chapter 2
The first thing that happened after I stepped into the Meng mansion was that my mother put an arm around the girl who had taken my place and smiled at me like she was being generous.
“Winnie has always been delicate,” she said gently. “The sunny room should still go to her.”
My father nodded at once, eyes full of concern as he looked at the fake heiress leaning against my mother’s shoulder.
“She grew up spoiled. Her health is weak. Give her the third-floor suite with the open terrace. She needs sunlight. You can stay in the room on the second floor.”
I looked at Winnie.
Her cheeks were rosy. Her skin glowed. Her hair was soft and glossy, the kind that said expensive products and regular spa treatments. There was not a single sign of weakness on her.
Then I thought of myself.
Years of malnutrition had left my hair dry as straw. My face was sallow. My wrists were thin enough to snap.
I tilted my head. “Where exactly is she weak?”
The question caught my mother off guard.
She blinked. “Well… she…”
Winnie’s eyes reddened instantly. She leaned weakly into my mother’s arms and whispered, “Mom… does my sister hate me? I can give her the room. It’s okay. I was the one who should have left in the first place. Maybe I should just go…”
She started toward the door in tears.
“Winnie, don’t say that.” My mother pulled her back right away, heartbroken, then turned to me with a hard face. “Madeline, this isn’t favoritism. Winnie really is fragile. She has to be taken care of.”
My older brother, Ethan, had been standing nearby with a critical look on his face from the moment I walked in. He cut in impatiently.
“Why are you asking so many questions? Sure, we share blood, but Winnie is the only sister I recognize. Since you’re back, you’re the older one now. Learn to give in to her.”
I almost laughed.
In my last life, I had once comforted myself by thinking maybe the reason my foster parents treated me like dirt was because I was not their real daughter.
Now I knew better.
Blood did not guarantee anything.
If I had survived long enough in my last life to be brought back to the Meng family, I still would not have lived well.
But this time was different.
This time, the underworld had given me another chance.
And a gift.
I asked quietly, “So you’re saying she really is that weak?”
The system stirred.
My father waved a hand, already annoyed. “Enough. Stop acting childish. Do you think we’re lying to you?”
My mother nodded quickly. “Of course she’s weak. Even the doctor said that if we’re not careful, she might faint or even cough up blood.”
She did not finish the sentence.
Winnie’s body jerked in her arms.
Then she spat a mouthful of blood all over the floor.
The whole living room went silent.
A second later, chaos exploded.
“Winnie!”
“Mom, she’s collapsing!”
My mother screamed. My brother lunged forward. My father barked for the driver and the family doctor. Winnie’s face turned white so fast it was almost frightening, and then she went limp in my mother’s arms.
I stood where I was and watched them panic.
Slowly, silently, I smiled.
Because lies had a price.
And from now on, every single one they told me was going to cost them.