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I used to be the Rhodes family’s little princess.
My brother and the three boys–Caleb, Julian, and Leo–loved to dote on me. They called me their little sister, their princess, and swore they would always protect me. If anyone ever dared to bully me, they’d make them pay. I
love and affection.
wrapped in a cocoon of
That’s why, three years ago, when a horrific car crash left my brother and the boys bloodied and Scious, I, the only one who
had worn a seatbelt, was the only one with minor injuries.
I saw the car leaking gasoline, saw the first flicker of flames, and knew what was coming. We supp
screaming their names, I drag-
ged them one by one from the wreckage. But I wasn’t strong enough to get them all clear of the danger zone,
I looked at these boys, my protectors, the ones who had cherished me my whole life, and made a decision. My body trembling with
a fear so profound it was paralyzing, I climbed into the driver’s seat of the mangled car.
I slammed my foot on the gas, the nearly destroyed vehicle lurching away from them. When I finally brought it to a stop a safe dist-
ance away, I scrambled out, trying to run.
It was too late.
The force of the explosion behind me threw me into darkness.
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Chapter 1
During the three years I was unconscious, I lived in a long, vivid dream.
I dreamed that my family adopted a girl my age. At first, when she tried to touch things in my room, my brother would stop her, telling her those were his sister’s things and no one else could touch them. At first, the three boys ignored her, saying the only little sister they had was Rory Rhodes.
But slowly, everything changed.
The girl’s fragile, helpless, and eager–to–please act began to worm its way into their hearts. Their weekly visits to my bedside bec- ame monthly, then quarterly. The last time they came before I woke up in the dream, half a year had passed. They were too busy taking the new girl to amusement parks, to see the Northern Lights, helping her with her studies, celebrating her birthday…
Then, in the dream, I woke up after three years.
They arrived late, with the girl in tow.
Having been spoiled by their affection my whole life, I watched them fawn over Celine at my bedside and angrily demanded she leave my room. But in that moment, no one cared about the feelings of a girl who had just woken from a coma. They spoke gently, but their words were firm, urging me to accept my new sister.
After that, Celine framed me for one thing after another. They never listened to my explanations. They always believed her, scoldi- ng me for being difficult, expressing their deep disappointment in me. They had once spoiled and protected me, but when I, wrong- ed and hurt, acted out with the same stubbornness they had once found endearing, their faces now held only disappointment and
disgust.
The last time, unable to bear it anymore, I ran out of the house and straight into the path of a car, ending my short, ridiculous life.
When I woke up for real this time, I found that everything was happening exactly as it had in the dream. They had adopted a girl named Celine. They hadn’t rushed to the hospital upon hearing I was awake; they had finished her birthday party first. In my room,
the focus had instantly shifted to her.
I understood then. The dream wasn’t a dream. It was my past life.
And this time, I had to change my fate.
My father seemed to suddenly remember I was there. He turned to me, his voice gentle. “Rory, are you feeling uncomfortable any-
where?”
All eyes turned back to me.
I looked at the crowd around my bed and smiled faintly. “I seem to recall that three years ago, I was the one who saved my
and the three of you, correct?”
