Ethan Bennett shot me an angry glare before carrying the sobbing, wailing Olivia Bennett off to the hospital.

The housekeeper told me my parents had a social engagement tonight and wouldn’t be home for dinner.

I kicked the bulldog that had been barking at me from the corner and strolled leisurely upstairs.

God, it felt amazing not to be the doormat anymore.

The next day, the four of them sat around the dining table, each face darker than the bottom of a burnt pan.

Olivia dabbed at her tears now and then, sniffling pitifully.

My father cast me a sharp look and told the housekeeper to bring another chair.

Auntie Wang brought it over, but no one moved to make room.

I gave a short, cold laugh and stepped in to spare her the awkwardness.

“Don’t bother. From now on, just send my food up to my room.”

“I don’t exactly have an appetite staring at them.”

It wouldn’t be long before Olivia, just like in my last life, would find some excuse to kick me off the table entirely, leaving me to eat with her dog.

When they didn’t react, I picked up a piece of bread, eating as I turned to leave.

Suddenly, my father slammed the table with a loud crack and barked,

“Leaving before your elders finish speaking? Have you no manners at all?”

“Just like your mother and brother said—rotten to the core.”

I met his glare without a hint of deference.

“You’re the one who chose to speak the moment I stood up. What am I supposed to do?”

“And no matter how rotten I am, I’m still your blood. If there’s a problem, maybe it’s in the source.”

He froze mid-breath, nearly choking on his own anger.

“You’ve gone too far! Disrespectful! Today you’re getting a proper lesson!”

He roared for the butler to fetch the family discipline.

Olivia’s eyes glinted with satisfaction as she curled her lips in a smirk.

My mother pressed her lips together in silence, while Ethan looked like he was settling in to watch the show.

The butler handed my father a rattan whip as thick as my wrist. He glared at me with severity.

“Disrespecting your elders, harming your siblings, a vile nature with no remorse—do you admit your fault?”

In my past life, thanks to Olivia, I had suffered many such punishments.

The worst time, I was whipped until my back was split open, the wounds deep enough to show bone, and I nearly died from complications. I was bedridden for two months.

My eyes flicked to the whip and my stomach clenched, but I kept my chin high and shot back,

“Under mutual respect, I’m a polite young lady. If you think I was rude, maybe you should first reflect on your own attitude.”

His gaze on me grew even colder. He pointed the whip at me.

“Sharp-tongued brat! You caused Olivia’s car accident before, and yesterday you pushed her, giving her a concussion—how dare you talk back?”

So this was all about taking Olivia’s side again.

“You’re all blind, of course you didn’t see her run me over and break my leg, then frame me. She only—”

The rest of my words were cut short by the whistle of the whip slicing through the air, striking my back.

Once. Twice…

The pain exploded through my scalp, my body arching involuntarily as I shivered, teeth clenched against the agony.

After five blows, my father flung the whip to the ground and barked,

“Now do you understand your mistake? Will you apologize to Olivia?”

I straightened slowly, met his gaze with defiance, and suddenly smirked.

“I’ll apologize—if you tell me how much you’ll pay me for it.”

His eyes bulged in fury, fists tightening until his knuckles whitened.

“Ungrateful wretch! I’ve never seen such a vile child in my life!”

He was shaking with rage, and my mother quickly stepped in to calm him, helping him sit back down.

“Alright, alright. We know her nature now—just take your time to teach her. Don’t get yourself worked up.”

Then she turned her reproach toward me—

“Your dad stayed home this morning just to have breakfast with you, and you had to stir up chaos until the whole house was in an uproar?”

“Today you’re going with Mr. Tom, the assistant, to change your last name back.”

I forced myself upright despite the pain.

“I’m not changing it.”

Everyone turned to look at me. Ethan Bennett’s voice rose in anger.

“Madison Clark, don’t be ungrateful!”

I took a deep breath, rolled my shoulders, and said,

“My name is already registered in the SAT system. Changing my last name would affect my exam.”

The last name had been given to me by Grandma Grace, and I wasn’t giving it up.

Margaret Bennett nodded slightly, accepting the excuse.

She pulled out two bank cards and handed one to me and one to Olivia Bennett.

“This is your allowance for the month.”

But Olivia’s card had $100,000, and mine only $50,000.

“Why do I only get fifty?” I asked, displeased.

Richard Bennett’s voice was cold.

“Because you’re devious and not worth a single strand of Olivia’s hair.”

I clenched my teeth.

Fine. If that’s how they wanted it, I’d take the rest myself.

I tucked the card safely into my bag. This was enough to get Grandma Grace a full medical check-up.

Margaret sighed.

“On the 20th of next month, Olivia will turn eighteen. We’ve decided to hold your official ‘return to the family’ banquet on the same day—two happy occasions at once.”

It seemed they’d forgotten that day was also my birthday.

In my last life, I’d been humiliated beyond belief on that day.

I was going to refuse, but then an amusing idea came to mind, and I smiled in agreement.

When the time came, I’d give them a surprise they’d never forget.

The Bennetts transferred me to a new school, but I didn’t bother going.

In my previous life, desperate for approval, I had obediently followed Olivia to school—

Only to be isolated and bullied under her lead, missing the best window for Grandma Grace’s treatment.

Ignoring my injuries, I patched myself up, took the money, and went straight back to my hometown to bring Grandma to the city for treatment.

By the time she was settled, it was already evening.

When I returned to the Bennett house, Ethan was proudly reporting Olivia’s grades to our parents.

“Olivia improved a lot in her last practice SAT—already above the threshold for top universities. If she keeps it up, her actual score will be great.”

Richard grinned from ear to ear, his eyes full of pride for Olivia.

The moment I walked in, their smiles vanished.

Olivia hurried over, grabbing my hand with fake concern.

“Madison, why did you skip school today?”

“There’s only a week until the SATs. Even if your grades aren’t great, you shouldn’t just give up. I can tutor you.”

“Mom and Dad care most about our academics—you can’t embarrass them.”

In my last life, when she found out I’d already been offered early admission to Harvard, she had her little clique torment me until I was half-dead, tore up my acceptance letter, and threatened me into silence.

I yanked my hand away and said mockingly,

“All that one-on-one tutoring and you barely scraped past the cutoff?”

“You really are slow.”

Olivia’s jaw clenched, her cheeks flushing red.

Richard hadn’t had much education and had made his fortune by marrying into Margaret’s family business.

He was often mocked for relying on his wife’s money, so he placed an obsessive emphasis on his children’s academic achievements.

I ignored them all and headed upstairs to sleep.

To care for Grandma during her surgery, I’d already requested a week off from school.

On the day of the SAT, Olivia “kindly” packed my admission ticket and test materials for me.

“Don’t be nervous. Even if you don’t get into college, Dad can always get you a job—maybe as a janitor.”

I ignored her, rolled over, and went right back to sleep.

When Richard Bennett found out I hadn’t taken the SAT, he blew up again.

In the end, he decided to hire a private tutor for one-on-one lessons so I could repeat the year.

After the exams, Margaret Bennett took Olivia on an overseas vacation, while I stayed in the hospital with Grandma Grace until she was discharged.

They only returned the day before the banquet.

Just like in my previous life, all the guests believed this event was purely Olivia’s eighteenth birthday celebration, forgetting it was also supposed to be my welcome-home banquet.

But this time, instead of feeling wronged, I was actually looking forward to it—because I knew there’d be a good show.

Olivia opened with a piano performance, earning the crowd’s applause and praise.

“Not only is Olivia beautiful, but she’s also talented in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. And she scored above the top university threshold on her SATs—truly impressive.”

Olivia gave a coy smile and thanked them.

“It’s all thanks to Mom and Dad’s guidance. I love you both so much.”

Richard and Margaret beamed with pride.

Then a few of Olivia’s arrogant friends turned their attention to me.

“If the younger sister is so outstanding, then the older sister must be even better! Why don’t you perform something for us?”

“I heard she didn’t even take the SAT—must be hiding some terrible scores.”

The teasing grew louder until Olivia stepped in with faux compassion.

“Oh, don’t make fun of my sister. She grew up in the countryside, has poor grades, and isn’t used to high society. Her temper can be bad—be careful she doesn’t offend anyone.”

Well, since she’d said that, it would almost be rude of me not to offend someone.

I walked up onto the stage confidently, mimed rolling up nonexistent sleeves, planted my hands on my hips, and smiled at her little clique.

“I’ve actually got plenty of skills—throwing spoiled brats over my shoulder, slapping the smug off a fake sweetheart, stabbing a bully with a compass, or making one drink toilet water. Which of you wants to help me demonstrate?”

The atmosphere froze instantly, and I could feel their glares slicing into me like knives.

My parents and Ethan glared at me in disappointment.

At that moment, a delivery man suddenly burst into the hall, shouting,

“Who’s Madison Clark? I’ve got your acceptance letter from Harvard—congratulations!”

Perfect timing.

The awkwardness on everyone’s faces turned into shock.

Olivia’s face went from pale to flushed red, disbelief written all over her.

“What? Madison Clark? Harvard? I must have heard wrong!”

“This has to be a mistake—she didn’t even take the SAT, how could she get into Harvard?”

“Yeah, this delivery guy must’ve been paid to fake it and make her look good.”

The delivery man’s brow furrowed.

“Who’s Madison Clark? Please sign for this. I’ve got other packages to deliver.”

Olivia lunged forward, snatching the envelope and tearing it open.

Richard leaned in, his face serious.

When he saw the bold crimson Harvard seal, his eyes widened and he grabbed the letter from her hands.

He stared at it over and over before finally looking up, his expression breaking into uncontrollable excitement.

“It’s real! It’s real! My daughter has been accepted to Harvard!”

Margaret clasped his hand, overjoyed.

Olivia’s shoulders slumped, her face full of panic.

I curled my lips into a cold smile.

Can’t handle it already?

I seized the moment.

“Dad, Mom, today’s not just my official return to the family—it’s also my birthday. Can you grant me one birthday wish?”

Richard, still grinning from ear to ear, agreed instantly.

“Of course, sweetheart. Ask for anything—you have my word.”