Chapter 1 Rebirth

The sound of voices drifting up from downstairs pulled Cecilia Windsor out of sleep.

She opened her eyes slowly, staring up at the ceiling, her mind still clouded with confusion.

She was alive.

But hadn't her brother Ethan pushed her into the path of a bullet meant for Ivy Windsor? She could still feel the searing pain of it tearing through her chest, burned into her very bones.

She had been separated from the Windsors in an accident when she was two years old, spending her childhood bouncing between foster homes and group homes. It was only as an adult, guided by fragments of memory, that she finally found her way back to the Windsor family — only to discover they had taken in an adopted daughter named Ivy Windsor.

One by one, her own family had chosen Ivy's side. They had helped her take everything that was Cecilia's, again and again, until there was nothing left — not even her life.

Cecilia flexed her fingers.

She was certain now. She had been given a second chance.

Ivy's soft, grateful voice floated up from the floor below.

"Thank you so much, Mom. I promise I won't let the family down."

The corner of Cecilia's mouth curved into a thin smile. She knew exactly where she had landed.

In her previous life, she had been celebrated as the most gifted tennis prodigy the country had seen in a generation. She had earned an invitation to the WwA — the most prestigious national tennis championship in the circuit. Winning it would have been her gateway to the international stage.

Then Ivy, who had never shown the slightest interest in tennis, suddenly announced she wanted to try the sport.

The Windsors stripped Cecilia of her spot without a second thought. On the day of the tournament, they locked her in the house. While Ivy floundered on the court, losing badly, the family sat in the stands and applauded every missed shot — not one of them sparing a thought for the opportunity they had stolen from Cecilia.

The WwA had an age cap. That had been her last chance to compete.

Not long after, Ivy shoved her down a staircase. Cecilia's wrist shattered on impact. She never played tennis again.

With the full weight of her past life pressing down on her, Cecilia let out a quiet, bitter laugh. Every scrap of love she'd once treasured in this family could go straight to hell.

This time, she was keeping her life for herself.

Cecilia opened her bedroom door and headed downstairs. The laughter below cut off the moment she appeared.

Ivy flinched at the sight of her, shrinking behind their mother, Teresa Windsor, like a startled animal.

Ethan Windsor was already frowning. "I asked you to think it over. Ivy's passionate about tennis, and we need to give her a real shot at this. So what's your answer?"

Cecilia tilted her head. "Who said anything about stopping her from playing tennis?"

The faintest smile ghosted across Ivy's lips. Cecilia caught it instantly.

"But my spot in the tournament?" she added, her voice dropping to something sharp and final. "Not a chance."

Teresa's and Ethan's expressions darkened at once.

"You're a professional," Teresa said, her tone clipped with irritation. "You'll have plenty of other opportunities. Why can't you let Ivy have this one? You're family. Can't you think about your sister for once?"

"My sister?" Cecilia's voice was flat. "Last I checked, you only gave birth to one daughter. Where exactly did I get a sister?"

Teresa stared at her, struck speechless.

Cecilia kept her expression even. In her past life, she had bent over backwards for Teresa — learned massage therapy just to ease her chronic back pain, spending hours every evening working out the tension without ever being asked. Teresa had barely acknowledged it. But the moment Ivy murmured a few sweet words of sympathy, Teresa had gushed about how lucky she was to have a daughter like her.

"Cecilia." Ethan's voice rose. "Is that any way to speak to your mother?"

"Am I wrong?" Cecilia shot back. "Sacrificing your biological daughter's career for your adopted one — if that got out, it'd be all over the tabloids."

"Why do you always have to be so dramatic?" Ethan snapped. "We're a family. Can't you be a little more gracious, like Ivy?"

Cecilia looked him dead in the eye. "No. If Ivy wants to compete, then you figure it out — spend the money, pull the strings, call in every favor you've got. Get her into the draw yourselves. But don't you dare touch my spot."

"You—" Ethan's jaw tightened. "If you hand over this slot, I'll get you into international tournaments. Better opportunities, better exposure. How does that sound?"

Cecilia didn't miss a beat. "Save it for Ivy."

The front door opened. Victor Windsor and Ryan Windsor walked in.

Ryan took one look at Cecilia, his expression already sour. "Everything you have came from this family. It's one tournament slot. Is it really worth making a scene over? And honestly? There's no guarantee you'd even win."

Cecilia turned her gaze on him, cool and cutting.

"First — I earned that spot through my own career. This family had nothing to do with it. Second — whether I win is my business, not yours."

Victor's face hardened. "Cecilia, how long are you going to keep this up? Do you have to make everything about Ivy?"

Cecilia almost laughed. "You gang up to take what's mine, and somehow I'm the one targeting her?"

Ivy rose slowly from her seat, eyes glistening. "Cecilia, I'm so sorry. I never wanted to come between you and your family. I've always been the one who didn't belong here. Maybe it's better if I just... go."

Victor caught her wrist immediately. "Don't be ridiculous. You've been part of this family for years. You're not going anywhere."

Ivy's tears spilled over. "I just can't stand watching everyone fight because of me..."

Cecilia brought her hands together in a slow, deliberate clap. "Tears on cue. Impressive."

She had lived through this exact performance before — the gentle guilt-tripping that escalated into outright pressure, all of it engineered to get Cecilia to surrender whatever Ivy wanted.

It was almost funny, how little had changed.

"Cecilia!" Ethan's voice cracked like a whip. "Look at what you're doing. You make everyone miserable every single time. Apologize to Ivy. Right now."

Cecilia's voice came out steady and cold. "Apologize? Not in this lifetime. As of right now, I'm done with all of you."