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Sophia beamed her usual bright smile. "Ethan! Dad! Mom! I'm home!"
But the scene wasn't what she expected. No joy greeted her.
They looked ravaged. Their hair seemed to have whitened overnight.
Sophia waited. No response. "Mom? Dad?" she tried.
Their expressions were grim, fists clenched around their phones.
"You... you're Sophia?" Ethan's smile was strained. "Where's Bella? What happened to her?"
Her confirmation sealed it. My parents exchanged a tear-filled glance.
Sophia knew my return meant my spirit was gone.
She wouldn't say that. She shook her head sadly. "Bella must have... given up again."
The family flinched, remembering their own cruelty.
Guilt bowed their heads. Sophia feigned sorrow.
[Hilarious! These idiots actually bought it!]
Ethan snapped his head up, searching for the voice. No one spoke.
My parents looked up too. Their eyes met.
[Good riddance. This body is mine now.]
[Host, congratulations. You played them perfectly.]
Sophia smiled inwardly.
From the outside, her lips didn't move.
Ethan frowned. "Sophia... Bella really gave up?"
"Sadly, yes," Sophia sighed. "She shouldn't have thrown her life away."
[Pfft. She's dust. This body is MINE. I'll take everything she loved, live her perfect life.]
Dad snapped. He hurled a food tray across the room.
Hot soup splattered Sophia's face.
Sophia raised an arm to block, thinking:
[You old fool! Why aren't you dead from a heart attack yet? My sweets should've done it by now!]
Dad heard it, fury exploding. He thought of me.
I'd warned them. It was all an act, just to replace me.
He hadn't believed me. He'd yelled. Said I wasn't his daughter.
He'd been so wrong.
Mom and Ethan heard Sophia's thoughts, stunned. Was thisthe 'kind' girl they praised?
[What are these morons staring at?]
The vile thought dripped with sweetness.
She cooed, "Dad! Are you hurt? Let me get a doctor!"
Dad, face thunderous, stepped forward. "Shut your mouth!"
His hand flew. The slap echoed. He instantly regretted it.
This was his daughter's body! What if Bella came back scarred?
He still clung to a shred of hope.
Maybe Sophia lied. Maybe I was playing a cruel joke.
But it was real.
I wasn't coming back.
Sophia scowled, confused but furious.
"What is wrong with you all?"
[You decrepit monster! How dare you hit me!]
Ethan snapped. "Shut up! Where is Bella Johnson?"
He lunged, hand closing around Sophia's throat. "Sophia! You conniving witch! How could you deceive us like this??"
