My Karma Rebound System

Chapter 1

I was born with a built-in Karma Rebound System.

Anyone who spreads rumors about me finds those very lies reflected back onto their own lives.

In high school, a guy claimed I was a streetwalker who serviced creepy old men for spare change. That same day, he was picked up by a group of shady seniors and forced into the underground adult entertainment industry himself.

In college, my boyfriend's childhood best friend told everyone I was the star of an amateur adult film. By that night, every illicit video on the dark web had been deep-faked with her face.

Since then, no one has dared to whisper a word of gossip behind my back.

That was until I was brought back to the Vance estate, the billionaire family I'd been separated from since birth. Chloe Vance, the girl who had taken my place all these years, wrapped her arm around mine with a fake, sugary smile.

"Ava, I heard you got pregnant out of wedlock while you were away," she chirped. "And that the father was a convicted murderer."

"Now that you're home, why didn't you bring the baby? We're family, sweetie. None of us would ever look down on you for your mistakes!"

As the words left her mouth, my father's face turned a terrifying shade of purple.

"You have a bastard child?" he roared.

"Ava Vance! You're barely twenty! How could you bring such filth into this house!"

Seeing my father's explosion, Chloe's lips curled into a tiny, satisfied smirk. She quickly covered her mouth, pretending to be shocked.

"Oh my god... did Ava not tell you, Dad?"

"I'm so sorry, Ava. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have said anything."

She turned to my father, her voice dripping with artificial concern.

"Dad, please don't be mad at her. She's been out there on her own for years. She must have had her reasons."

She turned back to me, her eyes glistening with crocodile tears.

"Don't worry, Ava. From now on, I'll help you keep this a secret. I won't let anyone say a single bad thing about you!"

Just as she finished, a sophisticated woman rushed out of the villa and pulled me into a crushing embrace.

"Ava! My baby girl... Mama finally found you!"

She wept against my shoulder, only noticing the eerie silence after several long moments.

"What's wrong? Why is everyone staring at Ava? What were you all talking about?"

"It's nothing, Mom. Ava's had a long trip and she's probably exhausted. Let's get her inside," Chloe interjected.

She shot a knowing look at my father, acting like she was protecting my dignity.

I spoke up, my voice calm and clear.

"She said I got pregnant by a murderer and had a child out of wedlock."

My mother's face went pale. "What? Ava, youD"

"I didn't. She's lying."

"Ava!"

Chloe's voice spiked an octave as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I was trying to help you! How could you call me a liar?"

She sobbed, taking a step back. "All those dirty secrets you have... do you really want me to expose everything in front of everyone?"

She bit her lip, looking at our parents with a perfectly timed expression of hesitation.

"What else is there?!"

The veins on my father's forehead were bulging. "Chloe, speak! I want the truth, right now!"

Chloe looked like she was making a painful sacrifice as she bowed deeply toward me.

"I'm sorry, Ava... I know you wanted to hide it, but Mom and Dad deserve the truth."

She sighed heavily and whispered.

"When I heard we were bringing you home, I looked into your past so I could buy you the right gifts. But I accidentally found out..."

She took a shaky breath, acting as if the words were too heavy to speak.

"Ava has been... selling herself since high school. She was a professional escort."

The room went dead silent before a wave of gasps broke out.

My father was shaking with pure rage.

"You monster! How could the Vance family produce such a low-class slut!"

My mother stumbled back, looking at me with pure disbelief and horror.

I just stared at Chloe with a half-smile.

"Are you absolutely sure about these stories, Chloe? Lies have a funny way of coming back to haunt people."

"Of course it's true! YouD"

"GahD!"

Before she could finish, she was doubled over, retching violently. Her stomach suddenly looked oddly bloated, pushing against her designer dress.

I blinked innocently, the corners of my mouth twitching upward.

I told her. Karma is a bitch.

Chapter 2

"Chloe! What's happening? Why are you so sick?"

My parents rushed to her side, their voices frantic with worry.

I stood my ground, tilting my head curiously.

"Wow, Chloe. That looks exactly like morning sickness."

The air in the foyer turned to ice for a few seconds.

"What are you talking about!"

Chloe shrieked, looking like she'd been slapped.

"I don't even have a boyfriend! How could I be pregnant?"

"Just because you're... you're loose and did disgusting things, doesn't mean you can project that onto me!"

Seeing her crying like a wounded bird made my parents' hearts ache.

My father's eyes burned with fury.

"Ava Vance, you're spreading disgusting rumors about your sister! You have absolutely no class!"

My mother looked at me with pure disappointment.

"Ava, that was too far! Your sister hasn't even been around men. How could she possibly be pregnant?"

I blinked, looking perfectly guileless.

"I was just guessing."

"But since she's throwing up like that... maybe we should call a doctor?"

"No!"

Chloe's refusal was too fast. She covered her mouth and coughed, her eyes darting around the room in a panic.

"I just had something bad for lunch. I just need to lie down."

She leaned weakly against my mother, playing the victim card to the max.

My parents immediately helped her into the villa, treating her like she was made of glass.

I watched them leave, my eyes narrowing.

Chloe's reaction was off.

It was as if she already knew she was pregnant.

A surge of excitement bubbled up inside me. This was going to be fun.

I followed them into the house and stood by her bedside.

"Chloe, I was so worried that I called a doctor. He'll be here any minute."

"If there's something wrong, it's better to find out now so Mom and Dad can stop worrying."

My parents looked at me with a hint of approval for my supposed thoughtfulness.

Chloe, however, went white as a sheet and buried her face in Mom's shoulder.

"Mom... I don't want a doctor..."

My mother patted her back, about to speak whenD

"That won't be necessary."

A deep, cold voice came from the doorway.

My older brother, Xander, walked in. He looked me up and down with nothing but pure disgust in his eyes.

"So, you're Ava?"

"Let me make one thing clear. You might share our blood, but Chloe is my only sister."

"You have no right to interfere in her life."

He walked straight to Chloe and gently wiped her tears away.

"If Chloe doesn't want a doctor, she won't see one. I'm here for you, princess."

Chloe threw herself into Xander's arms, sobbing loudly.

"I knew you were the only one who cared about me, Xander!"

Watching the two of them, I felt a spark of realization.

"Wow," I said, my voice full of forced wonder. "You two are so close! Even though you aren't biological siblings, you're incredibly... intimate."

The room shifted.

Xander pulled his hand away as if he'd been burned. His ears turned red, and his eyes flashed with anger.

"What the hell are you implying?"

Chloe started sobbing even harder, pointing a trembling finger at me.

"Ava, how can you say that about me and Xander?"

"Are you just trying to distract everyone? Are you making up lies about me so Mom and Dad won't ask about your murderer boyfriend?"

She bit her lip, looking devastated.

"Actually... I found out that Ava was bullied and hurt before she came here. I was going to ask Mom and Dad to help her... I can't believe she's doing this to me..."

My mother immediately tensed up.

"Hurt? Ava, who hurt you?"

I sat down on a chair, feeling amused. "I have no idea. Chloe, who exactly hurt me?"

"Ava, don't be scared. It wasn't your fault..."

Her eyes were filled with pitying tears.

"My sources told me... a few months ago, you were... dragged into an alleyway by seven or eight thugs."

"They did... terrible things to you..."

She sighed, reaching out to try and grab my hand.

"The first time was forced, but Ava, how could you be so foolish? Why did you keep seeing them?"

"The neighbors said they saw those men coming in and out of your place half-naked every other day..."

She trailed off, looking like she was too traumatized to continue.

"You disgusting brat! How could you have no shame!"

My father roared, his face darkening to a bruised plum color.

My mother clutched her chest, pointing a trembling finger at me. "Ava... tell me this isn't true..."

"Ava Vance, you are a disgrace!"

Xander stood up, looming over me. "We don't need someone like you in this family. Get out! Now!"

I looked at their twisted, angry faces and felt the utter absurdity of it all.

I hadn't done any of that.

But even if I had, shouldn't my family's first reaction be concern that I was assaulted?

"Ava, even though you were... messing around with those people, I know you can change," Chloe urged.

"If you just apologize and cut ties with those men... Mom and Dad will forgive you."

I let out a soft laugh, looking her dead in the eye.

"I don't know any thugs. Why would I apologize?"

"And Chloe... didn't I tell you? Lies come back to haunt the liar."

"Why do you keep saying that to me?"

Chloe squeezed out a few more tears and pulled out her phone, thrusting the screen in front of everyone.

"If I'm a liar, then how do you explain these photos?"

On the screen was a photo of a girl in skimpy clothes, lying provocatively among a group of men.

To make it worse, she swiped to show another photo of me holding a baby.

My parents' faces were now completely black with rage.

"The photos are fake," I reminded her calmly. "I'm telling you for the last timeDkarma is coming for you."

"I'm not lying! ID"

"Fine," I interrupted. "Just don't regret it later."

With the rebound system active, I wasn't the one who was going to suffer.

Chloe Vance was about to learn the hard way that her mouth was her own undoing.