Reborn, She's Back for Revenge novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

The students in Class One couldn’t stop talking, voices buzzing with excitement.

“Edith is just some transfer from a small town–she should be grateful just to be at this school. Does she think we all cut corners to get here?”

“Bet she was top three in her hick town and got a big head, so she’s got such a crazy inflated ego.”

“If she cracks the top twenty, I’ll livestream myself eating a hundred bags of hot dogs. Swear.”

Edith fell silent. Truth was, her grades back in the town hadn’t been any better–she’d been at the bottom there, too.

System: [New mission: A proper heiress needs top grades. Host, you must take first place on this exam.]

Edith turned to Cathy. “Who’s at the top of the class?”

Cathy lowered her voice. “Hallie. She usually scores about 1300–sometimes even beats the lower scores in the Honors Class.”

Edith smirked. If the first place was Hallie, she’d just have to go all in and swipe that spot.

Soon, the evening study hall ended. The Lovett family driver was already waiting at the school gate.

Edith and Hallie slid into the back seat, leaving a gap big enough for another person between them. After that morning’s mess, they were ice–cold–neither so much as glanced at the other.

About twenty minutes later, the car pulled up to the Lovett Manor.

Edith pushed her door open and hopped out. Hallie stayed put, waiting for the driver to come around and open hers.

It was 9:40 pm. As Edith approached the door, the sound of a video game blared from the living room.

She rounded the foyer and spotted the fourteen–year–old Zachary on the couch, gripping a controller. He was hyping Joseph up in the game, their teamwork seamless as they wrapped up the match in seconds.

Edith’s gaze locked on Zachary, who was now a wild, restless kid with trash grades but killer looks. He’d inherited the best from their parents, making him the best–looking of all the siblings.

That pretty face had been his golden ticket to player status–switching girlfriends every three days. But three years later, a fire would scar it.

After that, his personality got dark and messed up. He started hooking up with women from the underground scene. And the day Edith died, he was probably passed out in some woman’s bed.

Zachary was about to start another round when he suddenly felt someone standing at the door. He whipped around and caught Edith’s intense stare dead–on.

Startled, he fumbled and dropped the controller. His eyes narrowed as he snapped, “Who are you? People don’t just walk into someone’s space without knocking.”

Looking guilty, Joseph hid the controller, tugged on Zachary’s sleeve, and mumbled, “That’s our sister, Edith.”

Zachary scowled. “Since when do I have a sister?”

Edith strolled in, arms crossed. When she’d left, Zachary was eight–no way he’d forgotten her. She knew he was messing

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Chapter 26

with her on purpose. In her previous life, she’d shrunk back, too scared to ever talk to him again.

“Zachary, didn’t I tell you? Your real sister is home.” Hallie stepped in right after, smiling like sug “You’re moving back today? Perfect! The house’ll finally feel lively again.”

“Cut the act,” Zachary scoffed. “Aren’t you the one who wants us all out of the Lovett Manor?”

Hallie froze, her face falling like she’d been hurt. “Zachary, where is this coming from? When I moved in six years ago, I was just a kid–stupid.

“Yeah, I told Dad when you picked on me, but that’s over. Do whatever you want here. I won’t say a peep to him.”

“I just want you to shut up,” Zachary snapped, looking done.

Hallie’s jaw tightened, irritation burning under her skin. This was exactly why she didn’t want Zachary back. The pain in the neck was only four years younger than her–stubborn, hotheaded, and every conversation with him made her want to

scream.

Fortunately, he was treating Edith the same way. Hallie decided to zip it and let the show play out.

Zachary didn’t let her down. He grabbed his controller, shot Edith a cold look, and went right back to his game.

Joseph didn’t dare to continue. He stood quietly on the sidelines, trying to make himself invisible.

“Joseph,” Zachary called out, deliberately trying to put him on the spot. “Let’s switch games. What did you wanna play?”

Joseph couldn’t even bring himself to look at Edith. Awkwardly, he mumbled, “I’m out. Gotta hit the bathroom.”

Lately, he’d been in hot water for slacking on homework. He’d planned to cram it all in tonight, but Zachary’s surprise return had thrown a wrench in things.

Zachary had asked him to play–how could he say no? So they’d kept at it, losing track of time.

Joseph ducked his head, trying to bolt upstairs. He had to finish his homework fast.

Hold up!” Two voices rang out behind him. One was Zachary’s bark, while the other was Edith’s. She said coolly, “Joseph, come here.”

Joseph froze. No way he was saying no. The last time he’d tried that, she’d grabbed his collar and dragged him around- totally embarrassing. He slowly turned, dragging his feet with each reluctant step.

Zachary stared, shocked. “Joseph, you’re really gonna listen to her?”

Joseph let out a frustrated mumble. “She’s our elder sister. Of course I’m gonna do what she says.”

“You forget how our mom died? She’s the reason.” Zachary’s voice sharpened. “If she hadn’t thrown a fit, making Mom come back for her stupid birthday, our lives wouldn’t be wrecked.”

Edith cut him off. “Joseph, go unplug the router.”

Joseph hesitated–Zachary was also someone he couldn’t mess with. But the second Edith spoke, it was like an invisible weight pushed him to obey. He trudged straight for the router.

Zachary exploded. “Edith, how could you cut the router? Since when do you call the shots here?”

Edith smirked, “I didn’t drag you back home just so you could switch gaming spots. Keep acting up, and you can kiss your

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Chapter 26

games goodbye.”

That’s a flat–out threat, Zachary thought. But he wasn’t having it. He was in eighth grade now, standing at five feet nine, owering over Edith by a good head.

He stood right in her face, looking down with a smirk. “You think you can scare me? You got no clue who I am–nobody alks to me like that and gets away with it.”

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