Chapter 1
Riverdale lay quiet under the night sky, but the Preston family’s hillside estate blazed with light, its living room erupting in a heated uproar.
“Edith, this engagement was always meant for Linda,” Eleanor Preston said. “Now that she’s back, it’s only fair to respect that.”
“Mom, Eleanor’s right,” Charles Preston added. “Linda and Jasper were promised to each other since they were kids.”
“Edith, don’t stress,” Eleanor went on, her voice gentle. “Elaine’s still our daughter. We’d never do her wrong.”
Mom, Eleanor’s right,” Charles said. “There are plenty of great guys in Riverdale. Elaine can have her choice!”
Eleanor and Charles made their case with calm persistence.
“Hmph!” Edith Preston huffed, arms crossed. “None of those guys compare to Jasper Vaughn.”
“Everyone in Riverdale knows
“You’re just picking favorites!” she snapped. “Elaine’s not your birth daughter, but you’ve raised her for twenty years. Don’t you care about her at all?”
she’s Jasper’s fiancée,” she fumed, “Now that your real daughter’s back, you’re just casting Elaine aside?”
She paused, and added, “How’s she supposed to face people in town after this? Do you even care if she’s okay?”
“Grandma…” Elaine, the Prestons‘ adopted daughter, let a hurt look cross her face, her voice quiet.
She shook her head slightly and sweetly, as if asking Edith to let it go.
Edith’s gaze softened, but her voice stayed firm. “No way I’m letting Linda marry Jasper!”
‘Ah… So noisy,‘ Linda Preston thought as she came to.
She was lounging on a sleek leather couch, her delicate brows furrowed, eyes half–open.
She had an oval face, naturally gorgeous, with long, glossy black hair flowing to her waist.
Her skin was perfect, like porcelain, her features sharp yet soft, almost unreal.
But her face showed a hint of irritation.
Linda slowly opened her
eyes.
Her shimmering eyes gleamed with a captivating spark.
She quietly scanned the room, taking everything in.
‘Before this, was jumping between worlds,‘ she thought, ‘following that “System” with its tasks and vague clues.
Now, it seemed, she’d landed in a new world.
‘But this time, the System left me hanging, she thought, ‘dumping me here with no background info.
“Mom, think about Linda,” Eleanor said sharply. “She’s Jasper’s true fiancée. If Elaine marries him, what’s left for Linda?”
‘That’s Mom’s voice!‘ Linda thought.
Her head tilted slightly, eyes settling on the stunning woman beside her. She was tightly holding her hand.
The woman had the same oval face, just as beautiful.
Her head tilted slightly, eyes settling on the stunning woman beside her. She was tightly holding Though nearing fifty, she looked barely thirty because of professional skin care, not a wrinkl
hand.
to be
seen.
She looked graceful, composed, with those eyes, same as Linda’s, burning with resentment.
Her eyes darted around the familiar living room.
Her eyes darted around the familiar living room.
Her Dad sat to her left, expression blank.
Her grandma, Edith and her adopted sister, Elaine sat across from her.
1/2
9:26 AM
Chapter 1
I’m back,’ she realized, heart pounding. Back to my real home, before all the world–jumping.
She was excited, yet she struggled to stay calm, reaching out in her mind for the System.
No respond from the System. Not like anytime she had experienced before.
I’m really back,‘ she thought, pulse racing. My first life–my real life!‘
This was the life she’d always held onto.
Her body shook with excitement.
After her death, she’d been tossed into a crazy journey across worlds, tackling task after task under the System’s guidance.
The system promised her that, once she completed all the tasks, she’d return to her first life, with all the skills she’d gained from other worlds.
‘But I didn’t finish,’ she wondered. ‘So why am I here?‘
“Who’s Linda supposed to marry?” Edith said, her tone dripping with scorn. “Riverdale’s full of rich kids. Any one of them would be good enough
for her.”
Eleanor’s face tightened. “Mom, what’s that supposed to mean?”
“What’d I say wrong? Edith snorted.
She went on, “She grew up in some small village, didn’t finish high school, scraping by in the entertainment industry on her looks, constantly trashed online.
“You think the Vaughns would let her marry into their family?
“You think the Vaughns are running a charity?”
Edith’s face was pure disdain.
“Mom, Linda’s been through a lot, and whose fault is that?” Charles said, his voice cold. “How can you talk about her like that? Shouldn’t we be making things right for her?”
“Enough, Linda said, her voice clear and steady, cutting through the argument.
They stopped arguing immediately, looking at her.
Linda’s face was calm, as if their debate didn’t involve her.
“What? I’m wrong?” Edith snapped. “Tell me, Linda, what makes you better than Elaine?”
“I’m calling off the engagement,” Linda said, her words stopping Edith in her tracks.
