Chapter 2 Edith followed Dallas into the manor . The moment they stepped inside , she saw Hallie sitting on the living room couch . At this point in time , both of them were still under eighteen - just girls . Edith had spent six years in a small town . She had grown timid and withdrawn , always lowering her head slightly . Meanwhile , Hallie - the illegitimate daughter - had lived in the Lovett Manor for six years and risen to become the heiress of the Lovett family . In Sunspire , she lived like a princess - confident , proud , and always at the center of attention . After Edith returned , Hallie made sure she stayed beneath her - stepping on her , humiliating her . That was how her nightmare of a short life began . But now that God had given her a second chance , she wasn't going to waste it . That thought sparked a sudden sharpness in Edith's gaze . Right then , a mechanical voice rang out in her mind . [ Heiress System successfully bound . Dear Host , I will assist you in becoming a perfect , outstanding top - tier heiress . ] Edith let out a cold , silent laugh . In her previous life , she had tried so hard to be the perfect lady - polished , gentle , admired by everyone . And what did she get ? Betrayal . Ruin . Paralysis . Ten long years in a hospital bed , and a miserable death in the end . This time , she had no intention of being anyone's idea of a proper heiress . She was going to destroy her enemies - one by one - and take back everything that belonged to her . Hallie stood up from the couch , surprised . The files she'd read said Edith was a shy, insecure country girl - but the real Edith didn't seem to match that description . Sure , Edith wore cheap clothes . She had no makeup on , no jewelry . But something about her presence - it didn't fit the image of some clueless bumpkin . For some reason , Hallie felt a twinge of jealousy . She'd lived in Lovett Manor for six years and still didn't have that kind of demeanor . There was no way she was going to let Edith outshine her . So she wrinkled her nose and said with a look of disgust , " Something smells . Edith , you should go take a shower . " Edith let out a soft laugh . This moment was exactly like her previous life . Day one , and Hallie had already made her feel worthless . That was when it all started - her sinking self - esteem , her downfall . Edith opened her mouth to respond , but the voice in her head chimed in again . [ New mission : A proper heiress must have a bedroom of her own . ] She had no interest in following the system's tasks . But she did plan to take back her room - the one she'd lived in for twelve years . Without another word , she headed up the stairs . The entire second floor - except for the master bedroom - had once been Edith's . All the rooms had been knocked together and decorated just for her . Her mother , Melinda , had done it with love . But after Melinda died , Edith was sent away , and the room was taken from her . She walked up the stairs , one step at a time . But before she got far , Hallie's voice rang out behind her . " Edith , don't get lost . Your room's downstairs , over there . " Edith looked down . That was the servants ' quarters . In her previous life , before leaving the Lovett Manor , she had stayed in the servants ' room the entire time . She had never protested . Even though she was the Lovett family's daughter , she lived worse than a maid . Edith slowly turned around and smiled . " So you knew I was coming and already set up a room for me ? How sweet . " Then she pointed toward the servants ' quarters and looked at Dallas . " Get someone to move Hallie's things in there . " Hallie froze . " What do you mean by that ? " " You've lived in my room for six years . Did you really think it was yours now ? " Edith chuckled . " Dallas , move her stuff ." Hallie clenched her fists in anger . She hadn'ted Edith to start fighting with her on the very first day . She cursed Edith silently - so rude , so uncultured . With narrowed eyes , Hallie said slowly , " Let's see who dares touch my things ." Dallas stood in the living room , torn . He had watched Edith grow up . He knew she must've suffered a lot in that town , and he felt bad for her . But Hallie was the one Mr. and Mrs. Lovett loved most . He didn't dare upset her . Just then , the door to the master bedroom opened . Karen stepped out , wearing a face mask . With a smooth motion , she peeled it off , eyes flashing with annoyance . " What's all the noise ? " Hallie immediately ran to her like she'd found backup . " Mom , she's trying to take my room ! She told Dallas to throw all my stuff in the servants ' quarters . " She's just some country girl . Why should she get the best room in the house ? I'm not giving it up . " Karen came down the stairs , her gaze landing on Edith . That face - so much like Melinda's - filled her with jealousy and disgust . Edith smiled . Slowly , she said , " I'm back . " Her voice was calm , but the air around her felt tense , like something heavy pressing down . She stared straight at Karen , eyes as sharp as blades . In her previous life , Hallie had ruined her . Karen had destroyed her mother . Edith even suspected Karen had something to do with the car crash that killed Melinda . Now she was back , and she was going to make them pay , one by one . " I grew up here . This is my home ," Edith said with a smile . " Everyone knows the Lovett family has more than one daughter . " I've been gone for six years , and now I'm back - only to be shoved into the servant's room ? Karen , if word got out , people in our circle might think you're mistreating your stepdaughter , right ? " Karen's face darkened . " Are you threatening me ? " " How could you think that ? " Edith blinked innocently . " I'm just worried people might get the wrong idea - think you're some wicked stepmother - and that wouldn't look good on any of us , would it ? " As cruel as Karen was , she cared deeply about her reputation . She hated being reminded she'd once been the mistress who took over someone else's marriage . Edith's words hit exactly where it hurt . Karen took a slow , sharp breath . Then she said coldly , " Hallie , give Edith her room back . You'll move to the third floor - the one next to Cedric's . " Edith's long lashes fluttered . Cedric was the oldest of her younger brothers , around fifteen now , probably a sophomore in high school . They were only a little over two years apart and had been inseparable as children . But on her twelfth birthday , Melinda had rushed home to sing for her - only to die in a car crash on the way , Karen and Hallie had never stopped reminding everyone of that tragedy . They twisted the story so much that all four of Edith's younger brothers ended up blaming her for it . For the accident . For their mother's death . Edith remembered clearly - in her previous life , from the moment she returned to the Lovett Manor until the day she died , Cedric never once spoke a word to her .