Chapter 1

Olivia and Sophia Reynolds were identical twins, but their lives were anything but the same. From the moment they were born, a tiny, almost invisible birthmark behind Olivia' s left ear sealed her fate. Their mother, a woman who lived by old superstitions, saw it as a bad omen.

Sophia became the star of the family, showered with love and every possible advantage. Olivia was the unlucky one, a shadow her parents preferred to ignore. She was sent to live with a nanny in a small, forgotten corner of the family estate, growing up in the shadow of the sister who had her face.

Years passed. Sophia was the darling of high society, known for her charm and beauty. Olivia was quiet, resilient, and mostly invisible.

Then, a major opportunity came to the Reynolds family. Ethan Vance, the celebrated CEO of a booming tech company, wanted to marry a Reynolds daughter. The proposal was meant for Olivia, a fact that was quickly and conveniently overlooked.

Sophia wanted the prestige, the wealth, the power that came with being Mrs. Ethan Vance. She saw it as her right. With their mother's help, she easily stepped into Olivia' s place. No one questioned it. The twins looked exactly alike, and no one cared enough about Olivia to notice the switch.

So Sophia married the tech CEO, her future glittering before her.

Olivia was pushed into a different marriage, a consolation prize. She was married off to Liam Davis, the adopted son of a powerful but shadowy political figure. His family had influence, but it was the kind that operated in the dark, without the glamour and public praise that Sophia craved.

Their paths diverged completely.

For a time, it seemed Sophia had won. She lived a life of luxury. But Ethan's company, built on a shaky foundation and poor management, eventually collapsed. A scandal erupted, and he was left bankrupt and disgraced. Bored and trapped in a failing marriage, Sophia had a reckless affair with one of their household employees. The story became a public sensation, and she was humiliated, her social standing destroyed. She lost everything.

Meanwhile, Olivia' s life took an unexpected turn. Liam Davis, the man she was forced to marry, proved to be brilliant, ambitious, and fiercely loyal to her. He rose through the political ranks, becoming one of the most influential lobbyists in the country. With his success, Olivia gained a level of respect and social power she had never imagined. She was no longer the unlucky twin but a woman of significant standing, admired for her grace and strength.

In the end, as Olivia stood by her husband's side at a major political gala, she heard the news of Sophia's final ruin. Later, in the haze of a fatal illness that came for her too soon, she saw her twin one last time.

Sophia stood over her, her face a mask of bitter envy. Her own life was in ashes, while Olivia, the "unlucky" one, had everything she had ever wanted.

"In a next life," Sophia whispered, her voice filled with a desperate hunger, "I want your life, Olivia. I want everything you have."

Olivia, feeling her last breath leave her body, managed a faint, tired smile.

"Go right ahead," she thought. "Take it."

And then, darkness.

Until she opened her eyes again, not to the sterile white of a hospital room, but to the familiar floral wallpaper of her childhood bedroom. The air was thick with the scent of her mother's expensive perfume.

She was young again. The calendar on her wall confirmed it. It was the week before Ethan Vance' s proposal.

A cold dread washed over her. It wasn't a dream. This was a second chance.

And across the hall, she could hear her sister, Sophia, humming a cheerful tune. It was a chilling sound. Sophia was here too. And Olivia knew with absolute certainty that her sister remembered everything.

The first confrontation of their new life was about to begin. Sophia had declared she wanted Olivia' s life, and now she had the chance to take it. But Olivia had a choice this time. She wouldn't be a passive victim again.