Chapter 2

In this life, Aaron and Lily kept their relationship under the radar.

They skipped class to catch movies, spent weekends gaming at cybercafés, and shared stolen kisses at the far end of the hallway between classes.

One day, as I walked by with my arms full of homework, Aaron stepped in front of me and said that he loved someone as dazzling as Lily.

She was the spark that shattered the stillness of his 18 years of life, while I remained dull and mundane. He told me not to bother looking for him anymore.

I walked past him without even looking his way. All my focus was on my studies. After all, I'd been out of high school for ten years before my rebirth.

My memory of everything I'd learned was fuzzy, and keeping up with the intensity of senior year meant I had to push myself twice as hard. I poured every ounce of my energy into studying.

I was up before sunrise memorizing foreign language vocabulary, and when the dorm lights went out at night, I hid under my blanket, solving problem sets by flashlight. Even in my dreams, mathematical symbols danced before my eyes.

In my previous life, I missed getting into Quinver University by just three points. This time, I was determined to do whatever it took to achieve my dream. I no longer paid any attention to Aaron and Lily.

By the end of our first semester as seniors, Aaron's grades had plummeted to around 500th in the rankings, while I had climbed to first place.

I'd just finished turning in my registration form for the National High School Physics Competition in the teacher's office when Ms. Dempsey called Aaron and Lily in.

Her voice was sharp with frustration. "Do you even care about your future anymore, Aaron? Look at how far you've fallen! You're a senior in high school, and you're still dating?"

Aaron blinked. With one arm casually wrapped around Lily's waist, he replied, "I've got it covered, Ms. Dempsey. Thanks for caring, but you're worrying too much."

Harriet, who was usually the picture of elegance as a middle school teacher, stormed in without makeup, her face pale and her ponytail askew.

The moment she heard what Aaron said, she raised her hand, ready to slap him. "Shut your mouth, you brat! Is that how you should speak to Ms. Dempsey?"

Aaron lunged forward, thinking that she was about to hit Lily. He quickly pulled Lily behind him and caught Harriet's wrist.

"This isn't Lily's fault, Mom! If you're looking for someone to blame, it should be me. You're being unreasonable. Don't you dare slap her!"

His words only added fuel to the fire.

Lily peeked out from behind Aaron, making a mocking face as she taunted, "Who do you think you are, you old hag, trying to slap me?"

Harriet sneered and glared back. "Why can't I slap you? My son had such a promising future, and you ruined it!"

"Why don't you ask Aaron if I forced him to be with me?" Lily snapped, refusing to back down. "He's the one trying to impress me—smoking, drinking, skipping class, and hitting the cybercafés. Don't blame me for your failures, old hag. Just admit that you can't control Aaron."

Harriet's face flushed a deep, furious red. She jabbed a finger at Aaron. "Do you have any idea how much I've sacrificed to raise you, Aaron? And now you're dating someone like her, letting her insult me to my face?"

Aaron pursed his lips. He stepped in front of Lily, spreading his arms protectively. "I'll prove to you that I can still succeed, Mom. But no matter what, I'll protect Lily in this lifetime."

Harriet inhaled sharply, trying to steady herself. "I'm not saying that you can't date, Aaron. But Lily isn't right for you. You'd be so much better off with someone like Larissa."

I froze in place. This hadn't happened in my last life.

Back then, Aaron's solid foundation kept his grades from completely tanking during finals.

When I told Harriet about his relationship with Lily on the day of the physics competition, she dragged him there without hesitation. He ended up winning and securing his admission to Quinver University.

Back then, Harriet hadn't even bothered showing up to school, let alone saying my name in front of everyone like she does now.

Aaron spun around, his eyes blazing with pure hatred. "Larissa, you tattletale! You still haven't learned your lesson, have you? Maybe I didn't hurt you enough last time."

Harriet was startled by the hostility in his glare. She quickly stepped in to defend me.

"What's wrong with you, Aaron? Ms. Dempsey was the one who called me, saying that your relationship was affecting your grades. How could you threaten Larissa?" she snapped.