"The tarot reader back then was right. You bring us bad luck! You're nothing like your sister who is sweet and obedient. She came into this world to bring good luck to our family."

So all the pain I'd gone through over the years… all because of a few empty sentences from some tarot reader.

I couldn't help but laugh. Whatever scraps of hope and love I still held for this family were shattered completely.

Fine. I'd take today's humiliation as paying them back for raising me.

"I'm not marrying that old man. If you need money, figure it out yourselves. Since you've never liked me, I'll leave. I don't care about your stupid marry-rich dreams."

I grabbed my suitcase and turned to go.

Audrey's cold voice stopped me.

"You don't wanna get married? Fine. But if you move out, you'd better not be wandering around too much. And make sure your phone's on 24/7. If I call, you have to pick up within three seconds.

"I'm about to become Mrs. Strickland. He'll propose to me and marry me soon. But I don't know much about how to take care of him. When he asks, you'll have to feed me the answers. Got it?"

I turned my head and looked at her. Audrey tossed her hair back and pulled out her phone, snapping a picture of the bruises on her skin.

To her, they weren't shameful but her golden ticket into high society.

My parents were all smiles, fussing over her proudly, as if she were already some rich man's wife.

They chimed in, "Do your best to help Audrey. Once she marries Mr. Strickland, maybe she'll help you, too. She can introduce you to a driver or a bodyguard who works for wealthy families. That's the only way you'll find someone."

I almost laughed. They had no idea what really happened that night. They had no clue what it meant to cross Michael.

The Stricklands weren't just old money—they were powerful and untouchable. Anyone who tried to scheme against them would get destroyed, not rewarded.

The only smart thing to do was to cut ties and walk away.

"We're not that close, so don't bother trying to set me up with someone. You live your lives, and I'll live mine."

-

Audrey and I had switched places completely.

For the next few days, everything stayed quiet. There was not a single word about the most wanted rich heir of Jezelton being tricked.

Then came the day Michael had to go for a checkup, and Audrey told me to wait near the hospital in case she needed me.

I went. Not just because she told me to, but because I wanted to see how he was doing.

That night, he'd knocked Audrey out. He'd been furious at her throwing herself at him.

Even though I had accidentally run into him and ended up helping with his condition, he should've been plotting his revenge against her. But instead, he did nothing.

I hid behind my sunglasses and mask, watching them carefully.

What I saw made no sense.

They were laughing together, looking into each other's eyes like something out of a movie. To anyone else, they looked like the perfect couple, completely in love.

I couldn't wrap my head around it. What was Michael planning? Why wasn't he furious with her? Why was he suddenly acting so close to her?

I stood there for so long, lost in my thoughts, that I didn't even notice when they walked in my direction.

When they passed me, Michael paused for just a second. My heart jumped into my throat.

Did he recognize me?

But then he kept walking, as if nothing had happened.

I let out a shaky breath, relieved… but at the same time, a little disappointed.

That night, he had ripped off my mask. I'd switched the lights off right away, but I still didn't know if he'd seen my face.

It seemed that Michael really hadn't recognized me.

When I got home, Audrey called. She was satisfied I hadn't shown my face, but she still sounded irritated.

"Other than being blind before, does Michael have any other problems?"

I paused for a moment before answering, "No."

She let out a sharp little laugh. "Seriously? By now, since we already spent the night together, shouldn't he be all over me like that night? Instead, he's acting like some saint who won't even touch me!

"But whatever. I heard from his assistant that he's planning to propose to me at the company's annual party this year."

Propose? Michael was actually dating Audrey now?

Had he forgotten he had walked out of the room that night? Or was he setting up some huge revenge plot?

The thought had me quiet for a long time, curiosity eating at me.

"Sounds like a dream come true," I said.

"Dream come true, my foot! What kind of woman can stand a man who won't even lay a finger on her?" Audrey snapped.

"That's why I was thinking I should just get pregnant first. With our family background, it's not exactly easy to marry into money unless you've already got a baby on the way."

My parents jumped right in with advice, suggesting Audrey should get Michael drunk again. Or maybe I could approach him as his nurse and slip him more pills.

They wanted to make sure Audrey slept with him enough times to guarantee a pregnancy.

I was stunned.

They really wanted to keep using dirty tricks like that. Worse, they wanted to drag me into it, too. If I kept being tied to them, one day, they'd pull me straight down with them.

I refused to help. That, of course, set my parents off.

"You coward! If you won't help now, don't think you'll get to enjoy the good life once Audrey makes it big!"

Audrey sneered as well, "First, she wouldn't marry Mr. Meyer to get me 200 thousand dollars for my wedding, and now, she won't even help me get pregnant. A stupid and timid person like her doesn't even deserve to be part of our family."

Her voice grew sharper and sharper.

"You really shouldn't turn me down. Even though I haven't gotten pregnant yet, Michael's already planning to propose. I'm gonna be living the good life. Sure, it's hard for someone like me to marry into money, but it's not impossible. And I'm gonna pull it off.

"You don't wanna help? Fine. But listen to me—when I've got money and power, you won't even get the chance to butter me up. Starting today, you're not allowed to come home again. Get out, and stay out!"

I hung up without a word.

She didn't need to tell me twice. I wasn't going back to that house, not when all I'd ever gotten there was hate.

Two lifetimes of favoritism from my parents had burned away whatever hope I'd ever had for them.

In my last life, after I died at Audrey's hands, my parents still chose to protect her and tried to bury my body without anyone finding out. At that time, all I felt was a despair worse than death itself.

But Audrey's words about Michael proposing at the annual party? That I had to see for myself.

I just couldn't believe Michael would let her off so easily instead of coming after her for scheming against him. I couldn't believe he'd suddenly fall for her and want to marry her.

No. He had to be playing his own game.

-

Finally, the day of Strickland Enterprise's annual party came.

After putting on a disguise, I slipped into the event.

Audrey showed up in a custom white designer gown, looking like some perfect little angel straight out of a rich CEO romance story.

Of course, my parents weren't gonna miss this chance to bask in her "high society" moment. Dressed to the nines in a suit and gown, they went with her to Strickland Enterprise's annual party.

People swarmed around Audrey, showering her with compliments.

"Audrey, you're so beautiful! No wonder Mr. Strickland is completely obsessed with you. And today, he's gonna propose in front of the whole company. You're seriously the luckiest girl ever!"

"Gosh, I'm so jealous. Once you become Mrs. Strickland, don't forget about us, okay?"

Standing there in the crowd while soaking in all the flattery, Audrey looked like she might float away. She immediately started acting as if she already owned the place.

"When I become Mrs. Strickland, I'll make sure my husband gives everyone a raise. Maybe even a few extra days off so we can all celebrate together!"

The crowd cheered even louder.

Soon, the event shifted into its main program.

Michael stood tall in the middle of the room while holding a glass of champagne, looking calm and unreadable. His perfectly tailored black suit made him look even sharper.

Maybe it was just me, but I swear he kept glancing my way, which made no sense.

I had on a mask, a cap, and the plainest clothes I owned. Even my own family hadn't noticed me, so there was no way he could've.

Amid cheers, Michael stepped onto the stage, his voice steady and cool.

"Last year, I got into an accident and lost my sight completely. I'd like to thank someone. Because of her careful care, I was able to recover so quickly.

"Thank you, Ms. Goodwin."

My heart pounded as I listened, trying to keep my face calm.

The spotlight landed straight on Audrey. She lifted her chin and gave a shy, blushing smile.

"I'm your nurse. Taking care of you was my duty."

Michael's lips curled into a smile—the kind that looked dangerous.

He glanced at Audrey. "I've prepared a very special surprise for you today. Do you mind coming up here?"

That was enough to make Audrey's grin stretch from ear to ear. She thought the proposal was about to happen.

"Of course not!"

She gathered up her white skirt and ran onto the stage, the crowd cheering her on.

My parents had tears in their eyes, already imagining themselves joining the rich and never worrying about money again.

The rest of the crowd was buzzing with envy.

"Wow, Audrey's so lucky. If I'd known, I would've tried to become Mr. Strickland's nurse, too. It's easy to get someone to fall for you if you're close to them. Now that she's got his attention, she's about to become a rich wife and live the dream!"

"Right? The Goodwins are about to skyrocket. Now their daughter's gonna marry the rich, powerful, and handsome Mr. Strickland. They really hit the jackpot."

But then, out of nowhere, a tall, broad woman with a hard, scary face stormed onto the stage.

She yanked Audrey by the hair.

"Mr. Strickland, is this the little tramp you were talking about? The one who climbed into my husband's bed at your party last time?"