Living a Second Chance as the Richest Daughter

Anna was back at the mansion. She had spent just one more night in her apartment after the exam before deciding to return.

But the moment she stepped inside, she felt an unfamiliar tension in the air. Something was different.

Then, she saw him.

Sitting in the grand living room, dressed in an immaculate tailored suit, was the man she had only seen in pictures. Samuel Tiu.

Shane's father.

Anna's breath caught in her throat. The sight of him was overwhelming. His presence was imposing—broad shoulders, sharp features, and an air of authority that filled the room effortlessly. But what struck her the most was the resemblance. Shane had inherited his father's eyes, the same deep-set gaze that held an unreadable intensity. The same firm mouth, pressed into an unreadable line.

Her grip tightened on the strap of her bag.

"You're back," Patricia's voice cut through the silence.

Anna turned her head to see Shane's stepmother seated elegantly beside Samuel, her legs crossed, fingers lightly drumming against the armrest. There was no warmth in her tone. No trace of welcome.

Anna swallowed, trying to find her voice. "I—yes. I just got back."

Samuel studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "You didn't tell anyone you were leaving." His voice was deep and controlled, with a quiet authority that made her straighten unconsciously.

"I—" Anna hesitated. Would Shane have told them? Did she usually report her whereabouts? She had no way of knowing.

Patricia let out a soft, unimpressed scoff. "She's been acting strangely lately after she got out of the hospital, Samuel. Leaving without a word. Coming back as if nothing happened."

Anna clenched her fists, keeping her expression carefully neutral. She couldn't afford to show any weakness. "Mr. Jing called Father to inform him about what I've been doing. But I don't think I need to explain it to you."

Patricia's brows lifted, her lips parting slightly as if to argue, but no words came.

Samuel exhaled slowly through his nose, his sharp gaze never leaving Anna. Then, with a simple motion of his hand, he gestured to the seat across from him.

"Sit," he ordered, his voice calm but firm.

Anna hesitated. There was something in his tone—not quite a command, but not a request either. Slowly, she stepped forward and sat across from them, her pulse quickening.

Samuel leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on his knees as he studied her. His gaze felt like an X-ray, searching for something beneath the surface. "Tell me," he said, voice calm but firm, "how was the exam?"

Anna's mind raced. She had braced herself for this moment—the inevitable scrutiny from the people in Shane's life who might sense something was off. But now, under Samuel Tiu's piercing gaze, she felt like she was balancing on a tightrope with no safety net. Would he see through her?

She steadied herself, drawing in a slow breath before meeting his eyes. "Just fine, I guess."

Samuel's eyes didn't waver. He studied her with an unsettling intensity, as if weighing her words.

"Just fine?" he echoed, his tone neutral but carrying an undertone of expectation.

Anna fought the urge to fidget under his scrutiny. She needed to sound like Shane—confident, indifferent, unfazed. "Yeah," she shrugged, leaning back slightly. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

Patricia let out a soft scoff. "That's hard to believe," she muttered, crossing her arms. "You never cared about studying before. Why the sudden change?"

Anna turned to her, forcing a small smirk. "People can change."

Patricia narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced. But Samuel remained quiet, his gaze still fixed on Anna.

"Did you struggle?" he asked suddenly.

Anna hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking her head. "Not really."

A beat of silence. Then, Samuel leaned back, his expression unreadable. "We'll see soon enough."

Something about the way he said it sent a chill down Anna's spine. It wasn't just a passing remark—it was a warning.

Anna stood up, unable to bear the heavy tension settling over the room. Samuel Tiu might be her father now that she was living in Shane's body, but there was no sense of familiarity—no instinctive bond that tied her to him.

Instead, all she felt was distance, as if her very being rejected the idea of belonging to this man. To her, Samuel Tiu was nothing more than a stranger.

"I'll go to my room," she said, excusing herself.

Samuel Tiu gave a silent nod, offering no further words. Without waiting, Anna turned on her heel and made her way up the stairs, her footsteps steady but her mind unsettled.

–

Anna slept the entire day. The weight of exhaustion clung to her like a heavy blanket, her body demanding rest after weeks of relentless studying. She had pushed herself beyond her limits, barely stopping to eat or sleep, and now that it was over, the fatigue hit her all at once.

But it wasn't just the studying. She still hadn't fully recovered from the coma. Even now, she could feel it in her bones—the lingering weakness, the occasional dizziness when she moved too fast. Her body wasn't hers, and yet it carried the burdens of both Shane's life and her own.

When she finally woke up in the evening, she took her time freshening up, letting the cool water wash away the haze of sleep. Her muscles ached as she stretched, reminding her that rest alone wouldn't be enough to erase the toll of the past few weeks.

As she descended the grand staircase, she noticed the dim glow of the chandelier illuminating the living room. Samuel Tiu was nowhere in sight, but Patricia stood near the couch, her back straight, her manicured fingers adjusting the bracelet on her wrist. The sharp sound of a phone clicking shut echoed in the quiet space.

Anna had no intention of speaking to her, so she kept walking, pretending she hadn't noticed.

But Patricia had other plans.

"Did you meet with Lucas Park?" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife.

Anna stopped in her tracks, her brow furrowing. She turned to face Patricia, taken aback by the question.

Before she could respond, Patricia continued, her expression unreadable but her tone filled with disapproval. "I told you not to mingle with the likes of him."

Anna's pulse quickened.

She had no memory of Patricia ever forbidding Shane from associating with Lucas. But then again, she had no memories of Shane's life at all.

Still, hearing those words suddenly put things into perspective—Lucas had warned her before. About how Shane and he weren't supposed to be seen together. About the secrecy of their friendship.

So Patricia knew.

And if she knew, then who else did?

Anna's grip tightened at her sides as she chose her words carefully. "Why does it matter who I talk to?"

Patricia's lips pressed into a thin line, as if she were debating whether or not to say more. But then she scoffed, shaking her head. "You're just like your mother. Making reckless decisions."

Something in Anna bristled at the comment, but she forced herself to push it down.

She wasn't going to let Patricia get under her skin.

Not tonight.

Anna may not have Shane's memories, but one thing was certain—making a comment about someone's mother was crossing the line. It was low, cruel even, and if there was one thing Anna couldn't stand, it was people who used family as a weapon in their insults.

Her jaw tightened as she met Patricia's gaze. "And you're what? An expert at making good decisions?" she shot back, her voice steady despite the frustration bubbling inside her.

Patricia raised a brow, clearly unimpressed. Then, with a slow, mocking smile, she let out a quiet snicker. "You really did change. You have the guts now to talk back."

Anna clenched her fists at her sides, but she didn't back down.

"And I believe you didn't change at all," she countered smoothly. "No character development."

Patricia's smile faltered for the briefest second, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she quickly masked it with an amused chuckle. "You think you're clever now, don't you?" she mused. "Let me remind you, Shane, talking back won't change your place in this household."

Anna held her gaze, her expression unreadable.

Maybe not.

But it wouldn't stop her from fighting back.

Anna lifted her chin, her voice unwavering. "Yes, it won't change anything—because at the end of the day, I'm Shane Tiu, the biological daughter of Samuel Tiu." She took a deliberate step closer, eyes locked onto Patricia's. "While you? You're just his second wife."

Patricia's expression hardened, the subtle amusement from earlier vanishing in an instant. Her fingers twitched at her sides, but she quickly regained her composure, lips curling into a tight, forced smile.

"You think that gives you power over me?" she mused, voice deceptively sweet, but Anna could hear the sharp edge beneath it. "Blood doesn't mean loyalty, Shane. You should know that by now."

Anna refused to flinch. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, feigning curiosity. "You're right," she said smoothly. "Blood doesn't guarantee loyalty. But neither does marriage."

Patricia's eyes darkened, her perfectly manicured nails digging into her palm. "Watch yourself, Shane," she warned, her voice lowering. "You're getting too bold for your own good."

Anna merely offered a small, knowing smile. "Maybe," she admitted. "Or maybe I'm just done playing by your rules."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Patricia standing there, seething in silence.