Chapter 1

In the previous timeline, I was the secret lover of rich guy Harry Snyder for three years.

He spoiled me rotten, and his marriage to Alison was just for show.

Wanting to become his official girlfriend, I posted a faceless couple photo on Instagram.

Alison brought her relatives and a bunch of nosy women, dragged me into the street, tore off my clothes, and beat me until I died.

Not long after I died, Alison got pregnant and had a baby. Their family lived happily ever after.

Meanwhile, I became the joke everyone talked about.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the night I asked Harry for a baby.

Afterward, Harry lit up a cigarette and shot me a frown.

"You want a baby?" Harry asked.

In the previous timeline, I thought he just didn't catch what I said, and I was already daydreaming about us as a happy family of three.

But now, catching the wary look in his eyes, I snapped back to reality.

"I need to take my birth control. I don't want to get pregnant," I told him.

*****

Harry took a drag, blew smoke right in my face, and gave a soft laugh. "What's there to be scared of? If you get pregnant, just have the kid. I'll take care of everything."

Those familiar words made my heart clench, like something had grabbed it for a second.

I was so stupid back then. I didn't even realize he was testing me.

I gave him a sweet, eager smile and reached out to touch his face.

"Come on. I wouldn't dare cause you any trouble," I said.

Then, forcing myself to stay calm, I got up and swallowed my daily birth control pill right in front of him.

As the wariness faded from Harry's eyes, I knew I'd made the right call.

It was laughable that I ever believed Harry and I had a future together.

After all, his marriage with Alison was already dead in the water.

He never even bothered to call Alison and would throw shade at her right in front of me.

Macy, my bestie, kept fanning the flames. She said, "He and Alison will divorce sooner or later. You're the one he's really into. This is your shot. You gotta grab it."

I wasn't thinking straight and just got carried away.

Trying to mark my territory, I went ahead and posted a faceless couple pic on Instagram.

That post racked up hundreds of likes and kicked off a whole world of trouble for me.

Someone took a screenshot and sent it to Alison, who used that photo to track down the little apartment Harry had rented for me.

Four or five burly guys blocked my way home and beat me to a bloody pulp right there in the street.

I lay sprawled on the cold ground, in so much pain I couldn't even move. The shouts, curses, and gossip from the crowd all blurred together in my ears.

Through the crowd, I spotted Macy.

She was gloating over my misery, mouthing the words, "Esther, you finally got what's coming to you."

That was when I realized Macy had always been jealous of how Harry took care of me. She was the one who sold me out to Alison, throwing me under the bus and causing my death.

And when Harry found out what really happened, he didn't lift a finger to get revenge for me.

He just stared at my dirty face for a long time, then picked up a white sheet and draped it over me.

As he turned to leave, he said, "Make it look like an accident. Don't let it trouble Alison."

In the end, he just threw money at it and swept everything under the rug.

Harry went back to his family, made up with Alison, and they moved to Uglor together. Before long, Alison was pregnant again and had another baby.

They ended up with a son and a daughter, living the perfect family life.

Meanwhile, I was the infamous homewrecker everyone in town spat on, dying alone on that cold night.

I took a deep breath.

Fate must have been watching over me, because somehow, I actually got a second chance at life.

Since I got another shot at life, there was no way I would let the same tragedy happen again.

This time, I vowed to live only for myself and Brenda.

Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains as I sat at the table, sipping my milk.

Harry was putting on his coat and casually asked, "What time do you get out of class today? I'll come pick you up from school."

"You don't need to pick me up anymore," I said.

I set down my cup and looked up to catch his reaction.

He paused. "Why?"

I replied, "There's been too much gossip at school lately. I just want to keep a low profile."

Harry didn't freak out, which was good. I let my gaze drop, my voice calm and even.

Harry pulled out his lighter and lit a cigarette, not saying anything right away.

After a moment, he smirked thoughtfully and nodded. "Alright, it's up to you."

Harry left my little apartment.

The hospital sent another bill on schedule. I used the cash Harry had just handed me to pay for my sister Brenda Wyatt's latest treatment.

I then sat down at the table, carefully budgeting the rest and making notes in my journal.

I had decided to use the money I had saved up these past few years to open a pet shop.