Chapter 1

My father was violent towards my mother all the time.

On my 18th birthday, during my coming-of-age celebration, I secretly added a lethal dose of poison to the cake, so my father and I would die together.

After my mother rushed me to the hospital in the pouring rain, the doctors couldn't save me. She broke down in despair and shoved mouthfuls of the poisoned cake into her mouth.

Just as my soul was about to fade away, a voice suddenly echoed in my mind.

"Kayla, you have a chance to go back in time and save your mother. But the price is that you will disappear from this world forever."

I had no idea where the voice came from, but I didn't even pause.

"I'm willing. I'll do it," I said without a second thought.

As long as I could save my mom, I'd do anything.

*****

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself on a campus I'd never seen before.

A voice, unfamiliar yet strangely familiar, called out from behind me. "Lucian, I'm stuck on this math problem. Could you explain it to me?"

I turned around and saw my mother, Maddison Knapp, wearing a blue-and-white school uniform. She was standing under a tree. She held her textbook, full of hope for the future and a thirst for knowledge.

Lucian Petain, my biological father, pretended to be patient while helping my mom with her homework. But he kept furrowing his brows, acting like the problem was super tough just to make her feel pressured.

He said, "This one's pretty complicated. I don't think I can explain it properly right now. How about you come over to my place? I'll break it down for you in detail."

Right as Lucian finished, the school bell rang, and an announcement echoed through the halls.

"Only 13 days left until the SAT..."

My mom once told me that, on the 13th day before the exam, Lucian lured her into a back alley on her way home from school. He pretended that he wanted to explain the math problem. However, he assaulted her.

Seeing my mom about to leave with Lucian, I rushed after them in a panic, grabbed her hand, and dragged her off toward Grandma's place.

Once I was sure he wasn't following, my chest was burning like it was being sliced open from all the running.

I said, "Go home right now. Ask your family to help you transfer schools. Don't trust Lucian. That creep's had his eye on you for a long time. He'll get a bunch of lowlifes to assault you. As long as you stay here, you're never safe."

My mom pulled her hand away, looking wary as she edged toward the crowd.

She said, "Lucian's a good friend of mine. He always helps me with tough questions and explains things patiently. Don't say stuff like that about him."

With that, she ran off toward the crowded street.

Just up ahead at the intersection, Lucian and a bunch of street thugs with bleached hair were searching for Mom.

I rushed after her, dragged her behind a big tree to hide, and pointed them out one by one.

I explained, "Mom, do you see them? Tonight, Lucian and those guys will assault you. They'll film it and upload the video online. You'll be cyberbullied. People will harass you by phone.

"Grandpa and Grandma will feel ashamed and force you to marry that bastard for 100 thousand dollars. After marriage, you'll be abused every day…"

By the end, I couldn't bring myself to look at Mom, my head down, fingers twisting the hem of my shirt.

I said, "And me... I'm the product that came after you were assaulted..."

My heart was racing, hoping that after everything I said, Mom would finally believe me.

But Mom completely lost it, grabbed a broom from the roadside, and started whacking me with it.

"Are you out of your mind? How could you say something so vile, cursing me to be assaulted like that?" she shouted.

I was totally at a loss, but I kept trying to explain, listing all those little things only she would know about herself, just to prove I really was her daughter from eighteen years ahead.

I said, "You've got a red birthmark behind your ear. You have a big scar above your left knee because of that fire at home. You're so afraid people will laugh at you, you won't even wear skirts or shorts in the summer..."

I looked at Mom, nervous but hopeful, thinking maybe this time she'd finally believe me.

Mom let out a terrified scream, slammed the broom into me, then bolted.

"How do you know all that? Are you a kidnapper or something?" she shrieked.

I rushed after her, trying to tell her I wasn't making things up.

Mom was fast. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't catch up.

Up ahead, Lucian blocked Mom's path, putting on a show of concern.

"Maddison, what's wrong? Do you need any help?" he asked.

When Mom saw Lucian, she immediately hid behind him like he was her lifeline, desperate for protection.

"Lucian, there's a kidnapper after me! Please, help me!" she pleaded.

Behind Mom, a few thugs shared a look with Lucian, then started moving in, carrying sacks and ropes.

I pointed behind her, panic rising in my voice. "Mom, run! You're in danger!"

Mom bent down, snatched up a rock, and angrily threw it at me. "Kidnapper, stay away from me!"

Seeing the thugs getting closer to Mom, I snatched up the rock Mom had thrown at me and hurled it at them as hard as I could.

Lucian clutched his eye in pain, and the thugs cursed as they charged toward me.

"You little bitch, how dare you hit me? You're dead!" one of them yelled.

Right then, Lucian looked just like the bastard he'd turn into eighteen years from now.

I froze up, all those memories of Lucian beating Mom and me crashing through my mind. The fear hit so hard that my legs wouldn't even work. I couldn't move.