The True Heiress Ruins Her Family

A violent cough wracked my body as I fought for air.

My vision was spotted with darkness.

Just as my consciousness was slipping away, Pearl rushed over and grabbed Aaron’s arm.

“Dad, please calm down! Mia is your daughter! She only took Mom to the hospital because she was worried about her health. The car accident wasn’t anyone’s fault! It was an accident!”

Aaron’s grip slowly loosened. His gaze turned hollow as he muttered, “An accident… all just accidents. The company’s gone, we’re bankrupt, the cars and the house are mortgaged, and we still owe a mountain of debt. If I can’t pay by the end of the month, the collectors will come knocking. If it’s not her fault, who can I blame? Myself?”

His expression was blank, then it twisted into madness as he burst into a fit of wild laughter.

“Yes, that’s right! I should blame myself! It’s all my fault!”

A terrible sense of dread flooded my chest. I reached out and tried to grab his sleeve.

Before I could touch him, Aaron let out an agonized wail, spun around, and slammed his head hard against the wall.

Aaron died right then.

After Pearl and I numbly finished arranging our parents’ funeral, she pulled me into a tight hug.

“Mia, I’ll start working to pay your tuition. You have to finish school at all costs.”

Tears streamed down my face as I shook my head. “No, it’s my fault our family fell apart. I should be the one working to make up for it.”

Pearl gently stroked my hair and forced out a smile. “Mia, your grades are better than mine, and you have a wealthy boyfriend. Getting that diploma is your only chance to marry into a powerful family to change our status. Only then can you restore the Cannon family’s situation. Mom and Dad would be proud of you if they knew.”

After much hesitation, I finally decided to follow Pearl’s advice and continue my education.

Still, a deep unease lingered in my chest that I could not shake off.

I could not forget what had happened to Pearl in the previous life. I went to my wealthy boyfriend for help. I asked him to hire a bodyguard to secretly watch over her.

Last time, I had been acutely aware of the class disparity between us and had never asked him for anything. But this time, I had no other choice.

Every day, the bodyguard reported to me. Pearl’s routine was simple. A straight line between her part-time jobs and home, nothing more.

Just as I was starting to let my guard down, the voice of the guardian spirit spoke again.

“Your sister will be harassed by thugs tonight, and she’ll die on the street.”

Panic surged through me. I frantically tried calling the bodyguard over and over, but the line would not connect.

With no other choice, I ran as fast as I could to the place where Pearl worked.

Once again, I arrived only to face the same nightmare.

Pearl lay in a pool of her own blood. Using the last of her strength, she cried out to me, “Mia, run…”

I forced myself to stay calm and shouted at the thugs, “I’ve called the police! You’d better run while you still can!”

They glanced at each other, then burst into arrogant laughter.

“Call the cops? Haha! What good will that do? Your dad owes us money, so the daughter pays. That’s just how it is. Even if the police show up, they won’t be able to touch us. You’re not bad-looking either. Be a good girl, and we might just spare your life and sell you to a fraud syndicate.

“Or else…” The leader kicked my sister. “You’ll end up like her.”

I tried to stall for time, but they saw right through me and charged straight at me.

Just as their hands were about to close on me, a terrifying realization struck me like a bolt of lightning.

In that instant, I understood everything.

I drove my foot hard into the lead thug’s groin.

As he doubled over in agony, I lunged at Pearl and clamped my hand around her throat. Then, I snarled at the thugs. “Don’t move! Or I’ll kill her!”