chapter 4

Dad chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, don't copy Zoe or you'll pick up bad habits. You just got better—don't stress yourself out, okay?"

The trophy in my hand was still warm, but inside I felt like someone had dumped me in ice water.

Why would they trash me, their own daughter, just to keep Bella happy?

If they weren't the ones who gave birth to and raised me, I would really suspect that Bella and I had been switched at birth.

The next day on campus, I got a bouquet of flowers from William Bennett.

William was the boss of the company where I'll intern in the future.

He was five years older. He once gave a talk at college to recruit people in my last lifetime, and I helped him find his grandma when she got lost, so we had a tiny bit of history.

I never thought he'd be the first to congratulate me on winning the competition.

When I got home, I told my parents there would be a family weekend at my college.

I figured at least one of them would show up for me.

Instead, they said they'd promised to go to Bella's.

"Does she need a whole entourage for her meeting?" I shot back, dripping sarcasm.

Dad snapped. "Watch your tone! Can't you talk to us properly?"

Mom said with a hint of apology in her voice, "Bella has already told the teacher that we'll all go, so I'll let the teacher know about your side, too."

I gave a crooked, bitter smile. "Got it."

"Got what? What's with that sulky face? Why fight over everything? You know Bella's not healthy—we've gotta put her first," dad said, his emotions running high.

Mom sighed. "Zoe, Bella is only two weeks younger, but she's so thoughtful that it breaks our hearts. If you can't learn from her, at least stop worrying us."

Same words as in my past life. Why did I still think there was hope?

My eyes burned, and my chest ached. I should've known hope was a joke.

On meeting day, my seat sat empty while people whispered around me.

I waited to be laughed at by everyone.

Then William strolled in, sharp in a suit, and sat right in my seat. "I'm Zoe's boss. I'm here for her meeting."

At that moment, for some reason, I felt like crying—kindness from someone else felt more reliable than anything from my own parents.

When I got home, my parents told me to beg for mercy.

"Why?" I asked.

"Why? You dare ask?" Mom pounded her chest. "What's between you and Mr. Bennett? Zoe, you're engaged! And you're out there flirting—have you no shame?"

Bella stepped in and tried to calm mom down. "Mom, don't get mad. Maybe I misunderstood. People on campus are talking, but I believe Zoe isn't like that."

In my last life, Bella started this mess, too.

Back then, I nearly offed myself to prove I was innocent, and only then did they back off.

But at the same time, I lost the last bit of love they still had for me.

Dad took my silence as guilt. He slammed the table. "Spit it out! Did you mess around at college?"

I looked straight at Bella and let out a cold laugh. "Happy now?"

As soon as Bella spoke, tears streamed down her face in big drops. "Zoe, don't be mad. I didn't know mom and dad would freak out. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

Dad rushed to soothe her. "You're not wrong. It's Zoe who's wrong."

Mom joined in. "Don't blame yourself. Zoe should explain. Be good, don't cry."

From beginning to end, not once did my parents say they believed me.

I stared at them, cold and silent, my heart giving up piece by piece.

On my 22nd birthday, Bella went missing. My parents and Daniel rushed out to find her, leaving me alone in an empty house.

I didn't bother looking. Daniel called just to chew me out, calling me heartless.

In my past life, I was too soft—that was why I fell for Bella's tricks. She disappeared on purpose, just to ruin my birthday.