Chapter 1

My name is Jenny, like Jenny from the block.

My little sister's name is Ronnie, short for Veronica.

In my past life, all I ever wanted was my parents' love and affection.

They made me drop out of school and work to pay for Ronnie's education, and I did.

Ronnie racked up a huge credit card debt, and they told me to pay it off for her, and I did that too.

Even later, when they asked me to give up my rich boyfriend to Ronnie, I agreed.

And what did I get? My mom said, "Jenny acts like she hates me, but she's always trying to please me. It's disgusting!"

Even when Ronnie ran me over with her car and killed me, they stood at my grave and said, "You're the older sister, you're supposed to be the bigger person…"

I screamed at the sky: What kind of parents are you?

Reborn into this life,

I don't need your love anymore.

......

Grandma always favored boys.

From the day I was born, Mom never had it easy.

I was like a curse hanging over her head, one she couldn't shake off.

When I was one, she finally snapped and left me in the woods.

I didn't starve, freeze, or get eaten by wolves. Instead, some kind soul found me and brought me back.

Mom's actions were exposed, and the whole town shamed her.

The next spring, she and Dad left to work in the city and never looked back.

I didn't see her again for ten years.

Grandma died, and their family of three came back for the funeral.

That was the first time I met my sister, Ronnie.

She wore a princess dress and a big bow in her hair.

She could sing, dance, and supposedly play the piano.

She'd sweetly greet everyone in town with a "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. So-and-So!"

Everyone loved her instantly.

She outshone every boy in town.

Mom finally had something to brag about.

She went on and on about how great Ronnie was.

They acted like they were real city folk, and everyone in town flattered them, whether they meant it or not.

Mom paraded Ronnie around the whole town.

I spent the day collecting snails in the fields.

That night, I made stir-fried snails for the three of them.

But when the snails were served, Ronnie wrinkled her nose and refused to eat them, lecturing me, "These wild things are full of germs, don't you know anything?"

She sounded so superior.

Mom also wrinkled her nose in disgust. "You expect us to eat this? What if Ronnie gets sick?"

I didn't respond.

I'd only managed to collect one bucket of snails all day.

One bucket made only this small bowl.

They might have thought it was disgusting, but I didn't.

So, I ate it all.

Ronnie's eyes went wide, and then she started to cry.

She said I ate all the meat and left her nothing.

I burped and went to bed.

"That child is so heartless…"

That was my mom's first assessment of me after ten years.