Chapter 1

After our parents' tragic death, Elara and I were both put up for adoption.

In my previous life, a timid Elara chose to stay with Grandma Sarah in our secluded community.

But Grandma worked her to the bone every day, leaving her utterly exhausted.

Meanwhile, I was adopted by the wealthy Sterling family, transforming into an elegant socialite.

Elara cried, begging Grandma to let her leave, but Grandma slapped her and locked her in the barn.

When I snuck in to visit her, she set the barn on fire.

We perished in the flames, only to awaken, reborn, back on the day we were to be adopted.

This time, Elara was the first to take Mrs. Sterling's hand.

I smiled, turning to tightly clutch Grandma Sarah's sleeve.

I was sick of being a pawn in other people's games, constantly passed around.

After Mom and Dad died tragically in the fire, the question of where my twin sister, Elara, and I would go became the most pressing issue in our isolated community.

As everyone worried, Grandma Sarah and Mrs. Sterling, a wealthy socialite visiting our community, both offered to adopt us.

Seeing Elara rush to grasp Mrs. Sterling's hand, I knew she had been reborn with me.

In our past life, fear of the outside world had made her choose Grandma first.

"Maya, I'm scared. You promised Mom and Dad you'd take good care of me. Please, go with them, okay? You're so smart; the Sterlings will love you."

With so many eyes on me, I knew I had no other choice.

Grandma Sarah was old and couldn't possibly afford to raise two sisters.

So, even though I was just as terrified, I followed the Sterling couple out of the secluded community where I had grown up.

Our last meeting in that life was at Grandma Sarah's 61st birthday celebration.

I stepped out of a luxury car, wearing a beautiful designer gown, with a nanny and bodyguards trailing behind me.

The people in the community, the aunts and uncles who'd known me forever, greeted me warmly, their faces beaming as they asked about my life in the outside world.

"I can't believe that little country bumpkin has turned into such a beautiful young lady!"

A middle-aged woman grabbed my hand, unwilling to let go.

Elara, dressed in a faded, worn-out dress, sat beside me, her eyes filled with resentment and envy.

After the gathering, Elara went to Grandma Sarah again, proposing her desire to leave the community.

But Grandma slapped her and locked her in the barn.

I secretly snuck in to visit her, but she locked the door from the inside and suddenly set the barn ablaze.

Her face twisted with a maniacal grin as she stared at me:

"Maya, why do you get to leave and live a good life while I'm stuck here, suffering in these mountains? If I can't leave, then you're staying here to keep me company."

She held me in a death grip, and we both died in that fire when we were eighteen.

When I opened my eyes again, we were back to that fateful day when we were eight years old, the day our destinies diverged.

This time, Elara was the first to take the Sterling couple's hand.