Chapter 1

In my previous life, Flora Goodman, my childhood friend Eric Goodman's mother, found a piece of racy lingerie in Eric's room.

Eric looked at me with pleading eyes. I said nothing and let her believe it was mine.

After that, I became the bane of Flora's existence.

When SAT results came out, Eric, who should have gotten into an Ivy League school, scored in the 800s.

Flora lost her mind. She set a fire and burned my family alive.

Then I was sent back. Back to the day that lingerie was found.

This time, I wasn't taking the fall.

*****

"You little bitch. Aren't you a little young to be this nasty? You're trying to seduce my son into bed with you? Have you no shame?" Flora's shrill voice rang out across the apartment compound.

She threw a pink piece of racy lingerie right in my face. It had an indescribable smell, sour and kind of funky.

I was shaking all over. Right then, the bone-deep agony of being burned alive in my previous life crashed back into my mind.

In my previous life, it was this very same day. Flora shamed me in public, accusing me of trying to seduce Eric. I wanted to argue back, but then I saw the pleading look in Eric's eyes.

So I held my tongue.

I promised Flora, over and over, that I would stay away from Eric. But I never realized that was only the start of my nightmare.

From that day on, every time Eric's grades slipped even a little, Flora would show up at my door, crying and making a scene.

My parents were tortured by it. They lost their jobs in the end.

I thought things would slowly calm down after the SATs.

But then came the bombshell. Eric, who should have gotten into an Ivy League school, only scored around 800 on the SATs.

Flora completely lost it. In the middle of the night, she poured gasoline all over our place and set it on fire. She burned my whole family alive.

My parents and I were trapped inside. The searing pain of the flames licking my body mixed with the smell of my own skin charring.

My parents' heart-wrenching screams were something I'd never forget for the rest of my life.

I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms.

Eric ran over and grabbed Flora. "Mom. Can you not embarrass us here?"

Flora thought he was taking my side. She plopped down on the ground and wailed, "I worked so hard to raise my son. Eric is the only hope I have.

"If you want a man so badly, go find some street punk who doesn't even go to school. Why do you have to mess with my son? Are you trying to destroy me?"

She groveled in front of me. "Jenny, I'm begging you. Just leave my Eric alone, okay? I've always been good to you. Can't you just give me a break?"

With all this drama going down, the neighbors all gathered around and started pointing at me.

"Jenny always seemed so well-behaved."

"Guess looks can be deceiving."

"A pink piece of racy lingerie? Kids these days are really wild."

I took a deep breath. My eyes couldn't help but look toward Eric.

Just like in my previous life, his eyes were full of pleading.

In my previous life, I went soft and agreed to cover for him. After that, I was branded as slutty and easy.

Flora went around, telling people I was a little slut. My whole family couldn't even hold their heads up in the apartment compound.

And Eric, the real culprit, never once spoke up for me.

I took a deep breath. "That lingerie isn't mine."