As I turned around, he pulled me into his arms. His large, warm hand pressed against my waist, as if trying to burn through my skin.
"Veronica." His voice was low, hoarse, and scorching.
That was my name.
Lately, everyone had been calling me "Miss Spencer" or "Lana."
In my past life, they had called me "hillbilly," "trailer trash," "scumbag."
It had been so long since anyone had called me by my name.
A stir ran through my heart, but I quickly snapped back to reality.
William not only knew I wasn't his sister, but he also knew who I was, what my name was, and what I had gone through.
Even though I had been mentally prepared, I still felt a deep sense of fear!
A fear even stronger than when I had faced the bullying of those wealthy heirs.
My body trembled involuntarily, and my mind went blank.
William released me, his deep eyes reflecting the calm expression I was desperately trying to maintain.
At that moment, he had torn away the façade of the gentle older brother. But the look in his eyes was still affectionate and indulgent, with something else lurking behind it.
"Do you like this gift?"
He was smiling, and his voice was gentle, yet I felt a chill crawl up my spine, my hair standing on end.
I stared at William for a while, slowly coming to my senses from the terror, and forced a smile. "I like it very much. Thank you, William."
"But… when did you find out?"
I had always been very careful with my disguise. No one—whether it was Mom or the servant who had cared for me for years—had noticed anything unusual.
So how had William figured it out?
And why had he gone out of his way to bring Charlotte here for me?
Unless… my rebirth had something to do with him!
The realization made my heart race.
William smiled gently, reaching up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His voice was soft as he said, "It's a secret."
"You just need to remember—no one will dare bully you again."
I looked at his flawless face, and for a fleeting moment, it felt strangely familiar.
But I couldn't find any trace of it in my memories.
In our past life, we didn't know each other.
Or rather, we had brushed past each other, but I had never paid attention.
Suddenly, William raised his hand and covered my eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. I will always be on your side."
His voice was low, carrying a hint of something… guilt.
What was he feeling guilty about?
"William."
This was the first time I had called his name.
I could feel his hand around my waist tighten slightly.
"Do you like me, or do you like your sister?"
Standing beside a blazing furnace, it's impossible not to feel the scorching heat.
What had happened earlier in the morning wasn't just my imagination.
William seemed taken aback by my direct question, pausing for a moment.
He slowly lowered his hand from my eyes, resting his chin on my shoulder, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered.
"We're not related by blood, but we're listed under the same household."
I knew that he had been adopted into the Spencer family.
So, he liked me.
He liked me—the one who had been bullied beyond recognition.
But…
I said, "But I don't know you."
"Mm, I know."
"Stop thinking about it. Isn't it time for revenge?"
William ruffled my hair, interrupting my thoughts.
Right, revenge was the top priority.
The rest could wait.
If this was truly related to William, there must be some clue hidden somewhere.
The next day, I begged Mom to let me go back to school.
To the school where I had been bullied in my past life.
I tried to keep a low profile, but Mom, unable to rest easy, arranged a small gathering, inviting several prestigious families. She said it was just a casual get-together, but in reality, it was to introduce me to everyone and make sure no one would dare bully me in the future.
I stood on the third floor,
watching Charlotte strut around, seeing the group of arrogant young heirs.
The scenes of my past life surged to the forefront of my mind.
Perhaps, this time, Mom had done me a huge favor.
The Spencer family's power could easily crush them, but what I really wanted to see was them turn on each other, tearing each other apart, then crawling before me, begging for forgiveness.
"Go ahead and do it. I'll be right here with you."
William had appeared behind me at some point, helping me adjust my hair.
His warm fingertips brushed against my neck, sending a slight shiver through my body.
I turned to look at him. He seemed like he hadn't rested well—his eyes had dark circles, and there was an aura of exhaustion around him.
I asked, "You don't care about the chaos I've caused?"
"Doesn't matter, as long as you're happy."
He smiled warmly, but his gaze… wasn't on my face.
Those bright, gentle eyes seemed veiled by a thin mist.
I frowned, waving my hand in front of his eyes.
In the next moment, he grabbed my hand, his smile widening. "What's wrong?"
"Your eyes…"
"It's nothing. Let's go downstairs."
He turned and led me away, deliberately changing the subject.
When I was reborn, I had investigated the entire Spencer family. William was in perfect health.
A sudden doubt stirred within me.
