Chapter 5

I landed at 5 AM.

The Los Angeles sky hadn't yet brightened; outside the cabin, it was a quiet, pale blue. I pulled my suitcase, following behind Seraphina. Her smile was gentle, her stride confident, like the perfectly composed caretaker.

"Eleanor, you didn't get much rest last night, did you? We'll grab breakfast first. Do you prefer American or international cuisine?"

She asked affectionately, as if she truly thought of me as her own daughter.

I offered a faint smile. "Either is fine, thank you, Aunt Seraphina."

Her eyes flickered, a hint of surprise that I called her 'Aunt Seraphina'.

She didn't know that 'Aunt' was a title I'd forced myself to say for three years in my past life, and it was the first chip I'd play in this life to collect my interest.

The car was her own, a black Porsche Cayenne, clean, luxurious. The trunk was neatly organized, already stocked with a toiletries bag, school uniform-style information packets, and a comprehensive lifestyle guide.

I got in the car, and as the window rolled up, everything fell silent.

Seraphina talked the entire way, asking what color room I liked, if I wanted a tutor, if I was interested in learning horse riding, tennis, or golf.

Her words were beautiful, every sentence seemingly for my benefit, but I didn't believe a single word.

She claimed I'd be like her own daughter in her home, but her *real* children were sleeping in the kids' rooms of her suburban villa, their custom English names on the doors, their rooms filled with thousands of dollars' worth of picture books and toys.

They were boy-girl twins, born in America by Seraphina the year Richard Vance turned forty-two. She did it quietly.

They were only three now, too young to bother me, too young to appear on social media, and certainly too young for Elara Vance to ever know about them.

Seraphina was a clever woman.

She knew Richard Vance wasn't divorced yet, and she knew Elara Vance still held voting rights on the board. So, she hid everything well—her children, her ambition, and her grand plan for the entire Vance Group to fall into her son's hands.

I was merely a pawn in her elaborate cover-up.

She believed I was good in school, soft-spoken, easy to control, and obedient and sensible. Sending me abroad was just Richard Vance finally giving in to her constant nagging.

"Your father says you're very intelligent, not like some children who just bury their heads in books," she said, studying me with a smile. "I'll tell you honestly, he thinks highly of you."

I smiled back. "Really? I had no idea."

She paused, then softened her voice. "Don't overthink it. Your father just isn't good at expressing himself. Men, you know, their minds are on their careers. You focus on your studies now, and when he sorts things out, you'll get everything that's coming to you."

"After all, you're his only daughter."

I nodded. "Thank you, Aunt Seraphina. I'll listen to you more from now on."

Her brows relaxed; she seemed to let her guard down completely. "Good girl."

I lowered my gaze, my fingernails digging into my palm.

I was just as 'good' in my past life, living in her house for four years, as invisible as a shadow. She'd celebrate my birthday every year, inviting a few children of my father's friends for dinner. Her own daughter was always among them.

The little girl looked like Richard Vance. At three, she could already call me 'Big Sister,' but she never truly accepted me as one. She just watched the adults laugh at how redundant I was.

And my mother, at that time, was already living in a psychiatric ward, repeating my name over and over.

This life, I wouldn't be a 'good girl' anymore.

But on the surface, I'd pretend to be even better than anyone else.

Seraphina's house was decorated like a showroom, even the dinnerware was a limited edition. She arranged for me to stay in the guest room; outside the window was a pool, and on the French doors, a "Welcome Eleanor" sign, like a meticulously planned grand gesture.

I came out after showering and saw that she had already set out my enrollment materials for tomorrow, even thoughtfully printing out the school's introduction and course schedule.

"Get some rest, adjust to the time difference. I'll drive you to school tomorrow; someone should be with you on your first day," she said softly.

I nodded. "Thank you, Aunt Seraphina."

She smiled, satisfied.

At 11 PM, the lights in her room went out.

But I sat at the guest room desk, opening the small laptop I'd brought with me, and began synchronizing my memories from my past life with my current plans.

I stared at the screen for a long time, until the moon rose outside the window, and the night deepened like still water.

This life, I wasn't here to live under someone else's roof. I was here to overturn their entire world.