Part 1The Ungrateful Soul Reborn: I Know Their Secrets

The moment Chloe Vance showed up asking me to take her in, I heard a strange voice:

【I can't believe I actually got reborn back to my high school days. If I get her to adopt me early this time, she'll definitely give me the company eventually.】

【Old witch, if you don't give me the company, I'll make sure you die in another car crash!】

I froze, looking at the pitiful, innocent-looking girl in front of me. My heart sank.

Young lady, if what you're thinking is true, then I won't be holding back.

* * *

I was on stage, presenting at my company's new product launch.

Suddenly, the main doors burst open. A girl, dressed deliberately plainly, almost like she was wearing rags, rushed in, dodging the security guards trying to stop her.

Weaving through the throng of reporters, she threw herself at my feet, wailing dramatically.

"Aunt Eliza, my mother, Brenda Evans... she's dead! I'm an orphan now! I have nowhere to go!"

I was completely baffled. I quickly helped the girl up, trying to understand what was happening.

Leaning against me, the girl turned to face all the reporters and spoke first.

"My mom was Brenda Evans. She was Eliza Hayes'—Aunt Eliza's—good friend for many years."

"Right after they finished school, it was my mom who helped Aunt Eliza find her first job, found her a place to live."

"They were around the same age and quickly became best friends, sharing everything."

"Later, Aunt Eliza became successful, started her own company. My mom got married and had me. They drifted apart a bit after that."

After explaining the history to the reporters, the girl turned back to me, her face streaked with tears.

"Even though they saw less of each other, my mom never forgot you. She always talked about you."

"Now... she died unexpectedly. I had to bring you to see her one last time, to fulfill her final wish!"

Buried memories resurfaced as the girl spoke. I pictured Brenda, strong-willed and determined.

The girl who always looked out for me like a little sister... she... she was dead?

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I started trembling uncontrollably.

Clutching this girl, who looked so much like a young Brenda—maybe seventy percent resemblance—my heart ached.

"What... what happened? How did your mom die? Where is she now?"

"She died in an accident yesterday... She's in the next city over, in her rented room..."

Supporting the girl, I was about to get up, ready to go with her to see her mother one last time.

Suddenly, an ethereal, yet eerily familiar voice whispered right beside me.

【Seriously? Is this woman nuts? That corpse is disgusting. Why drag me back there?】

【I came here so you'd adopt me straight away, not take me back to look at a dead body!】