Theater: NovelMaster | Language: English | NEW
Synopsis
On the night I won the Best Actress award, my parents gifted me a pure white peacock.
"Scarlett, darling, this peacock was on set with your film crew. She's your lucky charm for winning the award! Keep her close, and blessings will follow you wherever you go."
I smiled sweetly and accepted the gift. The very next day, I had the bird butchered into a rich stew, replacing her with an identical one.
Because I was reborn.
In my past life, this white peacock had made my life a living hell. She shredded the curtains while I was changing, exposing me to the paparazzi. She ruined my custom Haute Couture gowns with filthy droppings, getting me permanently blacklisted by every luxury fashion house in the industry.
In the end, she deliberately shattered my allergy medication, leaving me suffocating to death on the floor before paramedics could even arrive.
Blessings? This time, I’d make sure they choked on their so-called karma!
Looking at my parents' beaming faces, I flashed a dazzling smile. "Sure. Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad."
I accepted the peacock and immediately ordered the staff to lock her into an iron cage.
It wasn't until after my tragic death in my previous life that I learned the truth: trapped inside this peacock's body was a human soul—Gemma, the adopted daughter my mother worshipped like a goddess. When I had finally been found and brought back to the family, Gemma had staged a fake suicide overdose to guilt-trip everyone, only to accidentally kill her own physical body.
Grief-stricken, my mother hired an occult sorcerer to seal Gemma's wandering soul inside a white peacock. The ritual required my death so Gemma could take over my body, become the real "Scarlett Vance," marry into the billionaire Hayes dynasty, and become a living legend in Hollywood.
Seeing me lock Gemma behind cold iron bars, my mother instantly panicked.
"Scarlett! She's far too gorgeous to be cooped up in a cage! Let her out!"
"Mom, she's an untamed animal. What if she attacks someone? I'm taking her to the vet tomorrow for a full health screen before letting her roam freely."
"Besides, I'm having a custom luxury suite built just for her. Look!"
I pulled out my phone and showed her a lavish order of designer pet decor I had supposedly customized online. Only then did my mother breathe a sigh of relief.
"You really are thoughtful, sweetie."
She reached out, gently stroking the peacock's crest. "Hang in there, my baby. Just hold on until tomorrow, okay?"
Through the iron mesh, I caught the unmistakable glint of sneering mockery in the bird's eyes.
Memories rushed back. In my previous life, Gemma had sabotaged me relentlessly. She ripped up my red-carpet gown, turning me into a national laughingstock. Back then, I was so furious I wanted to wring the bird's neck on the spot!
The bird would squawk in twisted triumph every time I broke down, yet my parents only scolded me for being petty.
"Why are you picking a fight with an innocent pet? You're just holding a grudge! Animals possess pure instincts—she knows whether your love is genuine!"
"If you truly cared for her, why would she act out like that?"
"Spend more time bonding with her, and she'll warm up to you!"
I had clearly seen the venom in that bird's eyes, but when I told my mother, she dismissed it as my paranoid imagination.
How utterly foolish I was back then, truly believing that unconditional love could soften the heart of a spiteful monster.
Once my parents went to bed, I had a housekeeper bring in her food. Gemma kicked the ceramic bowl over with a defiant screech. I sneered coldly, "Starve then, bitch."
As I turned on my heel, my assistant rushed over to clean the mess, loudly comforting the bird, "Miss Vance, she's really gentle! Animals have souls. You just need a little more patience!"
"Fine, whatever. Go home," I snapped with feigned irritation. Gemma dipped her beak into the water bowl, casually preening her pristine feathers with nauseating vanity.
Early the next morning, my mother insisted on accompanying me to the veterinary clinic.
Gemma behaved like an absolute angel during the exam. The vet couldn't stop praising how docile and cooperative she was.
My mother puffed up with smug pride. "See? I told you she's an angel! Scarlett, you must treat her well. This bird will bring you eternal prosperity!"
"Don't worry, Mom. I'll make sure of it."
I reached out to stroke Gemma's head. Without warning, she whipped around and violently pecked at my hand!
Prepared, I swiftly dodged, clamped my fingers tightly around her slender neck, and used my other hand to pinch her beak shut. She thrashed hysterically, wings beating against the air!
I gasped in theatrical terror, "Doctor! Sedate her! Give her a shot right now before she mauls someone!"
The vet hurried over with a syringe of tranquilizer, but my mother threw herself in the way.
"No! Stop! She's just nervous in an unfamiliar place!"
"Too many drugs will damage her health!"
"Mom! She is a wild animal! Would you rather see me bleed out?!" I cried out, hurt and frantic. "You swore she'd bring me good fortune, yet she tries to tear my flesh off the minute I touch her! Does my pain make you happy?!"
Hearing this, Dr. Evans chimed in firmly, "Ma'am, wild pets require strict discipline. If an animal is naturally aggressive, keeping it in a home is dangerous. You'd be better off getting rid of it."
Defeated, my mother had no choice but to step aside.
With a single injection, Gemma grew limp and drowsy. The rest of the checkup went smoothly.After administering all necessary vaccinations, the vet helped secure the bird inside a sturdy canvas sack. I casually instructed my bodyguard to toss her straight into the trunk of my car.
My mother’s heart broke instantly. "Careful! That's a rare peacock! What if you hurt her?!"
"Mom, it's just a dumb feathered beast."
"How could you speak like that?! She's my—"
"She’s an abandoned prop from a movie set!" I cut her off sharply. "No one else wanted her! I took her in out of charity, and she dares to attack me?"
"The young lady is right, ma'am," Dr. Evans added from behind the counter. "Some animals need firm boundaries. Spoil them, and they become dangerous."
My mother's expression turned as dark as thunder, while I gave the vet a discreet mental thumbs-up.
"Exactly. Dr. Evans is a true professional!"
The second we stepped out of the clinic, my mother began grumbling bitterly, "What kind of quack is he? This creature has a divine soul, not just some dumb beast!"
"Sure, Mom. A divine soul," I said, playing along smoothly. "I have a major photoshoot tomorrow. I'll bring her along as a live prop to boost our public image."
"Wonderful! That's wonderful!"
My mother beamed, overjoyed. The closer I appeared to get to that white peacock, the more thrilled she became.
I remembered how, in my past life, after Gemma stole my body, she stepped into my shoes and married Julian Hayes, heir to a multi-billion-dollar empire.
Right before the wedding, my mother had secretly consulted that occult sorcerer again. He claimed all my luck and destiny had been successfully transferred to Gemma, and now that Gemma was marrying up, she needed to siphon the Hayes family's immense wealth luck. The sorcerer gave her an enchanted ring to wear at all times.
This time, I was going to see how she planned to siphon anything from six feet under!
Early the next morning, I drove Gemma to the shooting location.
She was completely lethargic, drooping in her seat without an ounce of energy.
I had already spoken to the vet yesterday. Beyond the tranquilizer, I had secretly laced her water with a mild sedative. I made sure she would stay half-dead for the entire day.
I slammed on the gas, heading straight toward our destination.
Halfway there, Gemma seemed to regain a sliver of consciousness. Glaring at me with utter contempt, she let out a harsh hiss and viciously slashed her talons across the luxury leather seats of my Porsche!
Without missing a beat, I backhanded her across the face!
*SLAP!*
Her neck wobbled from the impact, her beady eyes wide with absolute shock.
In my past life, whenever she acted out, my parents would jump down my throat before I could even touch a single feather.
*'Scarlett! She's just a dumb animal, she doesn't know any better! Why are you so cold and heartless?!'*
*'Can't you even tolerate an innocent bird? How did our family raise such a cruel, ruthless monster?!'*
Their relentless gaslighting used to leave me questioning my own sanity.
I had genuinely tried so hard. I took her on walks, gave her warm baths, and bought her treats. Yet the moment no one was looking, she would claw my skin or bite my fingers to the bone.
Yet around my parents, she played the sweetest, most obedient angel.
It took dying to realize that she was Gemma all along. My mother had raised her for over twenty years; of course they had an unbreakable bond. Unlike me—the lost biological daughter who had only returned three years ago.
To them, I was merely a convenient sacrifice waiting to be slaughtered.
Now? To hell with playing nice. If she stepped out of line, I’d beat her senseless!
Gemma shrieked, lunging forward to gouge my eyes out. I seized her throat, slammed her down against the passenger seat, and whipped out a heavy roll of duct tape, wrapping her wings and legs until she was wound up like a mummy.
She couldn't move an inch—I even taped her vicious beak completely shut!
When I pulled up to the secluded farmhouse on the outskirts of town, the door swung open. A rugged poultry butcher dragged her out by the tape and tossed her roughly onto the dirt ground!
Dazed and bruised from the fall, Gemma's eyes burned with demonic hatred.
A bird showing pure, human malice? How pathetic. I casually nudged her with the tip of my designer stiletto.
"This vicious thing loves biting people. Butcher it and make it into a rich stew," I ordered coldly.
"And find me another white peacock that looks identical to this one."
"You got it, Miss Vance! We have plenty of exotic birds on this reserve!"
The butcher scooped Gemma up by her bound feet and chucked her into a plastic crate. Minutes later, he returned from the neighboring aviary with an identical white peacock—except this one was calm and naturally sweet-tempered.
Gemma thrashed violently on the dirt floor, letting out muffled, frantic squeaks through the heavy tape. Though she couldn't speak human words, the sheer terror paralyzing her eyes was unmistakable.
I leaned down, curling my lips into a predatory smile. "Vicious little bitch. You wanted to bite me? Welcome to your slaughterhouse."I grabbed Gemma's neck to inspect her, feeling a hard, metallic ring beneath the thick plumage. Parting the pristine white feathers, I found an intricate golden choker engraved with dark Sanskrit sigils tightly clasped around her throat.
So this was the dark occult artifact Damian had bound to her soul.
It looked vile and sinister. Without hesitation, I snapped the golden choker off Gemma's neck. Gemma went completely berserk, writhing like a severed snake, but tightly mummified in heavy-duty duct tape, she couldn't break free.
I took the golden talisman and fastened it snugly around the neck of the replacement white peacock. Looking back down at Gemma, I whispered coldly, "When you die, make sure you stay dead. You want to steal my life? In your damn dreams."
I wasn't sure if the sorcerer could immediately sense Gemma's demise, but as long as this golden talisman remained on an identical bird, my parents wouldn't suspect a single thing.
Gemma began shaking uncontrollably, her eyes wide with mortal dread. The butcher stepped forward, holding a gleaming, razor-sharp cleaver. He grabbed her by the crest and dragged the blade cleanly across her throat!
Blood sprayed across the concrete floor. Gemma convulsed violently, her pupils dilating before slowly fading into a lifeless haze. In her final dying breath, she glared at me, her gaze dripping with unspeakable curse and venom.
I smiled calmly, watching the last drops of blood drain from her limp carcass. The workers swiftly plucked every feather and tossed the meat straight into a boiling ceramic stew pot.
An hour later, the rich, savory aroma of seasoned poultry broth filled the air. I let out a soft, satisfied chuckle.
I had the butcher pack the hot broth and shredded meat into an insulated gourmet container, which I carried home after finishing my scheduled outdoor shoot.
The moment I pushed open the front door of the Vance mansion, my mother hurried over eagerly. "How was it, darling? How did she behave today?"
"She was an absolute angel, Mom! The entire crew couldn't stop praising how sweet and cooperative she was. Look at the shots we got today!"
I unlocked my phone, showing her high-definition photos of me posing with the replacement white peacock. Under the golden afternoon sun, the bird proudly fanned out its majestic tail feathers, glowing like an ethereal deity.
Beside it, my smile was radiant and effortless.
A fleeting flicker of resentment flashed through my mother's eyes. To this day, I still couldn't comprehend it: I was her flesh-and-blood daughter, so why did she despise me so deeply?
Could twenty years of biological absence truly be eclipsed by an adopted parasite?
In my past life, even after I died, she never shed a single tear. She would casually stroke my corpse's face and sigh to Gemma, complaining that my bone structure was too striking, wishing she could find someone who resembled Gemma's delicate features more closely.
As I swallowed the bitter memories, my mother suddenly sniffed the air.
"Wait... what smells so delicious?"
I smiled warmly. "I spotted an artisanal farm near the set where they raise organic, free-range poultry. I bought one and had the chef slow-simmer it into a rich, nourishing broth for three hours."
I twisted open the lid, releasing an intoxicating wave of savory steam.
"Mom, Dad, you both need to try this!"
I had purposely asked the chef to slow-cook it until the meat fell apart, removing every tiny bone and leaving only tender, succulent shredded meat.
After all, this was the vessel of her precious Gemma. Having my parents swallow every bite down into their bellies so they could truly "become one" was the greatest honor I could give them.
My mother couldn't wait. Seeing how obedient I was, and seeing the white peacock resting peacefully in the living room, she was in the best mood of her life. She grabbed a porcelain spoon and took a generous bite.
I watched her with a gentle, hooded gaze. "Well? How does it taste?"
"Incredible! Tender and so flavorful!"
My father nodded in enthusiastic agreement, savoring a hefty bowl of the broth.
Once they had their fill, I turned on my heel and walked up the stairs. Behind me, my mother happily scooped up a shredded chunk of the stewed meat and walked toward the replacement white peacock.
"Come here, my sweet baby. This is packed with nutrients! Have a bite, come on..."
I paused on the landing, watching my mother cradle the bird with tender maternal affection—a look of pure, unconditional love she had never once shown me.
I smiled faintly and continued up to my bedroom.
Barely ten minutes later, a bloodcurdling scream shattered the silence downstairs!
I walked down the grand staircase at a leisurely pace. The living room was a scene of utter carnage: my mother was clutching her face, blood pouring through her fingers, while my father stood frozen, pale as a ghost.
The replacement peacock was shrieking hysterically, relentlessly chasing my mother and viciously pecking at her head as she scrambled across the floor like a wounded animal.
"Gemma! What's wrong with you?! It's Mommy! Mommy's here!"
"Richard! Help me! Get it off me!"
"Gemma, have you lost your mind?!"
Hearing her desperate cries, I walked over calmly, seized the peacock by the base of its neck, and pinned it down. Then, I turned to my weeping, blood-soaked mother with wide, bewildered eyes:
"Mom... she's just a dumb bird. Why on earth are you calling her Gemma?"
"Gemma's already dead, isn't she?"
Chapters (3)
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Watch & Promotions
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