Second Life but First in Line

In my previous life, the only reason Henry agreed to let me go to university was to polish my image and make me look good on paper. He planned to use me one day in a marriage alliance to build ties with other powerful families.

Now, Amelia was living the exact same life I had once suffered through.

She glared at me, her nails digging into her palms, and muttered under her breath, "So what? That's still better than getting yelled at and beaten every day."

Her eyes were filled with hatred and malice. "You can stay poor and miserable for the rest of your life. Rot in the dirt for all I care!"

With that, Amelia turned and walked away, leaving me standing there.

Just then, Charlotte pulled up in her car and strolled over to me. "I bought you some new outfits. Try them on at home, and then you can go with me to the next gala."

I smiled and nodded. Who said my days were tough? This felt like real happiness to me.

After spending the weekend at home, I returned to my dorm and was surprised to find Amelia already there.

The moment she saw me, she jumped up and looked me over from head to toe, her eyes landing on my bare neck and wrists. She burst out laughing.

"Emma, didn't you say you were living the good life?" she teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Where's your jewelry? A woman ought to know how to dress up, you know."

She waved her diamond bracelet and ring right in front of my eyes. "See this? That's how you know I'm living well with the Fosters. Even if you sold yourself, you still wouldn't be able to afford this ring."

She was waiting, hoping to see jealousy or regret in my eyes. But I looked back at her with nothing but indifference.

Charlotte had already given me so many things like that, I couldn't even keep count. I let out a sigh and shot her a mocking smile.

"The Fosters must really like you, showering you with all these fancy gifts. But tell me, are they doing it out of love or guilt? Maybe they're trying to make up for something?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw her freeze and stare at me in disbelief.

Every piece of jewelry she wore—the sparkling diamond bracelets and the blue gemstone necklace—was all too familiar. I had received each one myself in my previous life.

Adam had violent mood swings. The ring she was proudly showing off was the same one he gave me after hitting me in my past life.

The bracelet? Just his way of apologizing after getting drunk and taking it out on me.

Those so-called luxury items always came with a price. Every piece she received came with a sacrifice.

As I stared, Amelia's face fell. She must have realized that I could see not just the jewelry, but everything she'd been through to get it.

Suddenly, she grabbed my arm, her eyes red and her voice hoarse. "You came back, too, didn't you? You got to relive your life, didn't you? Why didn't you tell me what the Fosters are really like?"

There it was again. Whenever Amelia faced trouble, she'd always blame someone else, never once stopping to look at her own choices. She'd lived two lives, but she still hadn't learned that every decision she made was her own.

I let out a cold laugh. "You made your own choices, Amelia. You can't blame me for that. If you can't handle it, maybe don't flash those jewels around like they mean something."

With that, I went back to unpacking, ignoring her.

Amelia stood there for a long time, but she didn't take off any of the jewelry that chained her down.

I felt a wave of disappointment as I looked away.

In the Foster family, Amelia would never earn real respect. If she wanted the good life, she'd have to grovel for it.

Judging by the spite in her eyes, though, I knew she wasn't going to let me off easy.