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?"

Stephanie stared at me with such intensity that it felt like she would tear me apart the moment I refused. I hesitated, then finally nodded, even though my mind was filled with questions.

The second I agreed, Mom carefully placed the earrings she always carried with her on the dining table. Stephanie reached for them in excitement, but Mom slapped her hand away. "Thank Irene first. These earrings were originally hers. If she hadn't agreed, you wouldn't even be allowed to touch them."

Stephanie forced out a stiff thank you, then happily put on the earrings.

"Irene, don't be sad. I'll buy you an even better pair," Mom said.

I studied Stephanie closely. Why wasn't she reacting at all? Did that mean the Soul-Sworn Earrings from my previous life had been fake?

A few days later, Mom mysteriously called me into her room. "Irene, try these on. This pair is even better than Stephanie's."

The moment I saw the earrings inside the box, a chill ran through me. They were identical to hers.

Mom noticed my confusion and began explaining, "Both pairs were crafted by the same jeweler. Of course, they look the same. This pair simply uses better materials."

She suddenly leaned close to my ear. "You're a star. Naturally, you deserve to wear the finest."

The smile on her face only grew more unsettling, and I shivered despite myself.

"Don't just stand there. Try them on and let me take a look," she urged.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. Every instinct told me something was terribly wrong. Mom kept urging me, and when she finally reached out to put them on me herself, a scream from outside saved me.

Mom dropped the earrings and rushed out.

"Stephanie, what happened?"

Stephanie's hands were trembling as she held out a pregnancy test.

"Mrs. Quinton, I'm pregnant. You're going to be a grandmother."

Mom stared at the test for what felt like forever, and finally, tears welled in her eyes. Stephanie's eyes were brimming with tears as well.

As I watched the two of them celebrate, everything fell into place. Stephanie's pair had to be fake. The earrings Mom wanted me to wear were the real Soul-Sworn Earrings.

I didn't understand. Why would she do this to me?

However, the slap of reality came quickly. The results from the hospital had arrived that morning. She wasn't my biological mother.

Questions flooded my mind, and I locked myself in my room, going over every detail from the past weeks. I still didn't know whose daughter I really was, but at last, I understood why Mom had been so desperate to use me to swap fates with her.

As I walked past Mom's room that night, I heard her talking with Charlie.

"Charlie, now that Stephanie is pregnant, there are things you need to know about this family. I had a reason for refusing her the earrings she wanted before. I had them made by a jeweler, and he told me that if I wanted someone's life, I had to put the earrings on her. As long as Irene wore them, I could swap my life with hers. Not only her beauty, but even her fortune would transfer to me."

A cold wave surged from my feet to my scalp, but I forced myself to keep listening.

"I already swapped the earrings. Once she puts them on, she won't last a week."

My entire body trembled.

"What are you doing?"

I spun around and found Stephanie standing behind me without me noticing.

She opened her mouth to call for someone, but I clamped a hand over her lips.

"Don't scream," I whispered. "I'll tell you a secret."