During my days at the Smith residence, I lacked nothing except money and freedom.

From elementary to high school, I had a driver to pick me up and drop me off. I ate and lived at home.

I never found an opportunity to go to the countryside alone to find Olivia.

In my senior year, Lucas won the piano competition. Mom made me attend the celebration party.

The so-called celebration party was just a gathering of Lucas' music friends. I never liked it.

As I reached the door, someone asked him, "Lucas, who's that simp 1.0?

"I answered the call just now when they asked for the room number."

He casually replied, "It's exactly what it sounds like."

I froze with my hand on the door handle.

Because I made that call.

Another voice came from the room. "I heard you've had a little fangirl since childhood who never misses a single competition to support you."

Lucas vaguely replied, "Ah, the housekeeper's daughter.

"She's tone-deaf. What can she understand about music? She's just happily being a simp.

"Huh! It must be the kindness of your adoptive parents who gave her ideas. She wants to hook up with you and marry into a wealthy family!"

I couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly.

"When did I become the housekeeper's daughter?

Lucas' simp?"

In his eyes, it did seem a bit like that.

Lucas had always been a school celebrity. Playing "Marriage d'Amour" casually could make countless girls scream.

"Wherever there's a genius, there's a stage." That was his motto.

He indeed had exceptional talent. With top teachers my parents hired, he won countless awards. Now, he even won the prestigious Star International Piano Competition.

Even top media brands scrambled to interview him, praising him as the most promising pianist.

Although I had excellent academic grades and always ranked first, I was my parents' obedient girl.

However, I truly had no musical talent. I couldn't even fully recognize the staff.

Every time Lucas competed, Mom took me to watch. She said Zoe didn't have time, so there had to be a family cheering team.

In fact, while listening to all those major scales, I was reciting chemistry formulas in my head.

His friends talked about Ludwig van Beethoven or Frédéric Chopin. It was a world I couldn't fit into.

So, at school, we were like strangers. We didn't greet each other when we met. No one knew our relationship.

But privately, we were very close.

Anything my parents gave me, I asked for two. One must be for Lucas.

He enjoyed the limelight by winning awards. I silently prepared surprises for him. They were all expensive gifts he wanted, but Zoe wouldn't buy them.

When my parents took me on trips, he would get depressed and sulk. I would act spoiled to make my parents take him along.

He often praised my meticulous care.

Looking back, calling me a simp wasn't too far off.

For this celebration party, I arrived late. Lucas definitely didn't expect me to come.

Just as I was about to turn and leave, the private room door unexpectedly opened.

A girl in a tight-fitting dress looked at me arrogantly.

"Who are you looking for?"

All eyes in the private room fell on me. Lucas was momentarily flustered but quickly regained his composure.

"When did you arrive? Weren't you just asking for the room number?"

I casually said, "Just got here. I was about to push the door open."

Lucas introduced me to everyone in his usual elegant tone. "This is Ellie. My fan and admirer."

The atmosphere in the private room became subtle. Everyone had a look of sudden realization.

"Huh, the name is quite artsy. But the person is just..."

It was the girl in the gown who spoke first.

I didn't reply.

"Natalie, hurry up and get something to eat!

"You're always talking non-stop."

Before I could react, Lucas stood between me and Natalie.

Natalie playfully winked at him and ran off to get some fruit.

Lucas pulled me outside and whispered, "That was Natalie. She is a violinist who studied abroad and a new orchestra member. She's young and doesn't know how to talk!"

I smiled.

"Oh, this Natalie. Could it be she likes you and sees me as a rival?"

Lucas was taken aback. He then gave a playful smile as if to say, don't you also like me?

I pouted and said, "Then I must tell her you're my brother. I can't like you!"

Lucas laughed. "Don't be mad. You always like to play these little tricks!"

I hid the mockery in my eyes and lowered my head at the right moment.

He thought I was shy. He sighed lightly and adjusted his shirt cuff.

The shirt was a high-end custom piece I gave him. My eyes flashed, and I clenched my fists.

In the past life, Lucas was the person Olivia trusted the most.

He always appeared when Olivia needed him, intentionally flirting.

Olivia was lively and trusting. She easily fell into Lucas' tender affection.

Later, Lucas uses Olivia's love to deceive her into helping him seize the Smith family's assets. He then ignored her and married Natalie.

Olivia couldn't bear the shock and the ensuing cyberbullying, so she jumped off a bridge.

In this life, I will make him understand that those who trample on true feelings will eventually be toyed with themselves!

The homeroom teacher knocked on the blackboard, announcing that only 21 days left until the college entrance exam. I jolted and skipped class.

I finally saw my sister, Olivia, in that familiar alley of the small town.

She had dreadlocks. She was holding a wooden stick, and was fighting with her foster mother.

Her eyes were red, looking fierce.

I clapped my hands. "Olivia, so impressive!"

Her foster mother turned around and glared at me, spitting on the ground.

"Bah! Who's meddling? I'm going to beat this wretched star to death today."

Her cursing posture was the same as in the past life, with furrowed brows and spitting everywhere.

Olivia raised the wooden stick and taunted, "Come on, you want to force me into that thing? No way! No wonder your daughter had a short life!"

Her foster mother screamed and lunged, but my sister pushed her away. She stumbled a few steps and fell on her butt.

"She's hitting me! This is outrageous! I don't want to live anymore!"

I couldn't stand it anymore. I can't tolerate such whining. "Don't want to live anymore? Fine, why don't you go die then?"

Olivia laughed. She grabbed me and quickly walked out of the alley. Her foster mother's loud wails echoed behind us.

After a few steps, Olivia suddenly said sarcastically, "What, feeling guilty and here to comfort me?

"Got any money? Don't come see me if you didn't bring any!"

She reached out her hand to me.

I hugged her tightly and asked softly, "Olivia, how have you been?

"Don't get into any shady business. I'll give you money. Don't you like singing? Then go study music seriously."

Olivia's body stiffened, and she said softly, "Ugh, she tricked many girls into learning arts. But it's prostitution.

"Her daughter died. She hates me for not saving her daughter's life, but I won't fall into that trap."

Her foster mother's daughter died? When did that happen?

I was stunned and couldn't react. Olivia quickly said, "Three years ago, she couldn't catch her breath."

Then she grabbed my backpack and took out my wallet. She left one bill and stuffed the rest into her pocket before walking away.

I stood there dazed, unable to react for a long time.

Suddenly, a cold laugh came from behind me.