Chapter 1

When my wealthy mom and dad divorced, Mom wanted to take me with her, but I insisted on going to Grandma Rose’s house out of town.

Everyone thought I was crazy. But what they didn't know was that this was the third time I'd answered that question.

The first time, I joyfully moved into a big, beautiful new house with Mom. But when I accidentally messed up one of Matteus’s drawings, she fractured three of my ribs.

"I never wanted to take you!" she screamed. "Why are you so shameless, clinging to me like this?"

With my broken ribs piercing my organs, I gasped my last breath in despair.

Reborn, I smartened up. The next time, I let Mom take my younger brother, Matteus:

"Matteus is younger, he needs you more than I do. I’ll just stay with Dad!"

But after she took Matteus, she tricked me into coming to her house anyway. She locked both Matteus and me in the basement, where we slowly starved to death.

"I didn't want to take your brother," she hissed. "Why did you have to meddle?"

Now, I've been reborn again.

Watching Mom’s gentle smile, a chilling dread spread through me.

Who was it, really, that she wanted to take with her?