Seraphina Sterling's maternal grandmother lived in Tollan Town, a small border town. The scenery was gorgeous, and it was rich in beautiful jade, but transportation was rather inconvenient. In her previous life, it had been developed into a tourist city within a few years, but for now, it was just an ordinary, even somewhat impoverished, little town.
Kimberly Jennings, looking travel-weary, led Seraphina along until they finally saw the gate to the Jennings family home. Kimberly carried a suitcase in one hand and held Seraphina's with the other. "Seraphina, we're almost at Grandma's. Once we get there, everything will be all right."
Seraphina Sterling remained silent. In her previous life, she had witnessed her father's murder with her own eyes. The immense trauma had caused her to develop autism. Now, she simply didn't want to speak. She had already accepted the fact of her rebirth over the past few days. Looking at her mother, who was so full of hope about seeing her family, Seraphina didn't know how to tell her that the relatives she so longed for were nothing more than a pack of bloodsuckers.
'Once they had swindled every last penny from her and decided she was no longer useful, all that was left for them to offer was scorn, insults, curses, and contempt! They eventually forced her and her mother out onto the streets to brave the elements. It was then that Justin Hale appeared, saving them like a god descending from the heavens. That was why she had fallen so hopelessly in love with him, a love that ultimately led to her tragic end.'
'But since she had already decided to get her revenge, she would absolutely not let things follow the same path as her previous life!'
"Kimberly, you're back! Come in, come in! The journey was so long, you must be exhausted. Quick, have some water and rest. Zachary, don't just stand there, help Kimberly with her suitcase! Honestly, you coming back is more than enough. You didn't have to bring gifts!" Aria Cheney ushered Kimberly and her daughter into the house with great enthusiasm, but her eyes were glued to the beautiful silver suitcase, practically gleaming.
Kimberly's expression faltered, a hint of embarrassment on her face. It was true that every other time she had returned, she'd brought a suitcase packed with gifts for the family. But this time was different; the suitcase only contained her and her daughter's personal belongings.
"Kimberly, your sister-in-law has been talking about you all day," said Zachary Jennings, the eldest of the Jennings siblings. "The food's been ready for a while, and our third brother's family is here too. The three of us haven't seen each other in so long. You should stay for a while this time so we can have a proper get-together!" He had a simple, honest face and was a genuinely good-natured man, a true rarity.
"Auntie, Auntie, did you buy me a pretty floral dress?" Sylvia Jennings, the third brother's daughter, came running over. But she wasn't there to greet Kimberly; she made a beeline for the suitcase in Zachary's hands!
"Auntie, did you buy me that learning machine I asked for last time?" Ray Jennings, the family's only grandson, rushed over as well. The two of them were truly cut from the same cloth; even their demanding tones were identical.
"Auntie, have some water. It's so hot outside, you must be thirsty," said Zoe Jennings, Zachary's daughter. She was the only one who still showed some genuine familial affection for her aunt.
"Auntie, open the suitcase! I want to see my presents! I want my pretty dress!" In Sylvia Jennings's eyes, Kimberly was just someone who bought her gifts.
"Yeah, Auntie, I want my learning machine! I'm the only boy in the Jennings family, and the family is counting on me to carry on the bloodline! So hurry up and give me my learning machine, I need to study!" In truth, all Ray wanted to do was play games.
"You two, stop squabbling! Where are your manners? Your aunt will certainly grant your wishes. It's just a dress and a learning machine, right? Your aunt is very rich; things like this are nothing to her!" The siblings' mother walked over. She seemed to be disciplining her children, but there was hardly any trace of reprimand in her voice.
Kimberly's expression grew even more strained. "Sylvia, Ray, I'm so sorry, but Auntie didn't bring you any gifts this time." The moment Kimberly's words left her mouth, the siblings' expressions instantly curdled.
"You're so cheap, Auntie! You couldn't even buy me one little dress!" Sylvia Jennings shrieked. "Who visits someone's house empty-handed? You're a grown-up, how can you be so shameless! Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you if they find out?"
The word "visits" sent a tremor through Kimberly's heart.
"Go away! Leave right now! You can't come to our house if you don't have my learning machine! I want my learning machine! I want my learning machine!" Ten-year-old Ray immediately threw a tantrum, grabbing Kimberly's clothes and trying to drag her back outside.
Kimberly had come to her parents and brothers seeking refuge, filled with immense hope. She never imagined she would be met with this. A sharp pain stabbed at her heart.
"You little brat, stop it!" Zeke Jennings, the third brother, strode over and kicked Ray. "Your aunt just forgot to bring you a gift. She's loaded, so it's the same if she just buys it for you now. How can you be so rude!" The kick sent Ray wailing.
Seeing this, the grandmother, who doted on her grandson, immediately pulled Ray into her arms. "What do you think you're doing? Can't you talk things out? I'll have your hide if you hurt my precious grandson! Ray, don't be afraid. Grandma will protect you!" Among all her descendants, the old matriarch doted on Ray the most. It was precisely because of this that he had become the Jennings family's little Demon King.
"Kimberly, hurry up and go buy Ray a learning machine," the old woman demanded, heaping all the blame on Kimberly. "When did you get so cheap you wouldn't even buy your own nephew a learning machine?"
Although Kimberly felt deeply wronged, the thought that she and her daughter would be living here from now on made her want to avoid conflict. Not wanting to strain relations with her family, she was about to agree.
Seraphina took it all in. 'In my last life, it was precisely because of this tantrum that Mom reluctantly took out some money to buy them gifts. That single act revealed she had cash, and from that moment on, this family never stopped scheming to get it. Since I'm going to change our fate, I'll start right now!'
Before Kimberly could answer, Seraphina spoke up. "Grandma, Dad is dead. Mom and I were kicked out of the Sterling Family home with nothing. All we have are a few changes of clothes. We don't have any money. Mom brought me here to take refuge with you all."