Emily pressed her fingers against her temples, a headache already forming. Taking over this body meant dealing with all the chaos the original Emily Carter had left behind. And it was…a lot.
"Sweetheart, are you in pain? Do you need anything?" Lila, her mother, turned to the doctors. "Why aren't you helping her? Isn't that your job?! I'll make sure you're all fired. I'll call the board myself!
My ex-husband is the CEO of Carter Enterprises!"
"Mom, calm down," Emily said, forcing a smile. "Dr. Harris and his team are doing everything they can."
Dr. Harris threw her a grateful look. After the doctors wrapped up their check-up, they left the room, leaving her alone with her mother.
Lila flopped onto the chair next to the bed with an exaggerated sigh. "You've been asleep for a year! A whole year without shopping, without facials! My poor baby! Now listen, when you talk to your father, make sure to ask for something big. A jet would be nice—oh, we could fly anywhere, darling. A yacht would be perfect, too! Just imagine it—us, sailing the coast, throwing parties.
Doesn't that sound fabulous?"
Emily couldn't help but sigh, watching her mother's eyes light up. Lila was already lost in her fantasy world, picturing private jets and parties.
"My father's been informed about my recovery," Emily replied, keeping her tone even. "He's been covering my medical bills, so whether he visits or not is his choice. Right now, my focus is getting out of here as soon as possible."
Lila pouted. "You're going back to the Carters, then? You know, you're still an heiress to that family, whether they like it or not."
Emily looked away. "I have my own place."
Lila scoffed. "A Carter heiress living in that shoebox? It's your father's fault for hiring that meddling 'money man.'
Imagine—you can't even buy a proper house because he won't give you control over your own funds! And your father does nothing! Meanwhile, his other kids are practically royalty, living off his wealth without a worry! Where's the justice in that?"
Emily's memories told her this "shoebox" her mother referred to was actually a penthouse, two entire floors of luxury living. The so-called "money man"—her financial advisor—had helped the original Emily get the property at an excellent price, possibly with her father's behind-the-scenes support. The irony was that Lila, despite her wealth, had never been one to spend time with her own daughter.
Lila had always seen herself as having done her job by bringing Emily into the world. She believed she had earned the right to enjoy life—without the strings of motherhood tying her down.
For her part, the original Emily had wanted distance, both from her mother's rotating carousel of men and from the Carters, who had little love for her. So she got her own place.
Emily studied her mother as she prattled on about brands and luxury trips. They shared the same superficial charm, both eager to maintain their social image. But beneath that, Emily saw that Lila wasn't truly malicious; she was just…shallow. She was the kind of person who chased pleasure without pausing to consider who she hurt along the way.
It dawned on Emily that in a way, she and her mother were two sides of the same coin. They both valued independence, though for different reasons. But unlike her mother, Emily had no interest in fame or wealth. Her goals were different.
Lila rambled on, her voice a constant, shrill hum. Emily didn't care to stop her. She would keep things polite as long as her mother stayed in her lane. But if anyone—family included—pushed her too far, they'd regret it.