In my last life, my mother, Lydia Hudson, gave me a pair of earrings worth millions at my coming-of-age ceremony.

The moment I wear them, I go from being a rising beauty in the entertainment industry to looking like an old woman in her 80s.

Mom stays completely calm. She locks me in the basement and cuts off all contact with the outside world.

It isn't until my brother's girlfriend, Stephanie Meyer, kindly rescues me that I finally see the outside world again.

But before I can even thank her, I'm stabbed to death by a mob of obsessed fans.

"When I visited the first time, your mom only gave me a one-million-dollar gift. It's only your birthday, yet you get earrings worth tens of millions? The Quinton family fortune is mine. If you dare to fight me for it, this is what'll happen to you," she told me.

It's only after my death that I learn that she was furious about Lydia giving me the earrings. She spread rumors online that I was a gold-digging opportunist and incited her followers to kill me.

When I open my eyes again, I am back on the day of my coming-of-age ceremony.

Without hesitation, I hand the earrings to Stephanie. If she wants the Soul-Sworn Earrings, I will give them to her.

At my coming-of-age ceremony, my mother, Lydia Hudson, presented me with a pair of earrings worth tens of millions right in front of everyone. Every face in the room was filled with envy, and Stephanie Meyer, my brother Charlie Quinton's girlfriend, was no exception.

She slapped Charlie hard across the face.

"Does your mom even remember she has a son? When I first visited, she tossed me a one-million-dollar welcome gift like it was nothing. Your sister turns 18, and she gets earrings worth a fortune right in front of you. Charlie, are you really her son?"

Stephanie's outburst finally snapped Charlie out of his daze. Before he could respond, I quietly held the earrings out to him.

"Charlie, give them to Stephanie. She's prettier and carries herself better than I do. They'd suit her more."

Charlie stared at me in shock. Mom, however, rushed in and snatched the earrings back.

"This is your coming-of-age gift. How could you give them away?"

She looked like she was defending me, but behind that facade lurked a darkness that made my skin crawl.

In my previous life, the moment I put on those earrings, my body began to deteriorate at a terrifying pace. Overnight, the beauty everyone once admired became an 80-year-old woman with a face covered in freckles.

Meanwhile, Mom went from 60 to looking 18 again.

Things only spiraled from there. When I tried to see a doctor, Mom insisted it was just stress and locked me in the basement.

In the lightless basement, Mom no longer bothered to hide her crimes. Only then did I realize she had given me the Soul-Sworn Earrings, a pair of earrings designed to trade one life for another. She had taken my youth, my 18-year-old face and body, while I would continue to age rapidly under the earrings' backlash until I burned myself out completely.

I was fortunate that Stephanie rescued me, but before I had the chance to thank her, a mob of deranged haters rushed out of nowhere and stabbed me to death.

As the last of my blood drained away, Stephanie ripped the earrings from my ears and glared at me with a twisted grin.

"The first time I visited, your mom gave me only one million dollars. And you? You get earrings worth tens of millions just for your birthday. How is that fair? The Quinton family inheritance is mine. If you dare to take it from me again, this is what happens."

It was only after my death that I learned she had been the one spreading rumors online, calling me a spoiled leech and inciting those fanatics to kill me—all because she couldn't stand that Mom had given me those earrings.

I supposed the Heavens had mercy on me and gave me a second chance at life.

I stared at the earrings, glowing with that same eerie light, and smiled. I would give Stephanie the Soul-Sworn Earrings she wanted, but once she took them, there was no turning back.

As Mom snatched the earrings, Stephanie's face fell in dismay. "What are you doing? Irene said these were for me."

Charlie chimed in from the side. "Yeah, Mom, why are you overreacting like this?"

Mom didn't answer. She just kept insisting on putting the earrings on me.

Seeing this, Stephanie collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. "Charlie, I haven't even married into your family yet, and your mom is already treating me this harshly. When I do marry in, won't she just bully me? Are you just going to let this happen?"

Charlie looked frustrated at her tears. He grabbed Mom's hand. "It's just a pair of earrings. She agreed to give them to you. Do you really need to humiliate her like this?"

Mom wasn't about to yield. "They're my earrings. I can give them to whoever I want. If you want some, buy your own."

She was clever for her age. With that one line, the focus of the conflict immediately shifted onto me.

I ignored her and shoved the earrings into Stephanie's hands. "If you like them, they're yours. Consider it Mom's apology gift."

Stephanie's hands trembled as she took the earrings, trying them on over and over in the mirror. Just as she was about to wear them, Mom lunged and snatched them back.

Blood gushed down Stephanie's ear in a thin line as it was ripped in the struggle.

Stephanie screamed, clutching her ear.

Mom looked like she was about to check the injury, but then, as if something occurred to her, she stepped back, clutching the earrings tightly.

When Charlie saw the woman he loved hurt so badly, he finally lost control. He grabbed Mom by the collar and slammed her to the ground.

A sickening crack sounded as Mom's ribs broke, yet he continued, kicking her repeatedly.

If I hadn't held him back with all my strength, he might have killed her.

After Mom was taken to the hospital, I sat by her bedside, pretending to calm her down. "Mom, once you're discharged, we'll send the earrings to Stephanie. Consider it an apology. A family should live in harmony, and that is what matters most."

Mom snorted and rolled onto her side, turning her back to me. "You don't understand."

In fact, I didn't. I couldn't understand why, when Stephanie was far prettier than me, Mom insisted on switching with my life.

What hidden secrets could lie behind all of this?

From the time Mom was hospitalized until she was discharged, Charlie and Stephanie never once visited her.

When we returned home, Stephanie gave Mom a cold look and then headed straight to her room.

Charlie, on the other hand, awkwardly sat down in front of Mom. "Mom, I acted impulsively before. I'm sorry."

Mom didn't say anything, but the tears glistening in her eyes made her stance clear.

Charlie continued, "You know how hard it was for me to win Stephanie over. She told me that as long as you gave her the earrings, she would marry me immediately. Otherwise…"

At the mention of the earrings, Mom's expression shifted instantly. "No. The earrings belong to Irene, and they always will."

Charlie ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "I just don't understand. We're both your children. Why does she get all the good things? Stephanie is your future daughter-in-law. If you don't treat her well now, don't expect her to care about you later!"

Mom coughed violently, and the color that had just returned to her face drained away, leaving her pale once more.

"Charlie, you should go back. I'll take care of Mom," I said firmly.

I wasn't acting out of particular thoughtfulness. I just feared Charlie might make her collapse from anger. If she died, the secret of the earrings would be lost forever.

After Charlie left, Mom looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Irene, I could never give those earrings to anyone else. Don't worry. Even if the family falls apart, I will keep them safe for you."

Luckily, I had lived once before and knew her schemes.

I pretended to look puzzled. "Mom, if it's for Charlie's happiness, just give her the earrings. I can earn my own money now. If I want something, I can buy it myself."

Mom wouldn't listen. "Stop talking nonsense. Who I give the earrings to is not for you to decide. Help me back to my room. I'm tired."

As I lay in bed that night, I wondered what else Mom could take from me besides my beauty. Suddenly, a bold idea struck me.

The next morning, I was surprised to see Stephanie, who had been furious the day before, now smiling brightly as she sat across from Mom. She carefully placed a pot of soup in front of her.

"Mrs. Quinton, I made this mushroom soup myself. Please try it."

I casually sat at the table, picking up a slice of bread as if nothing had happened, wondering what had changed overnight to make Stephanie act so differently.

"Irene?"

Mom waved at me, pulling me back to the moment.

She looked at me meaningfully. "I thought all night. I can't let a single pair of earrings ruin Charlie's happiness, so I've decided to give the earrings to Stephanie. Do you support my decision?"