In my previous life, it was around this time that Jess brought a gift for my son.I was delighted back then, touched even, by the bottle she had chosen. I used it for everything—for my son's water and milk. But within a few days, I noticed something unusual.My once lively, smiling baby had turned eerily quiet. There was a stillness about him that gnawed at my nerves. His lips had begun to take on a faint purple hue. As a first-time mother, I panicked. I immediately brought it up with my husband, urging him to take the baby to the hospital for a check-up.But he waved me off, his tone dismissive."Babe, you're overreacting again!" he said, irritation flickering in his eyes. "The doctor said Nicholas is perfectly healthy. You're just stressing yourself out for no reason."Then he added, "Hospitals are full of germs, you know. What if he picks up something worse there?"I hesitated. He made it sound reasonable, convincing even. Reluctantly, I pushed the thought aside.But a mont
James had been gone the entire night, and when he finally returned in the early morning, I was still groggy from sleep. His clothes carried the distinct, sterile scent of hospital disinfectant, and his mood seemed unusually buoyant."How's David doing? Is his condition improving?" I asked, my voice filled with feigned concern as I approached him. James arched an eyebrow."He's much better. Another month or so, and he should be fully recovered," he replied. His eyes shifted almost instinctively toward my son. "Make sure you're taking good care of Nicholas, too. It's easy for kids to catch colds this time of year."I let out a derisive snort, choosing not to respond. At this point, of course, he wanted my son to stay perfectly healthy. After all, only if my son thrived could their precious David continue to live.James exhaled tiredly as he shrugged off his coat. "I need to get some sleep. I've got to head to the office later." He started toward the bedroom, but before his hand cou
A week later, Jess appeared at my door, beaming with joy. Her arrival didn't surprise me in the slightest. What caught me off guard was the sight of David standing beside her, clutching her hand tightly."Is David's condition better now? Did the doctor allow him to leave the hospital?" I asked, my eyes widening in disbelief.David had been a premature baby, born with underdeveloped organs and whisked straight to the NICU. He'd recovered enough to go home eventually, but trouble loomed again when, in third grade, he collapsed during a gym class. He was rushed straight to the hospital, where the doctors discovered he had a heart issue. They estimated he had barely three months left.That day, Jess had clung to James, crying for hours. Feeling sorry for her, I had promised to cover the medical expenses. I even reached out to my business contacts, hoping someone could find a specialist for David. Yet, no precaution had prepared me for Jess setting her sights on my son's heart.At m
As her sharp, piercing eyes bore into me, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation. I was just about to speak when the neighbor snatched the baby bottle out of Jess's hands."What the hell are you talking about, saying this is yours?" the neighbor barked. "This is my kid's. It has nothing to do with you!"She shot me a wary glance, her body stiff with suspicion, clearly afraid I might reclaim the bottle I'd once gifted her.Sensing the tension, I quickly helped Jess up from the ground. "Let's go. These people are nothing but trouble," I said, brushing off her earlier claim. "The bottle you gave me is still at home—this one belongs to them."My words, aligning perfectly with the neighbor's, seemed to dissolve the doubt clouding Jess's face. She braced herself against me, managing to stand, though her legs wavered unsteadily.But before she could fully regain her balance, she turned and saw David lying unconscious on the ground."David! David!" she screamed, her voice trembl
After my rebirth, I had been paying close attention to my son's growth.Every day, he ate well and grew plump, yet a shadow lingered in my heart. A few days ago, while James was away at the company, I secretly booked a full-body health check-up for children online. The best hospital in the city was the same one where David was staying. To avoid arousing suspicion, I arranged for Wendy to take Nicholas there instead.When I saw the report, confirming that every indicator was normal, the heavy stone in my heart finally dropped. Fortunately, in this lifetime, I had managed to protect my son well.When we left the hospital, James seemed reluctant to go. I could understand his feelings; his son was still in the hospital, yet he couldn't stay by his side. What I couldn't understand, though, was how he could be so cruel. David and Nicholas were both his children. How could he bear to trade my son's life for the survival of his other child?The thought was maddening, so I let it go. Be
After returning upstairs, I immediately went to disinfect myself. Hospitals were crawling with invisible threats, and who knew how many germs had hitched a ride back with me. After changing into clean clothes, I peeked into my son's room. He was fast asleep. That gave me just enough time to sit at my desk and open my laptop."You can start the report now," I said, signaling the start of the meeting.Since my rebirth, it had appeared as though James was running the company, but in truth, I had never relinquished control. Behind the scenes, I had a hand in everything. As for his complaints that the employees didn't respect him? That was because he was scheming to transfer company shares into his name under the guise of my authority.Nothing within the company escaped me anymore. Whatever I wanted to know, I ensured I found out.In my previous life, I had foolishly entrusted James with the business while I poured all my energy into raising our child. My assistant had even tried to
The efficiency of my company had always been high; that much, I was certain.As I stared at James, who had dozed off on the sofa in a deep slumber, I didn't hesitate. Without a second thought, I delivered a sharp slap across his face, jolting him awake.He glared at me with fiery resentment, his voice instantly erupting into a roar. "What the hell is wrong with you?"I slapped him again, harder this time, and tossed my phone at him without a shred of politeness."You still have the nerve to ask?"James caught the phone with fumbling hands, his expression shifting from indignation to unease as he noticed the look on my face. He glanced at the phone screen, and I smirked, my voice dripping with mockery. "You're living quite the carefree life, aren't you, James?""Babe! Listen to me! Let me explain! I have no idea where these photos came from!" James panicked.I crossed my arms, tilting my head slightly. "You don't know? Those photos are trending everywhere now. The company's stock
That night, the police station called.James, defeated and despondent, muttered over the phone, "Honey, Jess is dead."The words froze me in place. I grabbed my things and hurried to the police station.It was there that I pieced everything together. While David was being wheeled into the operating room, Jess had gone out to buy him some essentials. By chance, she crossed paths with my neighbor who was out getting food.My neighbor was carrying that baby bottle I had given her in her hands. It was at that moment that Jess realized something was wrong. She grabbed the bottle from my neighbor's hand with a ferocity I could almost picture."Why do you have this bottle?" Jess demanded. "This bottle is meant to save my son's life!"Her words ignited something primal in my neighbor, who immediately shoved her to the ground."Save your son's life? You used my son's life to save yours?!" the neighbor shouted, her voice a mixture of rage and disbelief. "Is that why my son's in the hospit
That night, the police station called.James, defeated and despondent, muttered over the phone, "Honey, Jess is dead."The words froze me in place. I grabbed my things and hurried to the police station.It was there that I pieced everything together. While David was being wheeled into the operating room, Jess had gone out to buy him some essentials. By chance, she crossed paths with my neighbor who was out getting food.My neighbor was carrying that baby bottle I had given her in her hands. It was at that moment that Jess realized something was wrong. She grabbed the bottle from my neighbor's hand with a ferocity I could almost picture."Why do you have this bottle?" Jess demanded. "This bottle is meant to save my son's life!"Her words ignited something primal in my neighbor, who immediately shoved her to the ground."Save your son's life? You used my son's life to save yours?!" the neighbor shouted, her voice a mixture of rage and disbelief. "Is that why my son's in the hospit
The efficiency of my company had always been high; that much, I was certain.As I stared at James, who had dozed off on the sofa in a deep slumber, I didn't hesitate. Without a second thought, I delivered a sharp slap across his face, jolting him awake.He glared at me with fiery resentment, his voice instantly erupting into a roar. "What the hell is wrong with you?"I slapped him again, harder this time, and tossed my phone at him without a shred of politeness."You still have the nerve to ask?"James caught the phone with fumbling hands, his expression shifting from indignation to unease as he noticed the look on my face. He glanced at the phone screen, and I smirked, my voice dripping with mockery. "You're living quite the carefree life, aren't you, James?""Babe! Listen to me! Let me explain! I have no idea where these photos came from!" James panicked.I crossed my arms, tilting my head slightly. "You don't know? Those photos are trending everywhere now. The company's stock
After returning upstairs, I immediately went to disinfect myself. Hospitals were crawling with invisible threats, and who knew how many germs had hitched a ride back with me. After changing into clean clothes, I peeked into my son's room. He was fast asleep. That gave me just enough time to sit at my desk and open my laptop."You can start the report now," I said, signaling the start of the meeting.Since my rebirth, it had appeared as though James was running the company, but in truth, I had never relinquished control. Behind the scenes, I had a hand in everything. As for his complaints that the employees didn't respect him? That was because he was scheming to transfer company shares into his name under the guise of my authority.Nothing within the company escaped me anymore. Whatever I wanted to know, I ensured I found out.In my previous life, I had foolishly entrusted James with the business while I poured all my energy into raising our child. My assistant had even tried to
After my rebirth, I had been paying close attention to my son's growth.Every day, he ate well and grew plump, yet a shadow lingered in my heart. A few days ago, while James was away at the company, I secretly booked a full-body health check-up for children online. The best hospital in the city was the same one where David was staying. To avoid arousing suspicion, I arranged for Wendy to take Nicholas there instead.When I saw the report, confirming that every indicator was normal, the heavy stone in my heart finally dropped. Fortunately, in this lifetime, I had managed to protect my son well.When we left the hospital, James seemed reluctant to go. I could understand his feelings; his son was still in the hospital, yet he couldn't stay by his side. What I couldn't understand, though, was how he could be so cruel. David and Nicholas were both his children. How could he bear to trade my son's life for the survival of his other child?The thought was maddening, so I let it go. Be
As her sharp, piercing eyes bore into me, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation. I was just about to speak when the neighbor snatched the baby bottle out of Jess's hands."What the hell are you talking about, saying this is yours?" the neighbor barked. "This is my kid's. It has nothing to do with you!"She shot me a wary glance, her body stiff with suspicion, clearly afraid I might reclaim the bottle I'd once gifted her.Sensing the tension, I quickly helped Jess up from the ground. "Let's go. These people are nothing but trouble," I said, brushing off her earlier claim. "The bottle you gave me is still at home—this one belongs to them."My words, aligning perfectly with the neighbor's, seemed to dissolve the doubt clouding Jess's face. She braced herself against me, managing to stand, though her legs wavered unsteadily.But before she could fully regain her balance, she turned and saw David lying unconscious on the ground."David! David!" she screamed, her voice trembl
A week later, Jess appeared at my door, beaming with joy. Her arrival didn't surprise me in the slightest. What caught me off guard was the sight of David standing beside her, clutching her hand tightly."Is David's condition better now? Did the doctor allow him to leave the hospital?" I asked, my eyes widening in disbelief.David had been a premature baby, born with underdeveloped organs and whisked straight to the NICU. He'd recovered enough to go home eventually, but trouble loomed again when, in third grade, he collapsed during a gym class. He was rushed straight to the hospital, where the doctors discovered he had a heart issue. They estimated he had barely three months left.That day, Jess had clung to James, crying for hours. Feeling sorry for her, I had promised to cover the medical expenses. I even reached out to my business contacts, hoping someone could find a specialist for David. Yet, no precaution had prepared me for Jess setting her sights on my son's heart.At m
James had been gone the entire night, and when he finally returned in the early morning, I was still groggy from sleep. His clothes carried the distinct, sterile scent of hospital disinfectant, and his mood seemed unusually buoyant."How's David doing? Is his condition improving?" I asked, my voice filled with feigned concern as I approached him. James arched an eyebrow."He's much better. Another month or so, and he should be fully recovered," he replied. His eyes shifted almost instinctively toward my son. "Make sure you're taking good care of Nicholas, too. It's easy for kids to catch colds this time of year."I let out a derisive snort, choosing not to respond. At this point, of course, he wanted my son to stay perfectly healthy. After all, only if my son thrived could their precious David continue to live.James exhaled tiredly as he shrugged off his coat. "I need to get some sleep. I've got to head to the office later." He started toward the bedroom, but before his hand cou
In my previous life, it was around this time that Jess brought a gift for my son.I was delighted back then, touched even, by the bottle she had chosen. I used it for everything—for my son's water and milk. But within a few days, I noticed something unusual.My once lively, smiling baby had turned eerily quiet. There was a stillness about him that gnawed at my nerves. His lips had begun to take on a faint purple hue. As a first-time mother, I panicked. I immediately brought it up with my husband, urging him to take the baby to the hospital for a check-up.But he waved me off, his tone dismissive."Babe, you're overreacting again!" he said, irritation flickering in his eyes. "The doctor said Nicholas is perfectly healthy. You're just stressing yourself out for no reason."Then he added, "Hospitals are full of germs, you know. What if he picks up something worse there?"I hesitated. He made it sound reasonable, convincing even. Reluctantly, I pushed the thought aside.But a mont
"Carrie, I've been too busy taking care of David at the hospital," Jess Hamlin said. "That's why I didn't have time to visit you since you gave birth to Nicholas."As she spoke, she pulled a gift box out of her bag.The scene before me felt all too familiar. My breath caught for a moment.So it was true—I had been reborn.In my past life, I had accepted the baby bottle from Jess, my sister-in-law, and that decision had cost my son his life.This time, I wouldn't let history repeat itself."I just got out of the hospital today and rushed over right away," she continued, her voice tinged with warmth. "I bought this baby bottle for little Nicholas. Do you like it?"I glanced up and met Jess's bright, expectant eyes."You bought a branded one?" I said, feigning surprise. "David's hospital bills must be piling up, and you still went to such trouble! I feel bad accepting this."My polite refusal made her visibly anxious. She grabbed my hand firmly, her voice rising slightly. "Carrie