and ended my life.Thus, turning 22 carried a different weight for me. I had a strong feeling that something huge was coming that day, but in this life, it came four years earlier.I received a call from Mom in the early morning. It was the first time she had contacted me in six months.The last time she called was on Christmas Eve when she invited me home for the family celebration. But I stayed in my rented apartment and made meatballs alone.When I took the call, I could hear the smile in her voice. "It's been so long, Cora. I didn't want to interrupt you with your exam preparations, so I held off on calling."I hummed softly
Why'd Rosa even bother with all that?"Sorry, I got to head to my tutoring session," I said, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.As I turned to leave, a guy with bleached hair leaned toward Rosa and asked, "Who's that, Rosa?""Who else would it be? She's the real daughter of the people who adopted me," she said dismissively.The bleached-haired guy snickered. "You shouldn't speak about Mr. and Mrs. Jagger like that."Rosa snorted, revved the engine, and sped away. It was obvious she didn't give a damn about Mom and Dad.I couldn't help but smile. It seemed like Mom and Dad were finally getting what they deserved.During the summer break before my SAT, I stopped by the Jagger residence, but it was deserted. The butler told me they'd all left for Maldora the day before."Didn't Mr. and Mrs. Jagger let you know?" he asked, looking confused.I didn't bother responding. I turned on my heel and left.On my way back, I got a message from Mom on WhatsApp. "We're heading to Maldora
"You ungrateful brat! Why are you still hanging around? Get lost! There's only space for Rosa in this house!" Magnus' voice thundered, snapping me from my daze.It was then that I finally understood what Mom's and Dad's uneasy glances meant. They'd been silently pushing me to leave. It all made sense now.I packed up my belongings and left without a word. After that, a small studio on the west side of town became my refuge.My thoughts returned to the present. I quietly made my way upstairs to pack my things. If the Jaggers were desperate to get rid of me, I'd make it easy for them.Instead of living at the school, I rented a small apartment nearby. A cleaning lady came once a week to keep things in order.One day, she gave me a curious look and asked, "Miss, do your parents know you're living here alone? They never seem to come around."How could they possibly come around? Rosa had been throwing tantrums, and they were too busy tending to her to worry about me.My silence seeme
I was reborn to the day when Mom and Dad brought me back to the Jagger residence.Their eyes were swollen from crying as they told me, through their tears, how much they had missed me and how guilty they felt for all the lost years.It had been a decade since we'd been apart, and they'd never stopped thinking about me.In my previous life, I was so moved by their words that I broke down in tears and threw myself into their arms, foolishly thinking I'd finally found a place where I belonged.I thought I'd finally found someone who truly loved me!Yet seven years later, I tore at my wedding dress in despair and threw myself from the Jagger residence, foolishly hoping that such a drastic move would make them finally care about me.But the truth was, no one ever loved me.Now, I felt nothing as if I were made of stone."Sweetheart, I've prepared so many gifts for you! They're all in the living room. Take whatever you want!" Mom said.I didn't answer, so she took my hand and led me...
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