Chapter 1

Kit stood in front of the mirror, carefully examining her familiar yet strange face. Memories of her past life flashed before her eyes, causing a dull ache in her heart. She closed her eyes, trying to calm the turmoil within. Now, she had been reborn, returned to the time before all the nightmares began.

The memories of her previous life surged like a tide. After her father died, she was forced to follow Mary to the Zhu family. Back then, her longing for maternal love made her endure everything silently. Mary always gently advised her, "Kit, you're the older sister, you need to give way to your younger sister." So, whenever Anna bullied her, she always silently endured it. However, she never expected that this so-called "sister" would be so cruel.

Kit vividly remembered how Anna, out of jealousy over her superior cello playing, tampered with the car, crippling her hand. From that moment, she could no longer touch her beloved strings, no longer express her heart through music. Her dreams were shattered, and her heart broken.

But Anna's wickedness didn't stop there. She not only seduced Kit's boyfriend but also framed her, ruining her reputation in front of everyone. Eventually, Kit died in endless humiliation and pain, filled with regret and hatred.

However, fate seemed to have given her another chance. Kit opened her eyes to find herself reborn, before she ever went to the Zhu family. This time, she would never let anyone trample on her. She would reclaim every bit of humiliation and pain she suffered in her past life. She would make those who hurt her taste the agony she endured.

Kit looked out the window, her eyes shining with determination. She took a deep breath and clenched her fists. She was no longer the submissive girl; this time, she would control her own fate and never let anyone bully her again.

A luxurious black car was parked in the village square, an unusual sight in this small village where old tractors and motorcycles were the norm. The villagers gathered ten meters away, curiously watching but not daring to get close, afraid of accidentally damaging the car—an "advanced item" they had never seen before.

Upstairs, Mary stood quietly in front of the altar, her gaze fixed on the black-and-white photo of Kit's father. Kit was preparing to light three incense sticks, her face devoid of emotion, seemingly indifferent to it all.

Mary stared at the photo of Yip Man-chuen, overwhelmed with emotions. The man was no longer the boy she once loved; time had etched heavy marks on his face, and she could no longer find the shadow of the person she once adored.

"Kit, it's time to go. We have to pick up your sister," Mary glanced at her watch. The hands were nearing four o'clock, and she had to fetch Anna, or they'd be late.

Kit picked up her backpack and followed Mary out. She cast one last glance at the two-bedroom apartment she had lived in for sixteen years, then gently closed the door on her past.

"Mary, you must be rich now, driving such a fancy car," Aunt Flo called out from the crowd, laughing.

"Yes," Mary replied awkwardly, forcing a smile.

Suddenly, there was a snicker from the crowd.

In this village, news spread quickly. During evening cooking, women loved to gather at the village entrance, cracking melon seeds and gossiping. Before long, the whole village knew.

Nearly every villager knew about Mary's scandal: how she had an affair with her employer while working as a maid in a wealthy family and left her young daughter with her gambling husband.

Kit seemed oblivious to it all, quietly sitting in the back seat of the luxury car.

"Kit, I'll pick up your sister, so you just wait in the car," Mary said gently.

Kit silently nodded, looking out the window at the quickly passing scenery, without saying a word or turning her head.

Mary smiled awkwardly. She felt estranged and awkward with this daughter she hadn't seen for ten years, unsure what to talk about. Since she left the Yip family, she had never visited Kit and didn't know her personality or interests. All of this had created an insurmountable chasm between them, making the distance between mother and daughter even greater.

In front of the entrance to River City High School, the driver stopped the car. Mary was there to pick up her daughter Anna. Anna opened the car door, ready to playfully chat with Mary, but when she saw the girl in the back seat, she stopped abruptly.

"Mom, why are you so..." she hesitated, looking at Kit in the back seat with confusion.

"Who is this?" Anna asked.

"This is your sister, Kit. Get in, and we'll go home," Mary said, taking Anna's backpack and pulling her into the car.

The luxury car soon entered a villa area, lined with a row of luxurious villas.

"Kit, this is your home now. Relax! Your room is on the second floor. I've asked the housekeeper to prepare it for you. If you're tired, you can rest first. I'll call you for dinner," Mary said as they entered, instructing the housekeeper to arrange Kit's room opposite Anna's.

Kit coldly thanked her, then followed the housekeeper upstairs.

Mary sighed, lamenting the gap between her and this cold Kit, unsure how to bridge the distance.

"Mom, don't be upset. Sister might just be unaccustomed. She'll get better after a while," Anna comforted Mary.

Looking at this thoughtful and considerate daughter, Mary felt warmth in her heart. The mother and daughter sat on the sofa, sharing the day's school stories.

Upstairs, Kit paused while unpacking her backpack, hearing the laughter downstairs. Her expression turned gloomy. She threw her backpack onto the bed and lay down, closing her eyes to rest.