Reborn

I had a cousin my age.

She overslept and was late for her SATs. Yet, she pinned the blame on me, saying that I made her take some fever medication.

She stole 300 thousand meant for Grandma's surgery, claiming it was to buy me a car.

She even insisted I was at fault when she accidentally got pregnant and took the wrong abortion pills, leading to severe bleeding. She vehemently insisted I pushed her, causing her to fall.

My boyfriend stood by her side time and time again. Eventually, he finally gave up on me, telling me it was over.

My aunt shoved me down the stairs, accusing me of ruining her daughter's life.

My boyfriend witnessed the whole thing, but he told them I had fallen by accident when the police came.

I died without ever seeing justice for myself.

When I thought my life was finally over, I opened my eyes. I had returned to the day my cousin stole the money meant for Grandma's surgery.

——

"You lost your parents at a young age. So, we took you in when you were only four. Your uncle and I raised you like you were our own. How could you repay us by treating my girl like this, you little wretch?

"When you were kids, you tore up her books, stole her pens, wouldn't let her study in peace, and even convinced her classmates to shut her out.

"Now that she's an adult, you've got her stealing your grandma's surgery money to buy you a car? You heartless, rotten soul—why don't you just drop dead?"

My aunt yanked my hair, slapping me over and over. The way she looked at me was filled with such hate. I swore she would have torn me to pieces if she could have.

My cheek was swollen, my mouth filled with the taste of blood.

However, I had grown up under her violent mercies. So, I was more than used to this.

Still, all I could feel now was relief. I had truly been reborn!

I spat out a mouthful of blood and sneered, "Oh, now you remember your daughter's all grown up? Adults can take responsibility for their own actions. So, don't go blaming me whenever she screws up, saying I told her what to do. If I told her to eat dirt, would she?"

My aunt was about to lose her mind. She yanked my hair even harder as she raised her hand to strike again.

My boyfriend, Joziah Roach, stepped in front of me, taking the slap meant for me.

His cheek swelled up, but he ignored the pain and offered a weak apology. "Mrs. Morton, please don't be upset. Whatever Kaelyn took from you, I'll pay it back."

When my eyes landed on his hunched figure, it made my blood boil—I wanted to strangle him right then and there.

"Don't you dare do anything on my behalf. I didn't steal the money, and I'm not the one who should pay it back!"

In my previous life, his self-righteous decision to pay the money for me was what sealed my fate, making me the scapegoat.

I wasn't about to repeat history this time!

He sighed, looking at me helplessly. "Kaelyn, it's just us here. There's no need to lie. Just admit it—you misused the surgery money. I'll cover the cost, but you can't do this again. It's wrong."

"Are you deaf or just plain stupid? We're done! Don't meddle in my life again! Now, get lost!"

I furiously shoved him aside and turned to leave.

My aunt clung to me, refusing to let go. "You little brat! Did I say you could leave? Pay up!"

"It was Jasmine who stole the money. Go after her, not me!" I snapped, shaking her off before striding away.

Behind me, Joziah called my name and ran after me. Meanwhile, my aunt continued cursing up a storm as she stomped after us.

I ignored them both and grabbed my bike. The sting on my face was still burning as I rode off without looking back.

Since I grew up half-starved, I never had the strength to stand up to my stout aunt in my ridiculous hand-me-downs. Nonetheless, I vowed to myself that I would make her pay a thousandfold for each and every abuse she had laid on my person.

I made it back to my apartment in no time, only to find that Joziah had followed me home.

He looked heartbroken. "Kaelyn, you shouldn't throw around break-up talk so casually. It really hurts."

"I'm not being casual," I said flatly. "I meant every word."

He stared at me in disbelief. "You're breaking up with me just because you messed up and I didn't cover for you? I didn't even blame you; I offered to pay the money back. What do you have to feel so wronged about?"

I laughed as I ignored the tightening of my chest as a sting crept up my nose. "Every time Jasmine says or does something, you believe her without question. Yet, you never trust me. So tell me, who are you really dating—me or her?"

His brows furrowed as he stepped forward, trying to wipe my tears. Sadly for him, I was quick to dodge his advances.

Then, he said with a sigh, "Just because we're together doesn't mean I can ignore my conscience when you're bullying your cousin."

As I listened to his tone, it was clear to me that he had always thought of me as the villain deep down inside.

Perhaps it was years of bottled-up disappointment talking. Nevertheless, I didn't feel the slightest bit sad at that moment. Instead, I felt exhausted and furious.

"I don't need a boyfriend who always takes someone else's side and can't even offer me basic trust. Stop meddling in my business. That's my last piece of advice for you."

I slammed the door, shutting him out for good. Then, I contacted a classmate of mine without wasting a second—a lawyer.

Alas, it didn't matter how far I tried to run as I couldn't escape the mess that was out to get me.

Jasmine and her mother were dead set on pinning the theft of my grandma's surgery money on me. They had made up their minds to drown me in this lie.

Don't Be Ungrateful

It had only been several hours, yet my phone was already blowing up with calls and messages from relatives, all demanding I pay back the money.

My cousin's family had been trashing my reputation for a long time. So, everyone would take their word for it. No one would ever bother to listen to little old me. To them, my side of the story didn't matter.

So, I blocked them all.

The very next day, Jasmine and my aunt showed up at my workplace, dragging a group of relatives with them. They barged in like they were out for blood.

As soon as Jasmine spotted me, she dropped to her knees, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "Please, Kaelyn, I'm begging you! Just return the money for Grandma's surgery. You can buy a car any time, but she won't even make it to the end of the month if she doesn't receive the surgery!"

A crowd of coworkers gathered, curious about the scene.

Of course, my relatives wasted no time twisting the story, exaggerating like they had so many times before.

Colleagues who had been friendly with me now shot me looks of suspicion and disgust, their opinions shifting in an instant.

"Who would've thought a quiet girl like her could stoop so low? Stealing her own grandmother's surgery money!"

"Stealing to buy a car, too! What kind of person does that?"

"If I had a daughter like her, I'd beat her within an inch of her life."

"My diamond ring's been missing for a while. I bet she swiped that, too!"

Their whispers seeped into my ears like the murmurs of devils, pinning me to a pillar of shame.

I fought to keep my voice steady as I retorted, "Just because you say I stole the money, that makes it true? Where's your proof?"

Jasmine sniffled dramatically. "Why would we come all the way here without proof? The security cameras at home caught you taking Grandma's surgery money. We didn't want to show the footage publicly. We're trying to save you some face."

What a load of nonsense. The thief in the video was her. That was how the family found out she was the one who stole it!

I fixed her with a cold stare. "I don't care about saving face. Go ahead, show me the footage if you have it."

"I can't do that," she muttered.

"Can't? Or don't even have it?"

Jasmine's face flushed as if with frustration. She raised her voice, eyes red, "You were naked when you stole the money! If I release that video, how will you face your co-workers? I'm only holding back because I don't want to hurt you like that!"

My aunt spat at my feet. "You shameless little thief! Pay up, or we'll release that video for everyone to see!"

"Mom, please don't," Jasmine begged, looking pitiful as she turned toward me. "She's still my cousin after all." Then, with a pleading expression, she added, "Kaelyn, I'm begging you, just return the money. It was never yours to begin with."

"Yeah, Kaelyn, just pay it back already!"

"You're in the wrong here."

A chorus of voices chimed in, pressuring me from all sides.

I couldn't outmatch Jasmine's crocodile tears and twisted words. So, I pulled out my phone, ready to call the police.

She noticed my actions and jumped to her feet the second she sensed trouble. She reached for my phone as panic flashed in her eyes. "Don't call them! You'll end up in jail!"

I dodged her easily. Before I could dial, a hand shot out from behind me and snatched my phone.

I spun around to see Joziah, panting as if he had run a marathon. My blood boiled. I could have strangled him right then.

"Give me my phone back!" I snapped, my patience gone.

"Jasmine's right. Calling the police isn't an option," Joziah said, holding my phone out of reach. "Kaelyn, this can't be swept under the rug anymore. You've stolen a lot of money, and I can't just stand by and watch you throw your life away by ending up in jail. I'll cover the 300 thousand. You don't have to worry."

My anger flared, and I slapped him hard across the face. "Who asked for your help? Give me my phone!"

He ignored me, turning instead to Jasmine. "Give me your bank account number. I'll transfer the money now."

"Okay! Oh, Joziah, thank you so much. I'd feel so guilty if she really called the police and got herself thrown in jail."

They were already getting ready to finalize the transfer.

I clenched my teeth, desperate to stop them. Alas, my relatives and co-workers held me back.

"Kaelyn, don't be ungrateful."

"Yeah, you should count yourself lucky for having a boyfriend like Mr. Roach, who's willing to bail you out. You owe him big time."

"At least your cousin's family didn't press charges. You should be thankful for that."

It had always been this way. Jasmine would fling dirt on my name and then play the gracious victim. Meanwhile, Joziah would swoop in, taking the blame on my behalf before paying off the damages like a saint. He would then be praised by everyone around him.

As for me? I was forever the one accused, the one berated and despised.

I watched their mouths open and close, spewing venomous words at me. Yet, all I could feel was this sinking dread, like I was caught in quicksand. The harder I fought, the deeper I sank. It wouldn't take long for the ground to swallow me whole, stifling my breath and choking the air from my lungs.

Suddenly, two police officers shoved their way into the crowd, cutting through the commotion.

The younger, taller one stepped forward and asked, "Who called the cops?"

Grandma's Bank Statements

"It's me!"

I shouted the words loud and clear, my heart racing. Just yesterday, I told my two closest colleagues to call the police if any strangers came looking for trouble at the office.

"Kaelyn, are you sure you want to do this? Calling the cops is just asking for trouble," Jasmine stammered, her facade cracking for a moment before she switched to a pleading tone.

Joziah was nearly frantic. "Stealing 300 thousand isn't just some childish game, Kaelyn. You can't talk your way out of this. Hurry and tell the officers it's all a misunderstanding, and—"

"Get lost!"

I shoved past the people blocking my way and strode straight to the police, ready to lay everything out.

"I called the police. My cousin Jasmine stole 300 thousand meant for my grandmother's surgery and framed me for it. She's been pressuring me to pay her back and causing a scene at my workplace!"

Joziah grabbed my arm. "Kaelyn, stop being so stubborn. Why do you always pin your mistakes on Jasmine?"

I shook him off, my patience wearing thin. "Cut the crap! The cops are right here. They'll figure out who actually stole the money!"

Then, I turned to the officers and continued, "Officers, there are cameras at my grandmother's house. If you check the footage, you'll see who actually took the money."

The officers nodded and asked my aunt and Jasmine for the footage.

My aunt's gaze shifted nervously. She rambled on, avoiding the request to produce the footage.

The older officer frowned, raising his voice as he demanded, "If you refuse to show the footage, are you admitting, as this young lady claims, that your daughter is the actual thief?"

My aunt, clearly intimidated, went pale under the officer's scrutiny.

"Officer, you're mistaken. It was my cousin who was caught stealing while she was naked! We deleted the video to protect her reputation from being ruined," Jasmine sighed dramatically.

I shot her a cold look. "Are you sure about that?"

"Of course," she replied, feigning innocence.

I took advantage of Joziah's momentary distraction and snatched my phone back, quickly pulling up the video.

"Alright, everyone, take a look. Let's see who really stole the bank card!"

I had logged into the camera system yesterday and backed up the footage of Jasmine taking the bank card from beneath my grandma's pillow. I had anticipated this moment.

The video played, showing Jasmine sneakily swiping the card.

My colleagues were stunned into silence.

"Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black?"

"She's got no shame!"

"She accused Kaelyn of stealing while she was nude, claiming the video wasn't available... and now she's caught red-handed?"

For the first time in her life, Jasmine found herself on the receiving end of so much criticism. Her face flushed with humiliation.

She opened her mouth to argue, but the police swiftly took her into custody while I was taken along for questioning.

Joziah, clearly worried, followed closely behind.

My wailing aunt followed us to the police station with a whole troop of relatives in tow.

She stood her ground, saying, "Just because there's a video doesn't mean my daughter is a thief. It's Kaelyn who pressured her into stealing money to buy a car!"

Her loyalty to her daughter left me speechless.

Just then, Joziah chimed in, his expression filled with concern. "Officer, you really shouldn't arrest Jasmine. I know my girlfriend well; she's got a history of bullying her cousin. This time, she pressured Jasmine to do this for the sake of buying a car. I will pay the money for her!"

I clenched my teeth. "Joziah, didn't I warn you to stay out of my business?"

He gazed at me earnestly. "But I can't just stand by and watch you go down the wrong path! Kaelyn, why can't you see I'm trying to help?"

Trying to help?

In my previous life, I had put too much faith in his so-called kindness. I endured his favoritism toward Jasmine time and again. In the end, I ended up in a situation I couldn't escape.

Fury rendered me speechless.

My relatives echoed my aunt's sentiments. "Kaelyn has always been trouble, but at least she found a decent boyfriend who's willing to speak up for Jasmine."

Joziah shrugged in resignation. "It's the least I can do. I can't just let her bully others even if I'm a boyfriend."

Jasmine sniffled as she blubbered, "Joziah, with a boyfriend like you, why doesn't Kaelyn learn any of your good qualities?"

Joziah frowned. "I've done my best to keep her in line. I just don't understand why she has so much malice toward you."

I pulled out the surveillance video, and my coworkers immediately grasped the situation.

Yet, to Joziah and my relatives, Jasmine remained a pristine, innocent girl. They clung to her claim that I forced her to steal money for a car even with such undeniable proof shoved right at their faces.

I had long lost faith in their judgment, but I still believed the law would restore my reputation.

So, I approached the officers and asked, "Excuse me, have you managed to pull up my grandmother's bank statements? Shouldn't it be clear now that Jasmine is the thief?"

The officer scrutinized me. "The statements have indeed been retrieved, but they show that the 300 thousand was used to purchase a car registered in your name."