Chapter 3 The Step-Siblings

Ashley sat on the hotel toilet, elbows resting on her knees, her hands cupping her cheeks. Her face was a tangled mess of confusion and disbelief.

The morning sun filtered in through the window, warm and bright-but the time for dreaming was long gone. The chaos from earlier had sobered her more effectively than any cold splash of water.

Still, she couldn't wrap her head around it.

How was she reborn?

Every time she closed her eyes, she could still feel the fire engulfing her, the searing heat swallowing everything, the pain burrowing deep into her bones.

That memory wasn't a nightmare-it had been her end.

She had noticed the desk calendar in Morgan Blackstorm's hotel room. The year read 2008. That meant... she had gone back to when she was nineteen.

Nineteen.

That year, so much had gone wrong.

During the college entrance exam, she'd lost her admission ticket and missed her chance to attend film school. But she hadn't given up. She clawed her way into the entertainment industry through bit parts and extras. Within a year, she finally landed a supporting role-her first real break.

Just when she thought she could make it on her own, that scandalous night happened.

Framed for an "unspoken rule" affair, the media dragged her into the spotlight-and then ripped her to shreds.

Overnight, she became the black sheep of the entertainment world. Her image was ruined. Her budding career, destroyed.

And her family?

Her father-who had once favored her-slapped her twice and called her shameless, saying she'd humiliated the Sanchez name. That he had no daughter like her.

Her grandmother, who had loathed her since childhood, ordered her out of the house. They severed ties, claiming it was the only way to minimize the damage to the family's reputation.

Only her aunt Sally and her two daughters had seemingly spoken up in her defense.

But that... had been a lie.

It wasn't until her death that Ashley saw the truth.

They had been the ones who orchestrated her downfall from the start. She had adored them, worshipped them even. But in reality, they saw her as a threat-a thorn in their side that needed to be plucked.

Even after she was cast out, left with nothing, they never stopped.

In the end, they'd slaughtered her like a lamb to the slaughter.

Her hatred ran deep.

But Heaven, perhaps, had taken pity on her.

She'd been reborn-on the very night the trap had been set. Only this time, she hadn't walked blindly into it.

This time, she would rewrite her fate.

Those who hurt her?

She wouldn't let a single one of them off the hook.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, shrill ringtone. It startled her.

She reached into her bag and pulled out a familiar flip phone. The once-silver edges were now faded and scratched.

After years with sleek smartphones, the clunky thing felt ancient in her hand.

"Hello?" she answered, flipping it open.

"Ashley, where are you?!" Auntie Sally's overly concerned voice crackled through the speaker. "Oh my God, you didn't come home last night, and your phone was off! The whole family's been worried sick!"

Ashley's lips curled into a cold smile.

Worried sick? More like dying to find out if their trap worked.

"Auntie..." she replied coolly.

"Come back right away, okay? Your dad and grandma don't know yet. Your sister and I have been covering for you!"

Covering for me? Ashley sneered silently.

Sure. And pigs can fly.

She could practically hear the schemes ticking behind Sally's sugary tone.

Standing at the gate of the Sanchez residence again felt surreal. It had been ten years since she was thrown out of this house. Ten years since she lost everything.

The sight of the familiar yet distant home stirred a storm of emotion-grief, rage, and resolve.

But now, she was no longer the helpless girl from her past life.

Ashley tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, straightened her back, and walked in with a serene smile.

As she stepped into the living room, five pairs of eyes snapped to her.

Ah. What a welcoming committee.

Didn't they say Dad and Grandma didn't know?

Judging by their expressions, Sally and Mia had clearly filled them in already.

"Grandma, Dad, Auntie... I'm back!" Ashley chirped sweetly, as if nothing had happened.

She sat gracefully beside Mia on the sofa, catching the curious glances directed at her. Her eyes sparkled with hidden calculation.

"Ashley, where were you last night?" Meena, Sally's other daughter, blurted out, unable to hide her impatience.

Ashley smirked inwardly. Impressive. They can't even pretend to be subtle.

"I went to a colleague's birthday party," she said lightly. "We stayed at the hotel since it ran late."

"You're lying!" Mia snapped.

The sudden outburst was so abrupt that even Grandma and Mr. Sanchez were briefly stunned.

Sally narrowed her eyes and quickly stepped in. "Mia, don't talk nonsense."

But Mia was already in too deep. "I'm not! I ran into Alice last night, and she didn't mention anything about a party!"

Ashley tilted her head and smiled. "Oh? You ran into her? In the hotel lobby... or the bathroom?"

Mia's lips parted, then shut.

Ashley almost laughed. Go on, deny it. You were with Alice-and someone else saw you too. Deny it, and you'll only make yourself look guiltier.

"You... you know I'm close with Alice!" Mia stammered.

"Of course. But Alice is my friend too. And since you're not part of the crew, why would she tell you everything?" Ashley replied innocently, her tone laced with reason.

She remembered every detail of that night from her past life. Back then, she'd been too naive-too trusting.

She'd never imagined that the ones smiling beside her were the same ones driving the knife into her back.

"But you obviously-"

"Mia Sanchez," Bobby snapped, "shut up."

Sally glanced at the clock and subtly nodded to Meena.

"Meena," she said smoothly, "turn on the TV. Your father always likes to catch the morning news."

Meena caught the cue, picked up the remote, and turned it on.

Ashley's gaze flicked to the wall clock.

Morning news always started with politics and business. Entertainment would come next.

Ah. I see what you're doing. You think my scandal is about to explode on-screen. You're hoping Dad and Grandma see it, lose their temper, and throw me out.

Predictable.

Bobby Sanchez barely spared the TV a glance before rising. "I'm not watching this nonsense. Let's eat."

"Dad, just a minute," Mia pleaded. "It's still early."

He waved her off and headed to the dining room.

Ashley stood quickly. "I'll help set the table," she offered sweetly.

Behind her, Mia bit her lip hard, glaring as Ashley floated away-untouched, unharmed, and still smiling.

Then, frustrated, Mia turned up the TV volume to full.