My so-called best friend pretends to be me and steals my identity as the CEO. She spends money recklessly and announces she'll buy apartments in the city for our long-time employees. Everyone praises her as the perfect boss.

Not only that, but she also steals my husband. Even my son calls her "Mommy". So, when I'm accused of having bipolar disorder and other mental health issues, no one speaks up for me.

My young son has no idea that I am his birth mother. The company and assets my parents have left me have been taken by my best friend, too.

In the end, my body ulcerates, and I pass away in a psychiatric hospital.

When I open my eyes again, I realize I'm back on the day my best friend used my money to buy apartments for our employees. She stands in the center of the crowd, taking in all the praises.

"You're beautiful and so is your heart, Ms. Moore! You care about us so much, always handing out bonuses. And now, you want to set up a fund to help us buy homes? I'd work for you until I die!"

And so, I quietly change the password on the bank card that funds all this. This time, I'll make sure my dear friend and my beloved husband experience the "wonderful" life they truly deserve.

"I'm willing to work myself to death for a boss like Ms. Moore. I mean, who else will be this lucky to meet someone like her in their lifetime?"

"I seriously cannot believe that she's paying out of her own pocket to set up a fund and buy us homes."

"Come up to the stage, Ms. Moore! Everyone's waiting for your speech!"

…

My head spun, noise buzzing around my ears. When I opened my eyes, I saw Hazel White—my best friend—surrounded by employees, being ushered onto the stage.

What was going on?

I stared down at myself in disbelief. My body wasn't covered in sores, and my legs weren't broken. I was still frozen when an employee walked past and shoved me aside.

"Hey, isn't this Ms. Moore's nanny?" she shouted. "What are you doing here? This isn't a place for you. Get out of here!"

The sharp pain in my shoulder made everything clear—I had been reborn.

In the crowd, Hazel glanced back at me, her tone somewhat impatient. "Why are you here? Trying to cause more trouble? Gosh, you're useless. You'd better not forget what you need to do later."

In my previous life, my health deteriorated after giving birth. I barely showed up at the company anymore, and that was when Hazel suggested she could attend events on my behalf.

I had actually believed she meant well, that she wanted me to rest and recover. I never imagined she was doing it to replace me and slowly steal everything I owned.

"Fine. I'll go back to the office," I said, letting out a small scoff before walking away and quietly changing the password on my bank card.

Oh, Hazel… From now on, it will be showtime for you.

It was pouring heavily in Jovania on the day I finished my postpartum treatment. Hazel had showed up at my door, soaked from head to toe. She was kneeling on the ground, begging me to take her in.

She said her parents were going to sell her to a fool from their village for a bride price of 200 thousand dollars. She said only I could save her, and that she did not care even if she had to work as a nanny in my home.

Hazel had been my best friend. How could I watch her sacrifice herself to a miserable life?

So, I let her stay. I even paid her parents two million dollars to settle the matter. Since she had studied medicine, I asked her to help me recover and regain my health.

My husband, Richard Hudson, traveled a lot for work. So, having Hazel around truly lifted my spirits. I never actually made her work as a nanny. Instead, I gave her a bank card and told her she could spend it however she liked.

Gradually, things started to feel off.

The household staff stopped listening to my orders. Even if I wanted an extra dessert, they would check with Hazel first. More outrageously, Richard would take her with him on multiple business trips.

When my son, Miles, spoke his first word, he called Hazel "Mommy".

Richard said Hazel was my best friend, and he was the one who had told the household staff to ask her instead of bothering me. He also said Miles was still young and didn't know any better, that I was his real mother no matter what.

So, I believed him.

Hazel even acted hurt because I doubted her, saying she wanted to move out. At that point, I genuinely believed my postpartum emotions had made me overly sensitive. I apologized to her and even agreed to her suggestion—that she attend some company events on my behalf.

I thought it was necessary for me to attend certain functions as the CEO, considering my parents had left the company to me before they passed. However, since my health was failing, having Hazel cover for me didn't seem like a bad idea.

Back then, I truly believed I was the happiest woman in the world. I had a sweet child, a loving husband, and a caring best friend. Later, as my condition worsened, Hazel became bold enough to ask to tag along on Richard's business trips.

Everything fell apart one day when I forgot to take the medicine she had prepared for me. That was how I caught them having an affair. Once they realized they couldn't hide it anymore, they worked together to have me locked away in a psychiatric hospital.

I vividly remembered how my skin was covered in sores, pain pumping through my body every second, right before I died. Hazel had pressed her high heel against my face and cursed at me.

"Oh, Maxine. If you'd just stayed quiet and pretended to know nothing, I could've let you live. You could've rotted away in this psychiatric ward for the rest of your life, but you just had to go looking for death."

The memory of that excruciating agony crawling all over my skin sent a shiver down my spine. Somehow, by some kind of twist of fate, I was given a second chance in this new life.

Now, I sat in the CEO's office, my phone buzzing nonstop. All the messages came from Hazel.

"Are you crazy, Maxine? Why did you change the password? The employees are all watching!

"Are you trying to embarrass me? Hurry up and send me the new password!

"You ungrateful bitch. Don't forget who's been nursing you all this time!"

…

I looked at the dozens of messages and almost laughed. Ungrateful? Nursing me? She had been trying to poison me, not help me.

Hazel wanted to set up a fund to buy homes for the key employees. I didn't mind rewarding the real backbone of the company, but when I looked at the list, I couldn't help but laugh.

Key employees? There were more like the usual few sycophants who hovered around Hazel all the time. None of the people who had helped Mom and Dad build this empire were on the list.

"Clear the way!"

Out of the blue, Hazel had fainted and was being carried into the office. The person holding her was none other than Richard, who shouted, "Get over here and help, Maxine! Can't you see Hazel's passed out?"

The same employee who had shoved me earlier stormed in, fuming. "Why are you, a freaking nanny, sitting in Ms. Moore's chair? Get off and help her! Can't you see she needs help?"

She turned to Richard. "Mr. Hudson, she's too kind-hearted, and that's why she spoils her nanny. You should really talk to her about it."

It was only then that Richard finally set Hazel down on the couch. His eyes avoided mine. I crossed my legs and asked, "Apparently, I'm the nanny, while she's the CEO. Is that right, honey?"

Before he could answer me, Hazel jolted awake. "Of course not!"

She looked at me. "Hey, Max? I fainted earlier, and the company went into chaos. I'll explain everything to you when we get back. You should go home for now, and remember to take all your meds."

"Yeah, Max. You really picked the worst time to act out. Hazel's been very patient with you," Richard echoed.

The employee from before sneered at me. "Oh. So, someone forgot to take their medicination. I guess that explains the whole delusional act. I can't believe you're still sitting in that chair and even called Mr. Hudson 'honey'. Ew."

"Enough about that," Hazel said, her face pale. "Max and I have always been the best of friends. Even if she's ill, I'll never abandon her."

I couldn't believe I acted the way I did in my previous life. I must've been so blinded by love that I never realized how these two lowlifes had been slandering me behind my back.