Chapter 1 · Second Life, Their Freedom

I remained a widow for Alfred Carroll for twenty years.

He was a titan in academia, a pioneer in his field, and after he passed, the whole world mourned him.

Everyone praised me for being thrifty and devoted, the most beautiful wife in the country.

I believed them.

It wasn't until I was sorting through his things that I stumbled upon a password-protected journal.

Inside, he wrote about how guilty he felt about Selena Lloyd. She once saved his life, and the only way he could repay her was by altering my future.

I should have been doing research at the most prestigious university in the country, but instead, I was trapped in a life of cooking, cleaning, and endless household duties.

It felt like someone stabbed my heart with a steel needle, and everything went black in an instant.

As I blinked awake, the young Alfred's worried face appeared right in front of me.

"Lydia, are you alright? You look so pale," he said.

*****

I was back.

Back to the day right before I had to choose my college major.

I looked at the young Alfred in front of me.

His face was filled with concern, and there was nothing unusual about him.

I looked away.

"I'm fine. I just skipped breakfast," I said.

He breathed out softly and patted my head.

"Don't skip meals just to lose weight. I'll go get you some porridge in a bit," he said.

"Oh, and since you're applying for college tomorrow, just send me your login info. I'll check if you made any mistakes," he added.

He said the exact same thing again, just like he did in my last life.

Back then, all I wanted was to go to his university, so I gave him my login info without a second thought.

But he only used it to delete my application right before the system closed, so someone else could take my spot.

My heart twisted painfully again, but I forced myself to stay calm and replied in a steady voice.

"No need. I'm about to go to college. I think I should do this myself," I said.

Alfred looked taken aback.

After a moment, he forced out a couple of awkward chuckles.

"So, you're starting to be cautious around me now?" he asked.

"No, it's not that. I'm an adult now. It's time I started being independent and stopped depending on others," I replied.

"Do I really count as 'others' to you?" Alfred asked.

Catching himself sounding a little too obvious, Alfred quickly changed the subject.

"I'll go grab you something to eat. Just take it easy," he said.

The front door closed in a rush behind him.

I slumped back into the couch, feeling too drained to even move.

Being reborn like this was beyond bizarre, but there was no way I was letting this rare chance slip through my fingers.

I carefully went over every detail I might have overlooked before.

I suddenly remembered my registration slip.

I jolted upright.

Alfred had seen my exam registration slip before. He knew all my login info, and he was the one who registered my account for me.

Since I didn't have a phone back then, I used his number as my contact.

I quickly turned on my computer and updated my contact info with my own phone number.

For things like this, it was safer to handle everything myself.

I let out a long sigh of relief.

It was all set.

Almost immediately, Alfred's call came in.

"Lydia, I just got a text saying your account had some unusual activity. Want me to take a look for you?" he asked.

"No need," I interrupted him.

I cut him off before he could say more.

"I changed my number. I want to take care of this myself, no help needed from anyone," I said.

There was a long silence on the other end, then he just gave a noncommittal "Alright" and hung up.

I couldn't help but laugh at myself.

There was no way a notification about my updated contact info would ever be sent to him.

He must've tried to recover the password, only to freak out when the number didn't match.

Just as I suspected, he gave up so easily this morning, but he had a backup plan all along.

I walked into the living room and stopped my parents, who were glued to the TV.

"Please don't share my new phone number with anyone yet. Since it's college application season, let's keep it quiet until I actually get my admission letter," I said.

They exchanged a look and nodded in agreement.

I hadn't been back in my room for long when my mom called up from downstairs.

"Lydia, come out! Selena just got home!" she called out.

Bitterness flooded my heart.

Selena just got home.

To them, Selena was always their daughter, and this place was always hers.

Me? Even though I was their real child, I'd never be as important as Selena, the one they actually raised.

The day the two families swapped kids back, the Lloyds saw the house where I grew up and immediately got teary-eyed, feeling sorry for Selena. They went out and bought her a new place right away, just so she could focus on her exams.

Selena would still come back every now and then, looking pale and wearing clothes that were faded from so many washes. Every time, she'd make the Lloyds cry and get whatever she wanted.

But whenever I tried to go back to the home where I grew up, my adoptive parents would always turn me away, saying they didn't want Selena to feel upset.

Watching Selena's thin, fragile silhouette downstairs, I realized in a daze.

Chapter 1

I remained a widow for Alfred Carroll for twenty years.

He was a titan in academia, a pioneer in his field, and after he passed, the whole world mourned him.

Everyone praised me for being thrifty and devoted, the most beautiful wife in the country.

I believed them.

It wasn't until I was sorting through his things that I stumbled upon a password-protected journal.

Inside, he wrote about how guilty he felt about Selena Lloyd. She once saved his life, and the only way he could repay her was by altering my future.

I should have been doing research at the most prestigious university in the country, but instead, I was trapped in a life of cooking, cleaning, and endless household duties.

It felt like someone stabbed my heart with a steel needle, and everything went black in an instant.

As I blinked awake, the young Alfred's worried face appeared right in front of me.

"Lydia, are you alright? You look so pale," he said.

*****

I was back.

Back to the day right before I had to choose my college major.

I looked at the young Alfred in front of me.

His face was filled with concern, and there was nothing unusual about him.

I looked away.

"I'm fine. I just skipped breakfast," I said.

He breathed out softly and patted my head.

"Don't skip meals just to lose weight. I'll go get you some porridge in a bit," he said.

"Oh, and since you're applying for college tomorrow, just send me your login info. I'll check if you made any mistakes," he added.

He said the exact same thing again, just like he did in my last life.

Back then, all I wanted was to go to his university, so I gave him my login info without a second thought.

But he only used it to delete my application right before the system closed, so someone else could take my spot.

My heart twisted painfully again, but I forced myself to stay calm and replied in a steady voice.

"No need. I'm about to go to college. I think I should do this myself," I said.

Alfred looked taken aback.

After a moment, he forced out a couple of awkward chuckles.

"So, you're starting to be cautious around me now?" he asked.

"No, it's not that. I'm an adult now. It's time I started being independent and stopped depending on others," I replied.

"Do I really count as 'others' to you?" Alfred asked.

Catching himself sounding a little too obvious, Alfred quickly changed the subject.

"I'll go grab you something to eat. Just take it easy," he said.

The front door closed in a rush behind him.

I slumped back into the couch, feeling too drained to even move.

Being reborn like this was beyond bizarre, but there was no way I was letting this rare chance slip through my fingers.

I carefully went over every detail I might have overlooked before.

I suddenly remembered my registration slip.

I jolted upright.

Alfred had seen my exam registration slip before. He knew all my login info, and he was the one who registered my account for me.

Since I didn't have a phone back then, I used his number as my contact.

I quickly turned on my computer and updated my contact info with my own phone number.

For things like this, it was safer to handle everything myself.

I let out a long sigh of relief.

It was all set.

Almost immediately, Alfred's call came in.

"Lydia, I just got a text saying your account had some unusual activity. Want me to take a look for you?" he asked.

"No need," I interrupted him.

I cut him off before he could say more.

"I changed my number. I want to take care of this myself, no help needed from anyone," I said.

There was a long silence on the other end, then he just gave a noncommittal "Alright" and hung up.

I couldn't help but laugh at myself.

There was no way a notification about my updated contact info would ever be sent to him.

He must've tried to recover the password, only to freak out when the number didn't match.

Just as I suspected, he gave up so easily this morning, but he had a backup plan all along.

I walked into the living room and stopped my parents, who were glued to the TV.

"Please don't share my new phone number with anyone yet. Since it's college application season, let's keep it quiet until I actually get my admission letter," I said.

They exchanged a look and nodded in agreement.

I hadn't been back in my room for long when my mom called up from downstairs.

"Lydia, come out! Selena just got home!" she called out.

Bitterness flooded my heart.

Selena just got home.

To them, Selena was always their daughter, and this place was always hers.

Me? Even though I was their real child, I'd never be as important as Selena, the one they actually raised.

Selena would still come back every now and then, looking pale and wearing clothes that were faded from so many washes. Every time, she'd make the Lloyds cry and get whatever she wanted.

But whenever I tried to go back to the home where I grew up, my adoptive parents would always turn me away, saying they didn't want Selena to feel upset.

Watching Selena's thin, fragile silhouette downstairs, I realized in a daze.