chapter 3

Mom put an arm around me. "Zoe, I gave birth to you. How could I not love you? Bella is your sister now, and she's in poor health. You are older than her, so you need to take better care of her, okay?"

I fiddled with my phone, neither nodding nor responding.

Seeing Bella standing there, silent, with red eyes, mom and dad freaked out.

Mom let go of me and hugged Bella. "Why are you crying again? Did Zoe pick on you?"

Bella shook her head. "No. I just envy that Zoe can have a new phone. I've never had such a fancy phone like this. We couldn't afford it before.

"Zoe, I just wanted to touch it, I swear. I won't fight you for it. I know mom and dad can't afford to buy two."

Dad immediately yanked it out of my hands and handed it straight to Bella, and coaxed, "Here, take it. My daughter deserves the best. We'll buy it now."

Mom said the exact same thing she did in my last life.

She said, "If Bella likes it, let her have it. Pick a cheaper one, or we'll give you some cash instead."

Then I received 200 dollars in cash.

Same scene as before. The difference? The last time I blew up at the store and snapped at Bella, which made my parents hate me more.

This time, I stayed calm, but that didn't mean I'd swallow my pride.

I snatched the phone back and said, "This is my birthday gift."

Mom looked ready to explode, but Bella tugged her sleeve and forced a brave smile. "Mom, Zoe is right. It's her present. I shouldn't have asked. My fault, don't blame her."

That only made my parents even angrier.

"Give it here," Dad snapped, then soothed Bella. "Don't worry, Bella. I'll get it back."

Mom scolded me, "Since you were little, is there anything you've wanted that we didn't buy for you? Today, we just asked you to let Bella have the phone first, and you wouldn't let it go. How did I give birth to someone so petty?"

I let out a cold laugh and set the phone down while my eyes burned. "Fine."

As I walked out of the store, I caught the gleam of triumph in Bella's eyes.

Behind me, my parents were all excited, one paying, the other helping Bella check the phone's features.

Mixed in were digs at me.

"Zoe always looks like somebody owes her money."

"Ignore her. She acts like cash grows on trees."

Back home, Daniel even had a birthday present ready for Bella.

Me, the actual birthday girl? Got nothing.

When Bella's birthday came, my usually thrifty parents booked a fancy restaurant, invited half the family, introduced her to everyone, and ordered a massive cake—five or six layers, I heard. The scene was grand.

And Bella said I should focus on studying, so mom and dad told me to stay home.

Fine by me. I stayed home, hit the books. If I wanted out of this home, I had to get strong first.

With my hard work and an adult's memory, my grades shot up fast.

I won first place in the college competition again.

When I got home, Bella was crying in Mom's arms. "Mom, I'm so dumb. How can I ever make you proud?

"Zoe is amazing. I wish I could be like her."

Even Daniel was there, crouching to pat Bella's back. "She's smart but scheming, Bella. Don't copy her."

Mom soothed her. "No need to envy your sister. Our Bella's smart too, and most importantly, you're sweet. You don't have to study so hard, we'll take care of you."