"Liliana, what's got you so worked up? Hurry and get rid of all the evidence. She's attempting suicide by jumping off the building! Retreat!"
...
A distant rumble of thunder echoed through the sky.
"Tsk." Her head throbbed, her mind hazy.
She surveyed her surroundings. Wasn't she hit by a car during her mission? Where was she? How did she end up here?
Unfamiliar memories played like a chaotic video reel in her mind, causing her a pounding headache.
It seemed that she was truly dead, but her consciousness resided within another woman.
Sydney Gordon, 20 years old, the eldest daughter of the Gordon family. Her mother had passed away shortly after giving birth to her. Her stepmother, Milana Howard, had brought Liliana, her two-year-younger sister, into the family.
In a ruthless competition for the Gordon family's inheritance, Milana and Liliana had set up traps, resorting to threats and manipulation.
Moments ago, Sydney had leapt from the top floor, unable to bear Liliana's torment, ending her miserable life. Due to a disturbance in time and space, she found herself half an hour before the incident.
The door creaked open.
"Sydney, it's your birthday today. Can you guess what gift I've prepared for you?" A woman in a princess-like dress appeared before her, a triumphant smile on her face as beautiful as a flower.
Memories flooded Sydney's mind, reminding her that this was her sister, Liliana, who had always bullied her.
"Take a look at these men. Are they to your satisfaction?" Liliana clapped her hands, and three different men entered the room.
Their gazes fixated on the delicate and lovely girl before them.
"Sydney, see how kind I am to you. I've specially found a few handsome men from the brothel. They'll look quite photogenic in the pictures later on."
Liliana's expression shifted rapidly. Her eyes turned cold, betraying a cruelty unbecoming of an 18-year-old girl.
"Don't worry, Sydney. I'll give you a close-up. I won't treat you poorly!" Liliana pulled out her phone, a glint of coldness in her eyes.
Sydney studied the woman before her. Her composure remained intact, her eyes deep and mysterious.
"Today, I'll ensure everyone in Juuginia knows your true nature!" Liliana's face contorted with ferocity.
She had already set up all the photography equipment. Once she captured Sydney in a photo, the scene would be projected at the banquet.
Sydney would become the laughingstock, and her grandfather would never allow her to stay in the Gordon family!
"I'll give you one chance. Leave!" Sydney's voice rang out, clear and cold, her eyes radiating an icy aura.
Now that she was Sydney, no one would dare to bully her again.
"You have quite the temper, little girl, and I like it!" He rubbed his hands together.
"What are you waiting for? Go!" Liliana impatiently urged.
Sydney's eyes grew colder. She glared at the man approaching her.
"You're seeking your own demise!" One of the men, quite muscular, snarled fiercely.
Sydney stood her ground. As the enraged man neared, he was stunned by her swift punch.
"Sydney Gordon? What's happening?" Liliana, standing nearby, began to panic.
Was this still the Sydney she knew?
Sydney effortlessly bound Liliana and the men together.
"Want a close-up, huh?" Sydney's eyes were as cold as ice, exuding a chilling aura as if she had emerged from hell itself.
"Sydney, you better release me, or my parents won't let you off the hook!" Liliana spat out fiercely.
Sydney snorted, leaving gracefully.
After exiting the room, Sydney followed the memory of the body's original owner to the adjacent computer room.
Her slender fingers danced across the keyboard.
"Boss, is that you? I heard something happened to you. Where are you now?" The excitement of the other person on the screen was palpable.
Soon, a red dot appeared on the computer screen.
"Boss, please say something. I heard about your car accident. Are you alright?" The other person knew that this was their boss's exclusive ID, a level that others couldn't reach.
"Investigate it!" Her response was curt and filled with anger, even through the screen.
"Boss, it really is you. That's fantastic!" The other person greeted her like a fan. But before they could finish speaking, they noticed the profile picture had turned grey.
...
"Dad, where's Sydney? The banquet is about to start. Why hasn't she shown up yet?" Milana approached Mr. Gordon.
"Sydney's getting more and more out of hand! Mr. Gordon has already arrived, so why hasn't she?" Sydney's eldest aunt exclaimed.
"I just saw Sydney heading toward the private room with a few men. I hope I didn't mistake her," the second aunt added.
Hmph, they really do know how to make false accusations. Do they really think that the current Sydney was the previous Sydney?
Sydney, I will definitely make those who bullied you before pay with blood!
"Grandpa, what happened?" Sydney walked over from the back wantonly!
"Sydney, did you frame Liliana? Do you want to drive her out of the Gordon family, so you used this method to hurt her?" The eldest auntie said aggressively.
"Auntie, don't wrong me. How could I do something to make Grandpa angry?"
Sydney had a harmless smile on her face.