Chapter 1 Release From Prison

A prison guard spoke without a trace of feeling. "Prisoner 077, your sentence is over. Walk out and start over."

A faint smile tugged at Eliana Marshall's lips. Those exact words had been said in her previous life.

Lifting her head, she looked up at the sky she hadn't seen in so long. Sunlight poured down on her, wrapping around her body and sinking deep into her bones.

She drew in a long breath. The air felt different. Being alive felt different.

This time, she had returned to the moment three years ago, the day she first stepped into prison. Every moment since then had led to this, waiting for the day she would walk out again.

A sudden screech of brakes cut through the quiet, and dust rose into the air, forcing her to squint.

The voice of her mother, Phyllis Marshall, rang out, sharp and filled with impatience. "Why are you still standing there? Get in the car. I hate this place. If Iris hadn't insisted, I wouldn't have come at all."

A quiet, mocking laugh rose in Eliana's chest.

Everything was exactly the same. Three years ago, her parents' adopted daughter, Iris Marshall, had taken a life while driving under the influence of alcohol. To protect Iris, Eliana's parents had pushed the blame onto her and sent her to prison in Iris' place.

Now, after all that time, nothing about their attitude had changed. But Eliana had. The woman who once tried to earn their approval at any cost was gone.

From this point on, every moment she lived would be used to bring the Marshall family down.

Without a word, she pulled the car door open. Inside, disposable covers lined the back seat, clashing with the luxury of the car itself.

"Hurry and open the windows. It smells awful," Phyllis said from the front, covering her nose as she barked orders at the driver.

Eliana didn't respond. The moment she sat down, she closed her eyes and leaned back, shutting everything out. Phyllis' words, sharp as they were, no longer reached her.

Irritation flickered across Phyllis' face at the lack of reaction, but she held it in. There would be time to deal with Eliana later.

As soon as the car pulled up at the Marshall family villa, Iris rushed over, tears already streaming down her face, and pulled the back door open. "Eliana, you're finally home. I'm so sorry. This is all because of me. You've suffered so much. Don't worry, we'll make it up to you."

Eliana brushed past Iris' outstretched hand and stepped out of the car without even looking at her.

"Make it up to me?" she said, a faint, mocking smile forming. "What, by sending me to prison for you again?"

Her tone stayed calm, but there was no warmth in it. In her past life, they had used that same excuse, calling it compensation while pushing her further into ruin. They drained everything from her, and then watched her fall. Did they really think she would fall for it again?

As the thought crossed her mind, Eliana turned. Her eyes locked onto the people walking toward her.

The weight of her words hit them hard, and both Phyllis and Eliana's father, John Marshall, stiffened, their expressions changing at once.

For a brief moment, Iris seemed caught off guard. Then, almost instantly, her expression shifted. Tears welled up as a calculating glint passed through her eyes. "Eliana, I know I'm the one at fault. It's all because of me. Ever since you went to prison, Phyllis and John haven't slept properly. They cry every night. I even thought about turning myself in, but if we both went to prison, they'd be left all alone. Eliana, what you're saying is too harsh. It would only hurt them more."

Her words landed exactly as intended. A look of sympathy filled Phyllis' and John's faces.

"Iris, you're always thinking of others. Unlike her. Just because she's our biological daughter, she thinks she can act however she wants," Phyllis said.

When Iris met Eliana's eyes again, a chill ran through her. The woman who used to stay silent and endure everything was gone. In her place stood someone far colder.

A sudden thought crossed Iris' mind, and her body tensed for a split second before she forced herself back into tears. "Eliana, go ahead and hit me, yell at me, do whatever you want. As long as you feel better, I'll accept it. Just don't take it out on your parents..."

Her voice trembled, carrying both helplessness and what seemed like sincerity.

Under normal circumstances, this would have been the moment. Phyllis and John would rush in and turn their anger toward Eliana.

That had always been how things played out.

But this time, it didn't.

"Alright," Eliana answered without hesitation.

Before anyone could process it, she moved. Her steps were quick, slipping past Phyllis and John in an instant. In the next moment, her hand had already caught Iris by the hair. With a sharp pull, she forced her down to her knees, and then struck her across the face twice.

The sound echoed. Afterward, Eliana flexed her fingers slightly, as if shaking off the sting, while looking down at Iris, who sat frozen on the ground.

"You said it yourself," Eliana said coldly. "I'd hate to ignore that kind of sincerity."

She released her grip and let out a quiet, chilling laugh as she stepped aside.

The moment her hold loosened, Iris collapsed fully onto the ground, still stunned from the blows.

It took a second for Phyllis and John to react. Then they rushed forward at once, their voices filled with alarm.

"Iris!"

"Eliana, have you lost your mind? How could you lay a hand on her? She was the one who gave you the chance to marry into the Shaw family-the richest family of the city. After spending three years in prison, you still haven't changed. Maybe you should've stayed there longer."

For a brief moment, Eliana stood still.

The Shaw family?

That wasn't how things had gone before. In her previous life, they had pushed her to marry Jeremy Ward, who had originally been engaged to Iris, just so Iris could walk away and aim for the heir of the Shaw family.

But now, the arrangement had changed.

Something was different. Her eyes shifted to Iris. Beneath the tears, there was something else. A flicker of excitement. A trace of satisfaction that wasn't fully hidden. Eliana's gaze darkened slightly.

Could it be... Iris had come back as well?