My sister, Catherine Montclair, wasn’t supposed to find out.

But she did.

And the moment she realized I was the anonymous benefactor who had saved Jasper Sterling—the richest man in the country, the same man who had been searching for me for years—she lost her mind.

Before I could explain, she called a family meeting, dropped the truth like a bomb, and snatched the sapphire crest brooch Jasper had sent me.

With a flip of her hair and way too much confidence, she decided to meet him in my place.

Cathy and my parents didn’t waste a second fantasizing about a future dripping in wealth.

Clutching the brooch, Cathy’s eyes practically sparkled. “Jasper Sterling isn’t married, right? He must want to marry the person who saved his life!”

She turned to me, smug. “Let’s be real, Cassie. I’m smarter, prettier, and just way more suited to be his wife than you are.”

I didn’t argue. I didn’t flinch. I simply nodded, agreeing with every word.

They sneered, convincing me I was a failure and that I was just rolling over and accepting my fate.

I wasn’t bothered.

Because, unlike them, I knew the truth.

Jasper Sterling wasn’t looking for me to propose.

He was looking for me because he needed my organs.

——

[According to reports, Jasper Sterling, the nation’s wealthiest businessman, has been secretly searching for the life-saving benefactor who rescued him as a child in a small countryside town...]

Cathy, my twin sister, flicked off the TV with a sharp press of the remote. She turned to me, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"Wait a second. Didn’t he say his benefactor was from the countryside? Isn’t that exactly what you told us before?"

She leaned forward, her expression sharpening. "You came home once, all proud, claiming you’d saved someone. I remember we didn’t believe you. Then you pulled out some rock and called it your ‘token.’" She stretched out her hand expectantly. "Show me the stone now."

I froze, instinctively running my fingers over my arms and my stomach—searching for pain, for scars.

There were none.

Then it hit me—

I had been reborn.

The day Jasper Sterling announced his search for his benefactor had arrived again, just like before.

Back then, Cathy had snatched my token and, with our parents, eagerly plotted to meet him in my place.

But I had shut it down.

"He’s not looking for me to marry me," I had told them. "He’s looking for me because my blood type matches his sister’s. His sister is critically ill, and she needs an organ transplant. The only reason he’s searching for me is to use me as a donor."

Cathy had just laughed. "That’s perfect! Our bodies are a gift from our parents, right? You’re just giving your organs to help Mom and Dad live better lives. Isn’t that what family’s for?"

Before I could protest, Cathy and my parents had knocked me out cold and sent me straight to the Sterlings.

The next six months had blurred together. Technically, I had been 'married' to Jasper Sterling.

In reality, I had been nothing more than a living organ bank for his sister, Eloise.

And not long after, I had died from a post-surgery infection.

Meanwhile, my family had thrived—living in luxury, basking in the benefits Jasper had provided them, and climbing to new heights over my lifeless body.

The memory pulled me under like a tide, trapping me in a cycle of helplessness.

A sharp slap across my cheek yanked me back to the present.

“Hey, Cassandra, I’m talking to you. Are you deaf or just dumb?” Cathy sneered, eyes flashing with irritation.

At that moment, I made a decision.

I forced a smile, schooling my expression into one of blissful ignorance. "I’m just so happy," I gushed. "You’re right, Cathy. I was the one who saved Jasper back then."

I returned to my room with the token—the sapphire crest brooch Jasper had given me.

"This is the stone. He told me it was a falling star. At the time, I thought he was just being dramatic, but now I realize... he was telling the truth. I had no idea he’s been searching for me all this time..."

I remembered how Cathy had gushed over this moment in my past life, how her greed had sparkled at the thought of marrying into wealth.

I let out a dreamy sigh, plastering on my best lovestruck expression. "I guess that’s why he’s in such a rush to find me now. He must be reaching marriageable age, right? He definitely wants to marry me."

Cathy’s eyes gleamed with excitement, just as I knew they would.

Hook, line, and sinker.

My parents exchanged a glance, their faces lighting up with sheer joy.

My mother, Isabella Greene-Montclair, practically vibrated with excitement. “Oh my God! Does this mean I’m about to become the mother-in-law of the richest man in the country?”

My father, Alaric Montclair, let out a breathless laugh, still processing the shock. “I never saw this coming… never in a million years. Cassie, you’re so lucky! We must’ve done something right—how else could you have such a great life ahead of you?”

I stayed quiet, my expression neutral, but my eyes flicked to Cathy.

Her face twisted as emotions flickered across it—shock, disbelief, frustration. She was struggling to process the idea, fighting an internal war she didn’t know how to win.

Finally, she muttered, “How could he marry you? You’re so…”

She trailed off.

Because no matter how much she hated to admit it, we were identical twins.

Insulting me would be insulting herself.

I didn’t take offense.

Instead, I reached out and patted Cathy gently on the shoulder. “Sis, I know. You’re worried that if I marry the richest man in the country, I’ll forget about you, Mom, and Dad.”

Cathy’s eyes narrowed, her arms folding tightly over her chest. “Of course, I’m worried! They’ve always favored me. You’ve been the one left out. Why wouldn’t you forget about me once you’re married to someone like that?”

I smiled, more amused than anything. “You don’t have to worry. I won’t forget. Once I’m part of the Sterling family, I’ll make sure you, Mom, and Dad live well. I’ll buy you all the houses and cars. Maybe they won’t be as nice as mine, but at least you won’t have to struggle anymore.”

The more I spoke, the tighter Cathy’s jaw clenched. I could see the storm building behind her eyes, especially as my father and mother fawned over me like I was some golden ticket.

And then, just like that, she snapped.

With a burst of frustration, she lunged and snatched the sapphire brooch from my hands. “I’m not letting you meet him! If anyone should go, it should be me!”

But this time, things were different.

Before I could even react, Alaric swiftly yanked the brooch back from her grip, his patience finally cracking.

“This belongs to your sister, Cathy! What the hell are you doing? What if you break it? Can you even afford to fix it?”

Cathy’s mouth fell open in shock.

Even she hadn’t expected that.

I leaned back, my voice calm but firm. “Cathy, I know you’ve always loved taking my things. But you’re not getting away with it this time. This is my chance. My future.”

Silence stretched through the room.

I let the tension linger before adding under my breath, “We may look the same, but what’s meant for me will always be mine.”

That was all it took.

Cathy’s expression shifted, her lips curling into a slow, knowing smile. “You’re right. We do look the same. But you…” She tilted her head, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. “You’re so lifeless. Even if you did marry Jasper, how could he possibly love you forever? I’m the better choice.”

She wasn’t done. Not yet.

Cathy turned toward our parents, seizing the moment. “Think about it, Mom, Dad! It’s been over ten years since the richest man last saw Cassie. All we have to do is say it was me who went to Grandma’s house in the countryside. How would he ever know the difference?”

She paused, letting the idea settle in, then sweetened the deal.

“And let’s be honest—you’ve never been close with Cassie. If she really becomes his wife, how could she possibly treat you well? But me? You know I’d always take care of you.”

My parents hesitated for only a second before they exchanged a look and nodded in agreement.

No hesitation. No guilt. No second thoughts.

I wasn’t surprised.

If Alaric and Isabella hadn’t always favored Cathy over me, I wouldn’t have been the one sent to Grandma’s house in the first place. I wouldn’t have been the one to save Jasper. And I wouldn’t have ended up being used by them like some disposable asset.

Even though this had always been my plan, I forced my expression to crumble, my voice breaking as I cried out, “Mom, Dad, how could you do this to me? Ever since we were kids, you’ve always given Cathy everything. You let her take my clothes, my toys, everything. But this is different! This is my life! I’m your daughter too—why are you doing this to me?”

Alaric didn’t even blink.

Instead, he shoved the brooch into Cathy’s hands and slapped me hard across the face.

"Have you lost your mind? When did we ever favor her over you? Didn’t we feed you? Didn’t we clothe you? You think we did all of that just for her?"

The sting of his palm burned against my cheek.

I swallowed the anger rising in my throat.

Because this time, I wasn’t fighting to win their love.

This time, I was playing to destroy them.

Alaric crossed his arms, his expression hard and unyielding. “We’re your parents. Do you think you’d have anything without us? Your mother and I have given you everything, and now, all we’re asking is for you to step aside and let Cathy take your place as the richest man’s wife. We’re not asking you to die or anything dramatic, so what’s with all this complaining?”

Isabella scoffed, her glare sharp. “And you expect us to believe you’d be good to us after you marry him? With that attitude? You’ve been holding a grudge your whole life, Cassie. Once you get your hands on all that wealth, you’ll find a way to make us regret not treating you like royalty. We’re not stupid.”

A bitter taste filled my mouth. They were standing right in front of me, acting as if they had every right to dictate my life, as if their greed was justified. But there was no use in fighting back. Not now.

Isabella's voice turned cold and final. “Your father and I have made up our minds. Cathy will meet him in your place. You can either accept it, or we’ll make you accept it. The choice is yours.”

I pressed a hand to my swollen cheek, the sting of my father’s slap still fresh. My pulse pounded, but I forced my expression to soften.

I dropped my gaze, playing the role they expected—the weak, obedient daughter. “I… I’ll do whatever you want. Just, please, don’t hit me again.”

I hesitated, adding in a careful, trembling voice, “But only if… only if Cathy agrees to give me some money after she marries him. Just enough for me to leave. I won’t tell anyone I’m the real benefactor.”

Their eyes lit up. Alaric exchanged a satisfied glance with my mother before nodding. “Now, that’s more like it.”

...

As usual, my meekness was enough to put their minds at ease. They were so blinded by their dreams of being connected to Jasper Sterling that they didn’t even hesitate to believe me. I’d played my part well.

I let out a small, relieved breath, but Cathy wasn’t so easily fooled.

Her sharp gaze pinned me in place. “You’re giving up that easily?” she asked, stepping closer. Suspicion laced her voice. “What’s your game, Cassie? What are you planning?”

I froze.

Had she figured it out already? Could this be that whole twin intuition thing people always talked about?

Before I could come up with a response, Cathy’s expression shifted, and her eyes widened as if a lightbulb had gone off in her head.

“Wait, I know!” she exclaimed. “After you saved Jasper, something happened, didn’t it? You’re making me go in your place, but you’re not telling me everything. You want him to find out I’m a fake so you can swoop in and take all the credit, don’t you?”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Cathy’s logic was sharp—far sharper than I’d expected.

When I had saved Jasper all those years ago, I was only eight.

He had been bitten by a non-venomous snake, and to calm him down, I had stayed with him, talking to him, reassuring him. Without thinking, I had mentioned my blood type.

Jasper, always dramatic, had sworn I was his savior and promised to repay me.

But after I returned home, I had completely forgotten about it. My grandmother passed away that same year, and I never went back to the countryside.

Even back then, I had found his search for me… strange. There were too many coincidences and too many unanswered questions. So, I did my own digging.

Now, though, faced with Cathy’s sharp stare, I decided to play along.

I nodded slowly. “You’re right. After I saved Jasper, something did happen. But you’re still missing part of the story.”

Her eyes gleamed with excitement, like a cat that had just trapped a mouse. “Then spill,” she demanded.

I gave her exactly what she wanted, recounting every detail—the day I had saved him, why I had been at the river catching fish, everything. I made sure to be as thorough as possible.

At first, Cathy was skeptical. She grilled me for hours, pressing me like I was some criminal on trial. She demanded I swear on my life and accused me of leaving something out. Even my parents joined in, turning the conversation into an interrogation.

But I played my part well.

By the time the sun rose, exhaustion had settled into their faces. And finally, finally, they seemed convinced.

...

The next morning, Cathy wasted no time.

Still bleary-eyed from the lack of sleep, she grabbed her phone and dialed the hotline for Jasper Sterling’s search.

From the way the conversation unfolded, I could tell plenty of people had already tried to claim to be his benefactor. The person on the other end sounded unimpressed, almost annoyed.

Cathy’s irritation flared instantly. Her face flushed red, and for a second, I thought she was about to lose it.

But then, just as quickly, she caught herself.

'She can’t afford to look anything less than perfect now.'

With a deep breath, she calmed herself and forced a sweet, practiced smile.

“I’m not trying to make a scene or get anything out of this,” she said, her voice dripping with innocence. “If I were, I wouldn’t have waited all these years to contact him. The only reason I’m calling now is to return the sapphire brooch Jasper gave me. That’s all.”

Her tone was perfect—just the right mix of sincerity and selflessness.

I watched as she pulled them into her trap, just like I had pulled her into mine.