Chapter 3

3.

As a reward, Mrs. Sterling gave me a Black Card and let me have a free day out.

This was the most relaxing day I’d had since arriving at the Sterling home.

The driver took me to the most bustling part of Manhattan, Fifth Avenue.

I got out of the car alone.

I hadn't walked far when a familiar figure appeared.

It was Bella. Or rather, Bella Lombardo now.

She was standing on the roadside under the scorching sun, handing out flyers for a fast-food joint.

The Lombardo family lived in a low-income area and had almost no spare money.

It wasn't surprising she was forced to work.

I had lived that life previously.

During summer breaks, I worked three jobs a day while studying for the SATs.

I also had to do all the household chores for my foster parents.

They claimed to treat everyone equally, but they never let Liam lift a finger.

I only found out later that they didn't adopt me because they wanted a daughter.

They just wanted the government foster checks and free labor.

"Hello, would you like to see this―"

A flyer was shoved in front of me.

Bella looked up, saw me, and stopped mid-sentence.

"Chloe?"

Noticing my new season Chanel outfit and my well-maintained skin, jealousy flashed across her face.

She forced a laugh. "You look comfortable. But don't say I didn't warn you. Rich families aren't easy to survive in. Mrs. Sterling is scarier than you think. You'll find out soon enough."

"Oh," I replied flatly.

My indifference annoyed her.

She started showing off her new family. "Uncle and Auntie Lombardo treat me so well. My days are so full. Liam helps me with my homework. Oh, and we both got full scholarships to St. Jude Academy this year."

St. Jude...

That was the same school on the acceptance letter Mrs. Sterling gave me.

Most students there were offspring of Old Money.

Except for a few charity cases with exceptional grades.

In the last life, Liam and I were the ones who got those spots.

"Our life is only going to get better," Bella said with certainty. "And you? You're going to die miserably on the street."

The corner of my mouth twitched.

I was about to speak when a voice called out.

"Bella!"

"Liam, you're here!"

Bella’s face lit up, and she threw herself into Liam’s arms.

Liam was holding a cheap lunch box. "Mom asked me to bring you food. It's hot out. You must be tired. Let me take over for a while."

"No need, Liam. I can do it."

The Lombardo family would rather starve than let Liam miss an expensive tutoring session or do manual labor.

In my last life, I was the one being exploited like this.

"You're working so hard," Liam said tenderly.

Then, he noticed me standing there.

"Liam, this is my sister Chloe. You saw her at the foster center," Bella introduced.

Liam looked me up and down.

His cold expression held a trace of disgust.

He didn't greet me. Instead, he turned to Bella. "Don't associate with trashy people. Let's go."

Without giving me a chance to speak, Liam pulled Bella away.

"Liam, why are you being so mean? What if you scared her?" Bella’s voice drifted back.

"Silly girl. She doesn't look like a decent person. Stay away from her, or she might hurt you behind your back one day."

His harsh words faded into the distance.

I didn't understand where Liam's hostility came from.

My heart rippled slightly, but not much.

I took the Black Card Mrs. Sterling gave me and walked into a luxury store, buying a mountain of things.