1.Chapter 1 We Choose Our Adopted Daughter

"Hugh, choose—your adopted daughter or your real one!" A man's voice boomed, sharp and cold.

Standing on the edge of a building, he held Regina Mitchell forcibly while holding a gun against her temple.

Melinda Mitchell stood next to her, not held down or anything, but she was bawling her eyes out, legs barely holding her up. "Dad! Mom! Forget about me! Save Regina I've been with you guys since I was a kid, but I'm not your blood! Regina is!"

Regina remained silent while looking at those five people opposite her, all looking anxious.

They were her real family—her parents, her two big brothers, and the guy she grew up with, her old neighborhood sweetheart who'd later gotten scooped up by his fancy rich family.

All of their attention was on Melinda; they didn't even spare her a glance.

Hugh Mitchell, Regina's dad, panicked and shouted, "Calm down! Don't do anything impulsive! They're both my daughters! You can tell me whatever you want. I'll hook you up, I swear!"

Breathing hard, the guy shoved the gun harder against Regina's temple. "You wrecked my family, Hugh. I've got nothing left, and I don't want anything. Now pick one!"

Next to them, Melinda exclaimed, "No! Please!"

The man was on the verge of collapsing. "CHOOSE!"

Hugh closed his eyes, making a decision. "I choose Melinda!"

The man snapped, "Who the fuck is Melinda? Just tell me! Is it going to be your adopted daughter and your biological daughter?"

All five of them answered at once.

Hugh shouted, "My adopted daughter!"

Irene Mitchell, Regina's mom, cried, saying in a broken voice, "Yes! We'll choose our adopted daughter!"

Regina's two brothers said without hesitation, "Our adopted sister!"

Regina's childhood sweetheart answered firmly, "Agreed!"

The gunman was stunned. But he kept his word and nodded at Melinda.

Melinda basically crawled away, stumbling into Irene's arms. "Mom!"

Irene checked her out, utterly worried. "It's fine, sweetie. You're safe."

Holding the gun against Regina's temple, the man gawked at them and then turned to Regina in disbelief. "Are they really your parents?"

The expressions of those people changed as they heard his words. They looked at Regina, guilt written all over them, like they'd just remembered she was there.

Irene walked forward, clutching her chest sadly. "Regina, it's not we don't want you. It's just..."

Regina cut her off, calm as ever, talking to the gunman. "I don't have a family anymore. These people? They're nothing to me, and I'm nothing to them. Of course they'd pick their own."

Irene turned ghastly pale at once.

Clive, Regina's oldest brother, frowned deep. "Come on, Regina, how can you say that? You're our real sister, not some random kid. Mom and Dad didn't have a choice here. If we could've saved you both, we would've!"

Brad Mitchell, Regina's second eldest brother, echoed angrily, "Clive is right. Regina, be real! Can't you see what's going on?"

Joseph, her old sweetheart, looked sad and stuck. "Regina, you've always been the level-headed one. I know you've had it rough growing up, but we're out of options here."

Surrounded by them, Melinda kept crying. "Regina, I know you're blaming me. I'll go and replace you now!"

While saying this, she ran toward Regina.

Everyone grabbed her at once. "Don't, Melinda! It's too dangerous!"

The gunman's eyes went wide, and he started laughing like a maniac. "This is gold! You picked the fake one over your own kid? Man, you guys really ARE a family!"

He tightened his grip on Regina's neck and walked closer to the edge of the building. "I'll level with you. There are no bullets in my pistol. If there was, I would have killed all of you already."

Everyone's face changed as they looked at Regina, flustered.

Regina reacted at the same time, wanting to shake the man away.

Yet he pulled her backward hard. "You poor thing. No one wants you. In this way, let's die together!"

Her family instantly reached out, running toward her. "Regina!"

Falling backward uncontrollably, Regina looked at them one last time and saw nothing but panic on their faces.

Except Melinda. She just stood there, smiling at Regina.

Irene dove first, barely grazing Regina's shirt with her fingers, but she was too late.

"Regina!" she screamed.

The second Regina fell, what Irene had said to her echoed in her mind.

"Regina, I know you're mad at your foster mom for swapping you and Melinda as babies. She's awful for putting you through that. But Melinda's innocent here. From now on, you'll live together, like sisters. Whatever she gets, you get too. Me, Hugh, Clive, and Brad—we'll make it right."

2.Chapter 2 Go Back In Time

Regina heard a loud thud, and she sat up in bed at once.

The pain of the fall spread all over her body in an instant.

She was stunned, thinking, 'Where am I? Didn't I die from the fall?'

Suddenly, a gruff voice yelled from outside, "Hey, you little brat! Get up! Go grab me some scotch! Get your lazy butt out of here and go, NOW!"

She climbed out of bed and stepped outside, locking eyes with a guy she knew all too well

It was her deadbeat foster dad, long kicked out of her life.

He was obviously drunk; upon seeing her, he slapped her and held a knife in front of her.

"Go get my booze, now! Or I'll gut you!" he hissed.

His voice rang out, making her dizzy.

Her head tilted aside because of his slap, and her gaze fell on the electronic clock in the living room.

It was May 3rd, 4024.

But that wasn't right; it was supposed to be May 3rd, 4025.

Regina's expression changed.

She thought, 'I went back in time a year? Today is the day before the Mitchells found me?'

Her head was buzzing. At the same time, her foster father kept pointing at her nose and cursing her with nasty words.

Ignoring him, she picked up the key from the table and walked slowly towards the door.

Back then, the Mitchells came to the door one day out of the blue, saying she was their daughter.

They said a massive earthquake had hit Dainville years ago, killing tons of people and leaving chaos in its wake.

At the time of the disaster, countless hospitals collapsed, and the conditions for giving birth were extremely harsh.

Hospitals were rubble, and moms like Regina's foster mom and Irene ended up giving birth in some makeshift shelter.

Both had girls, both husbands were Mitchells, and somehow they hit it off as friends.

Irene seemed sweet and loaded, and Regina's foster mom clocked that fast.

Her foster dad? A drunk jerk who wanted a boy. When he got a girl instead, he never let it go, always mouthing off.

Regina's foster mother didn't want her baby girl to suffer, so she switched the babies.

Irene and Hugh had no clue—raised Melinda like she was theirs.

Regina, however, ended up having a miserable life.

Regina's foster father, blind to the truth, treated her coldly because she was a girl.

Regina, though? She got the short end, stuck with a foster dad who didn't give a damn because she wasn't a son, and a foster mom who stayed cold because Regina wasn't hers.

When Irene and Hugh finally tracked her down, they were thrilled. Her foster parents milked them for a fat stack of cash, then ditched her without a second thought.

Then Regina became part of the Mitchell family again.

Regina went back to the Mitchells, but Melinda didn't get shipped off to her real parents—Irene and Hugh knew they were trash and didn't want her suffering.

Melinda, who had been pampered since she was little, could never bear such suffering.

They kept saying Melinda was innocent, just another victim.

First day back, Melinda bawled her eyes out and skipped dinner. Everyone but Regina rushed to cheer her up.

Regina sat there, eating a family meal eighteen years late, all by herself.

After that, she was just Melinda's punching bag—Melinda couldn't stand seeing her around.

Therefore, she was never part of family dinners, family trips, and family photos. She wasn't even allowed to watch TV with them in the living room.

The only time she joined the family trip, she and Melinda were kidnapped.

At the most critical moment, her family chose Melinda without blinking.

Regina put her hand on the door handle and looked back at the time.

At 8 a.m. tomorrow, those wolves would come to the door and get her "home."

Then both families who had hurt her would both embrace a happy life.

Not today. This was her shot to flip the script.

She put down her hand on the door handle and said, "Dad, I saw Mom with Kendrick."

Kendrick Jimenez was their neighbor. His expression changed slightly as he glared at her sideways. "What did you say?"

She spun around, voice ice-cold. "Every time she says she's working late, she's with him in the next building. If you go now, you'll catch them strolling out together."

She smirked. "They said you're getting in their way. So they're plotting to off you and take your stuff."

His face, red because of the wine, instantly twisted with anger. "She screwed him behind my back again! I'll kill them!"

He picked up the knife and ran out, slamming the door behind him hard.

Listening to him running downstairs, Regina walked to the portrait of her sister, Lily Mitchell.

Lily's bright smile beamed out—she looked about fourteen.

Regina stroked the photo frame gently.

Soon, the shrill screams of a man and a woman came from downstairs.

People outside freaked out. "Oh my God, they're dead! A Murder, MURDER!"

Regina didn't flinch, just kept staring at the picture.

"Lily, this is you, right? You couldn't stand watching me get crushed like that, so you gave me a do-over."

She locked eyes with Lily's photo, dead serious. "Don't worry. This time, I won't let you down."

*****

Meanwhile, at the Mitchell family's place, Irene ran out of her room. "Regina! I must go find Regina!"

Brad and Clive ran out of their rooms. "Mom, what's wrong?"

Her eyes were out of focus as she acted frantically, pouncing at them. "I'll go find Regina! Your real sister!"

The two handsome teenagers looked at each other and both saw the shock in each other's eyes.

"Mom, what? Did you have a bad dream or something? You're not making sense," they asked.

Irene's expression changed slightly. She ran downstairs without saying a word.

She realized that she'd woken up a year back in time. This was her shot to fix things with Regina.

They died at different times, and they might not go back in time as she did.

Before she died, Brad, Clive, and Hugh were abused in other rooms.

She tried to piece things together as she muttered,"We didn't all die at the same time, and maybe they won't come back like I did.

"Let me see… Before I died, Brad, Clive, and Hugh were getting tortured in other rooms..."

She couldn't waste a second.

Just then, the maid's voice came from the living room. "Mr. Mitchell is back."

Irene's eyes lit up as she rushed Hugh. "Hugh, we've got to get Regina! We let her down! I trusted the wrong person, loved the wrong one—I regret it so damn much!"

Hugh, who had just come back from work, was puzzled when he saw her like this. "What's going on? What are you talking about? Who's Regina?"

Irene was stunned and utterly disappointed, thinking, 'You too, Hugh? Am I the only one who goes back in time?'

Having no time to explain, she bypassed them. "I've found my real daughter. I'm going to get her back!"

Brad, Clive, and Hugh were dumbfounded.

They thought, 'Her real daughter?

A week ago, we accidentally found out at the hospital that Melinda isn't related to us by blood.

'Since then, we've been searching for the real one.

'And Irene has already found her?'

They followed Irene to the door.

Just then, Melinda came back with shopping bags and asked happily, "Mom, Dad, are you going out?"

Irene pulled a long face, saying sternly, "None of your business."

Melinda was dumbfounded. "Mom?"

Meanwhile, Hugh's expression changed. "Irene, why are you so mean?"

Brad and Clive didn't get it either. "Indeed, Mom. She's not your blood, but she deserves better than this."

Melinda stood aside in a daze, looking at Irene through tears. "Mom? Did I do something wrong?"

Seeing her pitiful appearance, Irene sneered. Her old memories flashed back.

Years after Regina fell to her death with that gunman, the family couldn't shake the guilt.

The bad feeling haunted them whenever they thought of her.

Irene especially—she'd watched her own kid die right in front of her and never got over it.

Melinda, seeing them all torn up, suggested a family trip to unwind.

Irene fell for it.

Next thing, Melinda colluded with her boyfriend and kidnapped them.

The four were locked in separate rooms, beaten down.

She could clearly hear the screams of Hugh, Clive, and Brad.

She couldn't believe that Melinda would betray her; after all, she had always doted on Melinda. So, she asked Melinda when she was dying, wanting to know why Melinda would do so.

Melinda shrugged. "I always knew you weren't my real mom. People always said we didn't look alike, so I checked our DNA. I've been onto you for a while.

"You've all been moping since Regina died. I'm not even related, so why not take your cash? At least I won't end up with nothing.

You knew my real parents had garbage genes, but you picked me anyway. That's on you."

Irene died in shock and remorse.

She didn't rest easy.

When her eyes popped open, she was back—day before she'd grabbed Regina.

This was her redo.

This time, she was set to protect Regina; she'd never be separated from Regina, her baby girl, again!

She turned to the driver, no hesitation. "Yes, the place I told you. I need to get there ASAP."

3.Chapter 3 I'm So Sorry

Regina got called down to the police station to ID the bodies.

When they pulled back the white sheets, she saw her foster parents' messed-up faces staring back at her.

The police looked at her with sympathy. "Your father drank too much and killed your mother on impulse. Mr. Jimenez, a friend of your mother's, grabbed the knife and cut your father, who snatched the knife back and killed Mr. Jimenez.

"Mr. Jimenez died in the hospital a few hours ago, and his family demands compensation. I'm afraid your parents' inheritance will be used to compensate Mr. Jimenez. Do you know how much money your parents had?"

Regina smirked inside, thinking, 'What a shitshow. They had it coming.'

She put the two pieces of cloth back. "They had no savings, only debt. The most valuable thing they had was their place. I'll use it to clear what they owed."

The police officer was stunned at how calm she was.

In fact, he had known her because she was famous in the neighborhood.

He had been the cop watching the neighborhood for years. When Regina was little, she was always beaten, and the neighbors would always call the police, so he had to mediate.

He watched her grow from a scared kid into this teenage girl who just didn't care anymore.

Later, her parents had Lily—another girl they didn't want.

Regina took the brunt of it, shielding Lily from the worst.

Word was Regina crushed it at school, straight A's, but her folks wouldn't cough up for college. So she ditched her own chance and worked to keep Lily in class.

Then Lily killed herself.

They fished her mangled body out of the frozen river, with a note that poured out how much she loved Regina.

The police looked at Regina with great sympathy. "If you've made up your mind, I can get you an institution so that you can stay there for a while. After all, Dainville is too dangerous for a girl like you."

Dainville—Astrye's wild mix of glitz and grit—was the most jacked-up city on the planet now.

Nowadays, in 4024, tech was nuts: rich people got cyberwares, swapped eyes for the latest gadgets, basically played God.

The poor, though? They scraped by, dodging robberies and murders daily.

A lone girl with no backup didn't stand a chance here.

Regina shook her head. "Thanks, Mr. Wheeler, but I've got a job lined up—comes with a place to stay. Just let me know if you need me for anything."

She left despite Errol Wheeler's persuasion.

The whole year she stayed with the Mitchell family, they gave her the silent treatment; but she gained something after all.

Irene had a sister, Scarlett Sherman, who had always wanted to adopt her.

Irene was a gentle lady.

Unlike her, Scarlett was a legend, a self-made superwoman.

The Mitchells were big shots in Dainville, and the Shermans were right up there too.

Yet Scarlett refused a marriage of interest when she was young, ran away from home, and clawed her way to the top on her own.

She ran the security game—owned a ton of mercenaries and could throw down herself.

Only downside? She got banged up bad back in the day, couldn't have kids.

In Regina's last life, when she heard the Mitchells were sidelining her, Scarlett offered to adopt Regina.

Every time she saw Irene, she would say, "You already have three kids, and I doubt if you have time to take care of Regina. How about I look after her?

"After all, we're all family, and I know her well. Besides, I need an heir."

She even pulled Regina aside once, asking if she'd rather live with her.

Regina didn't shoot it down. The Mitchells didn't want her, and honestly, it didn't matter where she landed—nobody cared either way.

But Irene didn't agree, saying she wanted to do right with Regina and make it up to her.

Scarlett laughed in her face. "Irene, she's a ghost in your house. A whole year, and you haven't even taken her out once. You're full of it."

Irene flew into a rage, and they had a big fight.

Before leaving, Scarlett left Regina her business card, saying that if Regina got sick of the Mitchells and made up her mind to leave, Regina could come find her.

Maybe it was the jab that got to Irene, because the next day, she dragged Regina along on a family outing.

Irene was so determined. She insisted—over Melinda's tears and Hugh, Brad, and Clive bitching about it.

Regina lived with the Mitchells for an entire year, and they had always excluded her from everything they did. Whether it was a family gathering or a holiday, she was always asked to eat alone in her room.

Even on New Year's Eve, she was left by herself at home, all to cater to Melinda's feelings.

That one trip she got to go on? She ended up dead with the gunman.

Now, Regina came to the door of Scarlett's company, waiting.

Scarlett had said she'd be at the office till 8 p.m. every night—couldn't find her at home, hit her up here.

It was precisely 8:00 p.m.

She didn't know Scarlett yet in this timeline, but she figured she could talk her into giving her a shot.

Dainville was brutal—starting from nothing was a grind she didn't have time for.

No degree, sure, but she knew she had transferable skills. She could hustle from the bottom, no doubt.

But she didn't have the patience to start at the bottom.

Scarlett could be her springboard to the top.

Standing at the door, she waited for Scarlett to get off work.

Irene sat in the car, distraught. As she glanced casually out the window, her expression changed. "Stop the car!"

Everyone else in the car looked puzzled. "What's up, Irene? We haven't arrived yet."

Irene jumped out and stared across the street at someone there.

A teenage girl. She was in a faded blue tee, which stuck out like a sore thumb in this rich area.

She had straight and slender legs and a high ponytail, looking tall and thin. At first glance, Irene knew it was Regina.

"Regina!" she yelled.

Hearing Irene's voice, Regina looked back and saw Irene and the others run toward her.

She frowned. "Why's Irene here? She shouldn't even know I'm her kid yet in this timeline."

Before she could think it through, Irene was on her, wrapping her in a tight hug. "Sweetie, I'm so sorry for everything you've been through. I know this sounds nuts, but I'm your real mom. Those people in the slums? They're not your blood."

She clung to Regina like she'd float away, sobbing, "Come home with me, please!"

Regina stood there, dazed, staring past Irene.

Hugh was eyeing her like she was a puzzle. Clive and Brad looked sketched out. Melinda just stood there, pale as hell.

Same damn scene all over again.

A flash of fury hit her, and she shoved Irene off. "Who are you?"

Irene stumbled back, tears welling up in her eyes as she clutched her chest and said, "I'm your mom. Your real mom!"

Clive stepped up, shocked. "I hate to admit it, but you're definitely our sister."

Regina looked exactly like him.

Her facial features resembled Irene, Hugh, Brad, and him.

She was even better looking than Brad and him.

Among the rich, the Mitchells definitely stood out in terms of appearances; only Melinda was the exception.

Clive didn't need more proof—this girl was his sister for sure.

4.Chapter 4 Don't Stay In My Way

Brad was slack-jawed. He murmured, "Damn! I don't even think a paternity test is necessary. Just look at her face!"

Melinda, standing behind them, flashed a quick scowl. She stepped forward and said with a hint of sadness, "That's so great. The family's finally back together. Guess it's time for me to head back where I came from."

Brad and Clive's faces twisted up, and they jumped in fast. "What are you saying, Melinda? Even with Regina here, you're still family. We're not ditching you."

But she started crying harder, looking crushed. "I took her spot, though. I should just go."

It killed Hugh to see her like this. "Melinda, we will make it up to Regina, but we won't neglect you. Don't overthink."

Brad and Clive said in unison, "Dad's right. Don't worry, Melinda!"

Looking at them, Regina sneered, "Who said I'd go home with you?"

They were stunned. Before any of them responded, a brisk female voice rang out.

"Irene? Hugh? Why are you all here?" someone exclaimed.

Turning around, Regina saw Scarlett coming out of the office.

She was flanked by a crew of slick bodyguards, strutting over like she owned the place.

Upon seeing Regina, Scarlett paused slightly; her expression changed, and the way she looked at Regina was like she saw an old acquaintance who wasn't supposed to be here.

Regina strode toward Scarlett. "I know you're looking for an heir. If it's OK with you, I want to be your adopted daughter."

Scarlett was puzzled.

Hugh's face darkened. "What's that supposed to mean, Regina? Irene and I are your parents—standing right here—and you're shopping for a new mom?"

Irene turned ghastly pale. "What are you talking about, Regina? I'm here. Just come home with me."

Melinda said, sobbing, "Regina, what's gotten into you?"

Clive and Brad were pissed. "Seriously, Regina? Mom and Dad are right here. Quit playing the pity card!"

Regina ignored them, dipped a quick bow to Scarlett, and said, steady as hell, "They are NOT my family. I Grew up in the slums. I can handle tough stuff and I'm ready to hustle.

"No fancy degree, but I was an A-student back in school. Check it out if you want."

Scarlett was speechless, but her eyes sparked with something—curiosity, maybe.

She thought, "Wait, I'm not the only one who jumped back in time? Did Regina come back too? Is that why she's here, pitching herself as my daughter?"

Melinda, off to the side, let a tiny smirk slip before grabbing Clive and Brad's hands, tears flowing. "Please talk to her. Is she mad I took her place? Is that why she's pulling this rebel act to mess with Mom and Dad?"

Clive's face turned red. "Figures. She didn't grow up with us, doesn't see us as family. She's just trying to guilt-trip us. So manipulative—and she's terrible at hiding it!"

Right then, Regina yanked off her T-shirt.

Just as they wanted to stop her, they saw that underneath her T-shirt was a thin tank top.

Her body was covered with all kinds of scars, including even a few nasty scald marks from cigarette butts.

The Mitchells' faces dropped. They couldn't believe it.

So many scars—Regina's life must've been like hell in the past 18 years.

Irene's eyes widened, and she burst into tears.

She had been with Regina for an entire year during their past life, but she was totally unaware of those scars.

Dumbfounded, Scarlett gawked at Regina, who just stood there, defiant as ever.

The night breeze hit, raising goosebumps on Regina's arms through the tank top, but she didn't flinch.

She squared up and said, "See? I can take a beating. No college degree, but I've been scrapping in underground boxing for cash. I'm good—damn good. Everyone in that scene knows my name. I can be your mercenary, your best fighter.

"I'll be your assistant, your heir, whatever you need. Just give me a shot!"

Regina bowed deeply to Scarlett again.

"I swear I won't fail you!" she promised loudly.

Silence filled the scene.

Scarlett reached out and touched the cigarette marks on Regina's back. "Who did this to you?"

Regina's eyes dimmed as she replied honestly, "My dad."

Scarlett stared at the cluster of marks—five or so, all mashed together like they'd been done in one go.

She pressed her lips, feeling sorry for Regina. "It must have hurt."

Regina straightened up. "A little back then, but I'm alright now."

Her bright eyes sparkled with hope. "He's dead anyway"

Scarlett froze, then softened, looking at Regina's blank face with a pang of pity.

Meanwhile, Hugh stared at the scars on Regina, frowned deeply, and clenched his fists tightly. "How dare they do this to her! I'll make them pay!"

At the same time, Irene clutched her chest, sobbing.

Clive and Brad stared at each of Regina's scars, murmuring in a daze, "She's gone through so much..."

Only Melinda, always the crybaby, was deadpan. She stared at Regina's scars intently, her gaze burning.

In this solemn atmosphere, a handsome man next to Scarlett suddenly took off his suit jacket and draped it over Regina.

A bit surprised, Regina glanced at the small black-and-gold nameplate on the suit jacket.

His name was Steve Madison.

She said with gratitude, "Thanks."

Steve glanced at her deeply and then went back to stand beside Scarlett, who looked at him in shock, having a hard time believing what she had seen.

He avoided her eyes, a little sheepish.

With a teasing smile, she turned to Regina. "Alright. I..."

"Regina, come home with me. I have no idea you went through this much!" Suddenly, Irene grabbed Regina's hand.

Frowning imperceptibly, Regina looked at Irene coldly.

Utterly remorseful, Irene said to her, "I'll make it up to you. I will never let you suffer again!"

Hugh echoed, feeling sorry for Regina, "Indeed, Regina. I'm sure you're our daughter. But to be on the safe side, let's take a paternity test, and then you'll come home with us. From now on, we'll be family."

Clive and Brad didn't say much, but their faces softened, pity creeping in as they looked at her.

Standing aside sadly, Melinda looked at Hugh and then Irene, and then she walked up to Regina with tears in her eyes. "Regina, I'm so sorry."

She kept going, voice trembling, "I'll switch with you—go live where you grew up. Maybe that'll give you back those eighteen years somehow."

"No!" Brad protested eagerly. "Clearly, she grew up in a hellish place. If you live there, you'll suffer! You can't go there. Stay here! Both you and Regina matter to us."

Gratified, Clive looked at Melinda. "Melinda, we know you're always sensible and mature, but you did nothing wrong. It wasn't you who switched yourself and her in the first place. Relax. You don't have to go live there. We'll continue to be nice to you."

Hugh pulled Melinda close, patting her shoulder. "You're my daughter—Regina too. No favorites. We've got you both."

Sobbing, Melinda asked, "Really?"

Hugh, Brad, and Clive nodded hard. Irene didn't.

Raising an eyebrow, Regina looked at the warm scene; she used to see similar scenes every day in the past.

It happened in the morning, at noon, and in the evening.

It made her want to puke.

She snorted. "You guys deaf or what?"

They all stopped, stunned.

Chin up, she glared down at them. "My parents are dead. I've got no family. So how about you quit blocking me while I pick my new mom, yeah?"

5.Chapter 5 Regina's Physical Test

Hugh and Irene widened their eyes in great disbelief.

Meanwhile, Brad and Clive were furious. "What did you just say?!"

On the contrary, Scarlett smiled, "Alright. As you wish."

Regina's eyes instantly lit up. "Really?"

Immediately, Irene stepped forward. "Scarlett, what do you mean? Regina is my daughter. I'm taking her home!"

Raising an eyebrow, Scarlett said disapprovingly, "Really? Did you do a paternity test?"

Choked on her words, Irene pointed at Regina. "Look at her face. Do you really think a paternity test is necessary?"

"So that's a no." Scarlett's smile stayed, but her eyes were ice. "Irene, I don't have an heir—you know I'm on the hunt for one. She's throwing her hat in the ring, so how about you don't block her shot, huh?"

Irene snapped, furious. "You've got kids lining up to be your heir, and you turn them all down! Now you're stealing my girl? I carried her, not you! You don't know what it's like!"

Scarlett was at a loss for words for a second. Then she looked at Regina. "Let Regina choose then."

She turned to Regina, voice steady. "Being my daughter ain't easy. I've got enemies—lots of them. If you're my heir, you're a target. Kidnappings, ambushes—that's your new normal. You'll hurt, you'll stress, you'll live on edge. You ready for that?"

Irene, tears streaming, begged, "Regina, I know you've been through hell, and you hate me for it. Take it out on me—I deserve it.

"I screwed up, didn't protect you. I'm sorry. Come home. I swear I'll make you happy from now on—no more pain."

Hugh looked serious.

Meanwhile, Clive and Brad glared at Regina, trying their best to suppress their anger.

Everyone was looking at her.

Without hesitation, she walked toward Scarlett.

Irene's expression changed drastically as she grabbed Regina's hand.

Yet she shook Irene's hand away hard and came to Scarlett. "Thanks for taking me in, Mom."

The Mitchells gaped, floored.

Irene lost it, wailing, "Why?"

She was so confused. 'Why did Regina choose Scarlett over her?'

Scarlett's eyes flickered with something like respect. "Good choice. One catch—to be my girl, you've gotta pass a physical. Your combat cyberware capacity's got to hit five. That's the bar for me to adopt you."

Regina nodded. "You call the shots, Mom."

In the year 4024, humanity has perfected blending technology with flesh. They attach advanced machines and electronics to—or inside—their bodies, calling them cyberwares.

These upgrades can boost your abilities, replace damaged organs, or make you a serious fighter.

About ninety percent of people stick to the basics—simple cyberwares for everyday life that aren't built for combat.

Combat cyberware, though? That's another level. Only a rare few can handle it—those with exceptional physiques and rock-solid willpower.

They're walking treasures, highly valued by any nation. But there's a limit. Push too much combat cyberwares into your body, and you're done—your mind breaks, and you turn into a cyborg nuts, unstoppable until you're stopped.

Once someone crosses that line, there's no going back. They either lock you up in a mental ward or end it right there.

How many combat cyberwares one could take, so so called the "capacity level", determined their fighting potential.

For Regina to step into Scarlett's role as heir, she had to get combat cyberwares installed. Without them, she'd never hold up under the weight of that title.

Twenty minutes later, Regina was stretched out on a couch in the cyber-clinic's waiting room, flipping through a pop-science magazine.

Irene plopped down beside her, pleading, "Regina, I get it—you blame me for not shielding you as a kid. But Scarlett's life is brutal. She's fighting nonstop, dealing with chaos. What if you die?"

Regina didn't look up from the page. "At least I'd go out swinging against an enemy. Beats getting screwed over by a bunch of people who picked sides."

Irene was shocked. "What?"

Looking into her eyes, Regina said, "You went back in time, didn't you?"

Irene widened her eyes in disbelief.

Regina smirked. "Yeah, me too. Funny how that works."

Irene was totally dumbfounded.

A nurse walked out of another room. "Miss Mitchell? The instrument is ready for your test."

Regina entered the room without looking back.

Ghastly pale, Irene sat on the couch, trembling all over.

She thought, 'What's she mean? She remembers it all—why she died, how we treated her, every time we left her alone? Everything?'

She stood up and walked to the observation room, feeling unreal.

She saw Scarlett, Steve, Hugh, and Melinda.

Clive and Brad rolled in with a pack of sharp-looking teens. "Test started yet?"

Melinda's face lit up when she saw one of them. "Roy!"

Roy Morton glanced at her and nodded nonchalantly in response.

Melinda smiled, thrilled.

Those were the potential heirs of those rich families in Astrye, and they were stunningly handsome, utterly pleasant to the eyes.

Blushing, she asked, "Why are you all here?"

Brad shrugged. "Ran into 'em. They're here for their regular combat cyberware checkups. Told them about Regina, and they got curious—tagged along to watch."

Melinda nodded, sneaking a shy peek at Roy. "Poor Regina. Wonder what capacity level she's on. Hope she doesn't make it—then she can come home, and we'll all be together."

Scarlett, off to the side, fidgeted.

If Regina's capacity numbers tanked, no combat cyberware, no adoption—didn't matter how much she liked her, it'd be a death sentence to force the cyberwares inside her.

The doctor in charge of the test spoke, "If you're done changing, come out."

The curtains of the dressing room were slowly drawn back.

Regina came out in a tight suit.

The eyes of the teenagers lit up.

Meanwhile, Clive and Brad's faces twitched.

Regina's figure was well-proportioned. She had nice shoulders, a narrow waist, and long, straight legs.

Even if she stood among a crowd, she stood out.

Melinda's heart sank as she didn't know Regina would look this good in the tight suit. She glanced at Regina's height on the screen.

It turned out Regina was 5.7 feet tall.

Melinda gritted her teeth and instinctively looked at Roy, only to see he was staring at Regina intently.

His eyes showed his interest in Regina, and he didn't even notice that.

Taking a microphone, the doctor said, "No need to be nervous. Walk to the instrument and put your hand in it."

A blond teen lounging against the wall grinned at Brad and Clive. "You two hit level-eights on your capacity. She's your sister—wonder what she'll pull."

Brad scoffed. "Four, tops."

Clive said with disdain, "No way she's a five."

Melinda looked at them. "I remember that Brad and Clive each got an eight, and you each got a nine, right? That's so impressive!"

It was extremely rare to get a nine out of ten.

Nines and drop-dead gorgeous like these boys? Unicorn territory.

None of them wanted to talk to her. Ignoring her, they stared at the test room.

The sound of the instrument grew louder and faster; it seemed it was scanning some inexplicable body.

The doctor stared at the number on the screen in astonishment. "Seven? Seriously?"

The expressions of the Mitchell brothers changed.

Scarlett shoved past the crowd, zeroing in on the number.

Regina got a seven.

The number kept jumping up.

The doctor's eyes widened. "Hold on—she's an eight!"

Brad bolted to the screen. "No way!"

Hitting an eight put Regina on the same level as him!

Irene stared, stunned. "Regina's got so much potential!"

Everyone turned to Regina, mouths hanging open.

She didn't even notice—she was too busy yawning.

And the number was still climbing!