Chapter 1
I was reborn.
16.00
In my past life, I was acknowledged by the wealthy Torrence family, my birthright restored. To compete for favor against the fake heiress, a girl named Celeste, I worked tirelessly, only to have all my efforts pave the way for her success. The business deals and connections I secured for the Torrences all became hers after I died in a car crash.
My soul lingered, unwilling to move on, and followed the family back to their mansion. There, I overheard Celeste’s monologue and finally understood. We were living in a novel,
story where she was the cherished protagonist, surrounded by doting admirers.
And? I was nothing more than a foolish side character, a moth trying to outshine the moon.
But I was reborn. Twenty years in the
past, back in
my mother’s womb, with seven days left until my birth.
I clenched the umbilical cord in my tiny fist.
So what if she’s the protagonist?
Last time, I was brought into the Torrence family too late. I didn’t have enough time to develop.
This time, I’ll start grinding from the womb. I refuse to believe I can’t out–grind her.
Round One: Physical Fitness.
fluid and the umb-
I couldn’t see a thing, but that didn’t stop me from my daily exercise regimen, a constant battle against amniotic ilical cord in my cramped little world. After three days, my mother couldn’t take it anymore. She demanded another ultrasound, convinced she was carrying either a monkey or a mythological demon baby.
The doctor, listening to my mother’s complaints, fell into a brief moment of self–doubt.
“So, you’re saying the baby starts kicking at nine in the morning and stops precisely at five in the evening? Oh, and takes a break for lunch and a nap?”
“A nine–to–five schedule, still in the womb? That’s more disciplined than we are!”
Despite his skepticism, the doctor performed the check–up. The results left him speechless.
“Mrs. Chen, your baby is not only healthy but incredibly smart!”
“In your previous scans, the baby was in the wrong position, with the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. But now, not only has the baby corrected its position, but it has also untangled the cord all by itself!”
“What? Untangled the cord by itself?”
“A baby this smart before it’s even born? Is this a genius?”
“Genius? Just lucky, I bet!”
That last, sour–toned voice sounded familiar. It sounded like Celeste’s mother.
Were Celeste and I really being born in the same hospital?
My suspicions were confirmed that night when Celeste’s mother was moved into my mother’s room. Compared to my mother’s solitude, Celeste’s mother was the center of attention, a constant stream of visitors flowing in and out.
Sipping on some expensive nutritional supplement, she turned to my mother with a look of faux concern. “Anna, why are you here all alone? Isn’t your husband with you?”
16.00
Chapter 1
My mother forced a smile. “He’s busy with work. I can manage.”
She was lying. At this point in my life, I didn’t have a father. My mother was a small–time influencer whose life goal was to marry rich. At twenty–five, she’d finally succeeded in climbing into the bed of a wealthy heir at a company party.
The good news: she hit the jackpot on the first try.
The bad news: she didn’t get a good look at which heir it
Betty the hellip was
a routine blood donation, that the Torrences discovered I was their long–lost
In my previous life, it wasn’t until I was eight, after
bloodline.
Knowing Celeste was in the womb right next door only fueled my competitive spirit.
Besides my non–negotiable hours of fetal movement, I absorbed
information in every way I could. I listened intently to the seven o clock news broadcast in the hallway, and I analyzed the conversations of the pregnant women, their families, and the medical staff, deducing their personalities and interests.
My mother quickly adapted to my nine–to–five routine and my penchant for eavesdropping. She started making the rounds to other maternity rooms, her pregnant belly leading the way. Not only did she become a familiar face in the physical stamina also improved significantly.
A week later, both our mothers went into labor at the same time. The maternity ward was a flurry of activity
into adjacent delivery rooms.
“Aaaah!”
department, but her
wheeled
Screams echoed from the next room. My mother, chewing on a piece of chocolate a nurse had given her, felt a little awkward. She was just about to let out a token scream of her own when she felt a sudden release.
The doctors and nurses stared in disbelief at the tiny, wriggling bundle on the bed. It took them a moment to recover.
“She’s… she’s born already??”
