Chapter 1
Sadie Douglas’s six older brothers had taken in an orphan girl named Lorena Houston.
“Lorena’s not in good health. It’s no big deal if you give her a kidney, right?” Before Sadie could respond, her brothers knocked her out and dragged her into the operating room.
And just like that, she lost a kidney–without ever being given a choice.
“Lorena doesn’t want you in the house. You need to leave.” That was how Sadie was thrown out by the brothers who were supposed to protect her.
Later, she uncovered proof that Lorena had plagiarized academic work and faked medical records. She tried to expose the truth.
“She’s lying. To stop her from spreading rumors, make her mute.” They forced poison down her throat.
Writhing in pain, Sadie begged them, “Please… just let me go. I know I was wrong.”
“To keep her from bullying Lorena any further, we’re sending her to a psych ward.”
The next time they saw Sadie, she was already a cold, lifeless corpse.
*****
Sadie opened her eyes.
She was back–alive–and saw her six brothers standing on the shore,
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doting on Lorena as always.
‘Wait… wasn’t I dead?’ Her heart throbbed with sharp, searing pain.
Before she could process it, Lorena suddenly kicked her into the swimming pool.
It wasn’t until a few minutes later that Jeremy Douglas realized Sadie had vanished.
When he looked into the water, he saw her body sinking to the bottom.
His face went pale. “Sadie!”
With a loud splash, Jeremy dove in without hesitation.
From the shore, Lorena watched Sadie sink–and couldn’t help but feel thrilled. ‘Good. Let her die.‘
Feigning weakness, she clung to Malik Douglas’s sleeve and whispered softly, “Malik, I want to help save her. She only fell in because of me.”
Malik had been worried, but hearing that, he quickly tried to comfort her. “Jeremy’s already in the water–that’s enough. Sadie brought this on herself. She’s not going to die.”
He turned toward the pool again, his eyes flickering with something unreadable.
Underwater, Sadie saw Jeremy swimming toward her, his face full of real concern.
But just moments ago, he was the one who forced her to apologize and coldly watched her drown.
She didn’t need his help–not anymore.
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Chapter 1
A bitter smirk flickered in her eyes as she turned and swam to the surface on her own.
In her last life, after nearly drowning, Jeremy had made her take swimming lessons with Lorena.
The experience left her deeply traumatized, but to please him, she forced herself to learn. In the end, all he did was praise Lorena for being brave and conquering her fears.
No one ever asked what Sadie had gone through. No one cared that she had lingering trauma from being left in the water too long.
All Jeremy ever saw was Lorena.
“Sadie, what the hell are you doing now? You think pretending to drown makes up for what you just did?”
Jeremy blocked her path, eyeing her suspiciously. ‘When did she learn how to swim?‘
Sadie looked up at him. She used to adore him the most.
Ethan Douglas had always been strict. Only Jeremy had shown her the slightest warmth.
But now, all she could see in his eyes was disgust and impatience.
Lorena’s delicate voice floated over. “Jeremy, don’t blame Sadie. I know she’s never liked me being part of the Douglas family. I was too greedy–I shouldn’t have hoped to have a family. Please don’t fight because of me… You all mean so much to me.”
Malik turned and glared at Sadie. “Happy now? If her father hadn’t died saving you, she wouldn’t even be an orphan! We never should’ve saved a thankless brat like you. Would’ve been better if you died that day!”
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Jeremy frowned. “Sadie, have a heart. We should treat Lorena like
family. The Douglas family owes her–and so do you. Understand?”
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