Chapter 1

By chance, I took a knife meant for the New York's wealthiest heir. As thanks, he not only gave me money and a villa, but also promised to marry me.

But when I returned after six months in the hospital? My adopted sister Mallory had taken over my villa and was secretly planning to take my place as his bride.

After I exposed her, Mallory secretly used my SSN to borrow a million dollars.

While I was hiding from debt collectors, she put on a wedding dress and went to marry into the Valentine family in my place.

And me? I was eventually forced to fall from a rooftop to my death by those loan sharks...

Fortunately, I was reborn.

Now that I'm back, I'm not only blocking my foster daughter from snagging my SSN for loans and shutting down her whole fake bride scheme.

Plus, I've got a real nice 'SURPRISE' waiting for her!

...

After six months in the hospital, I returned to the villa that Rhys had given me, only to discover I no longer had a place in my own home.

The second-floor bedroom with the best natural light had become Mallory's bedroom, filled with the plush toys she loved.

Even my study had been transformed into Mallory's personal walk-in closet.

When she noticed my darkening expression, Mallory approached me with a shy smile, taking my hand in hers.

"Riley, the rooms were just sitting empty while you were in the hospital these past six months."

"I have so many things and needed the space. You don't mind, do you?"

Looking at Mallory's seemingly innocent face, I recalled my previous life when I returned from the hospital and didn't have the heart to ask her to vacate my room. That was the beginning of a pattern of giving in, step by step, until I was finally driven to the edge.

I coldly yanked my hand away from hers. "Actually, I do mind. You knew perfectly well this was my room, and you should have cleared everything out before I came home."

I calmly sat down. "It's not too late now though. I'll watch while you find someone to help you move your things. I want both rooms restored exactly as they were within two hours."

Mallory stared at me in shock.

She clearly hadn't expected that I—always the accommodating, easy-going sister—would become so assertive after taking that knife wound.

Her eyes grew misty, a calculated layer of tears forming.

On cue, my parents rushed to comfort her, shooting disapproving looks my way.

"Riley, honey, there are plenty of other rooms in this house," Mom said with a frown. "You could take one of the first-floor bedrooms. Mallory is your sister—if she likes these rooms, why are you being so difficult about it?"

I studied my parents—former struggling small-town factory workers who now dripped with luxury thanks to my sacrifice.

Dad wore a Gucci suit worth thousands, while Mom's pearl earrings and Tiffany necklace cost more than they used to make in whole life.

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

"Mom, Dad—when you say things like that, do you even remember how we got this mansion in the first place?"

"Or have I been in the hospital so long that you've convinced yourselves you earned all this?"

Their expressions immediately soured.

"Watch how you speak to us," Dad snapped. "So you accidentally saved the Valentine heir—it was just dumb luck. You happened to be in the right place at the right time."

I stood up, smiling without warmth. "Oh, so you do remember that this mansion and all your newfound luxury came at the cost of my nearly losing my life?"

Six months ago, while photographing in the downtown, I happened upon Rhys Valentine being pursued by would-be assassins. I'd planned to call the police, but when Rhys spotted me, he ran in my direction.

Seeing the knife-wielding attacker closing in behind him, I instinctively pushed Rhys aside. The blade meant for his heart plunged into my abdomen instead.

As I lost consciousness, the police arrived.

During my unconscious state, the police arrived just in time. I could sense Rhys frantically holding me, his breathing becoming erratic.

He carried me into the ambulance, looking at me with a complex, guilt-ridden expression.

Only when the doctor said I wasn't in any life-threatening danger—just seriously injured—did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Riley was brave and fearless. If she hadn't saved me, that knife would have pierced my heart."

Despite his family's objections, Rhys insisted on marrying me.

To show his sincerity, he showered my family with gifts—villas, checks, luxury items—in an endless stream.

During my six months in the hospital, my parents and adopted sister Mallory were too busy enjoying their newfound wealth and status to visit me even once.

They took everything for granted, perhaps even wishing I had died so Rhys would spend his life feeling guilty and supporting them in comfort.

But I came back—alive.

Seeing my assertive demeanor, Mom's eyes flashed with disgust as she frowned.

"It's just two rooms. You're going to marry the Valentine heir—how can you be so petty?"

"Exactly. What's the big deal about giving those rooms to Mallory? During the six months you were in the hospital, she took care of us in your place. If you ask me, giving her the entire villa wouldn't be too much."

I responded with a cold smile, saying nothing as the tension built.

Mallory bit her lip and stepped forward, pretending to be understanding:

"It's all my fault, sister. Please don't argue with Mom and Dad. If you don't like it, I can have my things moved out..."

As she spoke, tears welled up from her eyes.

I just smiled. "Fine. So have everything moved out now."

Mallory looked up at me and bit her lip hard, seemingly surprised that I would insist even after she had brought our parents into it.

With obvious reluctance, she called the bodyguards and housekeepers to help move her belongings.

Two hours later, as Mallory's last piece of clothing left my room, she stood in the doorway and turned to look at me, her eyes revealing a flash of hatred and jealousy.

I met her gaze calmly, with a faint, ambiguous smile.

"Remember this: I chose these two rooms, and even if I get married and move out someday, no one else can have them."

Mallory lowered her head to hide her emotions and responded in a muffled voice.

"I understand, sister."

Chapter 2

Watching Mallory's silhouette disappear through the doorway, I narrowed my eyes.

Having lived two lifetimes, I knew perfectly well that Mallory was a snake in the grass.

Years ago, I felt sorry for her when I saw her being beaten by her gambling-addicted stepfather, which is why I asked my parents to adopt her.

At first, she was genuinely grateful to me, but as the gap between us widened, her feelings soured.

She used her cunning against me and my parents, and to marry into wealth, she didn't hesitate to scheme and cause my death.

But this time, I would make her face the consequences of her actions.

My show of authority upon returning home was effective—Mallory didn't cause any trouble for the next few days.

Until the night before Mom's birthday, when Mallory suddenly proposed during dinner that she needed to use my SSN to claim a birthday gift for our Mom.

"Sister, I've already used up the birthday offers on my account, but yours are still available. So... May I borrow your SSN Card?"

I laughed inwardly, remembering this exact day in my previous life...

Mallory put on a sincere face, asking to borrow my SSN Card, promising to return it within half an hour.

What I didn't know was that she'd used it to take out massive loans from multiple lending platforms, amassing debt in my name that led to loan sharks hunting me down. In that life, I'd died falling from a building while trying to escape them, leaving my parents with no choice but to let Mallory take my place as Rhys's bride.

And now, she was trying the same trick again.

Seeing my hesitation, Mallory tilted her phone screen toward me. "Look, it's just this membership program. Register with your SSN and you can claim a free massage chair—Mom would love it."

I reached for her phone, but she instinctively pulled back, panic flashing across her face.

"Tell you what," I said with a light laugh, "just forward me the link, and I'll register myself. No need to lend you my card."

Hearing my refusal, Mallory's eyes immediately welled with tears.

"I know you've never really liked me, Riley. You've always seen me as an outsider," she whispered dramatically. "I just wanted to do something nice for Mom's birthday, to show my appreciation."

Seeing her act like a victim, my parents couldn't stand by silently and immediately frowned at me.

"Riley Brooks!" Mom snapped. "Where's your sense of family duty? Look at Mallory—she's not even our biological daughter, yet she shows more filial piety than you ever have."

Dad nodded in agreement. "That's right. You were in the hospital for months without pouring us a single cup of coffee, while Mallory has been taking care of our every need. What's the big deal about lending her your card?"

"She's been raised alongside you like a real sister. Do you honestly think she'd do anything to harm you?"

Facing my self-righteous parents, I maintained a calm exterior despite my emotional detachment.

In my previous life, when those loan sharks drove me to my death, my parents hadn't shed a single tear. Their only concern was preserving their luxurious lifestyle, which led them to readily accept Mallory's suggestion that she take my place in the Valentine family.

They hadn't even given me a proper funeral, just wrapped my body in a cheap sheet and buried me on the hillside behind our old house to hide the evidence.

I smiled coldly, fixing my gaze on Mallory. "What if someone with bad intentions used my SSN to take out loans in my name? What then?"

Mallory's facade cracked at having her scheme exposed. Her face paled dramatically as she forced more tears.

"Never mind, Riley. Forget I asked, I'll just work extra shifts at three different jobs to buy Mom a massage chair myself..."

With that, she ran out crying, and Mom shot me a glare before hurrying after her.

"Mallory, sweetie, don't cry. Mom has a plan," I heard her say in a hushed tone.

She whispered something in Mallory's ear that made the girl stop crying immediately. "Really?" Mallory asked, wide-eyed with disbelief.

Mom nodded confidently. "Trust me. With my help, you'll get what you want. Let's see if Riley dares to mistreat you after this."

Watching this exchange through the security camera feed in my study, I couldn't help but laugh out.

Mom, Mallory—I gave you both chances, but YOU chose to throw them away.

That night, Mom unexpectedly knocked on my bedroom door, carrying a glass of juice.

"Riley, how are your injuries healing?" she asked with forced concern. "Your father and I were so busy these past six months we couldn't visit you in the hospital. But I heard Rhys sent plenty of health supplements and brought in specialists for your surgery. You must be almost fully recovered by now, right?"

I gave a noncommittal response before cutting to the chase. "What do you really want, Mom?"

She averted her eyes momentarily before smiling and offering me the glass. "Nothing at all. I just wanted to check on you. This is freshly squeezed orange juice—good for your vitamin C. Drink up."

I studied her for a moment before accepting the glass and drinking it all.

Seeing this, Mom left with a satisfied smile, bidding me goodnight.

Later that night, I heard soft rustling sounds in my room.

Right on schedule—Mallory had come to steal my SSN Card while I was supposedly drugged and unconscious.

Chapter 3

But in the darkness, my eyes remained wide open, fully alert.

I'd already seen through the security cameras that the orange juice Mom brought was drugged.

I'd been waiting in my room, gambling on whether she would actually go through with giving me a spiked drink for the sake of her adopted daughter.

She did. And I drank it.

But as soon as she left, I rushed to the bathroom and forced myself to throw up everything.

Now, hearing the soft click of my bedroom door closing, I sat up and checked my drawer—my SS Card was gone, just as I'd expected.

But I just settled back into bed and slept until late morning.

When I finally went downstairs for breakfast, Martha, the housekeeper who ran the kitchen, gave me a sidelong glance.

"Your breakfast, miss," she muttered, practically throwing a cold plate of eggs and toast in front of me before turning to leave.

"Stop right there," I called out coldly. "What exactly is this supposed to mean?"

I knew that ever since I'd argued with my parents on my first day back, all the household staff had started looking down on me.

They didn't realize I was actually the reason for this family's good fortune.

During the past six months, they had come to see only my parents and Mallory as their true employers.

Especially after I reclaimed my rooms, they assumed I had stolen Mallory's belongings and showed me even less respect—they didn't even properly prepare my meals.

Not only was my food carelessly made, but it was already cold when served to me, with utensils just tossed onto the table.

Martha rolled her eyes at my question. "Eat it or don't. Your parents said not to spoil you."

I held her gaze steadily. "Since you clearly don't want to do your job properly, you're fired. Go pack your things."

Without breaking eye contact, I called the house manager. "We need two new kitchen staff. Make sure they're loyal and have PROPER attitudes."

When Martha realized I was serious about firing her, panic flooded her face. "Miss Riley, if you don't like the food, just tell me! I'll make something else right away—please don't fire me!"

She had assumed the power in this household belonged to my parents and Mallory. She thought they were the ones signing her paychecks.

She had no idea I was the one truly in control.

And I knew she'd been accepting bribes from Mallory specifically to make my life difficult.

"I already gave you one chance."

I replied evenly, unmoved by her sudden change in demeanor.

"You need to understand which money is acceptable to take and which isn't. More importantly, you shouldn't forget what your actual job is."

Martha nearly fell to her knees begging, causing a scene that drew the attention of other staff members.

But her pleas made no difference—she left with her belongings in disgrace.

This display sent a clear message to the rest of the household staff: disrespecting me would not be tolerated.

Mallory witnessed the whole thing and seized the opportunity to play the compassionate one.

"Riley, not everyone is as fortunate as you, you shouldn't be so harsh."

"Martha probably struggled to find this job in the first place."

I shot her a cold smile.

"If you're so concerned, why don't you pay her salary yourself? Take her home and treat her like your own mother. I wouldn't mind at all."

I paused deliberately. "Oops! I almost forgot—you're just a guest in my house, aren't you? An adopted daughter probably shouldn't be so generous with other people's resources."

Mallory bit her lip hard, her face turning ashen.

Just then, a Bentley pulled up to the mansion. Rhys Valentine had come to visit.

He stepped out of the car as his driver unloaded several gift boxes from the trunk and handed them to me.

"I should have thrown you a homecoming party when you were discharged," he said with a warm smile. "But you insisted against it."

I smiled back. "There's no need to make such a fuss."

The fact that our family had gone from struggling to wealthy overnight because I saved the Valentine heir was already drawing enough resentment.

Being more ostentatious would only invite more trouble.

After lunch, Rhys and I took a walk through the garden.

Suddenly, he smiled mysteriously and had his driver bring over an exquisite box—inside was a stunning ivory wedding gown with intricate beadwork that caught the sunlight in a breathtaking display.

The driver explained with a smile: "The Valentine family is one of the most prestigious in the city. They only use the finest things. This wedding dress was specially commissioned by Mr. Valentine from a famous designer and took half a year to complete."

"Three days from now, I can't wait to see you walking down the aisle in this," Rhys said softly.

I nodded with a smile, catching sight of Mallory watching us from the terrace, her expression twisted with jealousy.

"I can't wait either", with that, I stood on tiptoe and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.

Surprise flickered across his face before transforming into a complex mix of emotions and finally settling on joy.

On the wedding day, my parents were frantic, unable to find me anywhere.

Mallory, however, seemed completely unsurprised as she glided down the stairs with a smug smile.

"Mom, Dad, you can stop looking. Riley won't be attending her own wedding."