They Regretted It the Second I Revealed I Control Their Points

I only learned the truth after I died.

My prestigious parents never wanted me back. My husbands love was a lie.

But they were bound to a system: win my affection, or die.

The moment the fake heiress pushed me down the stairs, the sting of my husbands cold indifference and her triumphant smirk was a special kind of hell. They threw a party to celebrate my death.

Then I opened my eyes again.

It was the day they came to take me "home."

Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair stood at the door to greet me, their precious daughter Isabelle between them.

The second she saw me, Mrs. Sinclairs face lit up with a brilliant smile.

Rose, welcome home!

Last time, I was so lost in the joy of finding my family that I never saw the lie coiled behind her smile.

Isabelle rushed forward and grabbed my hand. This is wonderful! I've always wanted a sister, and now my dream has come true!

My new parents beamed at her, their eyes overflowing with an adoration they couldn't hide.

They had no idea that I could now hear the voice of the system in their heads.

[Warning, Host: The target has appeared!]

[Mission: Raise the target's Affection Score to 100 to complete the task. Upon completion, you will receive your reward and be unbound from the system.]

[If the target's Affection Score drops into the negative, an electrocution punishment will be administered every hour.]

[If the target's Affection Score reaches -100, the mission is a failure. Annihilation will be immediate.]

In my last life, they used this system to climb the social ladder, stepping over my corpse to become titans of the city's elite.

This time, I wouldn't make it so easy for them.

I ripped my hand out of Isabelle's grasp and snarled, Who the hell are you to call yourself my sister?

If your mother hadn't stolen me from my crib and swapped us, I would never have been separated from my parents. Youre a thief who stole my life, so how dare you stand here with that smile on your face!

Isabelles eyes instantly welled with tears. She stared at me, speechless and pathetic.

Mrs. Sinclair couldn't bear to see her darling suffer. She pulled Isabelle into a protective hug and shot me a reproachful look. Rose, is that any way to speak to your sister? Isabelle was just a baby back then. Shes innocent in all of this.

I met her gaze with cold calm.

[Target's Affection Score: -10. Current Score: -10. Initiating electrocution punishment.]

I saw her body give a slight, sharp jolt.

She immediately let go of Isabelle and forced a placating smile. Rose, dear, thats not what I meant. I just hope you can give Isabelle a chance. After all, weve raised her for eighteen years.

Mr. Sinclair stepped in to play peacemaker. Alright, alright, lets not just stand here in the doorway. Rose, its your first day home. How about I give you a tour of the house?

He reached for my arm, but I didn't budge.

I want to change my name. I hate being called Rose.

The family that raised me already had three daughters. My adoptive father was already disappointed, and the fact that I wasn't his biological child made me the extra, the disposable one. Rose. It felt like a weed.

Mr. Sinclairs face was a mask of indulgence. Of course, darling, anything you want. What would you like your name to be?

I looked at Isabelle, my voice dripping with malice.

I want to be called Isabelle.

The color drained from her face. She tugged on her mother's sleeve, her voice a desperate whine. Mommy, Im Isabelle! She cant just take my name!

I laughed, a cold, sharp sound. Your name?

Dont tell me that after living in this house for so long, youve actually started to believe you belong here. Your real father is a man named Jack Wright. Youre the one who should be called Rose.

Mrs. Sinclair looked at Isabelle, her expression pained. The memory of the electric shock was still fresh, and she didn't dare refuse me again. Isabelle, sweetie, she has a point. That name was meant for her. Why dont you just let her have it?

Isabelles eyes went wide with disbelief. Mom! Her mother had always given her everything she ever wanted, would have plucked the stars from the sky for her if shed asked.

She started to protest again, but Mr. Sinclair cut her off with a sharp tone. Isabelle, thats enough! Ill take both of you to get your names legally changed this afternoon.

[Target's Affection Score: +10. Current Score: 0.]

[Target's Affection Score: +10. Current Score: 10.]

Mr. Sinclair wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, his voice carefully gentle. Isabelle, can we go inside now?

See? It wasn't so hard to make them bend to my will.

In the end, the former Isabelle wasn't named Rose. Mr. Sinclair gave her a new name, Anabelle.

And on my very first night in the Sinclair mansion, I was treated to quite a show.

Spencer Lockwood, Anabelles childhood sweetheart, made his entrance.

And from his mind, I heard the same familiar, robotic chime Id heard from her parents.

In my past life, Spencer had approached me with practiced ease, showering me with subtle affection and quickly maxing out my favorability. His reward was becoming the undisputed heir to the city's largest conglomerate.

At my funeral, Id watched him kiss Anabelle in the walk-in closet, his voice thick with devotion. Anabelle, youve always been the only one I love.

This time, just like before, he approached me with a charming smile. You must be Isabelles sister. It's a pleasure. Im Spencer.

I ignored his outstretched hand and remained seated on the sofa. You might want to get your facts straight, Mr. Lockwood. Im Isabelle now. The person youre referring to is named Anabelle.

Spencer blinked, a flash of irritation crossing his eyes before he could hide it.

Spencer, youre here! Anabelles voice was a burst of delight. She practically flew to his side, linking her arm through his possessively.

He tweaked her nose playfully. I heard your sister had arrived. I came to say hello. And maybe snag a free dinner.

At the mention of me, Anabelles mood soured. Oh, so you didnt come to see me. It's always about my sister, isn't it? Fine, maybe I should just leave!

Spencer quickly pulled her back, producing a necklace from his pocket with a flourish. This is the latest piece from Mignot's. I bought it the second it was released. Now, tell me, who was I thinking of?

A blush crept up Anabelle's cheeks. She cooed for him to put it on her, then shot me a look of pure provocation.

[Target's Affection Score: -20. Current Score: -20. Initiating lightning strike punishment.]

Spencers hand froze. He stared at me in disbelief. Isabelle

Before he could finish, his body shuddered, his face contorting in agony.

In my last life, starved for affection, I was putty in his hands. A few trinkets were all it took for him to conquer me. But this time, I was no longer a desperate fool chasing after love.

I watched him, my expression unreadable. Spencer, I want that necklace, too.

Anabelle shrieked instinctively. No way! she cried, turning to him. Spencer, you wouldnt, would you?

He nodded grimly. This is a gift for you. I would never

[Target's Affection Score: -20. Current Score: -40. Initiating punishment of a thousand needles.]

Wracked with a pain so intense he could barely stand, Spencer lunged forward and ripped the necklace from Anabelles throat.

Im sorry, Anabelle, but your sister can have this one! Ill get you a better one tomorrow, I promise!

Hed been so rough that his nails scratched her neck, leaving a thin line of blood.

Anabelle clutched her throat, her voice a wail of betrayal. Why? Why is everyone doing this to me?

Spencer tried to comfort her, but she shoved him away. He clenched and unclenched his fists, finally forcing a smile in my direction. Isabelle, the necklace is yours. Does that make you a little happier?

[Target's Affection Score: +1. Current Score: -39. Score remains negative. Host is advised to improve it immediately.]

A muscle in Spencers jaw twitched. His smile became even more strained.

I dangled the necklace from my index finger. Thanks.

After dinner, I headed upstairs.

Mrs. Sinclair eagerly led me down the hall. Isabelle, this is the room we prepared for you. We hope you like it!

Here we go again. The same old script.

The room theyd "prepared" was a former maid's room, a glorified closet that barely saw the light of day. Theyd given it a hasty paint job, and the chemical smell of it still hung heavy in the air.

Last time, Id been so grateful, so desperate to be a part of their family, that I accepted it without a word. I thought living in that cramped, dark room would earn me their love.

All it earned me was a lonely death.

This time, I refused.

Who would want to live in a shoebox like this? I think Anabelles room is much nicer. Ill take that one.

Before Anabelle could even start her tantrum, Mr. Sinclair agreed. Done.

[Target's Affection Score: +10. Current Score: 10. Please continue your efforts.]

He let out a sigh of relief and quickly ushered his wife and other daughter away, terrified that lingering any longer would cause my score to drop again.

The night was deep, but I wasnt asleep.

I tiptoed to my parents bedroom. Anabelle was sleeping with them tonight.

To my surprise, Spencer was there too.

Anabelle was sobbing. The second she gets here, everything becomes hers! You dont love me at all! My name, my necklace, even my room shes taken everything! You promised I was your only treasure, so why are you treating me like this?

Mrs. Sinclair, her eyes filled with pain, pulled her daughter into an embrace and explained everything about the system.

Anabelle didn't believe it. Thats ridiculous. Things like that dont exist.

Its true, her father and Spencer said in unison.

Anabelle froze, her red-rimmed eyes wide with shock. So you still love me? Youre only being nice to her to raise your scores and get the rewards?

Spencer nodded. Of course! Do you really think we could ever like someone as crude and unrefined as her? Anabelle, youre the one we cherish.

Mr. Sinclair added, Shes just some wild girl raised in the middle of nowhere. She cant hold a candle to you. A few sweet words and cheap gifts, and shell be eating out of our hands.

Mrs. Sinclair patted Anabelles back reassuringly. Youre our precious daughter. If it werent for the system, wed never let you suffer like this. Just wait. Once the mission is complete, you can do whatever you want to her.

Anabelles tears finally stopped, a smile breaking through.

Watching them, I felt nothing.

In my last life, a few of Anabelles hand-me-down dresses and bits of jewelry were enough to make me weep with gratitude. I fell headfirst into their trap, willingly handing over my affection point by point.

Only now, looking back, did I realize that not a single one of them, not the Sinclairs, not Spencer, had ever respected me. They never even saw me as human.

[Target's Affection Score: +10 for each host. Please continue your efforts.]

The systems voice chimed for all three of them simultaneously. They looked around, confused.

What was that? We didnt do anything.

Anabelle let out a condescending laugh. Shes probably lying in my bed right now, feeling so grateful to Mom and Dad. Maybe shes even clutching that necklace Spencer gave her, smiling to herself and thinking hes actually falling for her.

Spencer scoffed. As if. I would never fall for a woman like that.

They didnt understand. The higher you climb, the harder you fall.

After gifting them a few points, I returned to my spacious, beautiful new room and slept soundly.

Once the truth was out in the open among them, they dropped all pretenses. A river of gifts flowed into my room as they focused solely on raising my score. Mr. Sinclair found any excuse to wire money to my account.

Soon, all three of their scores hit 90.

But for the past few weeks, Mr. Sinclair had been growing anxious. His score was stuck at 90. No matter what he bought me, it wouldnt budge. Mrs. Sinclair and Spencer were facing the same problem.

After a hushed conference, they decided to throw a massive birthday party for me.

It just so happened to be Anabelles birthday, too.

At the party, Mr. Sinclair publicly announced my true identity as his long-lost daughter and presented me with a lavish gift, his eyes shining with fatherly pride.

In my previous life, the Sinclairs never once acknowledged me. Anabelle told everyone I was her personal maid. The other wealthy daughters treated me like a pack mule, loading me up with their shopping bags and sometimes even hitting me when they were in a bad mood. I endured it all for the sake of a family that never wanted me, trying so desperately to be the good, obedient child they craved.

The moment their mission was complete, they cast me aside.

I died without ever receiving a single drop of genuine love from them.

This time, I lifted my glass of champagne, walked over to Anabelle, and poured its entire contents over her perfectly coiffed head.

Anabelle shrieked. Ah what are you doing?!

Her exquisite makeup streamed down her face, leaving her a pathetic, dripping mess.

I calmly handed my empty glass to a waiter. Dad just announced that Im the true Sinclair heiress. Youre an imposter whos been living my life for years. Dont you think you deserve a little punishment for that?

All eyes swiveled to Mr. Sinclair. He was famous for doting on Anabelle, for never even raising his voice to her. Now that I had publicly humiliated her, how would he react?

A vein throbbed in his temple. He looked ready to explode. Just as he was about to erupt, the systems voice cut through the air.