My parents were still there.

As expected, my mom quickly stepped in to comfort her. “Your sister is probably just tired and needs some rest. Don’t read too much into it.”

My dad chimed in, “Leila, no one’s taking anyone else’s place in this family. Don’t let it bother you.”

But there was.

It was me.

…

After a nap, the villa was quiet.

The housekeeper informed me, “Miss Leila wasn’t in a good mood, so Mr and Mrs. Lowe took her out shopping.”

I simply responded, “Oh.”

That was fine by me.

I began organizing the cash gifts—money from my parents and relatives when they came to welcome me home. Altogether, they added up to over twenty thousand dollars.

I needed to save it.

Because I knew my future wouldn’t be easy, and this money would be my biggest asset.

The town chief had helped me open a bank account, so I grabbed my bank card and headed to the nearest branch.

In my previous life, after three difficult years, I grew familiar with the area.

So, I wouldn’t get lost this time.

At the bank, I came across a sharply dressed man in a suit, accompanied by the branch manager, who was all smiles and nods as he walked him out.

I stopped in my tracks.

The man in the suit was my brother, Shane.

This was our first meeting in this lifetime.

But he recognized me after seeing my photos and videos.

He glanced at me, sizing me up, before speaking coldly, “Carol Lowe?”

“Yes.”

The bank manager’s eyes darted between us before he greeted me warmly. “Miss, what’s your relationship with Mr. Lowe?”

Shane frowned, clearly displeased. “That’s none of your concern. Get back to work.”

The manager gave an awkward laugh and quickly left.

Shane looked at me again. “You just got home. What are you doing here?”

“Depositing money,” I replied honestly and went straight to get a number.

“Depositing money? Those cash gifts?” Shane sneered. “I thought you’d give the cash to Mom and Dad to manage. After all, Leila always does that.”

I stayed silent.

He scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. “Greedy, aren’t you? Fine, keep your own money if you must, but don’t even think about laying a finger on the family’s!”

He was exactly the same as in the previous life.

In my first week back then, a gold necklace went missing at home.

Shane was convinced I stole it.

He thought I was poorly raised, money-hungry, and nothing but trouble.

Who would’ve thought that in this life, the necklace hadn’t even gone missing yet, and Shane had already made up his mind about me?

But I didn’t care, and I wasn’t going to argue.

I just wanted to deposit my money.

With a cold scoff, Shane turned and walked away.

…

That evening, my parents and Leila were all present, discussing which school I should attend.

The brochures laid out on the table were all for elite private schools.

I made my choice directly. “I don’t want to go to a private school. I want to attend Shaw City High.”

It was a top public high school.

My plan was simple: finish high school, get into college, and leave this house.

I had no desire to be a wealthy heiress.

My parents were stunned, while Leila hid her inner delight and spoke up. “Sister, there’s no need for us to attend an ordinary high school. We don’t even need to take the college entrance exam; we’ll study abroad in the future.”

“Yes, Carol,” my mom said, patting the back of my hand. “You and your sister should both go to Royal Rose Academy. We’ll take care of everything for your future.”

My dad’s gaze flickered as if he was weighing his options.

I knew exactly what he was thinking.

In my previous life, I had enrolled in Royal Rose Academy and became infamous.

Not because I was dazzling, but because I stood out in all the wrong ways.

A girl from a rural town among the heirs and heiresses of Shaw City’s wealthiest families—I was painfully out of place.

When news spread that I was the Lowe family’s long-lost heiress, I was turned into a joke.

Many came out of curiosity to see me, but when they found a skinny, sun-darkened country girl, the ridicule was inevitable.

Worse yet, Leila fanned the flames.

She not only arranged for people to bully me but even sent a handsome boy to pretend to court me.

After I had been completely swept up in his sweet words, the boy exposed numerous recordings and videos of me and him.

In an instant, I became the laughingstock of everyone, utterly disgracing the Lowe family.

At the time, my dad was so enraged that he struck me, sending me sprawling to the ground.

"I knew sending you to a private school would end like this! You’ve completely ruined the Lowe family’s reputation!"

My dad cared deeply about his reputation, and I had shattered it.

Now, his thoughts were no different—it was still all about protecting his image.

Leila could uphold their reputation whereas he thought I couldn’t.

"I only want to go to a public school. Let me attend Shaw City High," I said firmly.

My mom tried to persuade me, but my dad interrupted, "Enough, let her decide for herself. If we love our child, we shouldn’t force her into anything."

I almost laughed out loud but held it in.

The laugh that couldn’t escape my throat turned into a quiet bitterness deep in my heart.

…

I started high school at Shaw City High.

This school was the farthest from home, so after two weeks of classes, I suggested living on campus.

The family was surprised at dinner.

Even Shane, who rarely came home, frowned at me. "Live on campus? Carol, why does it feel like you’re keeping your distance from us?

"You’ve been back for more than half a month now, and you’re still not used to being home?"

How could I ever get used to it?

I had endured three painful years here before, and I never adjusted.

"It’s more convenient for studying," I replied calmly.

Shane narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

My mom held my hand tightly. "Carol, is something bothering you? I always feel like you’re not connecting with us..."

She was right—I wasn’t.

That was why I wanted to keep my distance. Out of sight, out of mind.

"I just want to focus better on my studies," I explained again.

Beside us, Leila’s eyes turned red, brimming with tears. "Sister, you must hate me, don’t you? If you don’t want me around, I’ll go live on campus instead. I won’t appear in front of you anymore."

With that, she got up and began packing her things.

I smiled.

“Leila, you’re in quite the hurry, aren’t you?” I thought.

Over the past two weeks, she had been doing everything she could to provoke me—stirring up trouble, trying to anger me, or tarnishing my name.

But I never fought back or competed, staying as calm and unbothered as a leaf floating downstream.

She didn’t know how to deal with me.

Now that she finally saw an opportunity, she was quick to play the victim, putting on her little act.

Anyone with half a brain could see through her ploy.

Naturally, my parents and Shane noticed it too, but they didn’t care. Their favoritism toward Leila was obvious.

Shane set his utensils down and said, "Leila, what are you talking about? Why would you live on campus? Sit down."

Sniffling, Leila obediently sat back down.

My dad seized the moment and agreed to my request. "Since Carol wants to live on campus, let her. It’s not a big deal."

Of course, it wasn’t a big deal—especially since I already lived on campus in my past life.

Or more accurately, I lived in a rented room near the school.

Back then, Leila had constantly picked fights and spread rumors about me.

Immature as I was, I couldn’t hold back and ended up brawling with her.

We tumbled down the stairs.

I came out unscathed, but Leila’s head was bleeding badly.

I thought I won. But when the family rushed over, I realized just how thoroughly I had lost.

My mom cradled Leila, tears streaming down her face in distress.

My dad was furious. He grabbed me by the arm and yelled, "Carol Lowe, what were you thinking? Have you lost your mind?"

Shane was home too.

Without a word, he kicked me. "Do you think this is the countryside? Who told you it was okay to fight like some stray dog? Apologize to Leila!"

…

The entire family’s anger poured down on me.

Terrified, I stammered out an apology while Leila sobbed as she packed her things.

Through her tears, she said, "Since Carol doesn’t like me. I’ll move out and give her the house."

Naturally, my family wouldn’t let her go and pleaded with her to stay, their hearts aching for her.

I stood off to the side, lost in thought.

Shane suddenly turned to me and snapped, "You made a mistake and don’t even know how to show any remorse? Honestly, you should be the one moving out. There’s only room for Leila in this house!"

His words jolted me awake. No wonder my parents always looked at me as if they had something to say but held back.

It turned out they wanted me to leave on my own.

It felt like a slap of reality, finally shaking me out of the naïve, late-blooming girl I used to be.

I moved out, forced to leave my family behind.

I lived in that rented apartment for two whole years.

…

Bringing my thoughts back to the present, I went upstairs to pack my things.

I was moving out early just as they wanted.

…

I rented a small apartment near Shaw City High instead of living on campus.

Only a housekeeper came by to help organize things.

She looked puzzled and asked me quietly, "Miss, are Mr. and Mrs. Lowe really okay with you living here alone? Why haven’t they come by?"

Of course, they wouldn’t come.

Leila wasn’t in a good mood again, and they were busy comforting her.

Seeing I didn’t respond, the housekeeper awkwardly tried to console me. "Maybe they’re just busy. I’m sure they’ll come to see you once they’re free."

But she misjudged the situation.

My parents and brother never came to visit me.

The only thing my mom offered was a phone call. "Carol, have you settled in? Oh, I hate the idea of you living alone out there. It really worries me."

I told her I was fine.

She sighed a few more times but didn’t have much else to say.

See? Without even a shred of love, what words could they possibly offer?

After hanging up, I looked around at my small, private space and smiled a genuine, heartfelt smile.

Finally, I no longer had to be the intruder.

Life became much simpler after that.

Eat, sleep, study—the same routine every day, without having to think about my family.

They didn’t think about me either.

Over a month had passed since I moved out, and not a single phone call came from them.

It felt as though we were dead to each other.

…

One day, I ran into Leila.

On my way back to the apartment after school, I spotted her on a motorcycle, leading a noisy group through the streets. She cut through the alleys like she owned the place, exuding confidence.

I froze for a moment.

Leila was the heiress of a wealthy corporation. She shouldn’t be tearing through the streets on a motorcycle, acting like a rebellious gang leader.

If Mom and Dad saw this, she’d be scolded for sure.

She noticed me too. With a sharp rev of the engine, she pulled up right in front of me.

Before I could say a word, she took off her helmet and gave me a playful, assessing look. "Carol, long time no see."

I responded with a simple, "Yeah."

She flipped her hair, crossed her arms with an air of arrogance, and asked coolly, "So, Mom and Dad haven’t called you even once, have they?"

I nodded.

She smirked and asked if I wanted to know why.

I shook my head.

She carried on without waiting for a response. “Actually, they did want to call you. But every time they tried, I’d cry. To keep me happy, they just didn’t call.

"Of course, the real reason is that they resent you!"

I listened in silence.

Leila held back a laugh. “You’ve been back for quite a while, yet you’re not even close to Mom, Dad, or Shane. Don’t you think they’d hold a grudge against you for that?

"Honestly, I didn’t expect to win without even trying. I used to be so scared of you—terrified you’d come back and take my place.

“But in the end? You left on your own and handed everything over to me. So, thanks for that."

As she spoke, she carefully studied my expression, trying to gauge my reaction.

She wanted to know if I was naturally clueless or if I had stepped aside on purpose.

I felt like laughing.