This Time, I'm the One Leaving First

Maybe it was the high fever, but as soon as I closed my eyes, I fell into a deep sleep.

By the time I woke up, it was completely dark outside.

My throat felt like it was on fire. I staggered out of bed to get some water, only to realize the entire house was empty.

I checked my phone. There were no messages or missed calls, but Simone had just posted on her feed.

"Dinner with the family! Mom and Dad remembered that I love king crab!"

In the photo, the three of them had their faces pressed close together as they smiled brightly.

I scrolled through her posts. Every so often, there was another family photo.

Yet in my previous life, I never even had a single picture with my parents until the day I died.

I must've really given up since the sight of Simone being happy didn't even make me jealous anymore.

After I liked the post, my phone rang.

It was my dad, Michael Graham. "Felicia, I forgot to tell you that we went out for dinner. Just grab a cab and come over."

I looked at the photo Simone had posted and scoffed. The table was piled high with both raw and cooked seafood.

I really must not value my life very much if I ate raw seafood while running a fever.

"It's fine, Dad. I'll grab something to eat on my own."

After hanging up, I took some fever medicine and sent a message to my advisor, Paul Reyner. "Mr. Reyner, I can leave in three days."

He replied with a voice message. "Good. Don't forget to sign the agreement.

"I'm glad you changed your mind. When you said you wanted to give up before, I thought it was such a waste. Several of your seniors are working on this project. Let them show you the ropes. One day, you'll be taking over my work."

A bitter smile crossed my face.

In my previous life, I had wasted all of his efforts. I foolishly gave up on the project and the research career I had dreamed of.

My parents told me not to move too far away. They said they would get a good job for me. I believed them.

They were my biological parents. Even though I had been switched at birth and left in an orphanage for 20 years, blood was thicker than water. Surely, they wouldn't harm me.

But after I waited to hear back from them, they said, "You should work as Simone's assistant. Your degree isn't that impressive anyway, and you still haven't found a job after graduating. Simone's doing a favor by hiring you."

They didn't care that I was a top scorer in college, nor did they care that I had graduated from the National University of Defense Technology with perfect grades. They didn't know that my advisor was renowned across the field.

I spent a lifetime crushed under Simone and despised by everyone.

I wouldn't be as foolish this time.

Sitting at my desk, I carefully signed my name on the agreement. It felt like signing the beginning of a brand new life.

When I went downstairs to get a glass of water, my parents and Simone had just returned.

Not wanting to face them, I instinctively hid by the staircase.

"Mom, Dad, the family portrait turned out great! Once the prints are ready, let's hang it up at home, okay?" Simone said excitedly.

Riley smiled. "Of course, sweetheart. We'll put it in the living room where guests can see it.

"Oh, and remember how you said you wanted to watch the sunrise over the ocean for your birthday? Your dad and I already booked a cruise ship. We'll hold your birthday party there, then the whole family can go to Mako for vacation. What do you think?"

Simone's voice practically sparkled with excitement. "Thank you! I love you guys so much!"

"You silly girl. Why are you thanking your own parents?"

I had never experienced such a warm and cozy atmosphere.

I had always heard Riley and Michael complain that I always kept them at a distance. That I wasn't close to them.

But I tried getting close to them before. Once, when they came back from shopping with bags of gifts for Simone, I worked up the courage to cling to Riley's arm the way Simone always did. "Mom, did you get something for me too?"

I could never forget the awkward expression on her face.

"Maybe next time, Fifi. I forgot to get something for you."

I felt disappointed, but not truly hurt.

Not until I walked past the half-open door of the study and heard Riley complaining to Michael.

"Fifi is way too sensitive. I bought a few things for Simone, but she wanted something too. Do you think she picked that habit up from the streets?"

After that, I never tried to get close to them again.

But somehow, I became obsessed with competing with Simone for every bit of affection and every gift she received from our parents.

What I got in return was even harsher judgment.

"Why are you so immature? Honestly, we shouldn't have brought you back here."

Simone's voice snapped me out of my memories. "Felicia, why are you just standing there? Come have a look at our family photo. Isn't it nice?"