Chapter 1Reborn At Five, Save The Heiress

To invite good fortune into their lives, the Bennetts, the wealthiest family in the city, took me in from the orphanage. Sure enough, during my second year with them, my adoptive mother gave birth to their biological daughter, Mona.

Everyone whispered that my golden days were over, but Mona never treated me like an outsider.

When I was five, we both made it to the National Youth Dance Championship. Just before we were set to perform, our dance instructor, Teri Diamond, noticed that Mona’s silver tiara was crooked and offered to take her backstage for a quick touch-up. Instead, Mona was separated from the crowd and taken by kidnappers.

Over the next three years, the endless ransom calls drove my parents to the brink of insanity. The kidnappers fed them a lie, claiming that I, consumed by jealousy over Mona being their flesh and blood, had intentionally handed her over. My parents believed them. In the end, they locked me in the dark basement and beat me to death.

When I opened my eyes again, I was five years old once more. The blaring music of the backstage area filled my ears. Teri Diamond was kneeling right in front of us, her smile sweet and gentle.

"Mona, sweetie, come with me to touch up your lipstick. Your tiara is a bit crooked, and it's almost time for you to go on stage."

She reached out her hand toward my little sister.

Trembling violently, I threw my arms around Mona and held her tight.

"Don't touch her!" I screamed. "You're going to steal my sister away!"

* * *

Teri was the most popular instructor at our academy. She smoothed out the tulle of Mona’s dress and tapped her nose playfully. "Mona looks so beautiful today. You're going to shine brighter than anyone else out there."

Mona shyly hid behind my back. "Rebecca is beautiful too."

Teri smiled, turning her gaze toward my mother. "Mrs. Bennett, Mona’s lipstick is fading a bit, and her tiara is slipping. I'll take her to the vanity for a quick fix and bring her right back."

My mother was about to nod.

My heart seized as if gripped by an icy fist. In my past life, this was exactly how she had lured Mona away.

I gripped my sister even tighter, screaming, "No! Don't go!"

The bustling backstage fell dead silent for a moment. Teri's hand froze in midair, her smile faltering slightly. "Are you just nervous about the competition, Rebecca? I'm only taking Mona to touch up her makeup."

I held onto Mona like my life depended on it. "You're a liar! You're a bad teacher! You're going to steal my sister!"

Terrified by my sudden outburst, Mona wrapped her tiny arms around my neck, whispering, "Rebecca..."

People around us started to stare. Some parents frowned, muttering to one another.

"What's wrong with that child? Why is she making things up?"

"Miss Teri has been teaching here for years. She's so dedicated."

"Is the adopted girl afraid the real daughter will outshine her?"

Adopted girl. Real daughter.

Those words Diamondd my mind like needles. They had said the exact same things in my past life. They claimed I was wicked because I wasn't a real Bennett. They said Mona was the true princess, and I couldn't stand her success.

But I had never envied Mona. She was my sister. She was the very first person in that house who hugged me and told me, "You're a baby too, Rebecca."

I sobbed, gasping for air. "Daddy, Mommy, please don't let her take Mona. Please, I beg you."

My father, Arthur, had been speaking with the event coordinator. Hearing my hysterical cries, he strode over, his brow furrowed deeply. "What's going on here?"

Mommy knelt beside me, wrapping her arms around us. "Rebecca, talk to me. What's wrong? Are you hurting somewhere?"

I couldn't explain. I only had the body of a five-year-old. I couldn't tell them about the kidnappers, the ransom demands, the audio recordings, and the bloody end of my past life. Even if I did, no one would believe me.

I could only cling to Mona, crying out over and over, "Don't let Mona go! No one can take my sister alone!"

Teri's eyes welled with tears. "Mr. Bennett, Mrs. Bennett, I have no idea why Rebecca is suddenly so terrified of me. I only wanted Mona to look her best for the judges. If I've done something wrong, I'm truly sorry."