She Tried to Steal My Mother's Fortune And Paid the Price

A week before my parents' sixteenth wedding anniversary, my dad gave my mom a diamond necklace worth over two hundred thousand dollars. Instead, I immediately fastened it around the neck of my flamboyant classmate. Because in my previous life, three days after my mom put on that necklace, she became a completely different person. The way she looked at me turned cold and distant. She flew into rages over the smallest things, throwing objects and calling me a worthless burden. One day, I casually complained about her best friend, Vanessa Moore, and she slapped me hard across the face. Then, late one night, I passed my parents' bedroom on my way to the bathroom and overheard a conversation inside. That was when I learned the diamond necklace was cursed. It could swap my mother's soul with Vanessa's. I called the police immediately. Instead, they insisted I was mentally ill and forced me into a psychiatric hospital. I endured endless abuse and humiliation there before dying a miserable death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my dad gave my mom the necklace. Chapter 1 "Crystal, what are you daydreaming about? Come take a look at the necklace I bought for your mother. Isn't it beautiful?" My father's voice pulled me back to reality. A gentle, refined smile rested on his face. The moment I saw the diamond necklace gleaming with its icy brilliance, my scalp went numb. Cold sweat broke out across my back, and my fingertips trembled uncontrollably. The hellish scenes from my previous life came flooding back in an instant. After stealing my mother's soul, Vanessa Moore took over her identity and spent every day tormenting me. She beat and berated me whenever she pleased, threw away all my belongings, and spread rumors everywhere, telling people I was bitter, ungrateful, and difficult. When I discovered the truth, I went to the police and begged our relatives for help. But my biological father, Richard Lowe, was determined to protect the comfortable life he gained through his connection to a wealthy family. He joined forces with Vanessa and turned everything against me. They twisted the truth, claiming I was mentally unstable and suffering from delusions. They forcibly dragged me into a psychiatric institution when I was still only a teenager. It was never a place for healing. It was a living nightmare. Whenever the orderlies were in a bad mood, they would hit and curse at me without reason. They would lock me in a freezing, pitch-black isolation cell and leave me there for days. They forced bitter sedatives down my throat until I was dizzy, nauseated, and barely conscious. The violent patients bullied me, stole my meals, ripped my clothes, and shoved me onto the cold floor before trampling over me at will. I cried and begged for mercy countless times, hoping my father would remember that I was his daughter and come take me home, away from that hell. But even until my death, I never received a shred of compassion from him. Richard lived comfortably off the fortune Vanessa stole from my mother's family. Meanwhile, Vanessa wore my mother's face and basked in wealth, admiration, and endless luxury. Just as my mother reached toward the jewelry box, I deliberately stumbled and swung my arm hard across the table. Crash! Half a cup of warm water splashed directly onto the jewelry box. "I'm sorry, Dad! I didn't mean to!" I pretended to panic, quickly grabbed some tissues, and began wiping it off. My father's expression darkened instantly. His eyes filled with impatience, and it was obvious he was about to lose his temper. My mother immediately stepped in front of me and spoke gently: "It's alright, it's alright. Crystal must be exhausted from studying and simply got distracted. Don't blame her." She looked at me with concern, her eyes filled with the warmth and affection that had belonged to my mother before she was replaced. My real mother still stood before me, untouched and unchanged. The sight made my nose sting, and I nearly teared up. This was really my mother. I forced down the hatred and sorrow surging inside me and spoke as naturally as I could. "Dad, Mom's hands are covered in sauce. It'd be a shame to get a necklace that expensive dirty. She can put it on after we finish eating." My father's gaze darkened as he stared at me. He was just about to object when his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID and hurried off to the balcony to take the call. I took advantage of the opportunity and quickly hid the cursed necklace. When he returned after finishing the call, I smiled and spoke in an obedient tone. "Dad, if you're busy, go ahead. I'll help Mom put it on later." My father looked hesitant, but he didn't dare make it too obvious. In the end, he could only nod. "Alright. Take a photo and send it to me after she puts it on." With that, he hurried out the door. My mother was still sitting beside me, absentmindedly placing pieces of crab onto my plate, completely unaware that anything was wrong. "Mom, come to my room with me. I need to tell you something important." Chapter 2 My mother immediately noticed something was wrong and followed me into my bedroom. "What is it, Crystal? What's happened?" The moment I saw my mother standing there, safe and unharmed, all the fear and humiliation from my previous life came rushing back. Tears spilled down my face before I could stop them. "Mom! Dad is trying to hurt you! That necklace is cursed. If you wear it, you'll switch bodies with Vanessa. You can't touch it!" My mother's brows knitted together instantly. She was the CEO of a major corporation, a woman with sharp instincts and a clear mind. In truth, she had long suspected there was something inappropriate going on between my father and Vanessa. She only endured it all for my sake. "Slow down. Tell me exactly what's going on." She gripped my hand tightly. I told her everything that happened in my previous life, leaving out nothing. When I finished, the shock on her face gradually gave way to a coldness that seemed to settle into her bones. Ice filled her eyes. After a long silence, she gently wiped away my tears. "I was foolish. You've suffered because of me. I noticed there was something going on between them, but I never imagined they could be this vicious." A ruthless edge flashed across her eyes. "Don't be afraid, Crystal. This time, they won't get away with it." The burden I carried for an entire lifetime finally lifted from my heart. In my previous life, I died alone. But this time, my mother and I would stand together and make those two pay for everything they had done. I wiped away my tears, a calculating glint flashing across my eyes. "Mom, I've already figured out how we're going to deal with them." My mother immediately called in her connections and tracked down a master jeweler known for creating flawless replicas. After photographing every detail of the necklace, she paid six hundred thousand dollars upfront and had him produce an identical copy overnight. While the replica was still being made, my mother put on the real necklace for a few seconds, took several photos, and sent them to my father. Just as we expected, he was thrilled. He showered her with compliments, completely falling into the trap we had set. To avoid having my father discover the switch too early, my mother came up with an excuse and temporarily moved out of the house. My father was still clueless enough to remind her repeatedly not to take the necklace off and to wear it every single day. The next day, as soon as I walked into the classroom, I spotted Samuel Cook admiring himself in a compact mirror. He carefully touched up his lipstick and fussed over his perfectly styled bangs. His school uniform had been tailored to fit closer to his waist, making him look even slimmer and more delicate than some of the girls in our class. A passing boy couldn't resist teasing him. "Well, look at that. Samuel's pretending to be a girl again. Want me to buy you a dress?" Samuel immediately shot him a glare and planted his hands on his hips. "Mind your own business. Keep running your mouth and I'll scratch your face off." The boys laughed and walked away. Everyone at school knew Samuel had always wished he'd been born a girl. He loved pretty clothes, makeup, and anything fashionable. Deep down, he hated being trapped in a male body. I walked straight over and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. He jumped and looked at me warily. "Are you here to make fun of me too?" I pulled a velvet jewelry box from my backpack and held it out to him. "I'm not here to make fun of you. I'm here to give you something special." Samuel opened the box in confusion. The diamond inside was so large and dazzling that it practically blinded him. "I-Is this a real diamond?" I spoke casually. "This necklace was blessed by a renowned spiritual medium. It's said to possess a special power. Wear it continuously for three days, and your deepest wish will come true." Samuel's eyes lit up instantly. "Really? If I wear it for three days, I'll turn into a woman?" "More effective than surgery," I replied calmly. "You won't become a teenage girl, though. More like a woman in her thirties—beautiful, sophisticated, and absolutely stunning." Before I could finish, Samuel cut me off excitedly. "I don't care how old I am! I'll take it! As long as I can finally be a real woman!" He snatched up the necklace and immediately fastened it around his neck, treating it like the most precious thing in the world. "Don't worry! I won't take it off for three days. I'll sleep and shower in it; I'll wear it every second of the day!" Over the next few days, Samuel guarded the necklace as if his life depended on it. Anyone who so much as touched it earned an instant outburst. Even during gym class, he kept one hand clamped over his collar, terrified it might fall off. Meanwhile, I quietly counted down the days. In just one more day, the soul-swapping ritual would take effect. Coincidentally, it would also be the sixteenth wedding anniversary charity gala for my parents. Chapter 3 When I got home after school that evening, the first thing I saw was Vanessa sitting comfortably on our living room sofa as though she belonged there. She was seated right beside my mother, her fingers constantly brushing over the replica necklace around my mother's neck. The jealousy and anticipation in her eyes were barely concealed. "Nina, your skin is so fair. That necklace looks absolutely gorgeous on you. I'm so jealous you have a husband who spoils you this much." My mother put on a shy smile. "That's just his way of showing he cares. I've been wearing it for days and can hardly bear to take it off." My father listened from the side and exchanged a subtle glance with Vanessa. Neither of them could hide the satisfaction tugging at their lips. They were convinced their plan was foolproof. All they had to do was wait until after the gala, when Vanessa would steal my mother's body and take over her fortune, status, and entire life. My father even put on the act of a loving parent as he walked over and patted my shoulder. "Crystal, your grades improved quite a bit on the last exams. What would you like as a reward? I will buy it for you." He looked as though the family fortune was already in his pocket. I raised my eyes and smiled faintly. "Thanks, Dad. You’ve already given me what I wanted." He completely missed the meaning behind my words and happily wandered off to cut up some fruit. Not long afterward, Vanessa stood to leave. Before she left, she deliberately added, "I'll definitely be at tomorrow night's charity gala. I've even prepared a very special surprise for you." My mother smiled and walked her to the door. The moment it closed behind her, every trace of warmth vanished from her face, leaving only icy contempt. "A surprise? She's just waiting to take over my life." I leaned against the doorframe and pulled out my phone, sending Samuel a message inviting him to the charity gala that evening His reply arrived instantly, filled with exclamation points and dancing emojis. [Crystal! Once I turn into a beautiful woman, I'll be your best friend forever!] I slipped my phone away and curled my lips into a cold smile. The main event was about to begin and I could already imagine how spectacular it was going to be. … The charity gala was held in the grand ballroom of a luxury hotel in the city center. My mother wore a custom wine-red mermaid gown, with the nearly flawless replica diamond necklace resting around her neck. With her arm linked through my father's, she entered the ballroom at a leisurely pace and instantly became the center of attention. The room buzzed with compliments and admiration. My father was grinning from ear to ear, his eyes filled with confidence and ambition, as though my mother was already firmly under his control. Across the ballroom, I immediately spotted Vanessa making her entrance. She had deliberately chosen a gown in the same color palette as my mother's. With glamorous waves, dramatic makeup, and a show-stopping outfit, she looked more eager to be the lady of the house than a guest. The moment she saw my father, they exchanged a quick glance. Their smug anticipation was written all over their faces. Vanessa had been dreaming of this moment for a long time. In her mind, she would soon take my mother's place, inherit her wealth, and enjoy the admiration that came with it. Just then, my phone vibrated. A message from Samuel popped up. [I'm at the hotel entrance!] I left the ballroom and found Samuel standing nervously outside. He was wearing a navy pleated skirt, white slouch socks, and polished Mary Jane shoes. His hair was styled with meticulous care. Around his neck hung the diamond necklace, glittering brilliantly beneath the lights. "Crystal, my heart's racing. Are you sure this is really going to work?" His voice trembled with nerves. I patted him lightly on the shoulder. "Relax. If you start feeling dizzy later, just lean on me. Don't fall and hurt yourself." I led him into the ballroom through a side entrance. The large clock on the wall struck exactly seven o'clock. At that very moment, Vanessa, who had been watching my parents cut their anniversary cake, suddenly grabbed her head and staggered. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed to the floor. Beside me, Samuel's legs gave out as well, and he slumped against my shoulder. The ballroom instantly erupted into chaos. My father was the first to rush forward. He dropped to his knees beside Vanessa and pulled her into his arms. "Vanessa! Are you alright? Don't scare me!" I helped Samuel sit against the wall. About thirty seconds later, the two unconscious figures slowly opened their eyes almost simultaneously. The first to wake was Samuel, now occupying Vanessa's body. He froze for two seconds before frantically touching his face, running his fingers through his long hair, and staring down at his new figure. His eyes lit up instantly. He spun in a delighted circle on the spot, unable to contain his excitement.