Chapter 2

"Mrs. Sterling, please take me with you. I promise I'll be a good girl."

"Maya, you'll let me, right?"

Mrs. Sterling didn't seem to care which one of us sisters chose to go with her.

Since Elara had chosen her first, she simply reciprocated, clasping Elara's hand and pulling her closer.

Elara clutched Mrs. Sterling's hand, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

With the matter of our adoption settled, everyone started to disperse, leaving only the Sterling couple and Grandma Sarah waiting outside our door.

As Elara and I went back to our room to pack, I watched her cheerful retreating figure and couldn't help but try to dissuade her:

"Are you really going with the Sterlings? The outside world isn't as good as you imagine."

I was genuinely trying to warn her, out of a sense of kinship, but Elara instantly bristled, like an angry cat, and hissed at me:

"Maya, don't even *think* about trying to steal my new mom. You already had your turn in the last life, this time it's mine. You can just stay in this community with that old hag and live your miserable life."

Seeing how utterly deluded she was, I didn't try to persuade her any further. Instead, I quietly went to my side of the room and started packing my own clothes.

If she wanted to steal my life, she could have it.

I just hoped she wouldn't regret it later.

Outside, Mrs. Sterling was growing impatient.

"Elara, are you ready yet? What's the point of packing those old rags? Once you're out of this place with us, you can have all the clothes you want."

Hearing Mrs. Sterling's words, Elara immediately dumped her clothes out, grabbed an empty bag, and headed for the door.

Before leaving, she looked at me with a triumphant smirk:

"Did you hear Mrs. Sterling? She said she'll buy me countless beautiful dresses. You can keep these old rags."

Elara walked out without a backward glance.

Watching her carefree departure, the corners of my mouth couldn't help but curl upwards.

Good. This life, I wouldn't have to navigate the Sterling family's wolf's den, wouldn't have to be passed around like a mere toy.