The Adopted Daughter's Secret
The familiar sofa, the familiar coffee table, and the book on it that I just finished reading yesterdayeverything is exactly like an ordinary afternoon I remember.
Yet inside, my heart churns wildly, for I clearly remember that I am already dead.
The despair before death still clings to my bonesthe agony of being poisoned, as if my organs were burning alive, is no illusion.
The door opened, and my husband, Owen Wallace, entered, holding a little girl in his arms.
The little girl wore a pink dress, her hair tied into two small braids, looking both gentle and pitiful.
That moment was like a key, instantly unlocking the floodgates of my memories.
It was today that Owen Wallace brought home a little girl named Julia Wallace, saying she was an orphan and that the adoption had been finalized.
In my previous life, seeing Julia's frail figure softened my heart at once, and I agreed without hesitation.
But now, I fix my gaze firmly on Julia's eyes.
She wasn't as innocent as she seemed on the surface. Her eyes concealed a darkness beyond her years, with a faint, almost imperceptible thread of hatred, staring straight at me.
A chill ran down my spine. How had I failed to notice this in my previous life?
Owen Wallace placed Julia on the ground, then came over to wrap his arm around my shoulders, his voice so tender it seemed to drip with warmth: "Caroline, Julia is pitiable. From now on, let's be her parents and take good care of her, okay?"
His eyes were sincere, his tone full of hopejust like in my past life.
Only now do I truly grasp how masterful Owen Wallace's skill at lying is.
He deceived me for all these years, making me believe I had married a gentle and considerate husband. It wasn't until my final moments that I realized it had all been a cruel deception.
In my previous life, ever since Julia Wallace came, strange things began happening in the house.
My wedding ring was inexplicably stained with blood, the wedding photos hanging on the bedroom wall were slashed with a knife, and my face was wounded by a deep cut.
I thought it was an accident, but my health kept decliningI was constantly dizzy and weak, and no matter how many hospital tests I underwent, they couldn't find any cause.
Until I fell ill and was bedridden, too weak even to speak, Julia Wallace leaned close to my ear and said, with a childish yet chilling voice, "Caroline, there was poison in the medicine you drank, placed there by me and Owen. You're going to die soon."
In that moment, I realized that all along I had been drinking poisonpoison administered by my trusted husband and the little girl I had kindly taken in.
Despair engulfed me like a tidal wave, and I closed my eyes amid endless pain and regret.
And now, I have been rebornreturned to the very day when the tragedy began.
I will never make the same mistake again.
Owen Wallace was still waiting for my answer, his eyes brimming with hope, as if I would inevitably nod in agreement like last time.
Julia Wallace also looked up, her dark eyes fixed on me, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible challenge.
I took a deep breath, pushed Owen's hand away, and said firmly, "Owen, I do not agree to adopt Julia."
The smile on Owen's face froze.
He hesitated, clearly not expecting me to refuse: "Caroline, what's wrong? Julia is so pitiful; we should help her."
"There are many pitiful children, but we can't just adopt anyone casually." I looked at Owen Wallace.
"Send her back to the orphanage. We can send her some living expenses every month; that way, we can still help her."
Owen frowned, his tone tinged with displeasure: "Caroline, all the paperwork is done. Isn't it such a hassle to send her back now? Besides, Julia will definitely be scared."
"The procedures can be reversed, and the fear is only temporary. The orphanage has professionals to take care of her; it's more fitting than our home." I did not yield.
I know what Owen Wallace is thinking. He just wants to keep Julia Wallace by his side, so they can continue with the conspiracy from their past lives.
Julia stood aside, head lowered, her shoulders trembling slightly, looking as though she had suffered a grave injustice.
But I know it's all a fa?ade.
In my past life, I was deceived by that very fa?ade; I believed she was truly pitiable and cared for her in every way, only to end up raising a white-eyed wolf.
Owen Wallace wanted to say more, but I cut him off: "I've already made up my mind. Tomorrow, Julia will be sent to the orphanage."
Seeing my resolute stance, Owen's face darkened, but he didn't argue further. He only snorted coldly before turning and entering the study.
Julia followed Owen into the study, and as she passed by me, I once again saw the hatred burning in her eyes.
That night, after washing up and getting ready for bed, I suddenly heard a knock at the door.
It was already very latewho could it possibly be?
I opened the door and saw Julia Wallace standing there, dressed in a flimsy nightgown, her hair disheveled, tears streaming down her face.
"Caroline, please don't send me to the orphanage, okay?" She clutched at the hem of my clothes, her voice choked with sobs.
"The kids at the orphanage all bully me. I'm scared. I want to stay with you."
My heart stirredshe had never done anything like this in her previous life.
She looked even more pitiful now than she did during the day. If it were the old me, I certainly would have softened by now.
But now, all I feel is suspicion.
How could a child so young be bold enough to knock on my door alone in the middle of the night?
And though her sobs sounded plaintive, her eyes showed little fearinstead, a glint of calculation.
I knelt down and met her gaze. "Julia, the orphanage has teachers who take care of you. No one will hurt you there. You have to behave."
Julia Wallace's cries grew louder when she saw I remained unmoved. "I don't! I just won't!"
"Owen said you'd like me. Why don't you? Is there something I did wrong? I can change!"
Her voice was loudloud enough that the neighbors might hear.
Just as I was about to say something more, Owen Wallace emerged from the bedroom.
He frowned. "Caroline, look at how heartbroken Julia is. Let it go; just keep her."
"Owen, didn't we agree to send her to the orphanage?" I was somewhat angry.
"But look how pitiful she istoo scared to sleep at night. If we send her away, she'll surely be terrified." Owen Wallace knelt down and picked up Julia Wallace.
"Julia, don't be afraid. I won't let you go. From now on, you'll live here."
Julia leaned against Owen Wallace's chest, sneaking a glance at me, a hint of triumph flickering in her eyes.
I trembled with anger; Owen had unilaterally decided to keep Julia, completely ignoring my feelings.
I knew that from this moment, the peace in our home was irrevocably broken, and I had to be even more cautious.
After Julia stayed, the conflicts at home truly increased.
She always, whether intentionally or not, found ways to trouble me.
Once, I placed a new set of expensive skincare products on my dressing table. They were perfectly fine when I left in the morning, but when I returned in the evening, all the bottles were shattered, and the skincare was spilled everywhere.
I asked Julia Wallace if she had done it. She shook her head, eyes innocent: "Caroline, I didn't touch your things. Maybe you accidentally broke them yourself?"
Owen Wallace added from beside her, "Caroline, maybe you just forgot. Julia is so younghow could she have taken your skincare products?"
I stared at the shattered pieces on the floor, fully convinced it was Julia Wallace who had done it.
She deliberately wanted to break my things and frame me for it.
In my past life, I faced a similar situation. Back then, I thought it was just my own carelessness, but now I see it was all Julia's plot.
I didn't argue with them; I silently cleaned up the broken pieces.
I knew that without proof, arguing would be useless and would only make Owen think I was being unreasonable.
From then on, I watched Julia's every move more closely than ever.
That morning, Julia Wallace took the initiative to make me breakfast, saying she wanted to thank me for taking her in.
A warning bell rang loudly in my heartwhy would she suddenly be so kind?
But I didn't refuse. I wanted to see what trick she was trying to play.
Julia brought over a bowl of rice porridge, smiling innocently: "Caroline, you have to try this. I made it especially for you."
I looked at the rice porridge in the bowl. It seemed normal on the surface, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
In my past life, it was always the food Julia "especially" made for me that poisoned my health, leaving me weaker and weaker.
I picked up the spoon, pretending to drink, but stopped just as it reached my lips.
I sniffed it and faintly detected a strange odor, somewhat like the poison I drank in my past life.
"What's wrong, Caroline? Doesn't it taste good?" Owen Wallace asked from the side, a flicker of nervousness in his eyes.
"No, I suddenly feel a bit unwell. I don't want to drink anymore." I put down the spoon and stood up. "I'm going to the hospital."
Actually, I wasn't going to the hospitalI was planning to call the police.
I'm certain there was poison in that bowl of rice porridge.
I slipped into the bedroom, quietly took out my phone, and dialed the emergency phone number.
I told the police I suspected the rice porridge at home had been poisoned and begged them to come investigate.
After hanging up, I stepped out of the bedroom. Owen Wallace and Julia Wallace were still sitting at the dining table, but Julia's eyes betrayed a flicker of panic.
It wasn't long before the police arrived.
They began by questioning me about what had happened, then separately interrogated Owen Wallace and Julia Wallace.
Owen adamantly claimed the rice porridge was made normally by Julia and couldn't possibly be poisoned. He even accused me of stirring trouble because I refused to adopt Julia.
Julia Wallace also wept, insisting she had not poisoned anyone and that I was falsely accusing her.
But the police didn't believe their words; instead, they took a sample of the rice porridge to the station for testing.
The next day, the police called me to say the test results were inthe rice porridge indeed contained chronic poison.
This poison, taken over a long period, causes severe damage to the body and can even be life-threatening.
With conclusive evidence, the police swiftly took Owen Wallace and Julia Wallace into custody.
Watching them being led away by the police, I felt no sympathyonly the sharp satisfaction of justice served.
After Owen Wallace and Julia Wallace were taken away, I felt somewhat relieved, but I knew the matter might not be over yet.
Julia was so young yet dared to poison someonethere must be someone behind her, pulling the strings.
I thought of my close friend Mia Sullivan, who works at a detective agency and has wide connections; perhaps she could help me investigate Julia's background.
I called Mia Sullivan and told her everything that had happened.
After hearing my story, Mia was furious: "Caroline, don't worry. I will definitely help you get to the bottom of this. We cannot let these villains go free."
In the days that followed, Mia Sullivan continued helping me investigate Julia Wallace's background.
She used various channels to track down the orphanage where Julia had stayed, and even got in touch with people who knew her.
One day, Mia called me, saying she had uncovered some important information.
I quickly arranged to meet her at a caf.
When I saw Mia, her face was grave.
"Caroline, do you realize? Julia is not a little girl at all." Mia took a slow sip of her coffee and said.
I was stunned and asked, "Not a little girl? Then how old is she?"
"Her real age is actually 19, but because she has dwarfism, she looks like a child." Mia Sullivan said.
I was so shocked I couldn't find the words. Nineteen?
No wonder her gaze was so dark and her thoughts so malicious. She wasn't really a child at all.
"There's something even more shocking," Mia continued, "Julia Wallace's first adoptive mother was your sister, Lena Marshall."
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