Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

“Who might you be?” I asked with a cool indifference, feigning ignorance as if addressing a stranger.

Coraline’s face flushed with a flicker of anger, clearly riled by my pretense.

Yet, she quickly let out a sardonic laugh. “Oh, I heard Brendan’s under the weather, leaving you and that filthy imbecile to fend for yourselves. Poor sis, you really drew the short straw.”

I didn’t even grace her with a glance. Compared to Melody, Coraline seemed green around the edges.

Melody was the type whose malice was hidden beneath a veneer of charm, but Coraline wore her nastiness like a badge of honor.

“A barking dog never bites,” I mused internally. “Melody’s in a whole different league than Coraline.”

Now that I’ve faced down Melody without flinching, why would I be scared of a spoiled bully like Coraline?

“What’s with the attitude? I deign to call you ‘sister‘ and you act all high and mighty!” Coraline fumed, blocking my path.

I knew that Coraline was the one initially intended to marry into the Langley family. Raised as the fragile darling of the Larson household, her parents couldn’t bear to send her into the so–called lion’s den, so they had Foebe take her place instead.

They had no idea that the Langley madhouse didn’t give a damn about Foebe’s well–being. On her very first night there, Foebe must have fought back, leading to an overdose and her death on what should have been her wedding night.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

That’s when I woke up inside her.

“Foebe, you think you’re something special now that you’re Mrs. Langley? How does it feel to be married to an imbecile?” Coraline taunted with a spiteful grin.

“Move!” I commanded, my voice resonating with a firmness that brooked no argument.

Coraline smirked. “Why should I? This is my house.” She was about to reassert her claim.

From Foebe’s memories, I could sense a deep–seated jealousy and hatred for Coraline.

Foebe resented Coraline for stealing the parental love that was rightfully hers. Because of the life swap, Foebe wasn’t retrieved until she was eighteen, returning to the Larson family.

Eighteen years of poverty had stripped Foebe of confidence, her natural beauty overshadowed by insecurity despite her exquisite features.

Foebe had a boyfriend once, a dashing young man from a wealthy family, but even he was snatched away by Coraline.

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Coraline had pilfered everything from Foebe, always flaunting. “This is my house; what right do you have to live here?”

Foebe was timid to a fault.

I almost laughed at the irony–there actually was someone in this world who lived a life even more pitiful than mine. No wonder I was reborn into her.

But I wasn’t naturally timid; it was only after losing my parents at eighteen and being at the mercy of others that I learned to hide my true feelings

“Your house?” I looked at Coraline with a cold gaze. “Last I checked, the name on the mailbox said ‘Larson‘.”

Coraline paused, suspicion in her eyes as if she couldn’t comprehend the transformation before her.

Lucky for me, I was now wed to the Langley family; even if I came across as arrogant, I had a good excuse.

“What are you getting at?” Coraline furrowed her brows in confusion.

“Smack!”

My hand flew, and Coraline’s cheek stung from the slap. “Since this house bears the Larson name, you’d do well to learn some manners.”

Coraline stared at me in utter shock, disbelief painted across her face at the thought I would dare strike her.

“I am the Larson family’s true heiress, the continuation of our parents‘ bloodline. What are you? A misplaced jester, allowed to live in the Larson home out of my generosity. Got it?” I pointed a warning finger at Coraline.

It took Coraline a long moment to recover, her initial shock giving way to rage as she lunged to strike me back.

“Go ahead, hit me,” I taunted with a cold laugh. “But remember, I’m carrying the only heir to the Langley name. If something happens to me, not only will the Langleys not let you off the hook, but I bet Dad won’t either.”

Coraline’s face turned a shade darker with fury; her teeth clenched as she stomped her foot in frustration. “Keep up your charade, Foebe. I want to see how long you can keep this act up. Married to an imbecile, what does it matter if you’re part of the Langley family?”