Chapter 2: A Brother Who Wouldn't Believe Me

And tell Mia Cooper that she should stop playing these little games. I won't fall for it again.

Hearing these words, my heart completely sank.

It seemed my brother had also been reborn! But why would he think this was a lie I made up?

In my previous life, he had witnessed with his own eyes how those thugs tortured mother and me.

Why was he being so cold this time around?

Just because of Michelle Peterson? Just because she casually said "Mia did it on purpose" in her suicide note?

Heavy footsteps approached outside the door.

Then the door was hit even more violently, making the wardrobe start to scrape across the floor with a piercing noise.

We watched helplessly as the wardrobe's defense gradually failed until—CRACK!

A corner of the wardrobe splintered under a powerful blow, exposing a large gap right before our eyes.

The intruder outside let out a hoarse laugh, "So this is where you're hiding."

I stood in front of my mother, backing toward the bed step by step.

Staring at the widening crack in the doorway, sweat covered my forehead as I felt completely helpless without any weapon.

Then the door was violently forced open, with the bottom of the wardrobe making a terrible screeching sound like metal on train tracks.

A pair of dirty boots stepped into the room.

"Did you think blocking the door would save you? I don't have the patience for games."

The man smiled crookedly, his disgusting gaze scanning the room.

I froze in place, staring at the gleaming knife in his hand, its cold light reflecting off his filthy knuckles.

His gaze fell on me, greedy and sickening, like a snake's tongue flicking.

"Well, well, I didn't expect to find such a pretty young lady here."

Marianne let out a heart-wrenching scream, "Don't touch her!"

I clenched my teeth, fighting down the despair churning in my chest, and turned to whisper to my mother, "Mom, whatever happens next, don't interfere.

"Move back. There's a trampoline outside the window that should cushion your fall.

"Then run to the Patel house next door and find Nathan Patel. Ask him to bring help for me."

The man with the knife was getting closer. We had no time left.

I'd been tortured in my previous life anyway. This time, I had to save my mother at all costs.

"Mia, I can't leave you behind!"

I gripped my mother's wrist tightly.

"Listen to me. Just jump down and quickly go to the Patels. As long as you survive, there's still hope."

Just then, the man pushed aside the wobbling wardrobe and advanced toward us.

"Mom, jump now!" I urged in a desperate whisper.

But instead, Marianne suddenly lunged at the man.

She grabbed his arms with all her might, trying to pull him back.

"Mia! Jump, run! Mom won't let them catch you!" Her voice was choked with determination.

"Mom!!" I screamed in terror.

I watched helplessly as the knife in the man's raised hand plunged without hesitation into her back!

That flash of red burst into my mind, shattering all rational thought in my shock.

Mom gasped in pain but still held onto the man's waist, desperately shouting to me, ”Jump! Mia, jump now! Don’t stop!”

My blood felt frozen, but the instinct to survive took over.

There was no chance of winning in a direct confrontation. I rushed to the window and jumped without hesitation.

As I landed and bounced violently on the trampoline, I felt a sharp pain shoot from my ankle up to my calf.