The accidental wife

Samantha stepped into the room and immediately began searching.

The family claimed they were poor, but she knew they were lying.

When her mother first married into the family, she brought a substantial dowry. The caris' an odd bunch-despite treating their daughter with indifference, they still gave her a generous dowry when she married. Yet, after her mother passed away, leaving behind only her, they did nothing to help. Instead, they turned a blind eye and openly mistreated a young girl.

As she mulled over these thoughts, Samantha didn't slow down. Finally, she spotted a hidden compartment tucked away in the corner behind the bed.

Her eyes lit up. She crouched down, pried open the compartment, and pulled out a small box.

Inside, colorful bills were neatly stacked. At a glance, she estimated there was at least a couple thousand dollars.

She didn't bother to count them-she simply stuffed them into her pocket, making sure not to leave a single bill behind.

Having secured the money, she continued searching the room, checking every possible hiding place. Eventually, she discovered another secret compartment beneath the bed. It had been hollowed out and was filled to the brim.

Jackpot.

With a satisfied grin, she pulled out a stash of gold coins.

Without hesitation, she secured the coins, triple-checked the room to ensure she hadn't missed anything, and then restored everything to its original state before slipping away.

Back in her room, she locked the door behind her and retreated into her private space.

She felt no guilt about taking what was rightfully hers. If her instincts were correct, those gold coins had belonged to her mother.

After all, the bed itself had been part of her mother's dowry.

Her father probably hadn't even discovered the hidden stash yet.

Samantha sat down and counted the cash: $1,652.70-a mix of bills and loose change.

Tsk. She guessed more than half of it must have been the compensation money from her mother's estate.

Satisfied, she tucked the money away and drifted into a deep sleep.

When she woke up, it was already dark.

Glancing at her wristwatch, she realized it was past midnight.

The previous owner of this watch-the original host of this body-must have had good taste. It was a Plum brand watch, an expensive piece for someone her age.

Feeling hungry, she pulled a large meat bun from her storage space-one she had bought earlier that day from a local diner.

The unique thing about her storage? Time inside remained frozen. Anything she put in came out exactly the same.

She made a mental note to get a set of kitchenware for her storage space. That way, she could cook whenever she wanted.

Despite having been raised as a privileged young woman, Samantha was a homebody and a skilled cook.

The Next Morning

When Samantha left the house, she cleared out all the toast her stepmother had made-along with two poached eggs.

"Samantha! Those eggs were for me and mom!" Leticia shrieked, glaring at Samantha's retreating figure.

The only response was the sound of the door slamming shut.

Samantha smirked as she ate the eggs. Leticia was probably fuming right now.

Later that day, she finalized a job deal with Lily and her mother. Once she received the payment, she dusted herself off and took a leisurely stroll around town

Despite the scarcity of resources in this era, there was a certain charm to it. The air was fresh, and the streets had a nostalgic feel.

She was content-completely unaware that the Carters had come knocking on her door, inviting her to dinner.

The Greens, were taken aback.

Had the Carters suddenly remembered they had a granddaughter after nearly ten years?

When Samantha returned home that afternoon, her family said nothing about it.

They knew the Carters were scheming-most likely trying to get their hands on a portion of Samantha's job earnings.

So, the Greens continued to wait.

And Samantha, still oblivious, continued preparing for her move to the countryside

Three Days Before Departure

Samantha took the opportunity to store away some supplies-quilts, thick winter coats, and pants she had commissioned from a local tailor. Aside from that, she packed light

Upon returning home, she sensed something was of

"What's going on?" she asked a woman gossiping near the front door.

The woman, assuming it was someone else, didn't bother to look up and started talking excitedly.

"The Greens are so admirable! All three of their kids are volunteering to move to the countryside. We got the notice directly from the local office-everyone was shocked! What did they do to deserve this? They're making the rest of us look bad! I mean, really, don't you think-

She finally turned and locked eyes with Samantha, whose face was clean and youthful, her big brown eyes twinkling with mischief.

The woman immediately choked on her words.

The gathered onlookers also fell silent.

Samantha grinned. "Alright, ladies, you've had your fill of drama. Time to head home and cook dinner. Show's over. Disperse."

And just like that, the crowd scattered

As she turned away, a rolling pin came flying at her.

Samantha narrowed her eyes, casually reaching out and catching it midair with ease.

She blew a strand of hair from her forehead and smirked, her expression cocky. "Oh? Are we attempting domestic violence now?"

Her father's face turned red with anger. "Don't be ridiculous! I'm asking you-did you sign Leticia and Lucas up under their names?"

Behind him, Abigail and Leticia sobbed dramatically.

"Dad, what are you talking about? I don't have a clue," Samantha said innocently, twirling the rolling pin.

Then she turned and shut the door in their faces.

The entire family shivered.

"You... you... what are you up to, you ungrateful brat?!" Her father sputtered, looking around for something to defend himself with.

Abigail and Leticia cowered behind the men like frightened rabbits.

Samantha scoffed. "Cowards."

The four of them stiffened, their faces full of indignation.

Samantha raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You don't like that? Well, if you have a problem, step forward and say it to my face."

She twirled the rolling pin once more before flinging it past her father's ear, missing him by mere inches.

"AHHH!" Abigail and Leticia screamed, clutching each other in terror.

Her father turned pale. She was too fast-he hadn't even had time to process it.

Samantha remained calm, looking down at them with amusement. "If any of you think you can take me, be my guest."

With that, she turned and sauntered back to her room, her mood surprisingly light.

The Greens stood there in a mix of shock, fury, and helplessness.

They never expected that the once pitiful girl they could bully had turned into a fearsome devil.

With no way to fight back, Bowie and Abigail scrambled to undo Leticia and Lucas's placement orders.

Two days later, after exhausting all their options, they not only failed, but also ended up spending money on supplies for the trip.

By 5 a.m. on the third day, the train was ready to depart, carrying the volunteers to the countryside.

Out of options, Mr Green and Abigail gave Leticia and Lucas some pocket money, they also handed them their resettlement fees-$50 each, and sent her off.

Meanwhile, Samantha?

She collected her own placement fee, grabbed her suitcase and backpack, and boarded the train with ease-completely unfazed.

Bowie and Abigail reluctantly bade Leticia farewell.

The train rattled forward, its carriage crammed with people. The floor was cluttered with luggage, and various smells mingled together, causing Samantha to furrow her brows slightly.

But when she saw Leticia sitting across from her, her eyes red and puffy like a rabbit's, she suddenly felt much better.

If Leticia was miserable, Samantha was happy.

To make things even more amusing, Leticia was seated right next to Brandon-the guy with a rock for a brain. And Lucas was sitting diagonally across with one of his classmates.

"Hello! My name is Sasha. I'm heading to Grant County as part of the rural work program. Are you also going to the countryside?" The girl sitting next to Samantha pursed her lips into a friendly smile.

She had fair skin, though a few freckles dotted her cheeks. Still, they didn't take away from her clean and pleasant appearance.

"Yeah, my name is Samantha. I'm also assigned to Grant County."

"That's great! Maybe we'll end up in the same village." Sasha beamed, her eyes curving into crescents.

She then glanced at Brandon and Leticia.

Brandon, noticing that Samantha was looking out the window instead of paying attention to him, felt inexplicably annoyed. "My name is Brandon. I'm also going to grant County."

"My name is Leticia. I'm also being sent to the countryside in Grant County with my Sister..." Leticia hesitated, her voice timid as she looked at Samantha.

She had the expression of someone used to being bullied, nervously waiting for a response.

Before Samantha could say a word, Brandon frowned. "Samantha, can you stop bullying Leticia?"

Samantha: "???"

What the hell is this guy talking about?

Rolling her eyes, she decided to ignore him and shut off her awareness of the outside world, slipping into her private space instead.

If she had time for this nonsense, she might as well use it to farm.

The two vacant acres in her time vault had been bothering her for a while. She didn't know what to do with them, so she figured she'd plant some vegetables and rice.

Might as well make use of the empty land.

Meanwhile, Brandon sat there fuming as Samantha ignored everyone. Leticia quickly spoke softly to pacify him.

Sasha, watching the exchange, was utterly bewildered.

Inside her time vault, Samantha busied herself farming. By the time she finished, she was so exhausted that she fell asleep.

When she woke up, it was already dark outside.

The train ride would take three days and two nights. Stretching in her seat, she stood up under the pretense of using the bathroom but slipped back into her time vault instead.

She had prepared a hot meal earlier, so she ate until she was full, had a drink, and even washed her face before stepping out again.

When she returned to her seat, she gazed out the window, appreciating the pitch-black sky dotted with twinkling stars.

A rare moment of peace.

Her restless heart began to settle. As the saying went: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Even back in the modern world, she hadn't had a loving family. Most of her wealth had been periodically donated, and she had even written a will ensuring that if anything happened to her, the rest of her money would go to charity.

Not that her self-serving parents would have been able to touch her assets anyway.

Well... maybe this was a chance for a fresh start.

Meanwhile, back at the Green family's house...

Abigail had taken the day off, muttering about buying cotton and fabric to make padded jackets and quilts to send to her children.

Winter in Nebraska was much colder than Essex.

"AH-!"

Bowie was eating breakfast when the sudden scream startled him so badly that he choked on his food. His face turned red as he frantically reached for a glass of water, gulping it down to soothe his burning throat.

He barely had time to catch his breath before Abigail burst into the room, her face pale with shock.

"Bowie, our money-it's gone! All of it is gone!"

Bowie's face twisted in disbelief. "What are you talking about?!"

"Oof, more than a thousand dollars-completely gone! Everything is gone!" Abigail wailed, nearly collapsing.

Bowie sprang to his feet and rushed into the bedroom. Sure enough, the lockbox where they kept their savings was lying open on the floor, its contents completely emptied. Under the bed, their neatly stacked belongings were now a mess.

For a moment, he felt dizzy, his vision going black.

Gritting his teeth, he growled, "Call the police."

"Call the police?! What for? It must have been that damned girl, Samantha! That ungrateful brat must've been eyeing our money for a long time! No, I need to get it back from her!"

That was nearly two thousand dollars! Abigail felt as though her soul was leaving her body.

Bowie scowled. "I said, call the police!"

At this point, where could they even find Samantha?

Eventually, they reported the theft, and the arrival of the police caused quite a stir in the residential complex.

After an investigation, the officers concluded that aside from Bowie and Abigail's own footprints, there were no signs of a third person entering the room. The lock was intact, meaning it hadn't been picked or broken into.

The implication was clear: it was an inside job.

Abigail didn't fully grasp the meaning, but Bowie did. And so, the case was left unresolved.

Still, a seed of suspicion was planted in Bowie's mind. He had always known that Abigail secretly sent money to her family.

But he hadn't expected her to be this greedy.

Coincidentally, two days later, word came from Abigail's hometown-her nephew had just gotten engaged and they needed her support financially.

A dangerous glint appeared in Bowie's eyes.

On the other hand, Abigail remained blissfully unaware, too busy planning how to send supplies to her children in the countryside.

Back on the train...

When lunchtime rolled around, Leticia took out her food container. Inside was a portion of rice, stir-fried cabbage with eggs, and a side of pickles.

A decent meal.

She nudged her container toward Brandon. " I can't finish all this. Let's share it."

Brandon only had a sandwich and a few pickles. His expression turned slightly embarrassed before he gratefully accepted the food, looking at Leticia with newfound affection.

Samantha raised an eyebrow.

So, he was that kind of guy.

After a moment, she recalled who Brandon was.

A classmate. Back in school, he had initially tried to cozy up to the original host, hoping to take advantage of her generosity. But when he realized she was fiercely protective of her money, he quickly shifted his attention to Leticia instead.

What a joke. And Leticia, thinking she had stolen Samantha's "man," had been flaunting it around like a trophy.

Pathetic.

With that thought, Samantha took out her own lunch: An Energy bar, two scones, muffins and chocolate milk.

Several people around her glanced in her direction.

In this era, not everyone could afford to eat so much food by themselves.

Samantha ignored them and ate quietly.

Brandon, expecting her to react, was fuming as she completely disregarded him.

Meanwhile, Leticia-who had just been sharing food moments ago-suddenly glared at Samantha with resentment.

Without even looking up, Samantha muttered, "Keep staring at me, and I'll gouge your eyes out."

Leticia flinched, her face turning stiff.

Sasha, sensing the tension, immediately shrank back.

"Geez, what's your problem?" Brandon snapped. "She only glanced at you a couple of times. Do you have to be so nasty?"

Samantha finished her last bite and finally looked up.

Across the aisle was a row of seats arranged in a three-by-three setup.

The man speaking sat on the edge. He wasn't particularly old and seemed like he was from a rural area too. However, his clean-cut appearance and well-fitted clothes suggested he came from a well-off family.

Samantha glanced at him. "Does your family live by the ocean?"

The man frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?" He had a feeling it wasn't a compliment.

"You sure do like sticking your nose in other people's business."

Laughter rippled through the bus, and the man's face darkened as he glared at Samantha. "You talk too much."

"Butting in," she shot back.

"You..."

"You what? Can't even string together a full sentence? If it doesn't concern you, stay out of it." Samantha smirked.

The man's face turned red with frustration. He took several deep breaths, trying to control his anger. When he looked at Leticia, who appeared on the verge of tears, a bitter feeling rose in his chest, like he had swallowed a fly.

He regretted interfering. Not worth the trouble.

Seeing him back down, Samantha let it go. She raised an eyebrow at Sasha, greeted her, and got up to use the restroom.

When she returned, the atmosphere had shifted.

Leticia and Brandon had stopped stirring up drama, but every so often, they'd shoot venomous glances in her direction.

Samantha took note. Some people never reflected on their own actions-only whether they felt slighted.

This entire trip to the countryside was proof of that. She was just giving them a taste of their own medicine. She wasn't any crueler than they were.

She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

After three days and two nights, the train finally arrived in Nebraska. Their destination Grant county was a rural county outside Lincoln, in a small farming community called Red River. Samantha was assigned to Green Hill Farm within Red River.

She wasn't sure where the siblings were placed, but they were likely nearby.

Not that it mattered.

With a backpack slung over her shoulder and a suitcase in hand, Samantha looked much more relaxed than the others, who were bogged down by heavy luggage.

From the train station, they had to transfer to a bus that would take them to the town.

Samantha, always quick, claimed a seat by the window and pulled out an orange peel to sniff, hoping to counteract the nausea from the musty bus.

The others weren't so lucky. Most had to stand in the aisle, swaying with every bump in the road-like sausages hanging from a rack.

"Samantha, give your seat to Leticia," Brandon said, frowning at her as Leticia swayed slightly.

"Yes, Samantha, your sister looks like she's about to faint," the same man who had defended Leticia on the train chimed in.

He knew Leticia was manipulative, but he still disliked Samantha's sharp tongue more.

The older women on the bus joined in.

"Young lady, your sister doesn't look well. Be kind, let her sit."

"You're young and strong; you can stand."

"Yes, yes."

A chorus of agreement followed.

Leticia didn't say much. She just sat there, looking helpless, glancing nervously at Samantha.

The people who had traveled with them exchanged uneasy glances. Sasha wanted to speak up but was held back by a friend.

Samantha watched the performance with mild amusement. "Give up my seat? Sure... Not happening."

"Young lady, where's your kindness?"

Samantha's expression didn't change. "Kindness depends on the person. Should I be kind to someone who tried to drown me?"

A hush fell over the bus.

"Samantha, you're lying!" Leticia's face turned pale.

Lucas snapped, "If Leticia pushed you into the river, why was she the one in the hospital and not you?"

Samantha leaned against the window, inhaling the citrus scent of her orange peel. "Yelling instead of being polite, huh? Looks like you're just another stray my stepmother picked up. What a disgrace."

The bus fell silent.

The mention of a wicked stepmother struck a nerve with two other passengers who had suffered under their own stepmothers. Their expressions shifted.

Samantha continued, "When you have a stepmother, you get a stepfather too. I had no money for the hospital. Whether I survived was up to luck. But, lucky me-I pulled through."

"No, I didn't-" Leticia stammered.

"You don't need to be afraid, Leticia," Samantha said lightly. "I never reported it because I thought we should just move on as family. Otherwise, given your swimming skills, you'd have been the obvious culprit. But here you are, still trying to take what's mine-even a bus seat." She sighed, starting to rise from her seat.

Before she could stand, a woman in the back pressed her down. "Stay seated, Miss. Some people think they can take advantage of others by playing the victim, but we're not blind."

The bus went dead silent.

At this point, speaking up would only make them look foolish.

Besides, Leticia's act was too familiar-like something straight out of an evil stepmother's playbook.

Samantha smirked. Under the cover of the dim light, she shot Leticia a challenging glance.

Fighting fire with fire felt pretty good.

She turned to the young man who had spoken on her behalf. "Thanks,

Knitted

"Bang, bang, bang..." A round of hurried knocks on the door pulled Samantha from her deep sleep. Her eyebrows knitted together, the displeasure clearly visible on her furrowed forehead due to the disturbance.

She yanked the quilt over her head, intending to continue sleeping, when the knocking and a voice followed, "Sam, Samantha, wake up! Open the door!"

The person knocking seemed hell-bent on not leaving without getting her to open the door.

All the noise made it impossible for Samantha to go back to sleep. She shot up in her bed, ready to hurl abuses at the person, but her words came to an abrupt curve, "Damn it!"

She had remembered, she had gone back in time!

In her original time, she was a rich, beautiful, and modern girl, she had enough money to last a lifetime.

Her parents had initially married because of a business alliance. After both their parents died, they quickly divorced and married other spouses, leaving Samantha without any parental care.

Eventually, she lived alone. Save for the regular inflow of pocket money, her parents had also transferred the inheritance she received from her grandparents.

After graduating from college, Samantha had essentially given up on her family.

She didn't have any ambitions, she lived in the moment and didn't have plans for the future. Hence, she didn't work and spent her days binge-watching TV shows, reading novels, shopping, and traveling around the world.

Mysteriously, during a trip to her personal farm in the suburbs out of boredom, she slipped and fell into a ditch face-first. When she woke up, she had become the Samantha of the 1970s.

"Samantha, if you don't open up, I am barging in!" The person outside continued to holler with slightly faltering determination.

Clearly, they didn't dare to actually barge in.

Samantha rolled her eyes, halted her thoughts, ran her hand through her hair, and got up to open the door.

As soon as she opened the door, Samantha was met with a pair of furious eyes. Lazily, she asked, "What's up? Why are you disturbing my sleep so early in the morning?"

"Early morning?!" The man widened his eyes in disbelief.

Samantha glanced out the window at the already-risen sun.

"What do you want?."

"Young woman, that's no way to speak to your father!" the man ground his teeth in anger, it was all he could do not to slap her across the face.

Although he knew better. His daughter had a temper and if he got on her nerves, he wouldn't hear the last of it.

"If you weren't my father, you wouldn't be standing here right now." Samantha's eyes held deep meaning as she looked at him.

This was the original owner of her body's father, who had been held in check entirely by his very daughter.

Taking advantage of her physical strength, the original owner acted like an unbridled tyrant at home. Anyone who dared to go against her always bore the brunt of their actions.

Everyone in the house was scared of her.

After getting the memories of the original owner of her body, Samantha understood that the original owner couldn't be blamed for her behavior.

The original owner lost her mother when she was young. Her maternal grandparents were indifferent towards her, and even her father neglected her. Only three months after her mother's death, he brought a new woman into his home.

That woman even brought two children along, a pair of troublesome twins

People from outside didn't know this but Samantha was convinced that the kids were her father's biological children.

Now that they had become one family, Samantha, who was already neglected before, was now completely ignored.

At first, Samantha was helpless against the bullying, until one time when she was beaten up by the twins for two hours, and then left starving on the balcony for three days. When she was on the brink of death, she finally had an epiphany: better to live shamelessly than die honorably. From then on, if anyone treated her badly, she would return the favor twice.

Since then, the Greens began to live in chaos.

In the beginning, Samantha always ended up getting hurt, but as she grew up and became stronger, no one in the household was a match for her.

Frightened by her, they began to behave.

Samantha's father glanced at her, her face was changing expressionless. "...You've gone too far this time. You pushed Leticia into the river. She almost lost her life and is still in the hospital. My paycheck has not arrived yet. Can you give me some money? The hospital bill is still short."

As soon as he finished speaking, Samantha's father glared at her.

Samantha scoffed, "I have no money. Find someone else."

Having said that, she slammed the door shut.

Since Samantha was unwilling to give money, he could only leave while cursing.

Samantha sat on the bed and sneered. Did they think she would believe there was no money at home?

She sat on the bed, laughing coldly. Both she and Leticia fell into the river yesterday, however it was not a push, Leticia jumped in and deliberately pulled her in with her.

Leticia could swim and naturally, was not scared.

However, she was inexperienced and was overwhelmed by the strong currents. Thankfully, Samantha managed to take over in time and with great difficulty they both swam out of the river.

Looking at the river, she ignored Leticia, went home, poured herself a bowl of soup, and slept until the next day.

Rubbing her forehead, Samantha sighed.

In this decade of the 70s, marked by poverty and scarcity, how could she, who had been used to a luxurious life, cope?

Lying down for a while, she resigned herself to sitting up, prepared to go out to find something to eat. The next moment, her stomach grumbled and she disappeared from the room.

Looking around the unfamiliar surroundings, Samantha widened her eyes, belatedly realizing what had happened, she had gone into her personal time vault.

She excitedly observed her new environment.

This looked like the warehouse of her family's farm.

Samantha rushed over to push open the large door of the warehouse and sure enough, it was her family's warehouse.

And it was packed with grain.

This farm was owned by her, not only planted with rice and wheat, but there were also a lot of fruits and animals like pigs, sheep, cattle, and chickens. The warehouse was filled with rice and wheat that had been harvested during the year. The hulls from the grains were removed, and the wheat had been ground into flour.

There were about eighty thousand bags of rice and an approximately equal amount of wheat.

The farm was not large, just eighty hectares of land, and a season's yield was about this much.

Samantha also went to check the orchard and the animal pens by the side, all still intact, she excitedly surveyed her land.

Unlike the farm, the amount of land in her time vault had was not large, only about two hectares in front of the warehouse.

Nothing had been planted on it, and next to it was a well, reminding her of the mystical springs mentioned in novels.

Samantha quickly rushed over.

Reaching the edge of the well, the knowledge emerged in her mind. This was not a mystical spring that could rejuvenate one's body, but long-term consumption could strengthen the body, beautify, and rejuvenate the skin.

Better than nothing at all, one must learn to be content. Samantha left her time vault contentedly.

She opened the door, went out to wash her face, then searched the kitchen for something to eat.

The cabinet was locked, but she didn't mind. With a slight exertion, she unlocked the lock.

Physical strength was indeed an added advantage!

There wasn't much inside. Probably to prevent her from cooking, there was a loaf of bread, a jar of jam, peanut butter, five eggs, and a few condiments.

Samantha didn't mind, she quickly made herself a sandwich and some omelettes.

Before turning off the heat, she added a couple drops of sesame oil, releasing an instant aroma.

Samantha enjoyed her meal, savouring each bite.

Just after eating, she heard someone approaching.

The house was allocated by the factory that her father worked at, a two-bedroom, one-living room, apartment. The sound insulation was far from good.

Oh, aren't you supposed to be sick?" Samantha glared at the people who walked in, her gaze settling on Leticia.

Leticia was the same age as Samantha, she was also eighteen. She was doing a very good job of pretending to be weak and sickly.

Especially when she stood there with her pale face.

This only served to contrast further with Samantha, making her seem like the wicked older sister.

Upon hearing Samantha's words, Leticia flinched, "Sis... Sister, I... I know you didn't push me on purpose, I am not angry, I am not that sick either, I don't need to be hospitalized."

"Samantha, how much longer are you going to be a menace?" Her father shot her a look filled with disdain.

Her stepmother, Abigail also had a look of displeasure on her face.

Leticia's twin brother was no different, his eyes filled with hatred as he looked at Samantha, "Samantha, you've gone too far!

Samantha studied their faces calmly.

She didn't mind being the evil tyrant. It meant she didn't have to care about others, she could continue to protect herself.

"You..."

"Samantha, I never thought you would be this kind of person!" Samantha's words were cut off as soon as she started speaking.

She turned to look at the person who spoke.

A young man, about eighteen or nineteen, dressed in a white shirt and black pants. He had thick eyebrows and big eyes, quite handsome, but his eyes were filled with loathing. It was as if Samantha was a filthy piece of rag.

Samantha raised an eyebrow, "Who are you?"

"You..." Brandon frowned, surprised that Samantha pretended not to recognize him.

"Heh, Samantha, stop playing dumb, you know who I am." He sneered at Samantha.

Regardless of what she was up to, he was not interested.

Samantha looked surprised, she took a careful look at Brandon, recalling him from some corner of her memory.

The original owner didn't care about him, so he was obviously not important.

She scoffed, "Who you are is none of my business. This is my house, so beat it."

Brandon, "You are being unreasonable!"

"Brandon, I'm okay. My sister won't bully me. You should go home now. Your mother must be worried." Leticia spoke in a soft voice.

Brandon felt a pang of sympathy.

His gaze towards Samantha became even more hostile. Samantha glared back, did he think she would be intimidated by his big eyes?

"Leticia, you just rest up then, I'll come visit you another day." He spoke to Leticia in a tender voice.

Then he greeted Bowie, their father and the others before he left.

After the man left, a trace of darkness flashed in Leticia's eyes. She continued to put up an act, but Samantha didn't fall it.

She was playing with her slender fingers and her family became terrified.

She felt thrilled that they were all scared of her.

Her father hesitated before saying, "Samantha, this months' salary...won't be given to you for now, Leticia has spent a lot of money in the hospital, and our family..."

"Oh, what does that have to do with me?" Samantha put on an air of nonchalance.

This sight left them filled with frustration.

"It was you who pushed Leticia..."

"Really? Leticia, did I push you?" Samantha turned her head to look at Leticia, her gaze indifferent.

Leticia felt a little chill down her spine . How could this sister, who only knew how to use her fists, speak to her calmly?

Her eyelids drooped halfway, "Dad, it wasn't my sister who pushed me, it has nothing to do with her.

In a split second, Samantha suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Leticia's neck.

The three, who hadn't reacted yet, exclaimed: "!!"

Leticia: "!!"

"Hmm, I just love that look of terror in your eyes," Samantha smiled wickedly.

"Samantha, what are you doing?! Let go of Leticia now!"

"Samantha! Release my sister!"

"Samantha..."

Samantha remained unmoved, tightening her grip, "Leticia, would you like to talk about what happened?"

She tilted her head, acting extremely malicious.

Leticia didn't dare to fight, she felt that Samantha really wanted to strangle her, she started to panic, she didn't pretend anymore, "It was me, It was me who wanted to get her into trouble, I accidentally pulled her down into the river."

"Accidentally?"

"No, it was, it was on purpose." After saying this, Leticia's eyes reddened, and tears rolled down.

Samantha raised an eyebrow and withdrew her hand hatefully, "Did you hear that? What on earth happened? Still asking me for money, are you sick?"

She pondered for a moment. The reason her father asked her for money was probably because the original body was a bully, She was always extorting money from them every month.

Her father's monthly salary was only forty-eight dollars and five cents, and her stepmother only had twenty-eight.

Half of it was handed to Samantha, the stepmother also needed buy groceries for the home and the father still had to pay five dollars for other utilities every month, they were barely making ends meet.

But Samantha didn't believe that the house would be out of money.

The original body was extraordinarily strong but Lazy, She also had no idea how much savings her family had previously.

After receiving the memories, she realized that there should be quite a lot of savings. The original body's mother died when she was seven, due to an accident at her factory, the factory must have given out compensation.

However, her father, Bowie always denied this.

The original body had never seen the money and had no option but to let it be.

But now that Samantha had arrived, she had to get this money back no matter what. Leticia owed the original body her life, how could she not repay?

"Samantha, Leticia didn't mean it, please forgive her this time." Abigail quickly held Leticia who was slowly losing consciousness.

.

Bowie and Leticia's twin brother, Lucas, looked at Samantha, their hands clenched into fists.

No doubt, as soon as they got the chance, they would attack Samantha.

But they knew better than to be impulsive.

Samantha glanced at the four people leisurely, sneering, she swaggered into her room, put all valuable items and cash into her space, and left the house.

Only when the door was shut did the family of four breathe a sigh of relief, their eyes filled with resentment as they stared at the door.

Samantha left the house, briefly chatting with a neighbor she met on the road and walked out happily.

Bowie was a deputy director in a food factory in Baltimore. The original body's mother had sacrificed her life to protect the factory's property. In compensation, the factory had given the Greens a two-bedroom apartment and left a job vacancy for Samantha. As soon as she graduated from high school, she could start working immediately.

This was one of the reasons why Leticia wanted her out of the way at all cost.

The three Green siblings were all about the same age and were due to receive their graduation certificates the following week.

One of them had to go to the countryside.

Lucas had a good friend who got him a temporary job at a state-owned restaurant. Leticia was stuck with Samantha at home.

However, Leticia was quite manipulative, she was determined to use all the resources at her disposal to get Samantha out of the house. She applied for a job on Samantha's behalf in the countryside.

Samantha decided to return the favor, she took a bus to the rural district office. If her sister signed her up for a rural job, she could do the same for her. Ideally, they would all be dispatched to the same location. She eagerly burst into the district office, "Sir, my sister signed me up for the job in the countryside.

The officer on duty heedfully watched Samantha, "Young lady, once the registration is successful, there's no way to change it. You better..."

"Oh no, you've got it all wrong. It was I who asked my sister to sign me up. As a patriotic citizen, it's a privilege to give back to my society and what better way to do that than to work amongst the poor masses, I'm quite thrilled."

The registration officer gave a nod of approval, "A young woman with a heart for the people! That's quite impressive.

Noticing the stares of everyone there, Samantha began speaking passionately quoting philosophers. Everyone was staring at her in amazement.

After garnering enough attention, Samantha continued, "Sir my brother and sister are also eighteen and about to graduate from high school. They're also very passionate about community development. I'm here to register on their behalf."

"Really? All three of you are registering for community service?" The registration officer sounded surprised, "Miss, are you sure? Once registered, it cannot be changed."

It was not in the officers place to judge but youngsters weren't enthusiastic about volunteering for community service, most young adults would rather starve than volunteer to go to the countryside for community development.

Samantha with a self-righteous expression patted her chest, "Of course it's true. My siblings are excited about it, we know it's going to be worth it. Sir, sign them up. If the three of us are assigned to the same place, that would be great. We could look out for each other."

After leaving the District Office, Samantha wore a satisfied smile.

Since she was going to the countryside, they're all coming with her. It was going to be a Dog eat Dog, situation.

After wandering around the city, Samantha did not rush to the market, instead, she took stock of the original owners' saving.

What a little rich woman.

She was usually a spendthrift but still could save more than four hundred dollars. That's enough for her to buy things for the move to the countryside.

First, Samantha went to the departmental store and bought some toiletries and skin care products.

She also bought some soft fabrics and a tailoring kit.

If she was going to work hard in the countryside. She needed to make some work clothes, and also needed appropriate footwear. She received the notice that day, knowing that she was assigned to Grant county in the Nebraska and she had been given ten days notice. The winter there was long and cold. She needed to prepare thicker quilts and fluffy jackets.

After buying everything she needed, Samantha only had two cotton jackets.

She decided to make a trip to the black market.

As she walked out of the department store, she ran into some familiar faces.

"Samantha?" A girl about the same age as Samantha, wearing a blue and white floral dress, looked shy, yet her eyes showed arrogance.

"Mhm," Samantha responded lightly with a nasal tone, ready to side step her and leave when she was stopped by a few individuals. These individuals were relatives from her maternal side of the family. Cousins, to be exact, all children from her uncles and aunts who had always been at odds with her. Over the years, they showed no concern toward her, a mutual indifference.

"What's up?" she asked indifferently, not shifting her gaze from them.

"What did you buy? There's so much. Show us." They reached out to grab her bags, but Samantha swiftly grabbed their hands, "Hell no, that's not gonna happen."

"Shit!, Samantha, you let go!" Rebecca squealed in pain. The other three came up to them immediately, "Samantha, let go! What on earth are you doing? Rebecca is your cousin!"

"Cousin?" Samantha scoffed cynically. "I've never acknowledged her as my cousin before and I don't intend on doing so in the future either. If you're wise, you won't cross my path again." With a swift jerk, she easily swept Rebecca to the ground.

The indifference of the host body towards her relatives wasn't without a cause. At an early age, when she was bullied and subjugated, she sought help from her mother's family. But they left her out in the cold, neglected and alone.

Inside, the family lavished affection on each other, their joyous laughter piercing her heart. To make matters worse, Rebecca's mother treated her badly, she never allowed to eat with her cousins, making her eat their leftovers, she always

"Mildred, you... For heaven's sake, I'm not letting you off easily!"

"Mom!" Bryan stepped forward, trying to restrain his furious mother. He knew how damaging rumors could be. He had indeed rescued someone today, but once word got out, the truth could be twisted beyond recognition.

"And what about Leticia..." Jennifer spoke in a melancholy tone.

Samantha smirked slightly. Normally, these two women were at odds, but when it came to meddling in others' affairs, they worked together like a perfectly matched set of gloves.

Leticia, pale and flustered, immediately waved her hands, distancing herself from any scandal. "I-I'm fine. Bryan only pulled my arm to get me out of the water."

A few onlookers who had reached the shore first nodded in agreement. "That's right, Bryan didn't do anything inappropriate to Leticia."

That statement was interesting-did it imply that something improper had happened with Natasha?

The crowd muttered among themselves as a man appointed by the village authorities arrived late, listening to the scattered chatter and piecing together the story.

Gary's expression darkened as he surveyed the scene. Without a word, he removed the shirt he had been wearing over his tank top and draped it over Natasha's shoulders. He didn't notice how she stiffened at his touch.

Oh no. This situation suddenly looked far worse than it was.

The team leader and the secretary exchanged glances before calling out, "Alright, enough of this. Do you all still want your work points today? Anyone who keeps standing around gossiping will lose a full day's worth."

Work points were as vital as food and shelter for the villagers. At the threat of losing them, the crowd dispersed almost instantly.

As they walked back, Samantha nudged Henry and whispered, "Are Bryan and Natasha together?"

Henry hesitated. "I don't know, but they're often seen together, and I've seen Natasha slipping him treats a few times."

Samantha nodded, filing the information away.

Back at the worksite, the earlier commotion still dominated conversations. Jennifer and Mildred were too preoccupied with their own grievances to pay attention to anyone else.

"The Secretary's wife probably doesn't want Bryan to marry a 'city girl,'" Mildred pouted.

"Natasha may not be good at housework, but she comes from a decent family and always receives parcels and money from home. They don't even realize they've lucked out," Jennifer said, her tone laced with jealousy.

Mildred scoffed. "City girls are demanding. Bryan's family is well-off, and he's a soldier. No wonder they don't want her."

As she spoke, she shot Samantha a pointed look, as if implying something about city girls in general.

Samantha rolled her eyes. What a pointless argument. "Mildred, whether they're difficult or not, your family can't afford to cater for them anyway. City girls don't just fall into anyone's lap."

With that, she grabbed her hoe and disappeared before Mildred could respond.

Mildred fumed. "That ungrateful girl! Next time, I'll teach her a lesson!"

"Look who you're picking a fight with," Jennifer muttered. "You're giving me a headache."

Samantha, meanwhile, made her way to the taskmaster, got her six work points recorded, and then skipped off to the volunteer base, already dreaming of food and rest. Tomorrow was a half-day off. Maybe she'd take a stroll into town.

She took a deep gulp of the spiritual spring water she always carried with her, instantly feeling revitalized.

Back at the volunteer base, Natasha lay motionless on the bed, her damp clothes clinging to her skin. She had thanked everyone for their concern, but her mind was somewhere else entirely.

She had never expected to be reborn.

Even more astonishing, she had returned to the very day she fell into the water-the day her life had first entangled with Bryan's.

This moment... she had lived it before.

The first time, she had been rescued by Bryan. The village gossips had torn her reputation apart, claiming Bryan had seen every inch of her body. Unable to prove otherwise, she had been forced into marriage.

Bryan's mother had never wanted her. She had already chosen a bride for him from a neighboring town. But fate-or misfortune-had intervened, and Natasha had unknowingly "stolen" that spot.

From the day she married into the Limo family, she had been treated with cold disdain. When Bryan's military leave ended, he returned to the army, leaving her alone to endure his mother's cruelty. She had been young, naive, and unwilling to fight back. She had suffered in silence-until the day his mother caused the miscarriage of her first child.

But Bryan had never been cruel.

When he returned and discovered what had happened, he had confronted his mother, moved out, and given her every penny of his salary except for a small allowance sent home. He had shielded her from hardship, kept her from working in the fields, and when college entrance exams were reinstated, he had fully supported her studies.

But she hadn't seen his kindness.

Back then, she had still loved Gary. She had resented Bryan's family so deeply that she had ignored everything he had done for her. And when Gary and Naomi-her closest friend-had urged her to leave, she had listened.

She had abandoned Bryan. Abandoned their daughter.

She had expected a new life, a better future with Gary. But his family refused to accept a woman with a past. In the end, he married someone else.

Her own family was disgusted by her foolishness. Left with nothing, she struggled alone until she finally built a career for herself.

And then, one day, she saw Bryan again.

He stood in the city streets, beside Naomi. Naomi-the very woman who had urged her to leave him. They were close, intimate. Natasha had realized then, far too late, that she had been nothing more than a pawn in someone else's game.

Her life had been a cruel joke.

And now, she was here again.

She lay on the bed, staring at the wooden ceiling, her heart racing. This time... she wasn't the same Natasha. She carried memories of the future-memories of a life wasted on the wrong people.

This was the moment everything had changed the first time. But now, she had the chance to make it different.

Elsewhere...

In the next room, Leticia lay on her own bed, equally lost in thought.

She wanted nothing to do with these country folks. More than anything, she wanted Brandon.

Before they left for this village, his mother had said they would return home soon-for a family visit, then an engagement. But her mother had refused.

"Leticia," a soft voice interrupted her thoughts. Her brother, Lucas, stepped in, carrying a bowl of ginger soup.

She took it without thinking.

"Where's Brandon?" she asked, sipping slowly. "Call him here. I have something to tell him."

Lucas hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."

A short while later, Brandon entered. His face was drawn, fatigue evident in the lines of his brow.

"What did you want to see me for?" he asked, his voice flat.

Leticia's heart skipped. His tone was colder than she expected. For the first time, she felt a twinge of panic.

Still, she mustered a soft, wounded expression and murmured, "Brandon... I almost thought I wouldn't see you today.