Chapter 1Quit Competing for Love, Parents Regret

When I was reborn, I dodged every opportunity to bond with the parents who had found me after fifteen years of separation.

They decided to hand the family empire to my older sister, Minkie. So, I dropped my business major and applied to a geology program in the rugged wilderness of Alaska.

They wanted to throw a lavish birthday gala for Minkie, so I volunteered for a remote field expedition.

They bought Minkie a limited-edition sports car as a graduation gift. I "sensibly" walked into traffic, breaking both legs just so I could say I didn't need a car.

In my past life, I starved for my parents' affection until the day I died, despised by everyone.

Even my own son, in my old age, would frown at me and say, "Mom, can you stop competing with Aunt Minkie? Why can't you just live quietly? You’re embarrassing me in front of my friends."

I died full of resentment, only to open my eyes and find myself back at the moment I was eighteen, just found by my biological family.

This time, I’m done fighting. I will let them have their perfect, happy family.

* * *

Staring at the "Application Submitted" notification on my laptop screen, I calmly closed the browser tab.

No one knew this was the second time I had filled out my college applications.

In my previous life, I followed their orders. I attended a top-tier Ivy League business school, desperate to stay close to them, desperate to mold myself into someone worthy of the prestigious Vanderbilt name.

After all, ever since I—the lost daughter returned after fifteen years—came back, I had been nothing but a stain on their reputation.

But in this life, before they could even broach the subject of Minkie taking over the company, I spoke first.

"Dad, Mom, I’ve applied to the University of Alaska for Geology."

The silence at the dinner table was deafening.

My father, Richard, set down his fork, his brow furrowing deeply. "Geology? In Alaska? What are you going to learn there? How to dig for rocks in the snow?"

My mother, Eleanor, let out a soft gasp, her eyes wide with undisguised shock. "Sophia, honey, is it your grades? Did you not score high enough? It’s okay, we can make a donation to..."

I had been back for nearly two weeks, yet neither of them knew I was a straight-A student. They simply assumed the girl from the foster system was uneducated trash.

"My scores are perfect," I cut her off. "I chose it because I like it."

Minkie sat across from me, feigning concern. "Sophie, are you under too much pressure lately? That kind of place is brutal. I know you’re used to... hardship... but is this necessary?"

I looked at her.

In my past life, she always played the saint, yet her words were laced with barbs designed to trigger me. She remained elegant and poised, while I looked like an ungrateful savage screaming at her.

But in this life, her hidden thorns couldn't pierce my skin.

"I’ve thought it through," I said, lowering my head, my voice even. " The application is in. It can’t be changed."

The air grew stagnant.

Richard finally scoffed. "Fine. It’s your choice. Don't come crying to me when you regret it."

Eleanor sighed, and for the first time, she used her serving chopsticks to place a prawn in my bowl. "Let’s just eat. We can discuss this later."

I didn’t touch the prawn. She didn’t know I was severely allergic to shellfish. Minkie, however, loved seafood, so the family ate it almost daily.

Every meal here felt like navigating a minefield.

For the rest of the dinner, the three of them chatted happily. I finished quickly and excused myself, abandoning the exhausting effort to fit in that defined my previous life.

I knew now that this house never had room for me.