Living a Second Chance as the Richest Daughter

The next morning, Anna awoke to the golden sunlight streaming through her window, casting a warm glow across the lavish bedroom. Determined to familiarize herself with every inch of the grand estate, she set out to explore. As she wandered through the marble hallways, her footsteps echoed softly against the polished floors, the scent of fresh roses from the gardens drifting through the open balcony doors.

Eventually, she stepped outside, where the vast grounds unfolded before her—rolling green lawns, towering palm trees, and neatly trimmed hedges forming intricate patterns. As she ventured further, she caught sight of the enormous swimming pool, its crystal-clear water shimmering under the sun.

Lounging by the poolside were her two step-sisters, Phillipa and Phyllis, reclining on cushioned sunbeds. Their sunglasses perched on their noses, their bodies glistening with tanning oil, they exuded an air of entitlement and leisure. The twins looked like they belonged there, seamlessly blending into the opulence of the estate.

Anna hesitated for a moment. She had done her best to avoid them since her arrival, knowing that any interaction could easily spiral into a battle of words or passive-aggressive jabs. Yet, standing there, she couldn't ignore their presence any longer.

Would they acknowledge her? Or would they continue treating her as an unwelcome outsider in her own home?

She took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Phyllis was the first to notice her. For a brief second, her gaze flickered toward Anna, but just as quickly, she dismissed her presence, turning her attention back to the warmth of the sun. The silent disregard was almost deliberate, as if Anna were nothing more than an insignificant speck in her perfect world.

Anna ignored the slight and took a few steps closer to the pool, the cool tiles beneath her feet smooth and pristine. She gazed at the water, its surface reflecting the afternoon light like rippling glass. The pool was massive, far larger than anything she had ever seen up close. The deeper end stretched into an abyss of blue, and she found herself wondering just how far down it went.

Luxury like this had always been a distant dream. Even visiting a public pool had been an occasional indulgence, a rare escape from the everyday struggles of life. But she knew how to swim.

She had learned as a child, during summers spent in her grandmother's province. The memory of those carefree days came rushing back—racing along the shore with her cousins, the scent of salt in the air, the foamy waves rushing up to meet their feet. They had taught her how to float, how to move with the water rather than fight against it. There, the ocean had been wild, unpredictable, and exhilarating, nothing like the still, controlled elegance of the pool before her now.

Despite the familiarity of swimming, hesitation settled in her chest. This wasn't her body—at least, not entirely. Shane's body was different. It moved differently, reacted differently. And the unsettling truth was that Anna didn't know if Shane even knew how to swim. What if she lost control? What if her instincts failed her and she drowned before she could adjust?

She inhaled sharply, pushing back the uncertainty. The water was inviting, almost taunting, its surface a mirror of her own doubts. The urge to step in was strong, but was she ready to take that risk?

For now, she simply watched, lingering at the edge, as if the pool itself held the answers she desperately needed.

Anna was about to turn around, deciding it was best to head back inside, when she felt it—a sudden, forceful hand pressing against her back.

Before she could react, before she could even gasp, she was shoved forward.

Time seemed to slow as the world tilted, her arms flailing instinctively in an attempt to regain balance. But it was too late. Her body lurched forward, and in the next instant, she plunged into the pool.

The water swallowed her whole. Cold and smooth, it engulfed her in an instant, muffling the outside world into silence. Panic surged through her as she sank, her limbs moving frantically beneath the surface. For a terrifying second, disorientation took over—she couldn't tell which way was up, which way was out.

Her mind screamed at her to swim, to break free, but the shock of it all made her hesitate. This wasn't her body. Did it know how to swim?

Bubbles escaped her lips as she forced herself to think. Stay calm. Don't panic.

Would she make it to the surface, or had she just been thrown into something she couldn't escape?

Anna's panic dissolved the moment her body responded instinctively, her arms cutting through the water, her legs kicking with practiced ease. She surged upward, breaking through the surface with a sharp gasp, water cascading down her face as she inhaled deeply.

She blinked the water from her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Phyllis standing at the edge, frozen in shock. She hadn't expected Anna to resurface so quickly—hadn't expected her to swim at all.

Anna's chest heaved, her adrenaline spiking, but she didn't give herself time to think. Fury replaced fear in an instant. Without hesitation, she propelled herself toward the edge of the pool, water splashing wildly around her as she grabbed onto the ledge and hoisted herself up.

Before Phyllis could react, Anna was already in front of her.

With a swift, unyielding grip, she seized Phyllis by the arm and yanked her forward. Phyllis let out a startled gasp, stumbling as Anna dragged her toward the pool's edge.

"W-What the hell are you doing?!" Phyllis stammered, struggling to pull away.

Anna didn't answer. Instead, she swung her hand sharply across Phyllis's face. The sound of the slap cracked through the air, leaving a stunned silence in its wake.

Phyllis barely had time to register the hit before Anna shoved her backward.

A startled scream left Phyllis's lips as she lost her balance, her arms flailing uselessly before she tumbled into the pool with an ungraceful splash. Water erupted around her, swallowing her whole just as it had Anna moments ago.

Anna stood at the edge, breathing heavily, watching as Phyllis surfaced, sputtering and gasping.

"That," Anna said, her voice cold and steady, "was for pushing me first."

Phyllis coughed, her eyes wide with disbelief and rage, but Anna had already turned on her heel, striding away before she could hear whatever insult was about to be thrown her way.

Let her be furious. She deserved it.

Anna didn't look back.

–

After that unexpected plunge into the pool, Anna wasted no time heading straight for the bathroom. The warm water cascaded over her skin, washing away the chlorine and the lingering tension in her muscles. As she let the droplets trickle down her face, she replayed what had just happened—Phyllis shoving her, the shock of hitting the water, and the instinct that had kicked in at the last second.

Shane didn't know how to swim.

The realization sent a shiver down her spine, even under the steaming water. If she hadn't remembered how to swim from her own life as Anna, she could've drowned. Both of them could have. That thought made her grip the tiled wall, steadying herself.

She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She was safe. For now.

Once she finished, she wrapped a towel around herself and stepped out of the bathroom, only to halt in her tracks.

Phillipa was sitting on the edge of her bed, legs crossed, still clad in her damp bikini. She looked completely at ease, as if she had every right to be there.

Anna frowned. She had been so caught up in what happened with Phyllis that she had momentarily forgotten—Phillipa had seen everything.

The woman smirked, lazily twirling a strand of her wet hair around her finger. "That was quite the show you put on out there," she drawled.

Anna remained still, her expression neutral, but inside, her guard shot up.

"What do you want, Phillipa?" she asked, keeping her voice steady.

Phillipa let out a soft chuckle. "Relax, I'm not here to pick a fight." She leaned back on her hands, her gaze sweeping over Anna with slow amusement. "I have to admit, I didn't expect you to actually swim. The way Phyllis looked when you resurfaced—priceless."

Anna narrowed her eyes. "You think this is funny?"

"Well," Phillipa tilted her head, "I think it's interesting." She uncrossed her legs, standing up, her tone shifting to something more speculative. "You're different, Shane. Before, you would've never stood up for yourself like that. You would've cried, run inside, and let Phyllis walk all over you."

Anna tensed but didn't say anything. She already knew about that, but hearing from Phillipa, it enrages her while she also wonder how much suffering Shane had to go through, and why she didn't fight back before. 

Phillipa stepped closer, lowering her voice. "But today? You fought back. You slapped her. You threw her into the pool like she was nothing. That's not the Shane I know."

Anna held her gaze, her heart pounding, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Well, it's not like I ever wanted to show you the real me before. But people change—and now, I'm ready to let you see who I really am."

Phillipa studied her for a moment longer before smiling, slow and knowing. "Maybe they do," she murmured. "Or maybe… you're not really Shane anymore."

The air between them grew heavy with unspoken words. Anna forced herself not to react, not to let any emotion slip through.

Phillipa watched her for another moment, then gave a small shrug, turning toward the door. "Either way," she said, glancing over her shoulder, "this just got a whole lot more interesting."

With that, she sauntered out of the room, leaving Anna standing there, her pulse racing.

Phillipa had noticed.

And that meant she needed to be even more careful.