“Who might you be?” I asked with a cool indifference, feigning ignorance as if addressing a stranger.


    Coraline’s face flushed with a flicker of anger, clearly riled by my pretense.


    Yet, she quickly let out a sardonicugh. “Oh, I heard Brendan’s under the weather, leaving you and


    that filthy imbecile to fend for yourselves. Poor sis, you really drew the short straw.”


    I didn’t even grace her with a nce. Compared to Melody, Coraline seemed green around the edges.


    Melody was the type whose malice was hidden beneath a veneer of charm, but Coraline wore her


    nastiness like a badge of honor.


    “A barking dog never bites,” I mused internally. “Melody’s in a whole different league than Coraline.”


    Now that I’ve faced down Melody without flinching, why would I be scared of a spoiled bully like


    Coraline?


    “What’s with the attitude? I deign to call you ‘sister‘ and you act all high and mighty!” Coraline fumed,


    blocking my path.


    I knew that Coraline was the one initially intended to marry into the Langley family. Raised as the fragile


    darling of the Larson household, her parents couldn’t bear to send her into the so–called lion’s den, so


    they had Foebe take her ce instead.


    They had no idea that the Langley madhouse didn’t give a damn about Foebe’s well–being. On her


    very first night there, Foebe must have fought back, leading to an overdose and her death on what


    should have been her wedding night.


    That’s when I woke up inside her.


    “Foebe, you think you’re something special now that you’re Mrs. Langley? How does it feel to be


    married to an imbecile?” Coraline taunted with a spiteful grin.


    “Move!” Imanded, my voice resonating with a firmness that brooked no argument.


    Coraline smirked. “Why should I? This is my house.” She was about to reassert her im.


    From Foebe’s memories, I could sense a deep–seated jealousy and hatred for Coraline.


    Foebe resented Coraline for stealing the parental love that was rightfully hers. Because of the life


    swap, Foebe wasn’t retrieved until she was eighteen, returning to the Larson family.


    Eighteen years of poverty had stripped Foebe of confidence, her natural beauty overshadowed by


    insecurity despite her exquisite features.


    Foebe had a boyfriend once, a dashing young man from a wealthy family, but even he was snatched


    away by Coraline.


    15157


    Coraline had pilfered everything from Foebe, always unting. “This is my house; what right do you


    have to live here?”


    Foebe was timid to a fault.


    I almostughed at the irony–there actually was someone in this world who lived a life even more pitiful


    than mine. No wonder I was reborn into her.


    But I wasn’t naturally timid; it was only after losing my parents at eighteen and being at the mercy of


    others that I learned to hide my true feelings


    “Your house?” I looked at Coraline with a cold gaze. “Last I checked, the name on the mailbox said


    ‘Larson‘.”


    Coraline paused, suspicion in her eyes as if she couldn’tprehend the transformation before her.


    Lucky for me, I was now wed to the Langley family; even if I came across as arrogant, I had a good


    excuse.


    “What are you getting at?” Coraline furrowed her brows in confusion.


    “Smack!”


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    My hand flew, and Coraline’s cheek stung from the p. “Since this house bears the Larson name,


    you’d do well to learn some manners.”


    Coraline stared at me in utter shock, disbelief painted across her face at the thought I would dare strike


    her.


    “I am the Larson family’s true heiress, the continuation of our parents‘ bloodline. What are you? A


    misced jester, allowed to live in the Larson home out of my generosity. Got it?” I pointed a warning


    finger at Coraline.


    It took Coraline a long moment to recover, her initial shock giving way to rage as she lunged to strike


    me back.


    “Go ahead, hit me,” I taunted with a coldugh. “But remember, I’m carrying the only heir to the Langley


    name. If something happens to me, not only will the Langleys not let you off the hook, but I bet Dad


    won’t either.”


    Coraline’s face turned a shade darker with fury; her teeth clenched as she stomped her foot in


    frustration. “Keep up your charade, Foebe. I want to see how long you can keep this act up. Married to


    an imbecile, what does it matter if you’re part of the Langley family?”