Chapter 1

When I died, my twin sons pulled out my oxygen tube.

They said, "Danica is going to marry Dad. You should die so they can marry."

My husband, Emmett Dumas, stood nearby and silently allowed it, his gaze cold.

I'd loved him for thirty years and all I got was a miserable death.

When I returned to being nineteen, Emmett had just stuffed Danica Stratton's love letter into my schoolbag and asked me to reject her for him.

In my previous life, I foolishly took the blame and became the entire school's public enemy, while he built a reputation as a devoted man.

This time, I pinned the love letter straight onto the school bulletin board and even added a "congratulatory note."

I wrote: [Emmett said he was madly in love with Danica. Wishing them a lifetime of happiness together!]

In this life, Emmett and Danica could stay together and torment each other.

And those ungrateful twins? Only Danica deserved to give birth to them.

*****

"Janelle, why are you daydreaming? Can you handle this letter for me?" Emmett Dumas said.

For a split second, it felt like my lungs were about to explode from the sudden loss of oxygen. The suffocating pain made me gasp desperately for air.

I gripped the edge of my desk so tightly my knuckles turned white, cold sweat sliding down my temples.

I wasn't in the bleak hospital room, and my monstrous twins weren't looming over me with their twisted grins.

No, I was in the bustling classroom of my senior year, Class 2.

Standing in front of me was a guy in a blue-and-white school uniform, one hand in his pocket. That face I'd loved for half my life, and hated for the other half, was now wearing a look of casual disdain.

It was Emmett.

He tossed a pink envelope onto my desk, like he was doing me a favor.

"Danica gave this to me. She's such a pain. Just give it back to her. Tell her I'm not into girls like her, and she should stop fantasizing," he said.

It was the same old lines, with the same old arrogance.

Back then, in my previous life, I took that letter like some clueless eager-to-please puppy, thinking I was doing the right thing.

I thought Emmett trusted me, so I went off like an idiot to reject Danica Stratton for him.

Guess what happened next?

Danica broke down in front of the whole class, accusing me of secretly crushing on Emmett, of being jealous, and humiliating her on purpose.

Emmett just stood there, acting all innocent. "I had no idea Janelle would do that. I just showed her the letter."

After that, I became the school's public enemy, the evil side character who ruined the lovebirds' happy ending.

Meanwhile, Emmett played the charming heartthrob, comforted Danica. They kept flirting ambiguously, while I got stuck with the bad rep for life.

Right before I died, the twin sons I'd cherished all my life ended up yanking out my oxygen tube themselves, just so Danica could take my place.

"Mom, you're so sick already. Stop holding Dad back," one of them said.

"Danica's waited for Dad for years. Time for you to give up your spot," the other added.

Emmett stood at the doorway, coldly watching me convulse in agony until my last breath. He didn't even bat an eye.

"Janelle? I'm talking to you! Are you deaf or something?" Emmett snapped.

He drummed his fingers on my desk, brows drawn tight in impatience.

"What's up with you lately? You're so slow. Hurry up and go. Don't make me late for my game," he said.

I slowly lifted my head, hatred still burning in my eyes, clear as day. The fierce, bloodshot look in my eyes made Emmett jump.

"What's your problem? Why are you glaring at me?" Emmett snapped.

He instinctively stepped back, but then realized his pride was pricked. His embarrassment quickly turned to anger.

"It's just a favor, alright? You always helped me deal with girls before, didn't you? What, suddenly changing your tune today?" he said.

I took a deep breath, the air filling my lungs reminding me that I was still alive.

I picked up the pink love letter from my desk, my fingers gently tracing the delicate handwriting on the front.

It read: [For Emmett Dumas only.]

Danica played the helpless act her whole life, and secretly manipulated my sons into yanking out my oxygen tube.

"Emmett," I said, my voice still hoarse from the rush of coming back to life, "are you really sure you want me to deal with this?"

Emmett snorted, straightening his collar with a smirk.

"Duh. I can't show up for this kind of thing. Anything that pisses people off is your job. You're tough. So who cares if people talk about you?" he said.

Tough? So my dignity meant nothing to him.

"Alright," I said.

I curled my lips into an icy smile.

"Since you trust me so much, I'll make sure to handle it in the most dramatic way possible," I said.

Emmett didn't even notice the sarcasm in my voice. He just brushed me off, thinking I'd agreed, and walked away.

"Make it quick. And don't let me see her bawling her eyes out. It's such a pain," he said.

Watching his cocky swagger as he left, I clenched the envelope tighter in my hand.

No way in hell I'd let Emmett and Danica use me as their shield or stepping stone.

Since they were so eager to be together, then be my guest. This time, I'd make sure they got exactly what they wanted.

And I'd let Danica feel the soul-crushing despair of having her two ungrateful sons pull out her oxygen tube.

I shot to my feet, snatched the glue from my desk, and marched out of the classroom.