Chapter 1
I was the true Parker daughter who had been missing for years. After I returned to the Parker family, my own brother, Noah Parker, and my husband, Brad Lowe, despised me for seven whole years.
They accused me of being unable to accept the adopted daughter they cherished, Jasmine Parker. And when I won an Oscar, they exposed my alleged wrongdoings to the entire world.
"She's a twisted monster who harassed her own brother and bullied her adopted sister!"
At the award ceremony, Jasmine stood under the spotlight in a simple elegant gown, wearing a flawless natural look that made her appear fragile and innocent. Tears filled her eyes as she faced the live broadcast cameras capturing every moment for the world to see.
"The struggles that failed to destroy me eventually became the blade that forged me into who I am today. Melody, I won't thank you, but I don't hate you anymore either. Let the past stay in the past and let everything end tonight."
In a single night, Jasmine became the nation's beloved sister, gaining endless sympathy, fame, and success.
As for me, I was left with nothing. My reputation was shattered, and furious haters surrounded me outside the award venue, splashed paint over me, and shoved me into the street, leaving both my legs crushed beneath the wheels.
I lost my mind. I bought explosives and decided to take Jasmine and all of them down with me!
But when I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day one week after I was brought back to the Parker family.
Jasmine stood in front of me, dressed in a pink ruffled gown.
She idly twirled the heated hair straightener on the vanity before lifting it toward her own arm with a sweet smile. "What do you think would happen if I burned myself with this and told everyone you did it on purpose? What do you think my brother, your fiancé, Mom, and Dad would do to you?"
The instant I saw her, I realized I had been reborn. I had gone back to the very moment my nightmare began, when everyone believed I had bullied and abused Jasmine.
In my previous life, she couldn't stand the fact that I had returned to the Parker family. She deliberately burned herself with a hair straightener and accused me of hurting her. My biological parents instantly believed her. They called me vicious, slapped me across the face twice, and said I had completely disappointed them.
Brad wrapped Jasmine in his arms and gently told her she was safe.
Noah was even crueler. He pressed the burning hot straightener against my arm with all his strength. Because I never received medical care in time, my fever kept climbing, and I almost died from the infected burn.
The memories crashed over me, and my eyes burned red with hatred.
Jasmine's smile only grew wider.
"Melody, don't think becoming the real daughter of the Parker family makes you better than me! Listen carefully. Mom, Dad, Noah, even Brad, they all belong to me! If you know what's good for you, get on your knees and beg for my forgiveness. Then I might spare you and keep my mouth shut. Otherwise... Ow!"
My gaze turned freezing cold. Since Jasmine was so determined to accuse me of bullying her, I decided to show her exactly what bullying felt like.
I seized Jasmine by the hair and pressed the blazing hot straightener against her arm.
"Sizzle!" Jasmine shrieked in agony. "Ow! It hurts! Melody, you b***h! Noah and Dad will never forgive you!"
I laughed to myself. Did I really have anything to fear from them?
In my last life, I had tried everything to earn the affection of my so called brother and parents. In the end, they were nothing but shameless hypocrites blinded by favoritism.
After Jasmine branded me a bully, I became the family's disgrace. I wasn't allowed to eat with them and had to share meals with the servants. I wasn't allowed to ride in the family car. Every day, I had to walk out of the enormous villa estate before I could even head to school.
That didn't even include all the rejection and humiliation I endured.
Back then, I foolishly believed my parents and Noah had simply misunderstood me. Then another banquet changed everything when Jasmine framed me again.
The security footage clearly showed Jasmine bullying me, yet they brushed it off as an ordinary fight between sisters and told me not to overreact.
That was when I finally accepted one cruel truth. When someone was truly favored, the truth meant nothing.
Thankfully, I was no longer the girl desperate for her parents' love. This time, I would seize every person and every opportunity that worked in my favor. I would never let blood ties become my weakness again.
I would claim every piece of wealth I could get my hands on, whether it was meant for me or not.
The Parker family owed me every bit of it.
