She Came for My Life

In my eighteenth year with the Hayes family, I brought their real daughter home.
She stood nervously at the door in a washed-out white shirt and faded jeans, her face an exact replica of Mrs. Hayes in her youth. The sight of her alone was enough to stir a deep sense of pity in the Hayes family.
But as they moved to embrace her, her eyes reddened, and she shrank back, hiding behind me with a look of unspoken fear. Just as everyone was feeling a sense of relief at how close she seemed to be with me, her thoughts suddenly echoed in my mind.
【Anna told me she only brought me here to make herself look better next to my shabby clothes. She said I can’t get close to the family, or she’ll throw me out.】
【If I told Mom and Dad that my foster mother used to abuse me, they probably wouldn’t believe me. They’ve known Anna for much longer.】
【I’m so jealous of Anna. She’s dressed like a princess, and I look like a servant…】
Chloe Summers bowed her head, her hands twisting the hem of her sleeves, a perfect picture of a frightened, bullied girl who couldn’t speak her truth.
She thought the Hayes family would turn on me, that they would cast me out.
What she didn’t realize was that the looks they were giving her now were filled with scrutiny and doubt.

1
It was Mr. Hayes who broke the silence. He avoided my gaze, cleared his throat, and spoke to the housekeeper standing nearby.
“It’s getting late, Mrs. Gable. Please show her to her room.”
Chloe looked up at him, her face a mask of disbelief. This was not the reaction she had anticipated.
Could something be wrong with my mind-reading power?
Before I could say anything, her thoughts flooded my mind again.
【The room I had at the Summers’ house was a storage closet. No windows, no sunlight. I hope my room here has a window.】
【But if I ask for a room with a window, will Mom and Dad think I’m being greedy?】
【Never mind. I’m just a rat from the gutter. What right do I have to ask for anything?】
Hearing her feigned misery, I had to suppress a cold laugh.
In my past life, after I brought her home, I did everything I could to be good to her. I deferred to her in everything. But the Hayes family only grew to resent me more and more.
Mrs. Hayes not only confiscated my allowance but also moved me into the basement. It was perpetually dark and damp, and they had left special ‘gifts’ for me down there. The moment I closed my eyes, I would hear the scuttling of rats and centipedes. From that day on, I never had a peaceful night’s sleep.
I thought I had done something wrong, so I went to Mrs. Hayes to apologize, my heart heavy with guilt. But her eyes were filled with nothing but contempt, her voice laced with a hatred she couldn't hide.
“Chloe suffered for over a decade. You can’t even last a few days? Did you really start to think you were a princess?”
It was only then that I understood. Everything she did to me was an attempt to make me suffer as Chloe had suffered, to assuage her own guilt.
But she seemed to have forgotten one crucial fact: the Hayes family owed their entire fortune to me.
The assets my biological parents left me were enough to last ten lifetimes. If the Hayes hadn’t used my adoption as a legal loophole to seize control of my family’s wealth, Mr. Hayes could have worked for a hundred years and never even touched the fringes of high society.
And yet, they saw me as the usurper. The irony was laughable.
Now, everyone’s eyes were on Chloe, their expressions unreadable.
This time around, Chloe, you won't be using your inner voice to destroy me.

2
Mrs. Hayes forced a smile and asked tentatively, “Chloe, dear, the Summers family wasn’t wealthy, but our investigation didn’t show any signs of deliberate abuse…”
Chloe froze, her face turning deathly pale. She stammered, “The… the Summers family was very good to me. They treated me like their own daughter.”
Just as Mrs. Hayes began to breathe a sigh of relief, Chloe’s inner voice piped up again.
【They were nice to me on the surface, but they abused me in secret.】
【But Mom must be saying that because she’s worried about upsetting Anna. I should probably keep the truth to myself.】
【It’s okay if I have to suffer a little.】
Listening to her internal monologue, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. I looked at her, my voice laced with meaning. “Chloe, I heard the Summers treated you even better than their own daughter. Is that true?”
Chloe nodded, her voice as soft as a whisper, the very picture of obedience. “Yes, Anna. I had a good life with them.”
In my past life, I only learned after I died that Chloe had a “mind-reading” system that allowed everyone but me to hear her thoughts. I had been confused and hurt by their sudden hostility, I’d questioned myself endlessly, but I never once imagined that Chloe was orchestrating it all with her fabricated thoughts.
But this time, she had no idea that the moment I was reborn, I was bonded to a “life playback” system. The miserable past Chloe spoke of had already been laid bare for the Hayes family to see.
Contrary to her inner thoughts, the Summers, while not wealthy aristocrats, were a comfortable middle-class family. And they had, in fact, treated her better than their own child. They’d spent a small fortune to send her to the city’s best private school and had given her the largest bedroom in the house.
She had deliberately bought her current outfit from a thrift store to cultivate a pitiful image, one that would make the Hayes family pity her and despise me. But her little act had already been exposed. Even if they didn't call her out on it now, the seeds of doubt had been planted.
Chloe, this time, you will not be climbing over my back to get to the top.
Seeing that none of us were speaking, she meekly followed Mrs. Gable out of the room. After she left, the living room was plunged into an even deeper silence.
Mark Hayes, the eldest son, glanced at my calm expression, a flicker in his eyes. He casually draped his arm over my shoulder in a show of affection.
“Hey, sis,” he said with a grin. “Chloe’s probably just a little overwhelmed. Don’t mind what she said.”
I subtly shifted away from his arm, my eyes wide with feigned confusion. “What are you talking about, Mark? Chloe didn’t say anything bad.”
He shot a quick, meaningful look at his parents, then let out an awkward laugh. “Oh, uh, I just didn’t want you to get the wrong idea. Even with Chloe back, you’ll always be a part of this family.”
With that, the three of them disappeared upstairs into the study.
I watched them go, a sneer forming on my lips.
Mark had said the same thing in my past life. After Chloe returned, everyone turned against me, but he was the only one who defended me. I thought he genuinely saw me as his sister. I never imagined it was all an act for the trust fund I had left.
Before I was even born, my parents had set up a trust fund for me to ensure my future. It was managed by a team of professional investors, and over the years, its value had multiplied many times over. There was only one condition for withdrawal: I had to claim it myself, in person, on my twenty-second birthday.
In my previous life, the day I turned twenty-two, Mark came to me, his face etched with worry. He told me he’d made a terrible investment, that the company’s capital chain was broken, and they were on the verge of bankruptcy. I trusted him completely. Without a second thought, I withdrew the entire fund and gave it to him to save the company, desperate to be the good, understanding sister he wanted.
The moment the money was in his hands, he changed. He hurled insults at me, threw me out of the house, and blacklisted me so I couldn't find a job. To survive, I had to collect and sell trash. I lived on stale bread and cold water. When I got sick, I had to endure it, with no money for medicine. I died in that cold, damp basement.
And him? He took my money and went on a lavish spending spree with Chloe—renting private resorts, buying yachts, emptying out designer stores.
Now, my twenty-second birthday is just one month away.
This time, I will not only protect my trust fund, but I will also take back everything that was stolen from me.

3
The next morning, as we were having breakfast, Chloe came downstairs wearing the same clothes from the day before. She looked anxious, her hands twisting the hem of her shirt. After a moment of hesitation, she approached me.
“Anna,” she said timidly, “I have to register at my new school today, but I don’t have anything suitable to wear. Could I… could I borrow something of yours?”
My eyes gleamed. I wondered what she was planning now.
I grabbed her hand, my smile wide and welcoming. “Of course, you can! Come on, I’ll take you upstairs to pick something out.”
Mr. and Mrs. Hayes said nothing, tacitly approving.
I led Chloe to my walk-in closet. I pushed open the carved wooden doors, revealing a vast, pale pink space divided into sections by brand and style, with display cases for my most prized collector’s pieces.
Even Chloe, who had so carefully hidden her malice, couldn’t stop a flash of raw jealousy from appearing in her eyes.
I pretended not to notice and led her to the casual wear section. “Chloe, pick whatever you like,” I said, gesturing to rows of clothes, many with the tags still on. “If you find something you want, it’s yours.”
Chloe remained silent, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. I knew what was coming, but I feigned confusion. “Chloe? Is there nothing here you like?”
She shook her head, then pointed to a magnificent, diamond-encrusted white gown in the formal wear section. Her voice held a barely concealed tremor of excitement. “Anna… could I choose this one?”
I feigned a moment of hesitation, but inside, I was ecstatic.
That gown was a gift from Mr. Hayes for my eighteenth birthday. He had commissioned a master designer to create it, a year-long project, all to show the world that they had not mistreated me. Every single diamond was hand-selected and hand-sewn. Its value was astronomical.
In my past life, Chloe had also chosen this dress. Seeing how much she loved it, I had given it to her without a second thought. I did, however, gently remind her that I had worn it once, so it would be best to wear it for a private occasion, not a major public event. There was an unspoken rule in high society: you never wear the same gown twice.
But sure enough, at the school’s welcome gala the next day, she wore it. And I was the one who was publicly shamed. They called me malicious, saying I had deliberately set Chloe up to be humiliated by making her wear my cast-offs. No one listened to my explanations. I was forced to take the blame. After that, my reputation at school was ruined, and I was ostracized by my peers.
Now, looking at Chloe’s expectant face, I smiled and handed her the gown. “This dress is priceless. If you love it, it’s yours.”
Then, I grabbed several other new, tag-on outfits and pushed them into her arms. “Chloe, these more ordinary clothes will probably suit you better.” I emphasized the word “ordinary,” the mockery in my eyes unconcealed.
Ignoring her sour expression, I turned and left the closet.
Downstairs, I turned to Mrs. Hayes with a helpful suggestion. “Aunt Evelyn, the school is having a welcome gala tomorrow night. You should help Chloe pick out a suitable dress.”
Since being adopted, I had always refused to change my last name, and I referred to them as Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Robert. Mrs. Hayes gave a noncommittal response, and I dropped the subject.
Tomorrow, when Chloe wears a second-hand dress, no one can blame me.

4
Instead of going to school, I went to a café to meet with the manager of my trust fund.
He was impeccably dressed in a bespoke suit, looking every bit the professional. But when his eyes landed on me, I saw a flicker of disdain.
He nodded, a polite smile on his face. “Miss Preston. My name is Mr. Hughes. You can call me Ryan.”
This was the first time I had ever contacted him, in either life. I didn’t beat around the bush. “Mr. Hughes, I want to see all the financial records for the fund since its inception.”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he picked up his coffee and took a slow, deliberate sip, as if he were the client and I were the one seeking his approval.
I let out a cold laugh. “Mr. Hughes, I pay you a seven-figure salary every year. Not so you can put on airs for me. This is our first meeting, and you’ve already made a terrible impression. If you don’t want this job, I assure you, there are plenty of others who do. Am I clear?”
He seemed stunned by my directness. He immediately put down his coffee, the dismissive attitude gone. He then proceeded to give me a detailed overview of the fund’s investment projects over the past few years.
“Miss Preston, I will send all the financial records to your phone shortly,” he said, his tone now respectful. “I apologize for my earlier behavior. Please, accept this as a token of my apology.”
He pulled a small, velvet box from his pocket and offered it to me.
I smiled and gently pushed it back. “Your professional attitude from this point on will be the only apology I require, Mr. Hughes.”
From his report, I could tell that Ryan Hughes was a sharp man. The fund’s investments had rarely lost money. I have always had more patience for competent people. As long as he corrected his attitude, I was willing to give him another chance.
Seeing that I had let the matter drop, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Of course, Miss Preston. I will dedicate myself to my work.”
“By the way, Miss Preston, in one month, you will be eligible to withdraw the funds. Do you have any plans?”
I raised an eyebrow and leaned back, my posture relaxed. “I plan to use it to acquire the Hayes Corporation. Are you confident you can handle that, Mr. Hughes?”
He stared at me for a long moment, then nodded decisively. “I will begin gathering all the necessary information on the Hayes Corporation immediately. I’ll look into their upcoming investment projects.”
That afternoon in class, Ryan sent over the financial reports. As a double major in finance and law, reading them was no trouble for me.
But as soon as class ended, I noticed people were giving me strange looks. Just as I was about to ask what was going on, I heard Chloe’s inner voice.
【Anna told me to pretend I don’t know her at school. She said I can’t let anyone find out she’s the fake heiress.】
【I really want to make friends, but Anna said a country bumpkin like me doesn’t deserve any.】
【I hope Anna doesn’t lock me at home during the gala tomorrow night. I really want to go…】
She really couldn’t wait to start her smear campaign.
A small smile played on my lips. Just as I was about to walk over to her, a boy blocked my path.
It was Carter Vance, a guy who had been chasing me for ages, and whom I had rejected countless times. The malice in his eyes was palpable. He looked at me with a sneer.
“So that’s why you always turned me down. You’re a fake.”
My expression didn’t change. My voice was cool. “The reason I turned you down has nothing to do with that. It’s because you’re an idiot.”
“You…”
He was speechless, so he stormed over to Chloe instead. Chloe blushed, and her inner voice started up again.
【So Anna isn’t popular with her classmates. Does that mean I don’t have to be afraid of her threats anymore?】
【This guy is so handsome. But he likes Anna, so I can’t…】
Carter, the illegitimate son of the Vance family, was spoiled rotten by his grandfather and had a reputation for being an arrogant playboy. He and Chloe were a perfect match.
Carter shot me a contemptuous glance, then turned to Chloe, his voice a low, charming murmur. “Chloe, would you do me the honor of being my date to the gala tomorrow night?”
Chloe was about to nod when she seemed to remember something and glanced in my direction. She quickly lowered her head and whispered, “Tomorrow… I might not… be able to come.”
Carter, assuming she was afraid of me, puffed out his chest. “You just come. If anyone gives you any trouble, I’ll make sure they regret it.”
A faint blush spread across Chloe’s neck. She gave a small nod, but her voice was firm. “Okay. I’ll be your date.”

5
The gala was held in the school’s grand auditorium.
I wore a vibrant red, custom-designed gown that I had prepared in advance. It accentuated my best features and made my skin seem to glow. I looked radiant and confident. The moment I entered, all eyes were on me.
I ignored the stares and scanned the room until my eyes landed on a figure in the corner: Charlotte Vance.
She was the legitimate heiress of the Vance family, but because she was a girl, her grandfather despised her. Despite her talent, he refused to let her have any role in the family business.
I walked over to the elegant, melancholy girl and offered her a glass of wine. My voice was soft. “Miss Vance, I heard your new project was close to a breakthrough, but you suddenly lost funding?”
She was already brooding over this. She took the glass from my hand and drained it in one gulp. Her voice was laced with self-deprecation. “What, are you here to mock me too?”
Her grandfather had publicly declared that anyone who helped Charlotte was an enemy of the Vance family. Her only value in his eyes was as a marriage pawn. Her initial funding had come from her close friends, but their resources were limited.
I watched her down another glass, then took it from her hand. “I can provide the funding you need,” I said calmly. “In return, I want a 30% stake in the company.”
She looked at me, her expression wavering. “But you’re a Hayes…”

First, search for and download the MotoNovel app from Google. Then, open the app and use the code "253275" to read the entire book.