Chapter 2

The bitter taste of the pills still lingered in my mouth, and Selena's cruel words – isn't it fun losing your home and family? – echoed in my mind.

Before I could fully process it, I heard a ruckus from my closet. Selena stood with her back to me, pulling clothes out of my wardrobe one by one, carelessly tossing them onto the floor.

She mumbled, her tone full of disdain, "Ethan loves pink, but why doesn't she have a single pink dress?"

"No wonder, she always acts so low-key. Who'd know she's Chloe Hayes, the heiress?"

My heart clenched. I'd always preferred to stay out of the spotlight and avoided social events, which was exactly how Selena found her opportunity.

I moved my head slightly, letting out a faint sound. Selena's body stiffened, a flicker of guilt flashing in her eyes.

"Oh, you're awake? You scared me!" She turned around, patting her chest, her voice laced with annoyance. "Why didn't you say anything? You're like a ghost."

I gazed at her innocent-looking face, remembering the horror of my family's destruction in the previous life. My eyes burned with fury.

Growing up, we shared everything—food, home, school. My mom felt sorry for Selena losing her mother early, so she made sure Selena had everything I did. I treated her like my own sister, always indulging and spoiling her.

It was my indulgence that had turned her into an entitled and selfish person.

I clenched my fists, my gaze sharp, and spoke coldly, "What are you doing?"

Selena froze. She'd never seen me like this. After a moment, she blurted out defensively, "I'm looking for clothes to wear! Ethan's coming back next week to meet me, and your closet doesn't have a single suitable outfit. It's so annoying!"

Meet you?

I scoffed. Selena, did you really think you'd get to meet Ethan next week in this life?

Selena, seeing I wasn't immediately offering to buy her clothes as usual, pouted. "Forget it, you're never nice to me anyway. I'll just go buy some myself."

With that, she casually wadded up my clothes and stuffed them back into the closet. Then, she nonchalantly picked up my perfume from the vanity and sprayed a few times. She acted as if she were the actual heiress of the Hayes family.

I slowly stood up and said calmly, "I'll go with you."

"Huh?" Selena looked surprised, then pushed me back. "No need, you just woke up. Get some more rest; I can go by myself."

I smiled, deliberately asking, "Why? Why can't I go? Are you hiding something from me?"

Selena's gaze darted away, then she forced a strained smile. "No, of course not. I just don't want you to get tired."

I put on my jacket and instructed Mr. Peterson, our driver, "Take us to the store Selena usually goes to."

Mr. Peterson nodded and soon dropped us off. The moment Selena walked in, the sales assistant greeted her like a celebrity.

"Miss Hayes, you're here!" The assistant said with an ingratiating smile. "We have some new limited edition items today; I saved the best ones for you."

I stood behind Selena, watching the assistant fawn over her.

Miss Hayes?

It seemed Selena had been using my identity quite a bit. Out of the corner of my eye, Selena nervously glanced at me, afraid I'd expose her on the spot.

One of the sales assistants looked at me and asked curiously, "Miss Hayes, who is this?"

Before I could speak, Selena quickly pinched my side, then said rapidly, "This is my driver's daughter. She's just with me to see the sights."