I frowned. Only then did I notice the stinging pain in my hand.

It finally dawned on me that I had been reborn, returning to the time when Summer and Shawn were secretly flirting with each other.

Looking at the two of them, I slowly curved my lips into a smile. My fingernails dug into my palm until my flesh tore and blood seeped out, yet I felt nothing at all.

…

Summer, an heiress, was struck in broad daylight by me, an adopted daughter of the Crawfords.

The school didn’t dare suppress the incident. Both families were summoned.

“Mom, it was her,” Summer said as she clutched an ice pack and pointed at me with eyes full of hatred.

“She hit Shawn and me. Someone with such rotten character shouldn’t be allowed to stay in this school.”

Eleni Manning was dressed in a business suit. I remembered her as a career woman, decisive and ruthless through and through. She was also a shareholder of the school.

Seeing her daughter covered in bruises with torn patches of scalp where hair had been ripped by me, her expression was terrifyingly calm.

Shawn stepped forward and bowed sincerely to Eleni.

“Mrs. Manning, I’ve failed to keep my sister in check and caused your daughter harm.”

He then turned to me, pressing down on my neck and forcing me to apologize to Summer.

I resisted, refusing to give him what he wanted.

In my previous life, the first time I caught them sneaking around under the tree, I merely went up with a harsh tone.

Summer, however, retaliated with brutal force, sending me to the hospital. The school responded with nothing more than a fruit basket and a bouquet before quietly sweeping everything under the rug.

I seethed with anger, but Shawn pinned me down and said, “Don’t provoke Summer again. She’s a rich young lady, and we can’t afford to cross her. It's better to save trouble.”

Trusting Shawn wholeheartedly back then, I held back after hearing his words.

Until I stumbled upon them meeting secretly again.

Summer asked Shawn if he felt bad about his sister being beaten. His heavy breathing turned icy as he said, “Why bring her up? She’s nothing but a tag-along lapdog.”

That night, my tears wouldn’t stop.

Summer’s revenge grew increasingly vicious. After lending my luck to Shawn, my own fortune went down the drain.

I kept bumping into Summer at every corner. When I returned home trembling after being bullied, Shawn would look at me in disgust.

“How many times have I told you? Why do you keep provoking Summie?

“You deserve it, getting hurt like this.”

Shawn was a changed person after meeting Summer. He was no longer the big brother I trusted, the one who’d sneak me ham sandwiches.

Seeing that I refused to apologize, Shawn grew furious and tightened his grip.

“Apologize.”

Shawn's mother, Miranda Crawford, who had been silent, couldn’t stand it and finally stepped in to reason with him.

I flicked Shawn’s hand off my neck and even wiped the spot where he had touched me with a tissue, as if disgusted.

Shawn’s expression darkened.

I sneered coldly, “I made a mistake, but isn’t she at fault too? Why should I be the only one apologizing?

“I saw Shawn pinned against a tree by a girl and thought he was being bullied. Who knew both of them were…”

I stopped mid-sentence.

Everyone’s expression shifted.

Summer tried to stop me from continuing. “Snow Crawford, what nonsense are you spouting?”

I told the rest of the story anyway.

“I didn’t know they were making out. I thought my brother was being bullied, and I wanted to step in to help. Little did I know I had ruined their moment. Summer rushed over and hit me, pushed me to the ground, and hurled insults at me. If you don’t believe me, check the surveillance footage.”