Chapter 1

After severe depression tortured me for nearly eight years, I decided to end my life.

Before that, I transferred the last few hundred dollars from my bank account to my mom. She had repeatedly said that I could never repay her back for giving birth to me.

Then I went to my dad's grave to pay my respects one last time.

After that, I jumped from a remote mountain cliff.

When I opened my eyes again, I returned to the day my mom decided to divorce my dad.

Since I was given another chance, this time, I chose my dad.

*****

I blinked my eyes open, still groggy, and heard a familiar voice chattering away in my ear.

It was my mom. She said, "Sally, I've decided to leave your dad. So, who do you want to stay with?

"I know you'll miss me, but I'm about to open a clothing store. I'll be super busy and won't have much time to look after you."

I scanned the room with a frown.

I was back at the old house from when I was a kid. Did I travel back in time?

Seeing Mom's worried face, I wondered how I didn't catch it in my previous life. She was basically begging me to say I wanted to stay with Dad.

Mom gave my arm a gentle shake, looking puzzled. "Sally, are you listening to me?"

Surprised to feel warmth on my skin, I realized I wasn't a ghost. I was a real, living person again.

I'd really travelled back in time!

This time, Mom, I'd go along with what you wanted.

I interrupted her, "Mom, I've decided. I want to be with Dad."

"But... what?" Mom blurted out, her eyes wide in shock.

She reached over and felt my forehead, confused. "That's strange. You don't have a fever. Sally, are you really sure?

"Your dad's a man. He's not as thoughtful as I am. He might not know how to take care of you the way I do."

I couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

What a bunch of fake nonsense.

Mom never actually wanted to fight for custody of me.

In my previous life, I stubbornly chose her. But she just treated having custody of me as a way to flaunt it in front of Grandma and Grandpa, like she was proving some kind of point against them.

It was like she was saying, "See? No matter how good you are to her, she'll always choose me, her real mom."

Just thinking about how things ended for Grandma and Grandpa hit me right in the chest.

After I left with Mom, she flat-out banned me from seeing Dad or any of his family. The only way Grandma and Grandpa could see me was by secretly waiting along my route to and from school.

Maybe it was the heartbreak that broke them down, but within a few years, they both passed away.

This time, I'd make sure Grandma and Grandpa get to live long, happy lives.

"Mom, opening a clothing store has always been your dream, right? You used to say that if you hadn't been busy with the family, you would've started a famous brand years ago.

"I'm your daughter. Of course I want you to go for your dreams. Don't worry about me, I can handle myself. I don't want to be the reason you can't move forward," I said.

Mom's cheeks flushed as she listened to my heartfelt words.

I knew I'd finally convinced her.

Mom sobbed, "Sally, I'm so sorry."

She held me close, quietly sobbing.

I spoke gently, "Mom, go chase your dreams. When your business is doing well, we'll get our time together again, I promise."

But inside, I only felt sick to my stomach.

In my previous life, after Mom split from Dad, she rushed into a new marriage and had another daughter.

Her life was even worse than before. She'd lash out at me whenever she was upset, blaming me for insisting on staying with her.

She said I ruined her chances of finding a rich husband, and because of me, her dream of starting a clothing business never even got off the ground.

Mom, this time, I'd give you exactly what you wanted. Let's see if you could actually make something of yourself.

Just like in my previous life, Mom ignored Dad's desperate begging and pleas. She dragged him straight to the city hall and made him sign the divorce papers on the spot.

The day she left, Dad and I went to the train station to send her off.

I cried.

"Sally," Mom called out.

Her eyes were red and swollen from crying as she stared at me for a few seconds, then turned away, resolute, and walked off.

I was just pretending.

I wiped away my tears, and Dad crouched down behind me, hugging me tight. "Sally, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault.

"I couldn't keep your mom here, and now you have to grow up in a single-parent family when you're still so little."

"Dad, can you promise me something?" I asked seriously, turning to look at him.