Sisters Swapped: I Hear Everything She Hides

When we arrived at the Newman residence, Mrs. Newman, whose name was Mabel Winchester, showed me to my room. Not only did I have a bedroom all to myself, but I also had a private study and lots of pretty clothes. I didn't have any of these things when I was adopted in my previous life.

Feeling grateful, I promised her, "I'll work hard on my studies and repay your kindness for adopting me."

She gave me an approving look and told me I could call her "Mom". She also suggested letting the family driver take me to and from school, telling me I could come to her if I ever had any problems.

The next day, I gracefully got out of the car while Clarissa glowered resentfully at me. She immediately rushed toward me. "Kayla! What trick did you use to get the Newman family's driver to drive you around?"

That was something she never got to enjoy in our previous life.

Blinking, I replied, "Mom cares about me and kindly instructed the driver to take me to and from school."

Then, I glanced behind her. "Did you walk here? That's over five miles! You must be exhausted, Clarissa."

Clarissa looked humiliated, but she stubbornly retorted, "Hah! What do you know? Don't you dare come begging me for help once I make it big in the future! And don't get too smug either. The Newmans are just putting on a show. I'd like to see how long you get to enjoy such an easy life."

I ignored her. As I stood before the familiar school gates, my heart surged with emotion.

In my previous life, after being adopted by Susan, I only got to attend school for a month before being forced to drop out. I never got to graduate from high school or take the SATs, which remained one of my greatest regrets.

Thank goodness for this do-over. I finally had the chance to make up for it.

Our classmates had already heard about what happened. Most of them were the type to suck up to the rich and look down on the poor, so those who used to surround Clarissa were now crowding around me instead.

Isla Jones, who used to be one of Clarissa's lackeys, came up to me and picked up my fountain pen.

"Your pen is so pretty, Kayla!"

Smiling, I took it back from her and said, "It's a present from my new mom to welcome me into the family. She had it custom-made for me."

Clarissa snapped loudly, "Hah! What's the big deal? It's just a lousy pen. Why are you guys sucking up to her just because of it?"

Isla shot back, "Then, why don't you show us a pen like this, too? Don't tell me you don't have one!"

Clarissa's face turned scarlet. She couldn't possibly show everyone the pen Susan had given her—a shabby ballpoint pen without a cap.

Snorting, she declared, "What do you know, huh? You're all a bunch of shallow fools. Sooner or later, I'll prove to you that I'm better!"

She grabbed the fountain pen and threw it onto the floor. Her eyes were red. Even though she said nothing, I could hear the tantrum she was throwing in her head.

[What the hell? Why does she get to have a gift? I didn't get a single thing in my previous life! Why does she get to have everything? This pisses me off so much! What has gotten into Mabel, that old hag, anyway? Why is she being so nice to Kayla?]

I couldn't help but chuckle after hearing her thoughts.

"You still have the nerve to laugh? What are you laughing at, huh? Do you think the Newmans would've adopted you if it hadn't been for me? Would you get to have a life like this?" Clarissa screeched.

She wasn't satisfied with just lashing out at me. She even reached out to grab me, but I dodged her hand and leisurely bent down to pick up the fountain pen before smiling at her.

"What's the matter? Are you jealous because you saw all the things you never got to have before? You're upset that I'm being treated better than you were?"

Clarissa's expression stiffened. She pointed a trembling finger at me and stammered, "Y-You've been reborn, too?"

Smirking, I remarked, "And maybe I came back with a little something special that you don't have."

However, she swiftly regained her composure and scoffed. "What kind of special thing could you possibly have? Either way, I'll be getting the last laugh this time. I'll be the one who marries rich and gets the huge demolition compensation!"

I shrugged. "You sound pretty confident. In that case, allow me to congratulate you in advance."