Chapter 2

When I opened my eyes again, I stared at my tiny hands and feet in absolute disbelief.

I had actually reincarnated!

The sharp, phantom pain of a knife piercing my heart still lingered in my chest. Still half-dazed, Mom took my hand and helped me out of the car.

Our car was parked in front of the private youth care home. Word had gotten out that Robert Miller, the billionaire tycoon, was coming to pick a child to sponsor. The director, Mrs. Gable, had been waiting at the entrance with her staff since early morning.

Anxiously, I squeezed Mom's hand. She looked down at me and gave me a warm, gentle smile, which instantly put my racing heart at ease.

It seemed even God couldn't stand the injustice. He had actually given me a second chance to start over.

Thinking of the monster who had destroyed my family in my past life, my expression hardened. I turned around to look at my younger sister, Chloe.

Chloe was a year younger than me, but right now, she looked strangely mature. Standing with her hands clasped behind her back, she looked down her nose at the facility director, treating everyone like they were beneath her.

In my past life, I hadn't paid much attention to this. I had simply thought Chloe was mature for her age.

Now, a cold sweat broke out across my back.

She had been acting weird even back then.

Dad was still trying to reason with her, looking highly conflicted. "Chloe, sweetie... you already have Serena. Why are you so obsessed with getting a brother?"

Chloe’s small eyes darted over to me, and she let out a loud, mocking snort.

"I don't want a useless, childish sister like Serena! I want a brother! I want a brother right now!"

Watching Chloe throw a temper tantrum, Mom and Dad exchanged a helpless, weary look, then glanced down at me.

Oh, so that’s how we’re playing this?

In my past life, I had always listened to my parents and put my sister first. Naturally, I hadn't said a word, letting Chloe bring Logan back to our house.

But in this life, since you want to act mature and throw tantrums, I’m going to play the fragile, innocent victim.

As Mom and Dad looked at me, my eyes welled with tears. I squeezed them back, pretending to be brave.

"It's okay, Mom, Dad. I've always been a bit slow and clumsy. It’s okay if Chloe doesn’t like me. Maybe... maybe I'm just not good enough to be her sister..."

My voice was soft and trembling, the perfect picture of an innocent, hurt child. Compared to Chloe's bratty behavior, my parents instantly felt a wave of deep pity and affection for me.

Mom knelt down and gently kissed my cheek.

"Don't cry, Serena. Chloe didn't mean it. Tell you what—since she wants a brother so badly, how about you be the one to choose him?"

"No way!" Chloe shrieked immediately. "He's going to be my brother! I should be the one to choose!"

Before she could finish her tantrum, Dad gave her backside a firm, warning pat.

"Who taught you to be so selfish? Apologize to Serena right now!"

Chloe puckered her lips, her eyes instantly filling with tears.

Unlike me, who possessed the soul of an adult, she might have awakened some memories, but she was still ultimately a child. To get what she wanted, she had to play along. She walked over with a fake pout and grabbed my hand.

"I'm sorry, Serena."

I gave her a tight, joyless smile and squeezed her hand back with every ounce of strength I had in my little fingers.

Seeing us "reconcile," my parents' expressions softened, and they followed the director inside.

As we walked, Chloe leaned in close, whispering in my ear, "Serena, you love me the most, right? When we go in, whichever boy I point to, you have to tell Mom and Dad to pick him, okay?"

I ignored her completely, letting her stew in her own anger. Instead, I skipped ahead happily and held my parents' hands.

Dad looked down, smiling as he pinched my nose.

"Why are you so clingy today, Serena?"

My eyes stung. I looked at my wonderful parents. In my past life, they were brutally killed by the hands of their own spoiled younger daughter. How much pain they must have felt.

But it didn't matter now.

In this life, I would protect this family.

I would make sure that ungrateful wretch Chloe and that bastard Logan rotted in the mud together.

Forever.