Leo and I returned to his room, where he vented his frustration by tossing aside all the snacks Emma had prepared.
Seemingly struck by another thought, he then proceeded to uninstall all his mobile games. Once he had finished, he turned to me, his gaze intense as he asked sincerely, "Lily, did I ever disappoint you?"
I shook my head vigorously, offering encouragement, "No, I know Leo is the best."
Inwardly, I couldn't help but add, "Leo was just deceived by dad. I know he's smart and will surely become an outstanding person one day."
Leo smiled, touched by my faith in him. He vowed, "Lily, from now on, I'll work hard to become an excellent person. I promise to never let anyone bully you again, okay?"
"I believe in you, Leo," I affirmed with a firm nod.
Upon returning home, Leo's first action was to undergo a full medical checkup at the hospital, followed by hiring a personal trainer to devise a weight loss plan.
Apart from shedding pounds, he picked up books again, engaging a tutor to catch up on studies from primary school onwards. The entire winter vacation was spent studying and slimming down, leaving both dad and Emma astounded.
They hadn't done anything, yet since Emma's arrival, mom and Leo had transformed. Mom, who previously avoided going to the company, left dad to handle the operations.
Dad was on the brink of winning the hearts of the company's people and becoming its true power holder. However, mom's return to the company swung the fence-sitting shareholders and executives away from dad's side, infuriating him to the point of exasperation. I overheard him speaking to Emma again, his tone now laced with dissatisfaction.
"What's going on? Weren't you supposed to ingratiate yourself with this family? Why does everyone turn against you instead? We're drifting further from the plan! How am I supposed to bring your mother here to enjoy a comfortable life?" Dad rebuked.
"I... I don't know. I did everything as you taught me, but they just don't believe me..." Emma whimpered, feeling wronged.
Dad couldn't pinpoint where things went awry.
Frustrated, he decided to take a reckless approach, "Your eldest brother will be home for the New Year soon. He trusts me the most and is most grateful to me. Forget about the rest, they're insignificant. Your brother is the designated heir of this family!"
"Yes, this time I'll behave perfectly. I'll make sure your eldest son likes me," Emma pledged, harboring a tinge of resentment in her heart.
She believed herself superior to me in every way – more adept at reading people, better at showcasing herself. How could she not win the family's affection?
In my previous life, when dad pushed me off the rooftop, Emma had haughtily mocked me, boasting that with a mere finger, she had stripped me of everything.
After my "accidental" death, mom, my two brothers, and even the rest of the family were initially devastated, but it wasn't long before Emma's charm offensive swayed them. Before long, dad and Emma eradicated them all.
Recalling the past, I clenched my teeth. This time, dad and Emma would face their comeuppance!
