In my past life, my best friend and I married twins at the same time. We shared secrets, complained about our husbands, and teamed up to outsmart our overbearing mother-in-law—it was truly enjoyable.

Until the day I nearly died giving birth to twins.

As I lay on the brink of death, my best friend cradled my newborns and revealed the cruel truth.

“Thank you, Bianca, for giving me such adorable twins. You had no idea, did you? The twins only ever loved me. If I had the ability to give birth, we wouldn't have used you as a tool to have kids.

"You’re poor and have never been loved, so it was far too easy to manipulate you. Even the way your husband loved you? It was all my idea—I planned every move he made.

“Oh, and every time you two were intimate, I was watching through the cameras—every single time!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I met my best friend.

I had lost so much blood that a weightless, drifting sensation overcame me.

In my daze, I thought I saw my mother—or rather, the version of her I had always imagined.

My mother had died giving birth to me, bleeding out on the delivery table.

It felt like a cruel twist of fate, a cycle doomed to repeat itself.

In my final moments, I mustered the last of my strength to plead with Sophie Reed, my best friend. My voice trembled with desperation.

"Please, let me see my children. Just once. Just one look at the children I gave my life to bring into this world…"

But Sophie only smirked, her voice sharp and triumphant as she said, "Your children? Once you're gone, they'll be mine.

"You're a pathetic woman who crawled out of a backwater village—what gives you the right to touch my man? What gives you the right to bear the Lewis family's children?"

I stared at her, unblinking, as life slipped away from me.

I thought I heard my children crying. I thought I heard the doctor recording my time of death, followed by a sigh.

"There's plenty of blood available in the bank. They don't seem like a family that's struggling for money—why would they just give up on saving her?"

When I opened my eyes again, I was surrounded by the blinding flashes of cameras. The lights made my head spin.

My aunt Maya Sinclair nudged me and whispered, "Bianca, are you so happy you've lost it? The reporters asked you some questions—how does it feel to achieve the top score in the city's college entrance exams and get accepted to Jadebrook College?

"Do you have any advice for the younger students?"

I blinked, my mind snapping back into focus.

I had been reborn—it was the day I received my acceptance letter from Jadebrook College.

This day had been the brightest moment of my 18 years. School leaders congratulated me. Reporters interviewed me. Younger students looked up to me with admiration.

But it was also the day that sealed my fate 12 years later—because today, I would meet Sophie for the very first time.

Just as in my previous life, the next moment, Sophie entered the room with her father, Edward Reed.

The reporters immediately turned their cameras on them, clearly familiar with Edward. Edward exuded an air of sophistication and affluence, the perfect image of a successful man.

And Sophie? She was radiant, a vision of elegance in her pure white princess dress. She walked up to me with a graceful smile, effortlessly casting me into the shadows with her mere presence.

Edward addressed the reporters with a warm, practiced smile. "My family roots are here in Willowbrook. When I heard that a fellow native from our modest hometown had achieved the top score in the city, how could I not come to congratulate her?

"On behalf of Reed Group, we will be awarding Ms. Sinclair a 50 thousand dollars scholarship. This will allow her to focus entirely on her studies at Jadebrook College and contribute to her hometown and our nation upon her graduation.

"My daughter, Sophie, has also been accepted into Jadebrook College. You'll be classmates from now on. I hope you'll get along, support each other, and bring pride to Willowbrook."

In my previous life, this was how it played out. With this grand gesture, Edward tied me to Sophie under the guise of generosity.

I had been deeply grateful for Reed Group's sponsorship. During my college years, I'd worked tirelessly to play the role of Sophie's good friend—her loyal sidekick.

Sophie, along with the Lewis family's twin brothers, Jonathan Lewis and Xavier Lewis, formed an inseparable trio. Naturally, I was drawn into their circle.

When Sophie started dating Jonathan, she pushed me toward his younger brother, Xavier. Eventually, we both married into the Lewis family, becoming sisters-in-law.

It wasn't until I died on the delivery table that I finally understood. From the very beginning, I had been nothing more than a pawn in their game—a convenient scapegoat and a vessel for their schemes.

Unlike my past self, who had silently accepted this arrangement, I gathered my thoughts and turned to face the cameras. My voice was steady and composed as I said, "Thank you, Mr. Reed, for your generous donation and your dedication to our hometown.

"After my college entrance exams, I've been working as a private tutor. By the time the semester starts, I'll have earned enough to cover my tuition and living expenses for the entire year.

"As for the 50 thousand dollars, I'd like to pay it forward. I hope you can donate the funds to my high school alma mater instead, Mr. Reed. Many of my classmates have had to drop out and start working due to financial hardship. I hope they also can have a chance to change their destiny."

The high school principal, David Johnson, beamed with delight, his grin practically splitting his face.

"Ms. Sinclair isn't just an outstanding student academically. Her moral character is equally exceptional. Even after graduating, she still cares deeply about her alma mater and her younger schoolmates."

Seeing the situation spiral beyond his control, a faint crack appeared in Edward's polished, dignified expression. However, he quickly composed himself.

He turned to David with a smile and said, "Ms. Sinclair truly has big dreams and an admirable sense of responsibility.

"In that case, I'll commit to donating 50 thousand dollars in scholarships annually. Mr. Johnson, please arrange for the funds to support students in need. I hope Willowbrook will continue to produce outstanding talents in the future."

The school leadership expressed their gratitude repeatedly.

The reporters were thrilled. They thought it would just be a standard interview with the top scorer of the college entrance exams—a boring interview. But then, a famous entrepreneur suddenly volunteered to make a donation, taking the interview to a whole new level.

Before long, the interview video went viral online.

However, the spotlight didn't land exactly where Edward and Sophie had hoped this time.

Instead, it was me, Bianca Sinclair, who stole the show.

[Bianca Sinclair from Willowbrook]

[Top Scorer Rejects Scholarship, Tutors to Pay Her Own Tuition]

[The Poor Student from a Poor County]

These topics trended online for days, sparking nationwide discussions about students who lose the chance to continue their education due to poverty.

In my previous life, what trended wasn't my story.

It was a photo of Sophie and me. In the photo, she radiated confidence and beauty, while I looked pale and gaunt.

She was hailed as a kind-hearted princess and praised for her beauty and generosity. Meanwhile, I, the actual top scorer, was reduced to her shadow.

Scrolling through the trending topics now, I caught a glimpse of some less-than-flattering comments.

[Sophie got into Jadebrook College with a special recommendation for her aerobics skills. That's nowhere near as impressive as Bianca, who earned the top score in the entire city.]

[The dress Sophie is wearing in this photo is from Dewberry Couture's summer collection. It costs a whopping 30 thousand. She's definitely a pampered little princess raised by a wealthy family.]

[Sophie's dress costs 30 thousand, and Edward only donates 50 thousand dollars a year to students in Willowbrook? Why not skip a few dresses and help more kids?]

[Donating isn't an obligation. If he donates, it's generosity. Why are people nitpicking? Can you do better?]

I skimmed past the comments without lingering as I had another tutoring session to rush off to.

My mother had died giving birth to me. As a girl, I was deemed a disappointment. My father abandoned me to my aunt and never looked back.

My aunt was single and childless, and she had poured all her time, effort, and money into raising me. Because of her, I couldn't allow myself to slack off. I used my top scorer title to pick up four tutoring sessions a day, doing everything I could to lessen her burden.

When the semester finally began, I thought rejecting Reed Group's 50 thousand dollars scholarship would mean I could sever ties with Sophie entirely.

Don't blame me for being a coward.

I had no family connections, no powerful background, and no ambition to challenge families like the Reed and Lewis families—two of the wealthiest and most influential households.

Having been given a second chance at life, all I wanted was to stay far away from Sophie and live a life that belonged solely to me.

But the moment I walked into my dorm, I ran straight into her.

I was in the medical program, and she was in broadcasting and hosting. There was no logical reason for us to be assigned to the same dormitory.

But then I remembered—the school library was funded entirely by the Lewis family. If Sophie wanted to be in my dorm, all it would take was a single word from her.

Since our lives were destined to be tangled up again, I decided I had nothing to fear.

After all, in this life, I hadn't taken the Reed family's 50 thousand dollars.

As soon as Sophie saw me, she smiled and eagerly linked her arm with mine.

"Bianca, you're here! What a coincidence—we're in the same dorm. From now on, we'll be the best of friends!"

Sophie had that typical, delicate, innocent look that made everyone like her on sight.

In my previous life, I had been drawn into her trap step by step. I was allured by her warm smile, completely unaware of what was happening.

But this time, I was no longer the naive person from before. I had been reborn, and I wouldn't fall for her tricks.

I subtly pulled my arm away from hers and said, "Sorry, I just moved my suitcase, and my clothes are covered in dust. I don't want to dirty your beautiful dress."

For a brief moment, I saw the flicker of disdain flash across Sophie's face, but she quickly masked it and stepped away.

Once all the roommates arrived, we took turns introducing ourselves.

As in my past life, one of my roommates, Claire Robinson, was studying journalism. Meanwhile, Zoey Carter was in business administration.

Though we hadn't interacted much before, I knew them to be decent, hard-working individuals.

Sophie then suggested we take a group photo to mark the beginning of our college life. Despite our objections, she insisted, and we ended up taking the photo.

She eagerly created a group chat and posted the picture.

I stared at the photo and froze. All four of us shared certain features in common, but it was clear that Sophie was the most striking of us all. She looked more refined and radiant.

With suspicions in my mind, I quietly inquired about Claire's and Zoey's backgrounds.

Claire's father worked for Reed Group, and Zoey's mother worked for Lewis Group. As for me, I was the poverty-stricken student the Reed family had been trying to help.

The three of us seemed connected to Sophie in some way, and we were all top scorers.

A bold hypothesis crossed my mind—Could it be that Sophie had handpicked us to be part of her high-IQ breeding program?!

In my previous life, I didn't learn much about the Lewis family's twin brothers until we became closer. I found out that when they were six, they were kidnapped while playing in the park.

Sophie had been there too, and she was also just six years old. But despite her age, she had fearlessly tried to save the twins. Unfortunately, the kidnappers stabbed her in the belly during the struggle, leaving her unable to have children.

But the Lewis family were grateful for Sophie's bravery. They supported the Reed family's business in return, eventually helping Edward rise to prominence in the business world.

After that, the Lewis brothers were inseparable from Sophie, and their bond grew deeper.

Even the twins' mother, Lilian Hart, promised that, despite Sophie's inability to have children, the position of Lewis family's first daughter-in-law would be hers.

But in a wealthy family, heirs were still essential, and the issue of childbirth remained a major problem.

Both the Lewis and Reed families were rich and resourceful, and they could certainly find a surrogate. However, no one would compare to us—the top scorers.

Besides, what could be more thrilling than luring a promising, bright student from a prestigious college? Convincing her to willingly offer herself, body and soul?

And once they had trapped her, they could even justify it with a cruel accusation.

"Wasn't it you who foolishly dreamed of marrying into a wealthy family?"

As for me—the poorest, the most starved for love—I was the easiest to control and the perfect choice.

I couldn't help but gasp in realization.

The innocent smile on Sophie's face before me slowly merged in my mind with the twisted, malicious expression I had seen just before my death in my past life.

When classes officially began, I made a conscious effort to avoid Sophie. I started leaving early and coming back late, spending all my free time in the library.

In my previous life, I had lost so much study time trying to play the role of her devoted follower. I almost fell behind because of that.

This time, I was determined to focus and earn the highest grades possible!

When Sophie invited our roommates to dine at a five-star hotel, I pretended to be regretful.

"Sorry, I have an anatomy lab tomorrow. I still haven't memorized all the organ systems and structures," I said. "I'll probably be staying in the study room tonight."

When Sophie handed out designer bags to the others, I held my dictionary-thick textbook and turned her down firmly.

"Those designer bags are too expensive, and they can't hold nearly as much as my canvas bag," I said.

Faced with Sophie's repeated attempts to charm us, Claire happily fell into the trap. "Sophie, I want to be your best friend forever!"

I couldn't help but scoff inwardly. If she really wanted to be Sophie's best friend forever, Claire's life was going to be very short.

Zoey remained indifferent, but she accepted it because she couldn't refuse it. However, she just left it there, unused.

Despite my and Zoey's deliberate distance, Sophie didn't get discouraged. She remained warm and friendly, never showing any of the arrogance one would expect from a wealthy family's daughter.

It was clear—she was patient.

And just like that, the semester passed.

During this time, I threw myself into my studies while Sophie was grabbing all the attention. Not only was she the designated host for school events, but she also made frequent appearances on trending topics.

As the holiday break neared, she announced in the dorm, "Tomorrow's my 18th birthday, and my dad is hosting a coming-of-age ceremony for me. You all have to come! I'll have the driver pick you up tomorrow."

I instinctively looked for an excuse to turn it down.

"Sorry, Sophie, I've been staying up late studying this semester. These few days, I just want to sleep like a log."

On the other hand, Claire was excited. "A coming-of-age ceremony for an heiress? It must be quite an event!"

Zoey remained as composed as ever, saying nothing.

Sophie feigned modesty and added, "Oh, it's nothing special, just a simple ceremony with some family and friends. But I've only invited three of you out of everyone in school. If you don't come, my dad will definitely scold me for not getting along with my roommates."

Claire suddenly perked up and asked, "Sophie, could I film some footage for your coming-of-age ceremony? It'd make for a great project. We in the journalism department need to make a video for our final assignment. It has to get over 100 thousand views, and I've been struggling to find the right topic. A low-key yet luxurious coming-of-age ceremony for a rich heiress would be perfect!

"Please, Sophie, we're such close roommates! Let me ride on the coattails of your fame as the campus belle!" Claire begged.

Sophie hesitated. "But, you know, events like these are private affairs…"

Suddenly, I remembered something. In my past life, it was at the coming-of-age ceremony that Sophie introduced me to the Lewis family twin brothers.

It was there that Jonathan confessed his feelings for Sophie in front of everyone. Afterward, Xavier turned his attention to me.

Although Claire was temporarily blinded by vanity and influenced by Sophie, Claire wasn't beyond redemption. I still wanted to wake her up and help her.

So, I switched tactics.

"Sophie's dad is a well-known philanthropist and businessman. He donates to my high school every year to help students in need," I said. "People like him, who use their wealth to benefit society, should definitely get more recognition. I'd like to express my thanks for his generosity."

I smiled at Sophie. "Why don't we let Claire film some footage? Not only will it help her complete her assignment, but it'll also shine a light on your family's charitable contributions. Plus, having some video memories of your coming-of-age ceremony sounds like a great idea."

I glanced at Zoey. "Zoey and I will also go and join in the fun."

Even though we hadn't interacted much, we had an unspoken understanding. She saw my intent and agreed to attend.

Seeing that the three of us had all willingly walked into her trap, Sophie agreed to let Claire shoot the video. In her eyes, this was an excellent opportunity to promote herself—after all, she was the campus belle. Getting more publicity, even if it meant trending online, could help lay the groundwork for her future career as a famous TV host.

That was how I managed to exchange my presence at the coming-of-age ceremony for the chance to shoot the video.

Given my previous life's understanding of Sophie and the Lewis twins, I knew this footage would be more than just about the ceremony.

The next morning, Sophie sent a driver to pick us up.

On the way, I felt nervous and almost couldn't breathe. I had to dig my nails into my palm to ease the anxiety.

Because today, I would see Xavier again.

In my past life, after Sophie's coming-of-age ceremony, Xavier had told me that he had fallen for me at first sight and immediately began pursuing me with fervor.

He entered my world with an air of confidence that left no room for refusal.

He waited under the dormitory building with a bouquet of red roses, refusing to leave until I appeared.

Time and again, he showed up at the library, endlessly sketching my profile. He humbled himself, accompanying me to a cafeteria he never ate at, silently sitting by while I ate.

He made a spectacle of himself, attending public lectures with me and sparking gossip among the entire class.

On my birthday, he launched a fleet of drones into the sky, broadcasting his love for me in front of the entire school.

Soon, everyone knew—the second son of the prestigious Lewis family was pursuing me, a girl from a poor county, a true Cinderella.

Not to mention, Sophie did everything she could to fan the flames.

But the truth was that all his grand gestures gradually softened my heart.

I thought that, for once, the abandoned girl was truly loved unconditionally.

Only later did I realize… I was nothing more than a tool to be used.