Chapter 1

My foster sister used AI to create a fake video of herself being kidnapped by homeless men, demanding five million dollars in ransom from Mom.

I immediately exposed her lies and advised Mom not to fall for it. But I didn't know my foster sister had secretly sent Mom a fake death video.

When Mom pushed me off the high-rise building with her own hands, I saw her bloodshot eyes:

"It's all because you wouldn't let me pay the ransom, and now Lily's been killed!"

"Why wasn't it you who got kidnapped! I wish I never had you as a daughter!"

After being reborn, I returned to the day Mom learned that Lily had been kidnapped.

This time, I won't stop her.

Since one wants to be kidnapped and the other wants to pay the ransom, I'll help both their dreams come true!

"My poor Lily, how could she be kidnapped! Emma, what kind of sister are you! Did you offend someone and drag Lily into this? How come Lily got kidnapped but you're perfectly fine?"

"Five million—you're not even worth five million if I sold you! How can I possibly raise five million in three days!"

Once again, I found myself back on that afternoon that changed my fate.

Mom gripped my arm so hard it hurt, staring at that video of Lily's AI-generated kidnapping, firing question after question at me about what happened.

In my previous life, I saw through the video at a glance—it was just that AI-generated homeless man trending online recently. I told Mom it was AI-generated by Lily, not a real kidnapping at all.

Mom was skeptical but, reassured by me, didn't pay the ransom.

I thought the joke would end there. I never imagined Mom would later receive an AI-generated video showing Lily being brutally murdered.

She believed it was real and buried her hatred for me deep in her heart. Until the day I finally agreed to my boyfriend's proposal, she called me up to a rooftop under the pretense of offering her blessing.

I went to meet her full of joy, only to be viciously pushed off the building. Her bloodshot eyes burned with pure hatred:

"Why was Lily the one killed while you get to live? If it weren't for you, my Lily could have married better and been so much happier!"

"I wish I'd never found you! You're nothing but bad luck—give me back my Lily!"

But the Lily she claimed was dead had just messaged me saying she'd snuck out to have fun and ran out of money, asking me to send her some! It was obviously a fake death!

This time, watching that video, I calmly pulled my arm free from Mom's tight grip:

"We should call the police right away. I'm sure they can rescue Lily."

"No!"

Mom immediately shrieked. Worry blazed into fury in her eyes:

"We can't call the police! Emma, are you doing this on purpose!"

"What if they get angry and kill Lily? Do you hate her that much!"

"You need to sell your apartment and car right now! Go cry to your boss and coworkers, get on your knees and beg them if you have to, be their servant if necessary, but you must borrow that money!"

I hadn't expected her to say something like that. Suppressing my urge to argue, I asked:

"Then why don't you sell this house?"

She immediately glared at me defensively:

"This house can't be sold—I'm saving it for Lily when I'm old! Don't you dare think about getting your hands on this house!"

"What about me? This is the only house in the family. If you leave it to her, what happens to me?"

A sour feeling surged in my chest. I couldn't help clenching my fists as I confronted her.

Mom stared at me with disgust, her face full of disappointment and self-righteousness:

"Why do you always have to compete with Lily for everything! She's young and sensitive. Ever since you came back, she's suffered so much!"

"You're capable and you're the older sister—what's wrong with giving way to her? She already feels inferior for not being the biological daughter, so of course the family assets should all go to her!"

"Lily's been kidnapped and you're still this cold-blooded, fighting with me over who gets what?"

Even though I knew she didn't love me and had all her thoughts on Lily, hearing such blatantly biased words still made my heart ache.

I held back the sting in my nose.

Give way to my sister. Ever since I was found and brought back in my teens, this phrase had haunted me like a ghost.

Eating her leftover snacks, wearing her hand-me-down clothes. Her birthdays were like a princess surrounded by classmates.

While I had to finish washing dishes in a restaurant kitchen before squatting in a corner, reeking of grease and sweat, silently wishing myself a happy birthday.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm:

"Fine, I understand, Mom."

"You can give her all the assets. I just want to ask one thing."

"What about elderly care? When you're old, will Lily handle that too?"