They Chose the Fake Princess and Let Me the Real One Die Twice

Chapter 2

All of a sudden, I thought back to the first time Kael recognized me in my past life— he had squatted down in front of me, his eyes soft with doting affection.

A: [He saw the jade pendant! Finally, the family reunion is happening!]

B: [My girl's hard days are over!]

C: [Kael Thorne, take your sister away quickly! Don't let that fake daughter overstep!]

At his words, I couldn't help but clench the hem of my clothes tight. Sorrow welled up inside me, tangled with a faint glimmer of hope.

For a split second, I thought maybe his words in the past life 'I never should have brought you back' were just said in anger.

This time, he'd take me home...

But the second that hope flickered to life, it was shattered completely.

Glancing at the pale look on Lila's face beside me, Kael Thorne's fingers closed tight around the jade pendant, and he struck me hard across the cheek.

Numbness spread over half my face, stealing all my sensation, as his voice cut through the air like ice.

"How dare you steal my little sister's things? If I hadn't caught you red-handed today, would you have kept this pendant as your own, clinging to us endlessly?"

His gaze sharpened, and he turned to toss the jade pendant to Lila, his eyes soft with gentle doting.

"Lil, keep this safe. Don't let anyone with ill intentions steal it from you."

That abrupt shift—from cold harshness to tender warmth—was like an ice pick driving straight into my heart.

The comments exploded.

A: [Kael Thorne! Have you lost your mind? That's your real sister!]

B: [You fool! You'll regret this sooner or later!]

I'd told myself I wouldn't cry.

But as I watched them comfort her, tears spilled down my cheeks against my will.

A bead of blood from my split lip dripped onto the chilblains on my tiger's mouth, and a searing pain shot through my nerves, making my fingers tremble violently.

They called Kael Thorne a fool, said he couldn't tell his own sister, that he'd regret it one day. But only I knew the truth. He wasn't a fool. He knew everything. And he'd never regret it.

Because—

Visions of my past life came crashing over me in a rush.

When Kael Thorne and Elian Voss had come that day, I'd had no idea I was the one they were looking for.

I'd stood in the orphanage yard with all the other girls my age, eyes brimming with tears, secretly dreaming that I might be the lost daughter they'd come to take home.

After all, in this lonely orphanage, a home was the only wish any of us had.

But in the end, Matron had led out Lila—her favorite—to stand before them.

I'd watched, eyes stinging with envy, as the fair, clean girl threw herself into my brother's arms.

And when the comments had flashed across the screen, screaming that I was the real daughter of the General's Manor, I'd mustered all my courage and rushed forward.

I'd pulled out the jade pendant and exposed her lie.

Once he'd confirmed the pendant was genuine, he had wiped the dust from my face with a clean handkerchief.

He'd brushed Lila away coldly as she tried to explain herself, then pulled me into his arms, his eyes filled with heartache.

His words—I'm taking you home, my little sister—had sent tears streaming down my face.

For the next three years, just as the comments had said, I'd finally had a home.

As a general, Kael was cold and unyielding by nature, yet he'd reserved all his softness for me alone.

He'd remembered I loved sweet cakes, and he'd always stood up for me when I was wronged.

And Elian Voss, my fiancé, had been nothing but gentle and attentive.

On our wedding day, he'd held my hand and sworn before the ancestral tablets that he would never take another wife in his life.

But that happiness had shattered all too soon.

On the day I'd been in labor, he had brought Lila back home.

Kneeling beside my bed, he'd told me he wanted to take Lila Thorne as his concubine.

When Kael had found out, he'd grabbed a sword and stabbed him on the spot, then seized Lila, ready to send her to a remote place—so she'd never bother me again.

But half a month later, Lila had come back.

And Kael had changed.

He'd said Lila Thorne was pitiful, that he wanted to take her in as his adopted sister.

He'd even begged me to let Elian Voss take her as his second wife, equal to me in status. Lila had stood behind him, her eyes glinting with obvious provocation.