On a clear, sunny day, Anna went completely insane.
She had been tortured beyond recognition, now kneeling weakly on the floor, begging my brother to end her life.
He agreed.

“What you owe Lily… is still a heart.”
Anna passed out on the operating table—the same one I had lain on.
My brother placed his hand over her chest, feeling the rhythm of the heartbeat beneath, and smiled faintly.
“Lily, can you see? I've avenged you.”
I didn't agree with this kind of revenge—dragging himself into a whirlpool of violence.
I didn't need his self-pitying redemption.

Suddenly, he looked toward me as if he sensed my presence.
I instinctively stepped back.
“The police haven't found any leads lately—they're starting to get suspicious. Now, I'll return your heart to you. Wait for me, okay?”
He hesitated, not making a move until Anna woke up.

“Pfft!” Blood instantly gushed out, splattering across my brother's entire face.
But he seemed not to feel it at all and continued the surgery.
“Ah—!”
Anna's screams of pain echoed through the basement. My eardrums felt shattered, but what made my hands tremble was the scene before my eyes.
Without any anesthesia, my brother dug out Anna's heart—alive.
Anna's screams grew weaker and weaker, until all that was left were her final, struggling gasps…
Anna was dead.
My brother had killed her.
He dismembered her body the same way, flushing the pieces down the sewer.
Just as he raised the surgical blade to slit his own throat, my mind spun violently—I was pulled into another time and space.
“This year's Best Actress Award goes to—Lily Grant!”
In the last moment before being swept away, I saw the knife fall from my brother's hand.
“Lily!”
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing at the center of a stage before thousands.
Below me, light signs spelled “Lily,” and A-list celebrities sat applauding.
I nearly dropped the trophy in my hand.
Had I… been reborn?
When I was five, I stood in the middle of a stadium performing a scene from a drama for my parents and brother.
“Lily, you're amazing! When you grow up, become a big star—Dad will be your biggest fan!”
“Mom will make you lots of beautiful dresses!”
“Big brother will be your personal bodyguard!”
I smiled and curtsied like a princess.
“Thank you, everyone.”
And now, that childhood dream was within reach.
Memories that didn't belong to me flooded my mind.
The original owner of this body had just died from illness, and I had somehow taken over.
Even the timeline was the same.
It took me some time to adjust to this new life.
Fame, wealth, a loving family.
This version of Dad was just as humorous; Mom was just as gentle.
The only difference was the absence of my brother.
I still loved life, refusing to be trapped by things that weren't worth it.
Consider it a second chance—a gift from fate.
So, brother… are you ready?
A week later, I ran into him.
It was his deliberate doing—and mine too.
I was certain he recognized me just from the way I held my coffee.
“Lily! Is it really you? You're back?!”
I turned toward the voice.
My brother stood not far away, his beard unkempt, dark circles heavy under his eyes.
Gone was the pride and confidence of the brilliant doctor he once was.
I led him to a quiet alley and smiled at him the way I used to.
“Brother, it's me.”
Without warning, he pulled me into a tight embrace.
He was terrified I would leave again.
“Lily! I finally found you! I knew you'd come back!”
I gently patted his back to calm him.
But he couldn't wait to bring me home, washed his hands, cooked a table full of dishes, and happily piled countless movie tickets into my hands.
“Lily, you said you wanted to watch these—I'll go with you to every one!”
“Whatever you want, I'll do it. I'll promise you anything—just don't leave, okay?”
His tone was almost pleading.
I smiled and nodded.
“Brother, I'm not going anywhere.”
Not until you receive the punishment you deserve.
My brother had already lost his mind.
He agreed to everything I asked.
For example—I asked for my own ashes.
After I was cremated, he hadn't buried them but kept them under his bed.
Every night, he would take them out and weep apologies.
It disgusted me.
I didn't want to be disgraced even after death.
The reason I sought him out was to take back what was mine.
He hurried to his bedroom and handed me the urn like it was a treasure.
“Lily, here—anything else? I'll give you anything.”
“Okay.” I smiled. “Brother, can I have the surveillance footage from your house?”
Overjoyed, he thought I had forgiven him.
“Yes! Anything you want, it's yours!”
The man before me grinned foolishly, pressing my hand against his cheek.
“Lily, be good. I'll agree to everything.”
“Don't leave me again.”
I didn't understand why my absence had driven him mad.
But I felt no guilt.
The memory of being wronged resurfaced—his vicious curses still echoing in my mind.
All of this was caused by Anna—and by him.
He hadn't been willing to give an ounce of trust!
He was a murderer. He deserved to pay under the law.
I handed the surveillance footage to the police.
John was charged with illegal medical practice and intentional homicide—sentenced to fifteen years.
But he was diagnosed with psychosis and confined to a psychiatric facility.
Anna's body was eventually found in the sewer, and the truth about my death was made public.
Anna and her father's crimes were once again thrust into the spotlight.
I scrolled through the comments under the news.
Some sympathized with John, some cursed Anna, but most pitied me.
“She was only eighteen—her life had just begun. Destroyed by her brother's cruelty and his girlfriend's brutality.”
I replied under one comment: “She will have a new life.”
And that “will” was now a reality.
I went to see Mike and Uncle Henry.
Though they found it hard to believe, after the initial shock, they gradually accepted the truth.
Uncle Henry sighed in relief but deeply regretted what became of my brother.
“How did you siblings end up like this? What will I say to your old man?”
Mike patted my shoulder.
“Lily, live well.”
“I will.”
He smiled and nudged me forward until two figures came into view.
“Mom, Dad.”
They lovingly tightened my coat around me.
“No matter who you were, you are Lily—our daughter.”
I reached out and hugged them both.
“Let's go home. I'm hungry.”
I had promised the original Lily—I would take good care of her parents.
And mine.