chapter 1

When I, Zoe Smith, was dying, my parents were holding the hand of their adopted daughter, Bella Smith, and walking her down the aisle.

My fiancé, Henry Carter, and my little brother, Daniel Smith, stood on stage, grinning like they'd won the lottery.

This was supposed to be my wedding.

Even that dress—I picked it myself.

I'd been fighting Bella half my life, and every screw-up landed on me. If I cried, mom and dad called me dramatic. But if Bella's eyes even got damp, they rushed to comfort her.

But I was their real daughter.

After I was reborn, I swore I would never want that biased love again.

......

When I opened my eyes, I was back on the day Bella first moved in.

Bella was Uncle David's kid. After his whole family died in an accident, she was left with no one.

Mom adored Uncle David most. She said she wanted to take Bella in, and Dad agreed. That's how Bella became the third kid in our family.

Mom held Bella, who had that teary, pitiful look.

"Mom, can I... can I sleep in the big bed? I'm used to it—it makes me feel safe. Is that too much?" Bella asked.

Mom smiled softly. "Not at all. Zoe's room has a big bed—you can sleep there. I'll clear out the guest room later for Zoe."

I stood behind them, watching with an ice-cold stare.

Daniel shot me a look, then pointed and barked, "Zoe, what's with that face? Don't you dare mess with Bella!"

Dad scowled, his voice sharp. "Zoe, don't start trouble. Bella's your sister now. No picking on her, got it?

"What's the big deal about sleeping? Bella just wants a big bed, don't be so petty."

They were acting exactly like my last life—so biased that it made me sick.

Bella was younger than me, so I was supposed to baby her.

Some words, after hearing them in two lifetimes, were still etched in my memory.

In my last life, from the moment Bella set foot in our house, I stopped being the favorite. Everyone revolved around her.

Just because her parents died and she was sick, I had to flatter her, pamper her, and put her on a pedestal.

But who remembered that I was only two weeks older?

And the kicker—Bella wasn't even their kid. She was Uncle David's daughter. So why did they treat her like royalty?

Was it just because I didn't cry?

I would never forget—last time, I threatened to end my life, but mom still told me to hand Henry over to Bella.

"Don't use suicide to guilt Bella. They're truly in love. Would it kill you to just let them be?" mom said.

By then, she'd probably forgotten I was her real daughter.

Snapping out of my memories, I looked at mom. Right now, she still seemed to remember I existed.

"Zoe, I love you both the same. I'll be fair," mom said.

This line made my heart sink all over again.

Did she not get it? Comparing your real kid to your niece—that was already the biggest slap to your own child.

A trace of smugness flashed in Bella's eyes. If I hadn't lived through my past life, I probably wouldn't have even noticed it this time.

After all, no one had seen her real face—not even when I died.

Before I could answer mom, Bella suddenly grabbed my hand and said cautiously, "Zoe, it's okay. I can take the small bed. Don't be mad."

I didn't want to deal with her, so I yanked my hand back and walked off, cold as ice.

Mom tried to stop me, but dad held her back. "Why bother? Sleeping in the guest room won't kill her.

"Bella is still so obedient, doesn't fight over anything. She'll make things so much easier for us in the future."

I bit my lip and slammed my door.

The moment I realized I was back, I told myself—the Zoe who craved their love was dead. From now on, I'd study hard and break free from this family.