In my last life, that’s exactly what he did.

"Where is he now?"

The maid answered cautiously, "He… he went to celebrate Miss Shaw's birthday."

After sending the maid away, I texted Holt Lennox to thank him for saving me.

Holt didn't ask many questions. He just told me to rest and to call him first, no matter what happened from now on.

After closing the chat, I saw a new post from Zane and smirked.

In the video, he and Shane were singing "Happy Birthday" to Jocelyn, while my brother sat nearby, his eyes full of affection.

"Thank you all so much," Jocelyn said sweetly. "This is the best birthday I've ever had."

And around her neck was my necklace.

I asked the maid if Zane had been in my room.

She answered nervously, "Yes. He and Mr. Bishop said they were leaving a new dress for you, as an apology from Miss Shaw, so you wouldn't be angry anymore."

Zane and Shane had always been close to me, so they came and went from my room as they pleased. The staff never stopped them.

This time, a designer dress was lying on my bed.

It was just like last time. To stand up for Jocelyn, they'd put a tainted dress on my bed.

I wore it to a party the night before I was supposed to leave the country and broke out in a horrible rash all over my body.

This time, I had the maid wrap it up nicely. "I don't need another dress. Please give this to Miss Shaw."

Since they liked Jocelyn so much, she could be the one to wear it.

That day, I reported my necklace as stolen and called the police.

When Jocelyn returned from her birthday celebration, ready to gloat, she was stopped at the door by two officers.

I feigned shock. "Jocelyn, my stolen necklace… why is it around your neck?"

Kian barked, "It's just a necklace! Do you have to be so dramatic?"

I stared at him, my eyes turning red. "That necklace was the last thing Mom left me before she died."

Kian's face went pale. After sending the police away, he turned to Jocelyn.

"Jocelyn, give her back the necklace. I'll buy you a much more expensive one!"

Jocelyn played the part of the understanding victim perfectly, immediately taking it off. "I'm so sorry, Elara."

But as I reached out to take it, her hand "slipped."

The necklace hit the floor with a sickening crack, shattering into several pieces.

At the same time, Jocelyn herself stumbled and fell to the ground.

Kian immediately roared, "Elara, what are you doing?!"

Zane and Shane jumped in front of Jocelyn, their eyes full of suspicion.

"Elara, she was already giving it back to you! Did you have to push her?"

Seeing this, my heart turned to ice. I knelt down, gathered the broken pieces of the necklace, and turned to go to my room.

But Kian grabbed my arm. "Apologize to Jocelyn."

"And if I don't?"

His expression hardened. "If you don't, I'll have Dad cut your allowance in half and give the rest to Jocelyn!"

I slammed my bedroom door shut, ignoring all of them.

Through the door, I heard Kian's voice. "From now on, she's living here. If you bully her again, I won't be so nice!"

Later that evening, I overheard Zane, Shane, and Jocelyn talking downstairs.

"You guys put that tainted dress on Elara's bed to make her break out in a rash just for me? Aren't you afraid she'll be furious?"

Zane scoffed. "She bullied you like that. It was just a little lesson."

Shane nodded. "Just a small lesson, that's all."

They wanted to hurt me? Too bad someone else was about to get hurt instead.

The next morning, Jocelyn came downstairs, happily wearing that very dress.

When my dad saw her, his brow furrowed. "Jocelyn, why are you living here?"

Kian explained, "Dad, Elara chose Jocelyn to go abroad with her. They're supposed to leave today, right?"

He turned to comfort Jocelyn. "Don't worry. I'm going with you guys this time. I won't let her bully you."

My dad's frown deepened.

"Who told you Elara chose Jocelyn to go with her?"

"She changed her mind. She's not even going abroad anymore!"