Anaya Deshmukh was born in the 21st century, the daughter of a billionaire. Her parents' marriage was nothing more than a business alliance, and by the time she turned five, they had divorced. Half a year later, her father remarried and brought in his stepdaughter, Neelam Verma, who later changed her name to Ria Deshmukh.

From then on, Anaya Deshmukh and her stepsister were constantly compared.

Anaya Deshmukh was an average student, while Ria Deshmukh was a top achiever, winning scholarships year after year. Anaya was straightforward and often clashed with her father, while Ria was gentle, always saying the right things to please him. Anaya was introverted and had few friends, while Ria was popular, beloved by all.

But despite these comparisons, Anaya Deshmukh never cared much. She had thick skin and was used to it. Besides, her stepmother and stepsister had always been so good to her—or so she thought.

Anaya Deshmukh never imagined that she would be betrayed so cruelly by her stepsister—the same stepsister who had always smiled at her, the one who had acted so kind, so understanding. But on the night before her 18th birthday, she saw the truth behind that mask.

When her father planned to declare her the sole heir to his company, Ria Deshmukh would overhear the news and driven by jealousy and greed, decided she couldn't let that happen and push her down the stairs with a venomous glare.

Even now, Anaya Deshmukh could still hear her stepsister's jealous, hateful words:

"I don't understand," her stepsister had screamed, her face twisted in rage. "I've done everything right! I'm smarter than you, I'm better than you—why does Dad still favor you? Is blood really that important?"

"You're stupid, and I'm smart. The company should be mine."

"Anaya Deshmukh, go die. Only if you dead will I be the only daughter, and Only then will the company belong to me."

"You know what? My mother and I have been pretending to be nice to you all along. It was all an act, And you? You were so stupid—you actually believed us."

"Die! I'll take care of Dad for you! I'll inherit the company for you!"

Then, without hesitation, she had pushed Anaya Deshmukh down the stairs.

The last thing Anaya Deshmukh saw was her stepsister's cold, satisfied smile. She thought it was the end. She thought she was dead.

But then—she woke up.

________________________________________

Anaya Deshmukh opened her eyes to the sight of a shabby brick house, a rough kang bed, and a tattered mosquito net hanging above her. On the wall, a faded calendar from 1976 stared back at her.

She could hear voices outside—unfamiliar but strangely familiar.

It took her a few moments to realize the impossible.

She had transmigrated.

And not just into any world, but into the world of a novel she had once read—one about a real and fake daughter.

In this story, she wasn't the real daughter. She was the unloved, abandoned fake daughter, sent back to the countryside after the real daughter was recognized by her wealthy, prestigious family.

The original owner of this body had been weak, sickly, and heartbroken. The journey back to the countryside had nearly killed her. And, overcome with sorrow and despair, she had simply given up on life. That was how Anaya Deshmukh found herself here.

Outside, the so-called "family" she had returned to was talking.

"Mom, I don't like that girl. In my heart, Rani is my only sister. Don't expect me to take care of her." That was her eldest sister, Kavita Deshmukh.

"I don't care either. Mom, are you making chicken today? Make sure to save a bowl for me—I want to take it to Sunita. She's too weak and needs the nourishment." That was her second brother, Rajesh Deshmukh.

"Mom, Dad, we should keep in touch with Rani. She's living in the city now, and her real father is an official. If we maintain a good relationship, maybe we'll benefit from it in the future." That was her younger brother, Vikram Deshmukh.

"Seema, handle Anaya's situation. I'm busy with my factory supervisor promotion." That was her father, Anil Deshmukh

"Alright. I understand, I just hope Anaya can be as obedient and well-behaved as Rani." The last voice was her biological mother, Seema Verma—soft, gentle, but utterly indifferent.

Anaya Deshmukh lay on the bed, listening to their words.

Her heart turned cold.

She was their real daughter. And yet, they didn't care about her at all.

She recalled the novel's ending for the original Anaya Deshmukh.

No matter what she did, her biological parents and siblings never accepted her. She tried to be obedient, she tried to be useful, she tried to earn their love. But it was all in vain. They only had eyes for the real daughter, Rani Deshmukh or Meera Sharma

Eventually, the original Anaya Deshmukh unable to survive, and died three years later, unloved and forgotten, Sick, exhausted, and completely alone.

Readers had criticized the novel's logic—how could biological parents be so indifferent to their own child? The author later explained:

Because this world is controlled. The original owner and her family were just cannon fodder. Their fates were already decided. They had no free will."

They were NPCs, programmed to ensure that the real heiress, Rani, was loved and successful. No matter what the original Anaya Deshmukh did, her fate was set. To meant to exist only as a tragic comparison for the real daughter's success.

Anaya Deshmukh clenched her fists.

The original her had accepted it.

But She is not the original owner.

If this world was trying to turn her into a tragic footnote in someone else's story, she would rewrite the script.

She had been naive in her past life, had been betrayed once in her past life trusting the wrong people. That mistake had cost her everything—she wouldn't let it happen again.

Never again.

She would not be a disposable character.

She was not going to die miserably like the original Anaya Deshmukh.

She would not beg for love and she didn't need their love

She would take control of her fate.

She would rely on herself.

She had thought, at first, that maybe she could simply drift through this life. That she could just do nothing and let things be.

But now, as she lay there, listening to these people—the ones who should have been her family—treat her like an unwanted burden, a fire ignited in her heart.

_____________________________________________

Anaya Deshmukh took a deep breath, her mind racing.

She knew this world.

This world thought she was a weak, but she knew what was coming.

In one year, the country would restore the college entrance exam.

The original Anaya Deshmukh had never considered taking it—she was too weak, too uneducated, too hopeless.

But She! Anaya Deshmukh?

She wasn't a genius, but she had studied in the 21st century. She had an advantage.

Maybe in her past life, she had been a bad student, but now—now she had no other choice.

She couldn't do business—she had no talent for it.

She couldn't rely on farming—she wasn't strong enough.

But she could study.

She could pass the exam.

She could leave this place.

A sense of purpose filled her chest.

She was going to survive.

No—she was going to thrive.

She would get out of this house, get into college, she would build her own empire. and build a new life,

One where she belonged to no one but herself.

And as for her so-called "real family" who only saw her as an inconvenience? She would not waste her time trying to win their approval.

They would regret ever looking down on her.

And Rani, the perfect "true heiress"?

She had taken everything from Anaya Deshmukh in this life.

Anaya Deshmukh smirked.

She would take it all back. With interest.

She clenched her fists.

Anaya Deshmukh was done being a tragic side character.

From now on, she would be the protagonist of her own story.

(End of Chapter)