In my previous life, my sister-in-law moved into my home under the guise of needing help because she was pregnant, claiming it was too difficult to manage in her hometown. From that moment, she never left. She took over everything—ate my food, used my things and treated me like a lowly servant in my own house. Every day, her demands grew, her words sharper and her control suffocating.

On a stormy night, after enduring months of her cruelty, I finally confronted her. The argument escalated and in a fit of rage, she pushed me off the edge of the tenth-floor balcony. The rain and wind were howling that night and afterward, she told everyone that I had been blown off the building by the storm. To my horror, my husband believed her without question.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn, back before my sister-in-law gave birth. The realization hit me like a tidal wave—I had a second chance. A chance to change everything, to protect myself and most importantly, to make her pay for what she did. But as I prepared to exact my revenge, digging deeper into her actions, I uncovered a darker, more sinister secret hidden beneath the surface. A secret that threatened to unravel everything I thought I knew.

——

"Mia, please help me wash my underwear. I'm pregnant and it's inconvenient."

Still groggy from the overwhelming rush of memories, I was jolted back to reality by the familiar voice of my sister-in-law, Julie. Her sharp command cut through my confusion like a knife. My mind raced. Wasn’t I dead—pushed off a building during that stormy night? I blinked, looking around the room, panic swelling inside me.

I pinched myself hard, confirming it wasn’t a dream. My phone showed the date: I had been reborn! The timing hit me like a punch to the gut—Julie was seven months pregnant, meaning I had less than three months before she would push me off that rooftop.

Before I could process the gravity of this revelation, Julie nudged me again, her voice dripping with arrogance. “What are you still hesitating for?”

In my previous life, Julie's pregnancy was the reason she moved in. My husband, Charlie, insisted we take her in to repay his uncle’s, Harry, kindness after his parents had passed. I had resisted at first, but his pleading wore me down. I allowed her to stay and that was my biggest mistake.

Julie, however, had never been grateful. She made me her servant, demanding I cater to her every need. I had endured it because she was pregnant, believing family came first. But that night during the storm, she’d revealed her true nature, pushing me to my death and lying about it, claiming I had been swept away by the storm’s fierce winds.

The rage I had suppressed came surging back. My blood boiled under her smug stare. I snatched the underwear from her outstretched hand, then, without a second thought, hurled it back at her face with every ounce of strength I had.

Julie shrieked, stumbling backward in disbelief. “What the hell are you doing?”

I squared my shoulders, defiance burning in my eyes. “Do you not have hands or feet?” My voice was cold, biting.

Her face twisted with anger, but before she could respond, Charlie rushed out of the bedroom, drawn by the commotion. He glared at me, his voice dripping with irritation. “Mia, what’s wrong with you? Why are you picking a fight with Julie?”

Julie’s demeanor shifted instantly. She dropped her angry expression, her voice becoming soft and pitiful. "It’s my fault, really. I shouldn’t have come here. Please, don’t argue with Mia because of me."

She was playing the same manipulative game, pretending to be sweet and helpless. But this time, I wasn’t going to be fooled. I had seen it all before—her fake tears, her innocent act. She had always been a master at twisting situations in her favor.

Charlie’s gaze hardened as he turned to me. “Stop being unreasonable, Mia.”

I stood there, arms crossed, watching their little act unfold.

Charlie looked at me with disappointment, just as he had done countless times before. He couldn’t see through her lies. Not yet. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me.

One day, after coming home from work, I stood outside the house, watching through the window as Julie and Charlie laughed and joked like they were the perfect family. It was infuriating. They had no idea I was watching.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door, my voice trembling with mock panic. "Julie, how can you be hugging each other like that in front of me?!"

The moment I said it, I knew it would draw attention. Eyes from the neighboring apartments would soon be peeking out and rumors would spread like wildfire. Julie's smugness faltered, panic flashing across her face. I smirked—this was only the beginning. The neighbors immediately poked their heads out, curious about the commotion and I saw Julie’s face pale as she realized what I was doing.

Julie’s face drained of color and she immediately broke free from Charlie's embrace. The neighbors, having heard the commotion, began to gather, their curious faces peeking from behind doors and windows. Sensing the growing audience, Julie’s tears began to flow.

"Mia, I know you're jealous because I'm pregnant…" she whined, her voice trembling in an attempt to gain sympathy.

I didn’t want to hear her excuses. My patience was already worn thin. I took a deep breath and cut her off, raising my voice just enough for the onlookers to hear. "My life has been miserable!" I lamented, dramatically placing my hand on my chest for effect. "My husband and I wanted to enjoy a few years together, just the two of us, but my sister-in-law insisted on moving in."

The crowd grew larger, their eyes darting between Julie, Charlie and me. I continued, letting out all the frustration I had bottled up in my previous life. "I agreed because of my husband’s deep bond with his family, but what did I get in return? She eats my food, uses my things and constantly wakes me up at night saying she’s uncomfortable!"

In my previous life, Julie had spread rumors throughout the community, claiming I was bitter about being married for two years without having children of my own. She painted herself as a victim, claiming that I, a childless woman, was jealous of her pregnancy and that I forced her to do household chores despite her condition.

The gossip spread quickly and before long, I became the subject of whispered judgments and sideways glances from our neighbors. But this time, I wasn’t going to let her control the narrative.

Sure enough, the moment I voiced my grievances, the crowd began to murmur, their voices growing louder as they discussed the situation. Julie's face flushed with embarrassment and Charlie’s expression darkened as the weight of the gossip settled around them.

I watched them squirm, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. Julie was terrible, but it was Charlie’s blind loyalty that had allowed her to treat me like this. He had protected her at my expense and I wasn’t going to forget that.

Still, I wasn’t done. I softened my tone slightly, turning the tables to play the good cop. "I know it's not easy for my sister-in-law, being pregnant and all," I said, feigning concern. "But you should keep your distance from her, Charlie. People might misunderstand your closeness. It could ruin her reputation."

In my past life, Julie was a master of psychological games—she would berate me, then offer small gestures of kindness to keep me off balance. I had learned from her and now I was using her own tactics against her.

The neighbors, sensing drama, exchanged glances and leaned in closer, eager to catch every word. I could see it in their eyes—they smelled scandal. The whispers among them grew more animated. Julie’s eyes darted nervously and Charlie looked trapped, as if he knew things were spiraling out of control but couldn’t stop it.

Charlie turned to me, his face flushed with anger, but he couldn’t raise his voice in front of the neighbors. He leaned in, whispering harshly, "How long are you going to keep this up?"

His question only fueled my resolve. I looked him directly in the eyes, the last bit of hope I had for him finally crumbling. "I want to go home and be quiet," I said, each word deliberate and firm.

Without waiting for a response, I spun on my heel and marched into the house, heading straight for the bedroom to pack my valuables. It was time to leave this mess behind. As I stuffed my belongings into a suitcase, I could hear Charlie pacing outside the door, his footsteps growing faster, more frantic. When I emerged, ready to go, he rushed over, grabbing my wrist. "Mia, wait. I’m sorry. Please, don’t go. I was wrong."

His voice was laced with desperation, but I had heard it all before. I didn’t hesitate as I shook off his hand. "It's too late, Charlie," I said coolly, turning away. I grabbed my car keys and, without looking back, walked out the door.

As I drove away, I felt a strange mix of emotions. Relief washed over me as I left that house—my prison in the previous life—but there was also a burning resolve in my chest. This was just the beginning. Julie and Charlie had taken everything from me once, but now I had the power to change my fate. And I wasn’t going to let anyone stop me.

When I got home, my dad immediately noticed Charlie wasn’t with me. His face darkened as he asked, "Did you quarrel with Charlie?"

His question broke the dam I had been holding back. My frustration and pain, buried deep inside, erupted all at once under the weight of his concern. My throat tightened and tears welled up in my eyes. I tried to wipe them away quickly, but my emotions betrayed me.

My mother, noticing my distress, rushed over with a tissue in hand, gently wiping my tears. "What happened, Mia?" she asked, her voice soft yet full of worry.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. I told them everything—how Julie had ordered me around like I was her servant, how she had treated me with disdain and how Charlie had done nothing to defend me. As I spoke, I could see my parents’ expressions harden. With every word, their faces grew colder, inch by inch.

When I finished, my dad leaned back in his chair, his voice calm but full of reproach. "I’ve told you before that marrying into Charlie's family wouldn’t be easy. His brother may be good to him, but you’re the one who’ll bear the brunt of it."

Hearing his words, I lowered my head in shame. In my previous life, I hadn’t understood my dad’s warnings. I thought Charlie’s loyalty to his brother was admirable and I saw it as a mark of his character that he would care for Julie during her pregnancy. But now, after everything, I finally saw the truth. Charlie could have hired a nanny for Julie, but he expected me to do it instead. It wasn’t kindness—it was outsourcing his responsibility in the name of “family duty.”

My mother squeezed my hand tightly, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Whatever decision you make, Mia, we’re here for you. You don’t have to go through this alone."

As I sat there, surrounded by my parents’ support, my mind raced. On the drive home, I had been filled with anger and frustration. I had wanted nothing more than to divorce Charlie and escape from the hell my life had become. But after seeing Charlie’s behavior today—his eagerness to defend Julie—I couldn’t shake the feeling that something more was going on between them. Could their relationship be more than just familial loyalty?

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. I couldn’t afford to act rashly. If there was something deeper between them, I needed to uncover it before making any decisions.

After a long silence, I finally raised my head and looked at my parents. My voice was steady and my resolve was firm. "Mom, Dad, don’t worry. I have my own plan."

Though their faces were still etched with concern, my parents nodded. They trusted me. And this time, I was determined to take control of my own fate. No more playing the victim. If Julie and Charlie thought they could continue to manipulate me, they were in for a rude awakening.