Living the Life Meant for Her novel

Liora's POV
The day after I was found and brought back to my wealthy biological family, they tried to force me to take my sisters place and become the canary of some mentally unstable, possessive CEO.
All because the family was on the verge of bankruptcy, and selling me off was their way of repaying debts and saving themselves.
My chest tightened with bitterness, and I was just about to refuse when suddenly, a floating text appeared right in front of me like subtitles in a livestream.
[Poor little sister. Lost by her family when she was young, now being sacrificed to repay her sisters debt! That obsessive psycho CEO is a total control freak. Hell lock her up in a luxurious mansion full of bodyguards and maids, dictate what she eats, what she wears, secretly monitor her every move, and even force her to love him. Her future is pitch black. All she can do is lie flat and accept food being handed to her and clothes chosen for her. How pitiful!]
I froze on the spot.
Pitiful? Seriously, that was what you call pitiful?
Id been wandering alone for eighteen years with no one loving me. I had to work to feed myself, and even when I was sick, I could only tough it out alone.
And now someone wanted to feed me, clothe me, watch over me, and obsessively care about me?
I gladly volunteer to be that canary!
If my sister doesnt want to go, Ill go in her place.
A lovesick lunatic? Sounded like the perfect match for someone like me, who was starved of affection.

Mom, Dad, you really love me the most! You were smart enough to make my sister go instead of me to stay with that freak, Alistair Hawthorne! I heard hes cruel and twisted. He murdered his own father and beat his brother so badly that he had to be sent abroad. I dont want to be tortured by a man like that!
Thank goodness Liora looks exactly like me, my sister Daphne Fairborne giggled sweetly, clinging to our parents. As long as we dress her up like me, that psycho will never know the difference!
My mom hugged her tightly, relieved. Yes, thank God we found her. If wed really sent you into that pit of fire, I wouldve been devastated.
My dad sighed. This is the only way left to save the company.
My heart tightened.
So, this was why they brought me home, not to make up for losing me all those years, but to throw me into the flames in my sisters place.
Why? We were both their daughters. Why was I the sacrifice while she was protected like a treasure?
I was about to confront them when more comments appeared before me.
[Poor little sister. Lost by her family when she was young, now being sacrificed to repay her sisters debt! That obsessive psycho CEO is a total control freak. Hell lock her up in a luxurious mansion full of bodyguards and maids, dictate what she eats, what she wears, secretly monitor her every move, and even force her to love him. Her future is pitch black. All she can do is lie flat and accept food being handed to her and clothes chosen for her. How pitiful!]
I froze on the spot.
Pitiful? Seriously, that was what you call pitiful?
Id been wandering alone for eighteen years with no one loving me. I had to work to feed myself, and even when I was sick, I could only tough it out alone.
And now someone wanted to feed me, clothe me, watch over me, and obsessively care about me?
That was honestly the life Id been dreaming of.
As I was still processing, my parents finally noticed me and my expression.
My mother immediately pulled my sister behind her and coldly said, You heard everything, didnt you? Starting today, youll take your sisters place and serve Alistair. If you refuse, then dont call us your parents anymore. Youll no longer be part of this family
But before she could finish, I cut them off with a smile. If my sister doesnt want to go, Ill go. But I have one condition.
Rather than staying with this fake, biased family and being torn apart, Id rather gamble on my own future.
A lovesick lunatic? Sounded like the perfect match for someone like me, who was starved of affection.
My family quickly agreed to my condition. They dressed me up and sent me straight to the Hawthorne estate.
That very night, I met the so-called obsessive, deranged Alistair.
To my surprise, he was gorgeous.
Tall, lean, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with sharp features and a cold, elegant face.


Liora's POV
Alistair's eyes were cold and distant when he looked at me, and even his voice carried a chill as he said, Since your family sent you here, you belong to me now. Youll follow my rules.
Comments popped up again in front of me like a livestream chat.
[Oh my God! How can a psycho CEO be this handsome?!]
[His voice is unfairly attractive. I dont care if hes insane. Im in love. Hahaha.]
He looked calm and composed on the outside, but I could tell that deep beneath that quiet exterior, he was studying me.
If he really was the kind of obsessive, insecure control freak, then the first thing I needed to do was earn his trust.
I lowered my head, eyes red, fingers tightly gripping the hem of my dress, and asked, If I follow all your rules, you wont throw me out, right?
Alistair seemed surprised, like he hadnt expected me to say that. For a moment, something curious flickered in his eyes. You want to stay here that badly?
I bit my lip and let a few hopeless tears fall. Yes. If they could send me here so easily, it means they never loved me. I just want someone who sees me, needs me, and keeps me close. Someone who makes me their whole world.
As soon as I said that, the air shifted instantly, and his eyes darkened.
He stood up, stepped toward me, and gently lifted my chin with his long fingers. Good. Remember what you just said. From now on, youre mine.
The comment section instantly went wild.
[Help! Why does it feel like theyre diagnosing each others mental instability with their eyes?!]
[She just hit the crazy mans weak spot. Seems like he loves a girl whose world revolves only around him!]
And just like that, I officially started my dream life, where I didnt have to cook, clean, or lift a finger.
Alistair would also personally take my measurements and hire designers to make clothes in whatever styles he liked. He even had a nutritionist create meal plans for me based on my health reports. He also gave me a phone with a built-in tracker so he could monitor me at all times.
Yet, the comments were unimpressed.
[Bros raising her like a pampered pet. That level of control is insane.]
But I lowered my head, eyes watery.
Alistair immediately panicked. Whats wrong? You dont like what Ive done?
I shook my head and threw myself into his arms. No. Its just that no one has ever treated me this well before.
For eighteen years, Id gone hungry, worn thin clothes in the cold, and survived on my own. Now someone was willing to go to all this trouble for me, so how could I not feel touched?
He relaxed and gently wiped my tears, speaking in that possessive, twisted tenderness, Then, never leave me. Ever.
Choking back tears, I nodded and hugged him tighter.
When he noticed how much I loved staying at home, he directly transferred ownership of the entire villa and the whole estate to my name. He even had a swing installed and bought small animals to keep me entertained.
During the day, he went to work, and I stayed home, eating, relaxing, and making little gifts for him, like a horribly decorated cake or a messy bouquet of flowers.
Every day, Id call him first and report everything I did, ending with a soft, I miss you. He loved it more and more.
At night, I would cling to him, asking for kisses and cuddles endlessly. Even in my sleep, Id make him hold me like a frightened kitten who couldnt rest unless she was in his arms.
When it thundered and rained, Id cry and crawl into his embrace. Alistair, could you please hold me tighter? Im scared.
The comments went crazy.
[Shes good. She knows exactly how to melt a psychos heart!]
Late at night, I could always feel his burning gaze on me. Hed gently stroke my cheek and whisper, almost to himself, I think I cant live without you anymore.
Step by step, he fell completely.
Eventually, he announced publicly that I was his girlfriend.


Liora's POV
In less than a year, Alistair couldnt wait any longer and wanted to get engaged.
The moment my parents heard the news, they completely lost it.
They never expected their useless, insignificant younger daughter to win the affection of someone like Alistair, the infamous, obsessive, and unpredictable CEO.
They rushed over from their house that same night and insisted we meet somewhere discreet in public.
I didnt want to go, but over the phone, they threatened me. If Alistair finds out youre a fraud, what do you think hell do to you?
That one sentence hit the deepest fear in my heart.
Over this past year, my feelings for him had already changed, from calculation and survival to something real. Id seen his vulnerabilities, the soft side he hid from everyone else. In his eyes, I wasnt just someone he kept; I was his only light.
The thought of him learning the truth, the thought of him breaking because of me, I couldnt bear it.
So, I went.
In the private room, my mother folded her arms and immediately started yelling. So, now that youve climbed higher, you think you can forget where you came from? If we hadnt brought you back and given you a chance, youd still be some nobody struggling to survive! Now that youve secured your position, you want to cut ties with us? Over our dead bodies!
I swallowed my anger and replied coldly, Dont forget that you agreed to my terms when I left. Our relationship is over. My last name isn't Fairborne anymore.
My mother sneered. Oh, really? But youre pretending to be your sister right now, arent you? And while youre using her identity, youre telling me you cant do anything for your family? Or do you want that Hawthorne boy to find out his beloved fiance is a fake and is just using him for benefits?
I clenched my jaw. You've already gotten plenty from me, havent you? Your company rose from bankruptcy because of Hawthorne Corporations support. Alistair even erased the debt you owed. What more do you want?
Looking cunning, my father slid a contract across the table and said, He spoils you so much. Getting his signature shouldnt be hard, right? As long as you help us secure this seventy-million-dollar project, we promise you could be Mrs. Hawthorne forever. Your sister will stay abroad and never bother you again.
I glanced at the contract and laughed. Fairborne Corporation gets 90% of the profit, while Hawthorne Corporation takes all the risk. How generous of you. Im not going to help you scam him. Dont come to me again, or deal with the consequences. Before you think about exposing me, think about yourselves. If Alistair finds out you tricked him, too, do you think hell let you all survive a second time?
After that, I stood up and left, slamming the door behind me and shutting out their angry voices.
That night, Alistair held me in his arms and asked softly, I thought you cut ties with them. Why did you still go?
They heard about the engagement, so they just wanted to see me, I simply answered.
He didnt press further. Even though selling their daughter for profit was inhuman, he was still grateful for them doing that, as we ended up being together because of that.
But then, he offered, Baby, if you dont like them, I can make them disappear. Forever.
I shook my head. No need. At the end of the day, theyre still my parents.
The comments sighed.
[Shes still too soft-hearted. Her family definitely wont stop.]
Well, as long as I didn't give them the chance, they couldn't do anything.
The next three months were peaceful. I was completely absorbed in the excitement of preparing for the engagement, ignoring every call from my parents. Even so, they didnt dare step into the Hawthorne estate, so things quieted down.
Until the day before the engagement.
Alistair was supposed to come with me to try on my dress, but something urgent came up at the company and he had to leave.
He was about to send someone to drive me home when we ran right into my parents.
Mr. Hawthorne, they said with a smile, let us take our daughter to try on her dress. We wouldnt want to delay tomorrows engagement, would we?


Liora's POV
I wanted to refuse, but Alistair nodded before I could speak.
Alright then. Ill come find you as soon as Im done. Take good care of her, he said to my parents.
The moment he left, my parents grabbed me and forced me into their car.
To my horror, I saw someone sitting inside, a face I hadnt expected to see again.
My sister.
The sister who was supposed to be abroad, hiding from the public eye.
She stared at me with pure hatred as she fumed, Liora, youve been living my life and enjoying everything that belongs to me for a whole year. Its time you gave it back.
My heart pounded with anger and fear. I tried to get out of the car, but my parents held me down tightly.
Then my sister pinched my jaw open and forced a glass of water down my throat.
My vision blurred, and my body went weak.
At that moment, the livestream comments were exploding.
[I knew it! They definitely had another plan!]
[Sis, dont fall asleep! Stay awake!]
Just then, my phone rang.
It was Alistair.
My mother quickly covered my mouth and signaled for my sister to answer.
Dont panic. Stick to the plan, she whispered.
My sister cleared her throat and answered the call.
On the other end, Alistairs low, gentle voice came through the speaker. Baby, are you at the boutique yet? I cant wait to see you in the dress.
Almost there, Alistair, my sister replied sweetly. Once I try it on, Ill send you a photo, okay?
[No way, her voice sounds exactly like the real one! Its over!]
Just as she was about to hang up, I forced myself to stay conscious and bit down hard on my mothers hand.
Ah! she screamed.
I tried to yell, Alistair, help me! but my voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.
Who was that? Alistairs tone sharpened with suspicion.
My sister didnt miss a beat. Nothing. My mom just shut the car door on her hand, thats all.
I see.
As such, the call ended, and despair washed over me.
Almost being caught, my mother slapped me across the face. You little ungrateful brat! And you think wed let you marry him? Youd forget we even exist!
My head was spinning when I heard my sister laugh softly. Relax, Mom. The only one marrying Alistair is me.
My stomach dropped, but my body finally gave out, and everything went dark.
When I woke up, I was lying on the cold floor of their villa, tied up from head to toe.
My sister was standing proudly in front of the mirror, wearing a diamond-studded custom gown, while my parents praised her as if she were the queen of the world.
As they talked, the truth became painfully clear.
When my sister heard abroad that Alistair wanted to get engaged to me, she regretted everything. So, she teamed up with our parents, snuck back to the country, and planned to replace me.
All this time, while they pretended to stay quiet, they were preparing for this moment when they could take everything from me and give it back to her.
Noticing I was awake, my sister crouched down and patted my cheek mockingly. Little sister, youve stolen my life long enough. Time to give it back.
My throat was dry and raw, but I managed, Youre the ones who forced me to do this in the first place
Instantly, her hand struck me.
Youve been living as me, enjoying everything thats mine, and you dare act like a victim? she snapped, ripping the necklace and bracelets from my body with jealousy burning in her eyes.
These were supposed to be mine! Give them back! Im the one who should be Mrs. Hawthorne. The one getting engaged to him tomorrow is me!
My parents stood nearby, voices cold and sharp. Thats right. Give up your place quietly, and well still take care of you. But that face of yours, yeah, that needs to be dealt with. We cant let you threaten your sisters position.


Liora's POV
I let out a weak, humorless laugh. Do you really think I got this far just because of my face and her identity? It took me everything, carefully pleasing Alistair, handling his paranoia, feeding his emotions, to protect your wealth and status. Do you really think Daphne couldve done the same?
My parents hesitated for a moment, but my words completely enraged my sister.
She grabbed a fistful of my hair and slashed the knife at my face. If youre not relying on that pretty face, then you dont need it, right? Ill ruin it and lets see what you have left to fight me with!
The sharp pain cut through me again and again, and I couldnt hold back the screams. Blood soaked through my clothes. Even my parents looked a little shaken.
Thats enough, isnt it? Her face is ruined now. She wont be a threat to you anymore, my father muttered.
Still, my sister looked like she wanted to continue, but at that moment, Alistair called again.
She quickly shoved a rag into my mouth to shut me up, then answered the phone.
When she heard he was on his way to pick me up, the whole family panicked. They forced more drugged water down my throat and dragged me into the storage room to keep me unconscious.
But the pain burning across my face kept me barely awake. Outside the door, I heard Alistairs voice.
Why did you already put the dress on?
My sister laughed sweetly. Because I wanted you to see it in person! Alistair, Im starving. Will you take me home for dinner?
She pulled him toward the door, but he paused suddenly, sniffing the air. Smells like blood.
My mother raised her bandaged hand and forced a chuckle. I shut the car door on my hand earlier. It bled a little.
He hesitated for a second, thinking of our phone call earlier, then nodded and kept walking.
The comments were in chaos.
[Come on, girl! You have to let Alistair know youre in there!]
I forced my blurry vision to focus and saw a box full of tools beside me. With all the strength I had left, I slammed my head against it, and the box crashed to the floor with a loud clang.
Hearing that, Alistair stopped again and looked toward the storage room. Is someone in there?
My dad quickly stepped up. Yeah, just a maid tidying up. Shes clumsy. We already told her to be quieter!
My sister tugged at his arm to lead him away again.
I curled up on the floor, despair slowly swallowing my consciousness.
Then I heard Alistair stop again and ask coldly, Wheres the bell I gave you?
The comments exploded again.
[Oh my god! The anklet! The bell he had handmade for her! Ring it now!]
With every bit of strength I had left, I kicked my ankles together.
Third Person's POV
The bell gave a soft, quiet chime from inside the storage room.
At that, Alistairs expression went cold instantly.

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