My sister and I were born mortal enemies.

Before we even had bodies, back when we were floating souls waiting for reincarnation, we were already at each other's throats. She was supposed to be my twin.

But sharing? It was not really her thing.

She couldn't stand the thought of splitting the spotlight, so she did what any jealous soul would do. She kicked me out of our destined womb and stole the golden ticket for herself: the belly of the wealthiest woman in all of New York.

In her mind, she'd already won.

But what she didn't realize was that the 'perfect' family she chose?

It was a disaster waiting to happen.

The billionaire dad?

He was utterly obsessed with his wife, like, to a delusional, unhealthy level.

The mom? She was sweet as pie and clueless as a toddler.

And the adopted older brother? He was a cold, emotionally starved, and dangerously unhinged sociopath.

In the end, that charming little psychopath broke my sister down, bit by bit, until she couldn't even stand on her own two feet anymore. Literally, she ended up paralyzed from the waist down.

And me? I got stuck with a washed-up, third-rate actress for a mom.

Yet somehow, I rose to the top. She clawed her way back into the limelight, and I went from forgotten child star to full-blown national treasure.

Consumed by jealousy and hatred, she strapped a bomb to her chest and blew us both sky-high right in the middle of my awards speech.

I died in the spotlight.

And when I opened my eyes again, everything had changed.

She'd stolen my place.

This time, she forced her way into the womb of the very woman she used to mock, my mother, and kicked me aside like trash.

"This time, I'll be the one getting all the love and praise!" she declared.

I laughed loud and hard.

She had no idea I'd come back with a cheat code. A built-in hack. The perfect weapon for surviving that twisted billionaire family.

The psycho foster brother? I could wrap him around my finger.

That glamorous celeb mom she idolized? She was the real monster hiding in plain sight.

——

"My dearest sister," she sneered at me, full of fake sweetness, "enjoy being the new freak of the family!"

Before I could respond, she shoved me hard into the Underworld, diving headfirst toward the mirror that reflected a very pregnant woman—my mom.

But I caught the mirror's edge just in time, gripping it tight and refusing to fall.

From his throne nearby, the Underworld's young and annoyingly gorgeous ruler, Killian Draven, watched us with an amused look.

"Is she always this dramatic?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

There had been rumors about us in our past lives. We weren't just regular reincarnated souls; we were part of some twisted experiment Killian ran—a reincarnation trial, giving select souls a chance to choose their next lives.

Naturally, my sister didn't care about the details. The moment Killian opened his mouth to explain, she cut him off with another one of her signature kicks and lunged for the rich woman's womb.

"I'm done being her sister! She doesn't deserve me!"

Killian had no choice but to adapt the experiment on the fly, allowing each of us to choose our own paths.

She didn't wait to hear the fine print.

And because of that, we never actually heard what Killian was trying to tell us that day.

But deep down, I'd always felt like we missed something important.

Now, as I clung to the mirror, refusing to let go, Killian smirked.

"You're smarter than she is," he said, resting his cheek on his fist. "So let me tell you what she missed."

And suddenly, it all clicked into place.

It turns out that in the updated version of his experiment, Killian had added two special conditions.

First, he gave us each a rare ability: the power to hear people's thoughts. Not out loud, but in real-time—inner voices, exposed like open books.

Second, we were bestowed with once-in-a-lifetime beauty. The kind that could alter fates and bend destinies.

He wanted to see what we'd do with those gifts. Whether hearing the raw, unfiltered thoughts of a wealthy family would change the way we navigate that world. And whether beauty alone could shift the fate of a girl born into the dirt.

Of course, neither of us knew any of this when we first entered the game.

Looking back now, it all made sense.

My sister probably figured out how messed up that wealthy family really was and started mentally dragging them hard.

And they heard every single word.

No wonder they turned on her. No wonder that deranged older brother snapped and dragged her down into the depths of his obsession.

As for me? My freakish beauty earned me my mom's obsession. She polished me into the perfect product—the ideal idol.

But the spotlight? It was a cage.

And she? She was hell.

I looked through the mirror at the actress's swollen belly.

A smirk curled at my lips. 'Congrats, sis. You just checked into my personal nightmare.'

But this time? I'm not going down without a fight.

This time, I'm using my ability right from the start, even if I have to do so from inside the womb.

That twisted family? They're going to love me, worship me, and protect me.

I gave the King of Hell one last glance and said softly, "Thank you, my lord."

Then, I let go of the mirror.

I dove straight into the womb of the billionaire's wife.

And just as my soul slipped into the warmth of her body, I heard a panicked shout echo through the hospital room:

"What?! The umbilical cord is wrapped around her neck? A C-section would put my wife at risk?!"

Inside the delivery room, the wealthiest man in the country, Leonard Gardner, was absolutely losing it. He was yelling at the top of his lungs at the medical staff.

"Figure it out! Save my wife, not the child! If anything happens to her, I'll make sure this entire hospital burns to the ground!"

Meanwhile, still floating in the womb, I let out a small, exasperated sigh.

[So this is my overbearing billionaire dad? Wow, he really does love my mom. He's so devoted! He's one of a kind, alright. My moms truly blessed!]

Right then, as if someone had hit pause, both the raging billionaire and the sobbing heiress froze mid-freakout. They stared at each other, stunned.

And just like that, I cracked a tiny smile.

Bingo. They heard me.

That confirmed the Heart-Voice Skill was real. The best part was that it had a specific direction. I could aim it and pick who heard what with complete control and total stealth.

Back in our previous lives, my sister had this same gift. Only, she never figured out how to use it. Hers was set on default and broadcast mode. Every thought she had, no matter how nasty, blasted through to the whole room like surround sound.

So when she heard Leonard shout, "Save my wife, not the child," she totally lost it.

Right there in the womb.

[What kind of idiot says that out loud? Faking the whole devoted husband thing for show? Please, bet his mistress has already had a litter of kids for him. What a fraud!]

And of course, her toxic little tantrum turned the entire delivery room into a mess.

The billionaire's wife, Judy Gardner, who is now my mom, was on the verge of losing her composure. Her emotions were already running high, and hearing those thoughts pushed her over the edge.

The poor guy had to fall to his knees, swearing his eternal love, to help her breathe normally again.

Then the baby came, and my sister was born.

And the billionaire?

He didn't even look at her. He clutched his wife like she was the only thing in the world and cried like a man who'd just seen his life flash before his eyes.

"My love, you scared me half to death."

My sister, of course, started her usual snark:

[I'm your baby, remember? Not even a glance my way, and you're still putting on this act? And that saggy old cow actually buys it? What a joke. Someone hand her a mirror. She's not even close to being billionaire-wife material.]

Just like that, the billionaire's expression turned to stone.

He ordered the nurses to take her away.

And his wife?

She spiraled into a paranoid mess, convinced this 'baby' wasn't really a blessing, but some cursed, reincarnated mistress trying to seduce her man—a walking, squirming debt collector from a past life.

She was hated before she even opened her eyes.

But me? I was going to rewrite the story.

This time, they weren't just going to like me; they were going to love, adore, and protect me as if I were made of glass and sunshine.

A lovestruck billionaire and a sweet, gullible wife?

That's easy. I was built for this.

I fired up the Heart-Voice Skill again:

[Why are Daddy Leon and Mommy Judy crying because of me? No, no... I don't want them to cry. I have to be strong for them.]

I shifted around in the warm fluid, just enough to face the direction of the ultrasound probe. Then, with the steadiest grip my tiny baby hands could manage, I reached for the cord wrapped around my neck.

One loop. Two loops.

Slowly, carefully, I unwound it.

[All done! No more tears, Daddy and Mommy. Baby fixed the bad cord all by herself!]

Their eyes flew to the screen.

They leaned in close, both of them wide-eyed and barely breathing.

"Dr. Wilson, quick! Look at the screen! Is the cord gone? Did she just...?"

The entire medical team stood frozen, their voices shaking as they stared at the monitor, as if it were a live magic show.

"Mr. Gardner, Mrs. Gardner... this is a miracle!"

"Your daughter must have an incredible bond with you. She just unwrapped the cord herself."

"She's not just a baby. She's an angel. A genius little angel! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner!"

My parents clutched each other like they'd just seen God. They were crying again, but now the tears were of joy.

And of course, my dad, being the dramatic billionaire he is, didn't hesitate to make a move worthy of headlines.

"Reward everyone. A $100,000 bonus for every single staff member in this hospital!"

The same medical staff who'd been sweating bullets minutes ago? Yes, they erupted into cheers as if it were the Super Bowl.

One minute, he's threatening to set the place on fire.

The next, he's throwing hundred-thousand-dollar thank-yous around like party favors, all because of me.

A not-even-born miracle princess.

Just as the mood in the room began to calm down, an ear-piercing scream erupted from the next wall over.

"What do you mean, complications?! Go find your top labor coach right now! If this delivery goes south, I swear I'll blow this shady hospital up all over the internet!"

That voice…

Yep, no surprise there. The third-rate actress, Vivian Lennox.

For a second, I'd almost forgotten she was here, too.

Just like last time, my sister and I were being born at the same time with only a single wall between us.

Even in our rebirth, we still couldn't stay away from each other.

Back in the womb, I smirked to myself and activated the Heart-Voice Skill, directing it straight through the wall to the delivery room next door.

[Hey, sis, you reincarnated before me. So, why aren't you out yet?]

[Oh, wait, now I get it! Age before beauty, right? Guess that means I should go first!]

And just like that, chaos erupted.

"AHHH! Doctor, it hurts so bad! That damn thing is kicking me. Get it out, now!"

There she was, right on cue.

My sister completely lost control. She started kicking and thrashing like a raccoon on Red Bull inside that actress's belly, screaming, crying, and having a full-blown meltdown.

One moment, she was crying for her mom, and the next, she was cussing out the baby like it had ruined her whole life.

Meanwhile, I took a deep, full breath while surrounded by amniotic fluid, rolled my neck slightly, and cheerfully thought:

[Hang tight, Daddy and Mommy. Your baby girl's on the way!]

With a confident push, I braced myself with both hands and feet and propelled myself toward the light, landing softly on the delivery bed. I wailed loudly, as if starring in a film about perfect newborns.

The whole room froze.

The billionaire, the doctors, the nurses, and everyone stood there with their mouths open, staring as if I'd just done a magic trick.

Even my sweet, soft-hearted mom was still catching up to what had just happened.

"She's… already out?" someone stammered. "I've never seen a delivery go this smoothly! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner. You've got an angel baby!"

Mom gathered me into her arms, laughing and crying all at once. "Leon, look at her! The moment I held her, she stopped crying. She's even smiling at me!"

My billionaire father's eyes filled with tears. He pulled both of us into a protective hug, his voice thick with emotion.

"She didn't want you to suffer. That's our little girl, so thoughtful already."

At that moment, he named me: Lucy Pearl Gardner, Heaven's precious pearl.

And because my dad never did anything halfway, he immediately announced the launch of a charitable foundation in my name and transferred 5% of the Gardner Group's shares to it.

"This is your reward, my precious daughter," he said, like he'd been waiting years for this exact moment.

Inside, I was doing mental cartwheels.

Meanwhile, my sister was losing her mind in the delivery room next door.

She was so furious, she nearly made Vivian black out from the pain. In the end, they couldn't take it anymore and went with an emergency C-section.

Word traveled fast.

It didn't take long for the entire hospital to buzz with gossip about the "miracle baby" born naturally and peacefully, and the "debt collector" who had to be cut out while screaming in agony.

As for Vivian? She didn't even bother looking at her newborn. Just waved her off like yesterday's trash and had a nurse carry her away.

Meanwhile, I was tucked in right next to my mom, cozy and snug, placed there personally by my tycoon dad himself.

I was beginning to drift off, wrapped in warmth and smelling my mom's perfume, when a shadow crossed over me.

A pale, strikingly handsome face appeared above mine.

Amber eyes, sharp jawline, expression cold and unreadable.

Oh, I knew that face...

Even from this angle, I recognized him immediately. That was the obsessive older stepbrother—the one who ruined my sister's life during our last encounter.

I remembered everything.

Ever since my sister was born, she hated him. She despised how he was always around and called him a leech, a freeloader riding on the Gardner name. She even mocked him to his face and behind his back, but he wasn't just anyone.

He was the grandson of my grandfather's best friend. After Grandpa passed, my dad took him in and raised him like blood.

And my sister? She relentlessly tormented him, humiliated him at school, socially isolated him, and wore him down until only steel and silence remained.

Eventually, he changed.

He became cold, calculating, and dangerous.

But he also became brilliant.

Straight out of college, Dad handed him the entire Gardner Group and named him CEO.

My sister, who was spoiled and accustomed to having everything handed to her, finally realized what was slipping away from her.

So what did she do? She panicked and made the worst move possible. She hired some men to kidnap him or maybe something even worse.

It backfired, of course.

She ended up disfigured, paralyzed, and ruined.

In truth, she never comprehended the most important rule when it comes to yanderes.

You don't fight him.

You win him over.

And this time, that was precisely what I planned to do.

[Wow! Big bro is gorgeous. I already like him!]

I looked up at him, channeling all the innocence I had as a baby, and reached out with both tiny hands, almost pleading for a hug.

Immediately, something shifted on his face. His stern expression softened slightly. Those icy amber eyes flickered with surprise and a gentler emotion.

"Hic… ahh… hug…"I spoke my very first word.

Gasps erupted on either side of me.

"Did our little girl just call for her brother?" Mom whispered, eyes shining.

"Lance, I think your sister already likes you," Dad chuckled, clearly thrilled. "Go on, give her a hug."

Lance stood there, frozen and still, struggling to process everything. Before he could voice any objections, someone gently placed me in his arms.

At first, he held me awkwardly, stiff and unsure. However, his hands were careful and almost reverent, as if he were afraid I might break.

And his eyes, which had always been empty and guarded, were beginning to shift just the tiniest bit.