: Rebirth

Right after graduating college, I went to teach in a rural village, full of enthusiasm.

The poorest boy in my class had been held back for three years, yet he was still determined to learn.

I gave him my full attention and support, hoping to help him get into college.

However, during one home visit, I drank a glass of water he poured for me and immediately collapsed, unconscious.

When I woke up, I was locked in his family's pigsty.

His family was staring at me.

"Ms. Shaw, you must be fond of our Caden, huh? How about you stay and marry him!"

Meanwhile, he stood to the side, his face flush with excitement.

"Mom, I told you! There's no future in being a factory worker. See? I stayed in school and brought you home a daughter-in-law."

It was only then that I realized he'd been held back for three years purely because he didn't want to go work in a factory.

I fought back with all my strength, but he assaulted and killed me.

When my parents found out, they tried to demand justice for me, but his family beat them to death.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back. It was my first day at the village school.

In this life, not one person in that family will survive.

1

"Ms. Shaw, welcome to Briarwood. We're so glad you're here to teach. We're in desperate need of educated and passionate teachers like you."

An elderly voice echoed in my ears. I looked around, dazed, and realized how familiar the scene was.

I was back on that day right after graduation, the day I'd arrived in this village to teach, full of enthusiasm.

But the nightmare from my previous life kept replaying in my mind.

The enthusiasm I'd brought here had been snuffed out, bit by bit, by that cruel ordeal.

In my past life, when I saw the youthful faces of these teenagers and the longing in their eyes for the world beyond the mountains, my heart burned with a passionate resolve.

Back then, my sole focus was on helping these kids leave the mountains. So when I noticed Caden Morgan, who was studying so diligently and had even been held back three years just for a chance at college, I was determined not to let his efforts go to waste. I was always looking out for him, helping him with his studies, all so he could fulfill his dream.

But I never thought all that heartfelt effort would be repaid with a nightmare from hell.

I went to his home for a visit and drank the water he poured for me. In that single moment, my entire world was turned upside down.

I was drugged.

The next time I woke up, my hands and feet were shackled with iron chains. I was locked inside a reeking pigsty.

Meanwhile, the monster responsible stood outside, watching me with glee.

"Ms. Shaw, you must be fond of my son, right?" Mrs. Morgan beamed at me, a sharp glint in her eyes.

I shook my head frantically, my gaze filled with terror as I looked at the three of them outside.

"You do like me."

"Why else would you pay so much attention just to me? Don't be shy, Ms. Shaw. Marrying me wouldn't be a bad thing."

Caden Morgan's leering eyes raked over my body, his voice thick with triumph.

"Caden Morgan... after everything I did for you. I can't believe this is how you repay me."

"Let me tell you, what you're doing is against the law! You won't get away with this!"

My voice was sharp with fury as I rebuked them, trying to awaken a shred of their conscience and get them to let me go.

But they had no conscience. They didn't take me seriously at all, and they had no fear of the law.

As a recent college graduate, all I could do in a situation like this was try to stay strong, but inside I was panicking.

No one at the school had noticed my disappearance. With no way to call for help, I was like a lamb to the slaughter.

That night, Caden Morgan couldn't restrain himself any longer and came to me. Despite my desperate pleas, he still forced himself on me.

I struggled with all my might, but in the end, I died during his assault.

: Rebirth

2

Humiliated and murdered, I could not rest in peace. My soul, unable to find release, drifted around them, watching as they carelessly disposed of my body.

My death couldn't be covered up forever. Mom and Dad, supporting each other, stumbled their way to the place where I had spent my final moments.

Suppressing their grief and sorrow, they were determined to get justice for me and make them face charges for intentional homicide.

But how could my powerless parents possibly succeed? As I watched, my eyes wide with fury, they beat Mom and Dad to death.

Rage and hatred nearly tore my soul apart. Volunteering to teach became the greatest regret of my life.

"Ms. Shaw!"

A voice pulled me from the nightmare of my past life. I looked up to meet a questioning gaze.

"Sorry, I was just spacing out. Could you show me to the dorms first?" I gave him an apologetic smile, then lowered my gaze to conceal the hatred in my eyes.

'This time around, I will absolutely not let this family of heartless monsters go.'

Led by the Principal, I walked step by step back to that familiar place.

"Ms. Shaw, get some rest for now. I'll take you to the classroom tomorrow."

"The students at our school are all very hardworking. All they need is a great teacher."

The Principal beamed at me, his voice full of delight.

'After all, it's not easy just to get someone willing to come teach here.'

Listening to the Principal, I forced a smile.

'I didn't want to paint everyone with the same brush, but after what I went through in my past life, my heart remained unmoved.'

After seeing the Principal off, I calmed my thoughts and quietly tidied the room.

「The next day.」

The Principal personally escorted me to the Senior Year classroom. I stepped onto the familiar teacher's platform, my cold gaze sweeping over the excited faces below.

'I knew this class all too well.'

When my gaze landed on Caden Morgan, who was sitting in a corner in the back row, I quickly lowered my eyes to hide the hatred I couldn't suppress.

"This is Ms. Shaw, the new volunteer teacher from the city! From now on, she'll be leading you in your final push for the College Entrance Exams so you can leave these mountains behind!"

The Principal's booming, excited voice ignited a roar of cheers from the class.

The entire school had only one Senior Year class, which was packed with over sixty students.

Due to a shortage of teachers, they had no choice but to be crammed into one class. Only a small fraction of the village's youth attended high school; everyone else had already left to find work.

In my previous life, having grown up privileged, hearing about their circumstances had filled my heart with pity and sympathy. I hadn't regretted my decision to volunteer at all.

But as it turned out, my efforts and concern didn't bear any great fruit. Instead, they taught me a lesson about human nature.

"You are now seniors, and you're facing the harsh battle of the College Entrance Exams."

"Whether or not you can leave these mountains depends entirely on your own hard work. The world outside is vast and wonderful, so you must give this your all."

"I am going to be very strict with all of you, so I expect no troublemakers or pessimists."

My stern, cold gaze swept over each person below. This attitude was the complete opposite of how I was in my past life. I would no longer be gentle and approachable just because I pitied them.

'Only the powerful can control the situation.'

: A Sharp Rebuke

3

The lively, joyous atmosphere in the classroom vanished in an instant. They exchanged glances, a newfound fear in their hearts as they looked at me.

"Ms. Shaw graduated from a prestigious university. You must listen carefully to what she says, as it will help you learn." The Principal glanced at me before addressing the students with a stern expression.

Under my severe gaze, not a single one of them dared to approach me or say a word. They just listened quietly to my lecture.

Engaging again with the knowledge I so loved, my mood began to settle.

In my past life, aside from that ungrateful wretch Caden Morgan, everyone else had been very friendly to me, even respectful.

"Ms. Shaw, could you help me with this problem?" It was now the break between classes. Aside from the students using the restroom, everyone was diligently studying or working on problems.

In the quiet classroom, Caden Morgan walked up to the podium, holding a test paper.

"Let me see."

At the sound of his voice, a flash of hatred flickered in my eyes, but I kept my tone gentle.

Caden Morgan's eyes lit up, and he quickly handed me the test paper.

Because I had been so stern at the start of class, no one had dared to approach me with questions during the break. With Caden Morgan now being the first, the entire class instantly turned to look at us, their faces alight with excitement.

"This problem is simple; you just need to apply the right formula. Do you know which one to use?"

It was the same, familiar problem. In my past life, I had patiently taught him, carefully writing out the formula for him when he couldn't figure out which one to use, never once getting angry.

Caden Morgan was instantly stumped, his expression turning blank.

Seeing his confusion, I abandoned my past-life attitude and spoke with a piercing tone, "You're in your Senior Year. Why can't you remember the formulas? What have you been doing for the past three years?"

My sudden shift in attitude shocked Caden Morgan into silence. He stared at me, completely at a loss.

Before my arrival, Caden Morgan's diligent attitude had made him a favorite among the teachers. They had always treated him well; he had never been scolded before.

"Apply this formula. Go back and memorize it properly." I sighed, jotted down the formula, and handed the test paper back.

Caden Morgan looked at me, seeming to want to say something but holding his tongue. He then turned and walked back to his seat in a daze.

Watching his retreating figure, a small smile touched my lips, and a flash of smug satisfaction crossed my eyes.

Caden Morgan had been thoroughly rattled by me. For the rest of the day, he didn't come up to ask for help again.

"Ms. Shaw, could you take a look at my solution?"

I was calmly sitting at my desk, flipping through a textbook, when a low voice suddenly broke the silence. I looked up.

A thin, pale boy was standing beside me, his expression cautious.

"Not bad. This is a great solution." I took the paper and looked over his work, a smile touching my lips as I praised him.

I then offered him some guidance.

Jude Lowell had clearly expected me to treat him the same way I'd treated Caden Morgan, but he was surprised by how kind I was. His tense posture immediately relaxed.