Chapter 1
In my past life, Ethan’s mother found a pair of sexy underwear in his room. Faced with Ethan’s pleading eyes, I took the blame by default and claimed the underwear was mine.
From that day on, I became a thorn in his mother’s side.
Later, after the SATs, Ethan—who should have gone to an Ivy League school—ended up at a community college instead. His mother lost her mind. She set fire to my house and burned my entire family alive.
When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn to the day the lingerie was discovered.
This time, I wasn’t taking the fall.
Victoria Lane’s shrill voice exploded through the apartment complex courtyard.
A pink piece of lingerie landed on my face, reeking of a foul, fishy smell.
My whole body trembled.
In an instant, I remembered the bone-searing pain of being burned alive.
In my past life, Ethan had run over and grabbed his mother. “Mom, stop embarrassing yourself out here.”
Then Mrs. Lane had turned to me, tears in her eyes, voice trembling with false grief.
“Lily Thompson, I’m begging you. Please leave our Ethan alone. I’ve never wronged you. After all these years, can’t you just let me live?”
Back then, neighbors had gathered around us, pointing and whispering.
“She looks so proper.”
“You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
“And pink lingerie too. Kids these days really know how to play.”
I had looked at Ethan.
His eyes had been full of pleading, just like they were now.
In my past life, I had softened. I had nodded.
And from then on, I carried the reputation of being frivolous and promiscuous.
Mrs. Lane went around telling everyone I was young but already knew how to seduce boys. My entire family couldn’t hold our heads up in the complex. And Ethan, the real culprit, never once stood up to defend me.
Not once.
I took a slow breath and looked Victoria Lane straight in the eye.
“That underwear isn’t mine.”
Mrs. Lane froze.
Then she sneered. “Still lying? If it’s not yours, whose is it? Besides you, Ethan never brings other girls home.”
I kept my voice steady.
“I get to school at seven-thirty every morning and finish evening study hall at ten-thirty. My parents take turns picking me up. And every time I’ve gone to your place, Mrs. Lane, you’ve been there.”
I lifted my chin.
“Besides, the building security cameras can be checked. The school entry logs can be checked too. If you don’t believe me, go look right now.”
Her neck stiffened.
“What if you cut class?”
I almost laughed.
“I’m ranked second in the grade. Do you really think I got a six-hundred-plus score by skipping school?”
More onlookers were gathering.
The security guard hurried over to keep order.
My mother had always treated people kindly and had a good reputation with the neighbors. Little by little, the crowd began to shift.
“I’ve watched Lily grow up.”
“She’s a good girl.”
“She even tutored my daughter in freshman and sophomore year.”
“Her character is beyond question.”
“Victoria, maybe you misunderstood something?”
Mrs. Lane’s face turned the color of liver.
Ethan’s expression was ugly too.
He grabbed his mother’s arm. “Mom, stop making a scene. Let’s go home.”
Even as she was dragged away, she twisted back and shot me a vicious warning glare.
I stood there with my palms full of sweat.
But I knew this wasn’t over.
Because Ethan really did have a girlfriend.
And he would never dare let his mother know.
Sooner or later, whatever trouble the two of them caused would be dumped on my head again.
Not this time.