Chapter 2
Watching Mallory’s silhouette disappear through the doorway, I narrowed my eyes.
Having lived two lifetimes, I knew perfectly well that Mallory was a snake in the grass.
Years ago, I felt sorry for her when I saw her being beaten by her gambling–addicted stepfather, which is why I asked my parents to adopt her.
At first, she was genuinely grateful to me, but as the gap between us widened, her feelings soured.
She used her cunning against me and my parents, and to marry into wealth, she didn’t hesitate to scheme and cause my death.
But this time, I would make her face the consequences of her actions.
My show of authority upon returning home was effective–Mallory didn’t cause any trouble for the next few days.
Until the night before Mom’s birthday, when Mallory suddenly proposed during dinner that she needed to use my SSN to claim a birthday gift for our Mom.
“Sister, I’ve already used up the birthday offers on my account, but yours are still available. So… May I borrow your SSN
Card?”
I laughed inwardly, remembering this exact day in my previous life…
Mallory put on a sincere face, asking to borrow my SSN Card, promising to return it within half an hour.
What I didn’t know was that she’d used it to take out massive loans from multiple lending platforms, amassing debt in my name that led to loan sharks hunting me down. In that life, I’d died falling from a building while trying to escape them, leaving my parents with no choice but to let Mallory take my place as Rhys’s bride.
And now, she was trying the same trick again.
Seeing my hesitation, Mallory tilted her phone screen toward me. “Look, it’s just this membership program. Register with your SSN and you can claim a free massage chair–Mom would love it.”
I reached for her phone, but she instinctively pulled back, panic flashing across her face.
“Tell you what,” I said with a light laugh, “just forward me the link, and I’ll register myself. No need to lend you my card.”
Hearing my refusal, Mallory’s eyes immediately welled with tears.
“I know you’ve never really liked me, Riley. You’ve always seen me as an outsider,” she whispered dramatically. “I just wanted to do something nice for Mom’s birthday, to show my appreciation.”
Seeing her act like a victim, my parents couldn’t stand by silently and immediately frowned at me.
“Riley Brooks!” Mom snapped. “Where’s your sense of family duty? Look at Mallory–she’s not even our biological daughter, yet she shows more filial piety than you ever have.”
Dad nodded in agreement. “That’s right. You were in the hospital for months without pouring us a single cup of coffee, while Mallory has been taking care of our every need. What’s the big deal about lending her your card?”
04:21
Attempting to Steal My World? Easy! My Rebirth Comes with a Playbook
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Chapter 2
“She’s been raised alongside you like a real sister. Do you honestly think she’d do anything to harm you?”
Facing my self righteous parents, I maintained a calm exterior despite my emotional detachment.
In my previous life, when those loan sharks drove me to my death, my parents hadn’t shed a single tear. Their only concern was preserving their luxurious lifestyle, which led them to readily accept Mallory’s suggestion that she take my place in the Valentine family.
They hadn’t even given me a proper funeral, just wrapped my body in a cheap sheet and buried me on the hillside behind our old house to hide the evidence.
I smiled coldly, fixing my gaze on Mallory. “What if someone with bad intentions used my SSN to take out loans in my name? What then?”
Mallory’s facade cracked at having her scheme exposed. Her face paled dramatically as she forced more tears.
“Never mind, Riley. Forget I asked, I’ll just work extra shifts at three different jobs to buy Mom a massage chair myself…”
With that, she ran out crying, and Mom shot me a glare before hurrying after her.
“Mallory, sweetie, don’t cry. Mom has a plan,” I heard her say in a hushed tone.
She whispered something in Mallory’s ear that made the girl stop crying immediately. “Really?” Mallory asked, wide–eyed with disbelief.
Mom nodded confidently. “Trust me. With my help, you’ll get what you want. Let’s see if Riley dares to mistreat you after this.”
Watching this exchange through the security camera feed in my study, I couldn’t help but laugh out.
Mom, Mallory–I gave you both chances, but YOU chose to throw them away.
That night, Mom unexpectedly knocked on my bedroom door, carrying a glass of juice.
“Riley, how are your injuries healing?” she asked with forced concern. “Your father and I were so busy these past six months we couldn’t visit you in the hospital. But I heard Rhys sent plenty of health supplements and brought in specialists for your surgery. You must be almost fully recovered by now, right?”
I gave a noncommittal response before cutting to the chase. “What do you really want, Mom?”
She averted her eyes momentarily before smiling and offering me the glass. “Nothing at all. I just wanted to check on you. This is freshly squeezed orange juice–good for your vitamin C. Drink up.”
I studied her for a moment before accepting the glass and drinking it all.
Seeing this, Mom left with a satisfied smile, bidding me goodnight.
Later that night, I heard soft rustling sounds in my room.
Right on schedule–Mallory had come to steal my SSN Card while I was supposedly drugged and unconscious.
04:21
