Chapter 2 Reborn

Grace shivered when she recalled how she had been gashed by the axe. At that moment, she could feel the pain she had felt that time on her back; it was as if she was going through it again. Her breathing started rising, as fear covered her, she subconsciously used her hand to touch her back, but the pain in her hand caused her to hiss, and she snapped out of her trance.

She looked at the mirror, saw her young self, and sighed in relief. ‘It’s just a flashback, it’s not real,’ she murmured, then smiled as she looked at herself.

With pain still fresh in her heart, she got ready for the day, left her room, and walked downstairs.

“Nat, did you like the clothes I prepared for you?” Mrs. Green asked softly, her lips curved up in happiness at seeing her daughter, who resembled her so much. Her maternal love flew everywhere as she felt as if she were a young mother once more, her first time being a mom.

Grace halted her steps, stood at the door, and watched the family of three closely.

In her past life, as soon as she woke up, she ran downstairs and started claiming that it was Natalie who had burnt her, as she blamed her for stealing her life; thus, the scene in front of her never happened. She had always known the woman was soft, but seeing this, she just felt calm. But she was aware that if it were in her past life, she would have definitely thought otherwise. With REBORN comes MATURITY behind PAIN.

Her eyes fell on Natalie, all her movements, the smile, the frown, how she ate, everything; she observed everything.

She had to admit that, compared to her, who grew up in riches, she still seemed to fall short; she couldn’t compare with the elegant lady in front of her.

“I did. Thank you,” Natalie answered with a faint smile on her face. She could feel eyes on her, but she didn’t look up. She already knew who it was and wasn’t in the mood to deal with her. However, she continued eating, believing that Grace would soon lose it and come in, from how she had been behaving since she showed up. She was eagerly waiting for the drama to unveil itself.

Natalie Greens, the Greens' biological daughter, who had been swapped at birth. She had played a big role in her death, though not directly.

Peter got rid of her so that he could successfully marry Natalie, while she didn’t even like him at all. She had been focused on her career that she despised all men who came her way, as she felt they were inferior to her.

Slowly, by slowly, as her sister’s identity began to reveal, the man began to change. He started comparing her with Natalie, always telling her how stupid she was and not worth it. To cancel the engagement between the two, he had even paid some men to violate her, but she had managed to escape.

After that, she had felt that she was unworthy of the man as she had been touched by other men, but Natalie stated that, since she had grown up with the man and even loved him, she might as well marry him to secure resources for the family. At that time, she never cared how disdained she had been but only thought that her sister even knew how much the guy loved her instead.

The woman had consoled her and even told her how much he loved her, and everything she did was for her own good. He just wanted her to be better than before.

He later approached the family wanting to break off the engagement, but things didn’t go his way as Natalie had gotten evidence of his actions and used it against him, forcing him to marry her immediately. The man reluctantly agreed, but who knew that at night, he would kidnap her and kill her?

When in his hands, she had been so sure that her family wouldn’t search for the cause of her past behaviors of going out and not going back home. Also, she had mistreated their daughter in the past so much before Natalie started retaliating, so everything happens to her, the couple always claims that she deserved it.

Even when Natalie pushed her to Peter despite knowing his plots, it was because they believed that she would suffer in the man’s hands, which they were excited to see. Claiming it was karma for how badly she had treated their daughter.

If only Natalie had not forced Peter to continue being with her that day, she wouldn’t have died.

“That’s great. I will buy you more when I am out with my friends later on. By the way, there is a banquet tonight, would you like to accompany us?” Mrs. Green asked, her eyes full of concern and eagerness as she wanted to take Natalie out so that the rumors about her could be put to an end. She didn’t like hearing the comparison and people shaming her daughter. Also, she wanted people to envy her for having a beautiful daughter; she wanted people to see how the latter resembled her.

Mr. Green placed his knife and fork down, lifted his head, and stared at his daughter. “You should come with us. You have never attended a banquet, and you will be attending a lot of them in the future. You should learn.”

“Also, people have been comparing you to Grace so often, but don’t take it to heart. I have already employed some teachers to come teach you etiquette, music, calligraphy, and dance during the week.”

Grace wore a mocking smile when she heard that. How could she not know what Natalie was proficient in? A piano master going back to class? If those old fellas heard it, wouldn’t they be shocked?

“No need. I already learnt what I should have learnt. Dad, Mom, please stop worrying about me. As for those talking ill of me, let them be; they won’t laugh for long. I will accompany you two to the banquet,” Natalie said seriously.

“Miss, why aren’t you walking in?” The butler's voice sounded behind Grace, startling her and everyone else in the room apart from Natalie, who had known she was there.

“I just didn’t want to interrupt their family time,” Grace said softly, but her words made the couple embarrassed.

The butler was stunned as he had never heard her talking like that. There was no anger or pain, just sarcastic words. He frowned and stared at her for a while.

Natalie stared at Grace as she found her a bit different, but couldn’t pinpoint where the latter was different.

“Grace, you are awake,” Mrs. Green said with an embarrassed face. “How is your hand?”

Grace stared at the woman and scoffed inwardly. Going directly to showing care to wash off my words? Pretending to care, but you don’t invite me to sit down?

“I am fine,” she replied as she sat down.

“How did you burn your hand?” Mr. Green asked with a frown as he stared at the cast on her hand.

“I was cooking for you guys,” Grace said with an embarrassed smile on her face, stunning everyone, even Natalie, who turned to look at her.

Grace met Natalie’s eyes calmly before averting her gaze.

“I thought that you blamed me for Natalie having a hard time in the past and wanted to learn and cook for you all, so that I can please you,” she added. Her voice was so low, soft, and calm, but they all heard it clearly.

“That’s not true. We don’t blame you. It was the hospital’s mistake,” Mrs. Green said hurriedly with a frown on her face.

“Your mother is right. Both you and Natalie are our daughters, and we love you equally,” Mr. Green chimed in.

“Really?” Grace asked, surprise all over her face as she looked at the couple who nodded their heads. “But you haven’t talked to me for weeks, you behave as if I am not present. I feel like a guest here, not wanted.”