The 'rival' label suddenly made my adoptive parents see me in a new light.

Janet, recalling my mad cooking skills, dabbed at her eyes.

"Mom and Dad, if it wasn't for Christina stealing my life for all these years, I wouldn't have had to quit middle school. Now, marrying the richest guy is my only shot at turning my life around. You've got to help me out here!"

When my mother heard that, she shot me a fierce look and snapped. "Christina, your sister's got a point. Just drop out of this contest and let Janet have her chance!"

I blurted out without thinking, "Why should I?"

They were the ones who had pushed me into that bride contest, and then, they tried to push me out. Why did they get to pull the strings in my life again and again?

My father, Matthew Cooper, with his quick temper, came at me and slapped me hard.

"You've been living off the Cooper family for years! Without us, you'd be out on the streets! You've hogged Janet's life for eighteen years. Don't you think you owe her? We didn't make you slave away for us. We've been more than generous!"

Janet clutched my hand, putting on a pitiful act. "Sis, you've got the degrees and the cooking skills. You'll do just fine on your own! Let me have this chance!

"When I'm the tycoon's wife, I'll make sure you marry well! If that doesn't work out, with my help, you could always cook for the rich and famous. Then, our family will never have to split up."

Janet looked like she was begging, but her words were laced with challenge.

Fuming, I yanked my hand away and shot back. "Janet, let's not forget who paid for your makeover before the talent show. If I hadn't used all my savings to turn you into a bombshell, your freckles would've sent the tycoon running for the hills.

"As for you two..."

I stared down at my adoptive parents, my voice heavy with sorrow.

"You always claim you're the ones taking care of me, but since we landed in Indoria, when have you ever even tried to find work? If I hadn't been slaving away, making pancakes from dawn till dusk, we'd probably all be starving!

"Now, that there's a shot at marrying into riches, you're ready to toss me aside. How can you be so utterly shameless?"

Fiona, red with rage, lunged at me, aiming a kick in my direction.

I dodged, and she lost her balance, crashing to the ground.

She wailed, "Oh, the Cooper family must be cursed to have taken in such an ingrate! If I'd known what a cold-hearted creature you were, I never would've taken you in. I should have sold you off to Myawadi in Mienbor and at least made some money!"

Her cries quickly attracted a crowd of rubberneckers.

Janet, hunched over, smeared my name in front of them all, pleading.

"Sis, please don't make me quit the contest! I know I can't compare to you, but I really do adore Mr. Loris."

Matthew yanked her to her feet and, jabbing a finger at me, shouted, "Janet, don't beg her! The Coopers don't harbor such a cold-hearted beast. If she abandoned her family, then she's no sister of yours!"

The clueless crowd, drawn in by the drama, started pointing fingers at me.

They were trying to back me into a corner, but I was not about to give in to their wishes.

With an icy laugh, I said, "You've all heard it straight from the horse's mouth. The Coopers have cut me off. From this moment on, they and I are done. We're no longer family.

"Whatever happens to the Coopers from now on, good or bad, has nothing to do with me!"

After declaring my severance from the Cooper family, I was set to hit up the market for some fresh veggies.

However, just as I ducked into an alley, I got clocked on the head with a stick and knocked out cold.

Coming to, I realized my so-called parents had shoved me into a cargo truck.

Matthew smacked me hard across the face.

"You little troublemaker! You're the reason Janet died in her past life. Now that we've got a second shot, there's no way we're letting you snatch Janet's rich husband! You'll stay put right here!"

Fiona jammed a foul-smelling sock into my mouth and spat on my face, sneering, "Without the Coopers, you're nobody!"

Not content with that, she grabbed a paring knife and sliced my face.

"Oh, you think Janet's ugly, huh? Well, let's see how you'll charm a rich guy now that I've messed up your pretty face!"

Blood trickled down my cheek, soaking my collar, and the pain made me gasp.

"Enough of this. Let's go take care of those cows. The ones at the rich guy's place are top-notch. They're sure to taste amazing."

As they walked away, hurling insults over their shoulders, I felt a wave of injustice wash over me.

The truth was that I never wanted to be some rich guy's wife. If Janet had not been so headstrong in our previous life, I would have bent over backwards to help her land the tycoon of Indoria.

However, it was not until I was left alone, facing a grim fate, that I realized my adoptive parents had never truly cared for me.

If it meant granting Janet's every desire, they would not think twice about tossing me aside.

However, I was a living, breathing person.

Haunted by the unfairness I had endured, I channeled all my energy into sawing at the ropes binding me.

After thirty relentless minutes, I was free, slipping out of the back of the truck.

I arrived at the competition site, heart pounding, only to find it had ended.

Galarva had already sampled every entry.

Holding the mic, he declared, "Today's creations were all mouthwatering! However, Miss Janet's dish really blew me away! I've never savored meat like that. She's the one. I want Janet as my bride."

Janet leapt into her parents' embrace, ecstatic. "Mom, Dad! You saw it, right? I did it! I'm going to be the wife of a tycoon!"

That was when Galarva finally spotted me, his face falling with disappointment.

"Miss Christina, I was so eager for you to show up today. It's a shame you dropped out, but if you're up for it, you could join your sister and marry me too! In Indoria, a man can have multiple wives."

Before I could react, Janet ripped the bandage from my face, blurting out, "Mr. Loris, my sister doesn't want to marry you. She'd rather scar her own face than be part of this competition, right?"

No guy would take that kind of comment well. Galarva's eyes blazed with anger, clearly feeling disrespected.

Janet, with champagne in hand, cozied up to him and sneered at me.

"Christina, look at me now, the tycoon's wife! Bet you're kicking yourself for ever crossing me, huh?

"I'm not one to hold grudges. Just bend over, say 'I was wrong' real loud, and I might just let you stick around to scrub out the cow pens!"

My adoptive parents shot me a warning look before presenting the plate of beef and veggie stew to Galarva.

"Our Janet's got a heart of gold for you, Mr. Loris. She even learned to cook this sour dish you love from a top chef!

"Remember, Janet's our only treasure. You can't back out of the one million and five hundred thousand dollars you promised for the marriage…"

Tears welled up in Galarva's eyes. "Everything's perfect, and I'll even have a holy cow bless our wedding!"

That was when I chimed in, "Mr. Loris, this stew's amazing! Ever wonder what kind of meat's in it? Janet made it just for you with the sacred cow from your own backyard! My parents did the butchering themselves!"