Chapter 1

The night before my SATs, Hugh Reed's parents died in a house fire.

To help him recover, I begged my parents to fund his four years of college.

After graduation, we naturally married and had a child, living a life envied by everyone around us.

But he secretly bought insurance, orchestrated a fire that killed our entire family.

And immediately married another woman. At my funeral, he cursed me with venom in his voice:

"You swallowed my family's fortune and kept me from being Tiffany's first boyfriend. You deserved to die!"

It turned out he had never been grateful to me. He had always hated me.

I was reborn, back to the day I first heard about the fire at Hugh Reed's house.

This time, I wouldn't help him.

Hugh's family lived right above ours, and after less than a year of renovation, our apartment was also completely gutted.

Just like in my previous life, Hugh looked at me, his eyes wide with panic.

"Alice, my parents are gone. What am I going to do?"

A cold, visceral shudder ran through me. I clutched my chest, my breath catching in my throat.

I couldn't believe I had helped such a monster in my last life.

I even suffered through a difficult pregnancy for him.

"Alice…"

Hugh tugged at my arm again.

I snapped back to reality, looking into his bottomless eyes.

I fought back the words that were desperate to escape my throat:

"It's okay, you still have me, and my parents."

Then, I slowly pulled my hand away.

"I was just about to ask you the same thing. My home is gone too, and my dad's still in the hospital. What am *I* supposed to do?"

Hugh froze, his gaze filled with confusion.

But before he could pry, he was immediately surrounded by other neighbors, all victims of the fire, demanding answers.

"Your parents' mess, you have to answer for it. You just turned eighteen, Hugh. You're responsible for what they did. The entire building is a wreck. Either pay for the damages, or go to jail for him!"

Hugh, terrified, dropped to his knees.

"I'm so incredibly sorry, everyone. But my parents are gone. Can you please let me handle their funeral first before we address your issues? Please…"

Other voices chimed in:

"Let's respect the dead. Hugh is still just a kid. His SATs are coming up. This fire wasn't his fault. Can't we let him go to the funeral home first?"

Hugh looked at the speaker, his eyes overflowing with gratitude.

But in my last life, those were *my* words.

I had stepped forward, presenting myself as a fellow victim, condemning the neighbors for their selfishness and lack of empathy.

I wouldn't even let them deny Hugh the time to send his parents off. I had even begged my parents to help him arrange his parents' funeral.

While helping him claim insurance for his damaged home, I also insisted they fund his four years of college.

My dad initially disagreed, so I threatened to skip my SATs and go on a hunger strike.

At the same time, I gave up my spot at an Ivy League university for him, enrolling in a culinary arts program instead.

"Hugh has no parents, he needs this opportunity more than I do."

"All I want is to be a good wife to him, a supportive woman behind his success."

My parents were furious, grounding me for days.

I had Hugh call the police for me.

After the police mediation, Hugh and I went on a trip for a few days, only returning home when our acceptance letters arrived.

When I got back, I even showed them my pregnancy test results.

What's done is done. My parents looked resigned.

They agreed to fund Hugh's college education, on the condition that we got married first.

Hugh cried tears of gratitude, promising my parents he would repay them someday and treat me well.

"Alice, are you okay? Does Hugh need any help?"

My mom was finally back.

As soon as I heard her voice, I launched myself into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

I kept repeating, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

My mom's still-dark bangs fell forward as she bent down to comfort me.

"Silly child, the fire wasn't your fault. It's just a shame about the apartment we just renovated. Luckily, I bought home insurance last year, and thankfully, your dad is okay. What a blessing…"

"It's just heartbreaking for Hugh. You both have your SATs coming up, and with this happening, I don't know how he'll cope. You two grew up together, we should help him as much as we can."

I shrieked, "Don't help him! Please, *never* help him!"

My mom looked at me, startled by my extreme reaction.

She quickly felt my forehead for a fever, muttering that I must have been scared senseless.

She was right.

Ever since I was little, my world revolved around Hugh. I always gave him the best of everything first.

Saying something like this now, my mom would never accept it.

I quickly explained,

"Mom, I'm so worried about Dad. Let's go see him at the hospital first. Hugh is already eighteen, and he just said he wants to go to the funeral home to send off his parents alone. Let's respect his wishes."