Revenge is Best Served… After Reborn

Sophie blinked her eyes open, caught in the warm embrace of a lazy summer afternoon.

"Is this... my brother's place?" she wondered, a bit dazed.

Reality slowly trickled in, and Sophie jolted up from the rocking chair, her gaze fixed on the swing set nearby. It felt like she'd been dreaming.

"Ms. Sophie," a voice called out, snapping her back to the present. "The gentleman's wondering why you haven't changed yet. It's your eighteenth birthday today, after all. Quite the occasion!" "Oh no, I dozed off!" Sophie gasped, suddenly remembering. "My brother's going to give me an earful!"

She dashed off, not bothering to pick a path. Rick, the ever-watchful assistant, called after her, "Ms. Sophie! Take it easy! Watch your step!"

"Got it!" she yelled back, lifting her dress and sneaking through the garden's back door.

The maids at Burke Estate paused, surprised to see her rushing by. She quickly gestured for silence, putting her fingers to her lips and whispering, "Please, ladies, cover for me! Don't say a word." They chuckled softly, turning away in unison as if they hadn't seen a thing.

Just as Sophie thought she was in the clear and started towards the stairs, a hand caught her ear from behind.

"Caught you, Sophie! Thought you could sneak away?" Harold teased.

"Ouch! Harold! Let go! Seriously, let go!" she protested.

"Nope! Not this time! Let's see how you wriggle out of this one. Come on, upstairs!"

while Sophie pleaded, "Ow! Okay, okay, I get it! Let

you're getting impossible! When you were a kid, you'd always hang around our place. Now you're eighteen, and I'm the one setting everything up! I'm running around like crazy while you nap in the backyard. What did I do to deserve this?"

it! No more excuses for being lazy! I'll make sure my brother

I won't do it

pouty

this, Harold eased up, frowning a bit, "Did I really hurt

wiping her eyes, then

a

Osta kel

Harold."

she darted

foot, exasperated, "Sophie! You got me

neener!" Sophie taunted, sticking her tongue out before zipping up to the third

the makeup

Jenna greeted her with a mock sternness, "Sophie, what took you so

Sophie replied with a cheeky smile, ducking into the dressing

she was greeted by a

"These are all handpicked by the gentleman, just