Chapter 1After my sister died, she left behind five adopted children—quintuplets.
My best friend and boyfriend both insisted I send them back to the orphanage.
Yet, this time, I flat-out refused.
In my previous life, I fell for their whole "give them a better life" speech—gave the kids away.
Instead, they secretly adopt them right after.
Turns out, those quintuplets were the biological heirs of the richest man in Austin.
Once they went back to their real family, they hated my guts for "abandoning" them.
Shipped me to Mexico. Turned me into a whore.
Meanwhile, my so-called best friend and boyfriend got a $100M "thank-you gift" from their billionaire daddy.
The quintuplets even acknowledged them as their godparents.
And me? I was beaten to death—while the whole internet broadcast their grand, fairytale wedding, planned by the quintuplets.
Then I opened my eyes. Back on the day I sent the quintuplets away.
The kids. Money. I'm taking it all.
...
"Natalia, hurry up. Car's waiting outside."
My boyfriend, Ryder Thorne, called from the living room.
My best friend, Lila Reid, sped up packing the kids' things.
However, I just stood there, frozen.
Wait—I'm reborn?
And on the exact day of all days?
I looked at the five little ones standing beside me—five identical faces, all hurt and scared.
Then, without hesitation, I said:
"Stop packing. We're not going to the orphanage."
Lila paused, stunned.
"Natalia, what... what are you talking about?"
I ignored her and gently wiped the tears off the kids' cheeks one by one.
Lila frowned.
"Natalia, don't tell me you're getting soft."
"They're not even your sister's real kids—you're not obligated to raise them."
Ryder walked over, arms crossed.
He glanced at the quintuplets, then at me.
"Natalia, I know you're kind. How about we just leave some extra money for the orphanage instead?"
"No." I said firmly and pulled the five kids into my arms. "I'm not sending them away again."
"My sister adopted them, so they're my family now."
"I'll raise them myself. For her."
Ryder's face darkened.
"Natalia, have you lost your mind?"
"My mom already doesn't like you. And now you're keeping these five little burdens—you still wanna marry me?"
Hearing that, my face went cold.
I'm an orphan, so I treated Ryder's mother like my own and bent over backwards for her.
Yet, in return, all she ever did was look down on me—said I was too skinny to have kids, nitpicking everything I did.
Worse yet, she covered for Lila and Ryder the whole time.
So I never found out my best friend and my boyfriend had been sleeping together.
And the most horrifying part?
In my previous life, she was the one who told the quintuplets to ship me to Mexico.
They chopped off my hands and feet, and treated worse than a livestock.
Meanwhile, she became the quintuplets' "godmother" and lived like a queen.
This time...
I looked at Ryder. Ice cold.
"No matter what, I'm keeping these kids."
"If you can't accept that, we're done."
Ryder stared at me in shock, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Natalia, you... you can't just throw around the word breakup like that!"
He was furious—face red, chest heaving with rage.
The five little ones pressed closer to me, scared.
Seeing the tension, Lila quickly stepped in.
"Natalia, Ryder's just thinking about your future."
"He only wants what's best for you—"
"Save it." I cut her off. "I've made up my mind. I'm raising these five as my own."
At that, the little ones in my arms instantly got teary-eyed.
I gave them a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry. Even though Auntie Lila and Uncle Ryder wanted to get rid of you, I will never let that happen."
The quintuplets turned and glared at the two of them.
"Meanies!" they shouted in unison.
Their little voices echoed through the room, and Lila visibly panicked.
"I didn't—I never said I wanted to send you away!"
But the kids were not buying it.
They turned their backs on her and buried their faces in my chest.
Lila's expression soured.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she made up her mind.
"Natalia, I respect your decision."
"But raising five kids alone is too much. How about I adopt three of them?"
"Don't worry. I'll love them like my own."
Chapter 2
Hearing Lila's words, a cold glint flashed in my eyes.
Three?
How generous of her.
Without hesitation, I shut her down.
"No thanks, Lila."
"These kids are too little. I can't bear to separate them."
Lila's face flushed with embarrassment.
She forced a smile. "Natalia, I'm just trying to help. I—"
Before she could finish, the five kids puffed up their cheeks.
"Bad lady! We don't wanna go with you!"
Ryder frowned at me, clearly displeased.
"Natalia, Lila's trying to help you, and you're turning the kids against her? That's messed up."
I shot him a cold glance.
"Apologize to Lila. Now." Ryder snapped.
I ignored him, stood up and led the five kids toward the bedroom.
Right now, arranging my sister's funeral was the priority.
As for those two...
I paused at the door and glanced back at Lila and Ryder.
"You two should go. I need to rest with the kids."
Then I shut the door in their faces with a firm bang.
Lila and Ryder exchanged a look, clearly not pleased, but left in sync.
I knew they wouldn't let this go so easily.
But I never expected them to move this fast.
At my sister's funeral, while everyone was bowing their heads in silence, a shrill voice rang out.
"Natalia! Great news! I found the quintuplets' biological parents!"
Everyone gasped and turned to look.
Lila and Ryder strode in, looking thrilled.
Behind them was a pot-bellied man and a woman who looked mean as hell.
The man walked straight toward me, sizing me up from head to toe. No manners.
"You're the sister of my kids' adoptive mother?"
The woman looked at the quintuplets with excitement.
"Babies, come to Mommy!"
I instinctively stepped in front of the kids.
Seeing my reaction, the man's face twisted with impatience.
"Give us our kids back. Now."
I did not say a word.
Lila pulled out a document and shoved it in my face.
"Natalia, this is the DNA test."
"Ryder and I worked really hard to track them down."
"Oh really?" I sneered and tossed the report aside without even reading it.
"I don't buy it."
Lila's face darkened.
She shot the man a look.
Taking the hint, the man shouted at me immediately.
"What's your problem? You trying to keep our kids from us?"
"Stealing someone else's children—how sick is that?"
The woman chimed in, her face full of fury.
I stayed calm. "You're really their biological parents?"
"Of course we are! You think we're lying?" they said in unison.
"In that case—let's call the police."
I said it flatly.
Both of them froze. Confusion flashed in their eyes.
Even the guests looked puzzled.
"Natalia, what are you doing?"
Ryder frowned, demanding an answer.
"My sister legally adopted these five kids from the orphanage," I replied.
Lila looked serious.
"Natalia, even if your sister were alive, she'd have to give them back to their birth parents!"
"Did I say I wouldn't give them back?" I smiled.
Lila and Ryder's eyes lit up.
Then my icy voice cut through the air.
"Not all parents deserve to be called parents. I'm reporting them for child abandonment."
Hearing this, everyone froze.
Chapter 3
Seeing how firm I was, the couple visibly panicked.
"You... you're talking nonsense!"
The man's voice wavered.
The woman stuck out her chin, trying to sound tough.
"That's right! We never abandoned our kids!"
"Quit stirring up trouble!"
"Right and wrong—the police will decide." I waved my phone calmly.
Lila's smile vanished.
"Natalia, do you really have to go this far?"
"Yeah! Why drag the cops into this?" Ryder snapped.
"Just give them their kids back already!"
Ryder stepped forward and tried to grab the little ones behind me.
The quintuplets freaked out and burst into tears.
"No, we want to stay with Auntie!"
"Don't touch me!"
I turned ice-cold and shoved Ryder away hard.
"You trying to kidnap them in broad daylight?"
Caught off guard, Ryder stumbled backward.
"Natalia! You actually put your hands on me!"
Ryder's face went dark with rage, his eyes practically burning.
"Natalia, can't we talk like adults? Look how scared the kids are."
Lila tried to calm things dow and moved forward to comfort the children.
However, I blocked her path without a word.
"You're so damn stubborn!" the man finally lost his patience.
The woman's eyes turned red, her voice choking up.
"You're young—you'll have your own kids someday. Why are you stealing mine?"
"Please... I'm begging you. Give them back to me."
And then—thud.
She dropped to her knees in front of me.
Her shoulders shook as tears streamed down her face.
"Honey, you kneel too! We have to beg her!"
She tugged at the man beside her.
He immediately dropped to his knees too.
"I'm sorry. I apologize. I take back everything I said!"
He slapped himself hard across the face.
"Just give me those kids back—I'd beat myself to death right now if you asked!"
His eyes reddened as he kept slapping himself over and over.
Soon, both sides of his face were swollen and red.
But he didn't seem to feel any pain. He just kept hitting himself.
The crowd started to soften.
"Natalia, they're the kids' biological parents. Don't be so heartless."
"Your sister wouldn't blame you for this."
"Besides, you're not even married yet. You have to think about your own future."
One by one, people chimed in, trying to convince me.
Lila and Ryder exchanged a quick, victorious smirk.
"Natalia, I know it's hard to let the kids go."
"But they'll be better off with their real parents than staying with you."
Lila's voice was full of fake concern, as if she truly cared about me and the kids.
Watching her act made my stomach turn.
In my past life, I didn't want to give the kids away either.
But Lila rallied all my relatives to pressure me into it.
This life, she was pulling the same trick—just with a fake set of parents.
Did she really think I'd cave this time again?
I looked at her coldly.
"I will never hand these kids over to strangers."
Ryder lost all patience.
"Forget it! Don't waste time talking to her!"
"Let's just take the kids and see what she can do!"
With that, he shoved me aside and lunged for the children.
Lila shot a look at the man and woman, signaling them to help.
I was outnumbered. No way I could stop them.
The kids were taken away in seconds.
Watching them leave in a hurry, I let out a cold smile.
They're so eager to dig their own graves? Fine. I'll help them out.
