Chapter 3

I didn't reply to a single one. I blocked them all.

The next day, I went back to the old neighborhood to pack up my stuff.

Bethany sat across from me, wearing a defiant look, holding her college application form and a contract.

She said, smacking the pen down in front of me, "Mom, I'm applying to Amber University's law program. My scores barely make the cut. Check out this contract.

"Since you ditched me first, you're on the hook for my tuition and living expenses for the next four years. And you need to hand over your parents' house as compensation. I'll use it as my dowry when I get married."

Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her youthful face.

What a familiar sight. In my previous life, it was this same afternoon, Bethany said almost the same words, only she hadn't fully shown her true self yet.

Back then, I was filled with joy, thinking Bethany was so mature and made me proud. I felt I had wronged her, so I begged my parents to transfer the big apartment in the good school district they'd left me over to her.

My parents were shaking with anger, but I truly believed I was doing the right thing.

But what happened next?

Bethany took the house, sold it for 27 million dollars, and didn't give me a single cent. When I was in the hospital with stomach cancer, she couldn't even be bothered to visit.

In the end, she claimed she was broke and dumped me back in some cheap rental apartment, leaving me to rot on my own.

"Mom? What are you zoning out for?" Bethany tapped the table, clearly annoyed. "The application deadline's tomorrow. Sign it already, then handle the transfer paperwork. Tuition at Amber University is 16 thousand dollars a year, so wire me 20 thousand dollars up front for living expenses."

I looked down at the application form.

Amber University. Law.

Her name, my hopes, and the humiliation of decades of my previous life.

I picked up the contract.

Bethany grinned, feeling triumphant, and started scrolling on her phone.

But after hearing the tearing sound, she snapped her head up.

She watched as I ripped the contract in half and flung the pieces into the air.

"Are you out of your mind?" Bethany shouted, jumping to her feet, her eyes wide as saucers.

"I'm not crazy," I said, slapping the torn pieces onto the table. "I'm finally awake."

"What do you mean?" she demanded.

I said, meeting her gaze, "You're Wanda's daughter, not mine. I don't owe you anything. From this moment on, I'm done supporting you."

The room went silent for three seconds.

She bit her lip, her expression shifting.

Ever since she was a kid, whenever things didn't go her way, she'd always get that look on her face.

And just like always, the very next second, she started throwing a fit.

"Sarah! What gives you the right? I've called you Mom for eighteen years, and now you decide to stop supporting me?" Bethany screamed.

"I never asked you to call me that," I replied calmly, locking eyes with her. "That was your real mom's idea. The closer you act, the more you can take."

Bethany paused for a moment, then raised her voice even more. "You raised me for eighteen years! Legally, you're my mom! You can't walk away from me!"

"Legally?" I chuckled. "Legally, you're an adult now. You're eighteen. Time to take care of yourself."

Bethany yelled, "I don't have any money! How am I supposed to pay for college?"

I said, "Go ask your birth mom."

"She doesn't have any money!" Bethany snapped.

"That's on her," I replied.

Bethany locked her gaze on me, her eyes starting to well up with tears.

I knew that look all too well.

When playing tough didn't get her way, she'd always switch to the pitiful act.

"Mom..." Bethany's tone softened as she came over and grabbed my hand. "I know you're upset. I was saying things out of anger. I'll stick by you every day. Please don't abandon me..."

I jerked my hand away.

She froze.

"Mom, are you really going to give up on me?" Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I never had a dad. You're the only family I've got. How could you walk away from me..."

Pathetic, really.

In my last life, Bethany always had me dancing to her tune with this sob story.

I said, "Your real mom is still alive. She's doing just fine. A couple of days ago, she was out shopping with you, buying bags with my money."

Bethany's face instantly changed. She hadn't expected me to know.

She said, "You were watching me?"

I met her eyes and said, "I didn't need to do that. I finally see things clearly."

Bethany was rattled.

She was genuinely scared now.

Because I was so calm, and I had no anger or sadness. I was staring at her like she was nobody to me.

"Mom, I was wrong." Bethany collapsed to her knees, hugging my leg. "I won't see her anymore. I'll do whatever you say, please don't leave me."

I looked down at her.

In my last life, on my deathbed, I called Bethany and begged her to come back and spend my final night with me.

She said, "You're not my real mom. Don't get all emotional."

I said, my voice flat, "Get up. It won't change anything."

Suddenly, she jumped up, rushed over to the window, and threw it open.

"If you don't forgive me, I'll jump!" Bethany yelled.

We were on the eighteenth floor.

She pulled this trick in my last life too. I was so scared that my face went pale. I hugged her, crying, and agreed to anything she wanted to keep her from jumping.