Chapter 1

On the night I won the Best Actress award, my parents gifted me a pure white peacock.

"Scarlett, darling, this peacock was on set with your film crew. She's your lucky charm for winning the award! Keep her close, and blessings will follow you wherever you go."

I smiled sweetly and accepted the gift. The very next day, I had the bird butchered into a rich stew, replacing her with an identical one.

Because I was reborn.

In my past life, this white peacock had made my life a living hell. She shredded the curtains while I was changing, exposing me to the paparazzi. She ruined my custom Haute Couture gowns with filthy droppings, getting me permanently blacklisted by every luxury fashion house in the industry.

In the end, she deliberately shattered my allergy medication, leaving me suffocating to death on the floor before paramedics could even arrive.

Blessings? This time, I’d make sure they choked on their so-called karma!

Looking at my parents' beaming faces, I flashed a dazzling smile. "Sure. Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad."

I accepted the peacock and immediately ordered the staff to lock her into an iron cage.

It wasn't until after my tragic death in my previous life that I learned the truth: trapped inside this peacock's body was a human soul—Gemma, the adopted daughter my mother worshipped like a goddess. When I had finally been found and brought back to the family, Gemma had staged a fake suicide overdose to guilt-trip everyone, only to accidentally kill her own physical body.

Grief-stricken, my mother hired an occult sorcerer to seal Gemma's wandering soul inside a white peacock. The ritual required my death so Gemma could take over my body, become the real "Scarlett Vance," marry into the billionaire Hayes dynasty, and become a living legend in Hollywood.

Seeing me lock Gemma behind cold iron bars, my mother instantly panicked.

"Scarlett! She's far too gorgeous to be cooped up in a cage! Let her out!"

"Mom, she's an untamed animal. What if she attacks someone? I'm taking her to the vet tomorrow for a full health screen before letting her roam freely."

"Besides, I'm having a custom luxury suite built just for her. Look!"

I pulled out my phone and showed her a lavish order of designer pet decor I had supposedly customized online. Only then did my mother breathe a sigh of relief.

"You really are thoughtful, sweetie."

She reached out, gently stroking the peacock's crest. "Hang in there, my baby. Just hold on until tomorrow, okay?"

Through the iron mesh, I caught the unmistakable glint of sneering mockery in the bird's eyes.

Memories rushed back. In my previous life, Gemma had sabotaged me relentlessly. She ripped up my red-carpet gown, turning me into a national laughingstock. Back then, I was so furious I wanted to wring the bird's neck on the spot!

The bird would squawk in twisted triumph every time I broke down, yet my parents only scolded me for being petty.

"Why are you picking a fight with an innocent pet? You're just holding a grudge! Animals possess pure instincts—she knows whether your love is genuine!"

"If you truly cared for her, why would she act out like that?"

"Spend more time bonding with her, and she'll warm up to you!"

I had clearly seen the venom in that bird's eyes, but when I told my mother, she dismissed it as my paranoid imagination.

How utterly foolish I was back then, truly believing that unconditional love could soften the heart of a spiteful monster.

Once my parents went to bed, I had a housekeeper bring in her food. Gemma kicked the ceramic bowl over with a defiant screech. I sneered coldly, "Starve then, bitch."

As I turned on my heel, my assistant rushed over to clean the mess, loudly comforting the bird, "Miss Vance, she's really gentle! Animals have souls. You just need a little more patience!"

"Fine, whatever. Go home," I snapped with feigned irritation. Gemma dipped her beak into the water bowl, casually preening her pristine feathers with nauseating vanity.

Early the next morning, my mother insisted on accompanying me to the veterinary clinic.

Gemma behaved like an absolute angel during the exam. The vet couldn't stop praising how docile and cooperative she was.

My mother puffed up with smug pride. "See? I told you she's an angel! Scarlett, you must treat her well. This bird will bring you eternal prosperity!"

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll make sure of it."

I reached out to stroke Gemma's head. Without warning, she whipped around and violently pecked at my hand!

Prepared, I swiftly dodged, clamped my fingers tightly around her slender neck, and used my other hand to pinch her beak shut. She thrashed hysterically, wings beating against the air!

I gasped in theatrical terror, "Doctor! Sedate her! Give her a shot right now before she mauls someone!"

The vet hurried over with a syringe of tranquilizer, but my mother threw herself in the way.

"No! Stop! She's just nervous in an unfamiliar place!"

"Too many drugs will damage her health!"

"Mom! She is a wild animal! Would you rather see me bleed out?!" I cried out, hurt and frantic. "You swore she'd bring me good fortune, yet she tries to tear my flesh off the minute I touch her! Does my pain make you happy?!"

Hearing this, Dr. Evans chimed in firmly, "Ma'am, wild pets require strict discipline. If an animal is naturally aggressive, keeping it in a home is dangerous. You'd be better off getting rid of it."

Defeated, my mother had no choice but to step aside.

With a single injection, Gemma grew limp and drowsy. The rest of the checkup went smoothly.