3

Malisa’s POV

I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what had gone wrong. All I could do was replay everything that had happened in my previous life, trying to grab onto any tiny clue to unravel the mystery. After forty minutes of racking my brain, it finally hit me.

I immediately called my assistant.

“Quick, I need you to investigate something for me.”

After giving instructions, I sat anxiously in the car, my heart racing. I needed to know if I was finally close to the truth. Ten minutes later, my assistant called back with the results of his investigation. As I listened to the report, my hands shook uncontrollably.

It was exactly what I thought!

I gave one last instruction, my voice cold and firm.

“Take care of it, as quickly as possible, at any cost. And remember—tell no one.”

With that, I drove away from the school.

Two hours later, the calls from Serena’s teacher started coming. One after another, as if she was in a full-blown panic. When I didn’t pick up, the texts followed.

“Serena’s mom, something terrible has happened! Your daughter jumped from the school roof. Please, come right away!”

“Why aren’t you answering?! Serena’s mom, please come to the school immediately!”

Message after message flooded my phone. I ignored them and shut off my phone, heading to the company’s break room to finish the movie I’d been watching.

Half an hour later, when the movie ended, I turned my phone back on and found that social media was already filled with hateful comments aimed at me. Dozens of live streams were already up, broadcasting from the school.

On the screen, Serena’s teacher, tears streaming down her face, was tearfully speaking to the camera:

“Serena was always such a good girl. Everyone at the school—students, teachers—loved her so much. I can’t understand how her mother could hurt her like that.”

“One time, Serena came to me crying, saying she would rather die than go home. I thought she was just exaggerating, but now… she really jumped.”

“She was only five years old! What kind of pain could drive a child that young to take her own life?”

“I’ve called her mother dozens of times, sent so many texts, and she didn’t respond. It’s like her daughter’s death means nothing to her. How can any mother be so cold, so heartless?”

The teacher played a video she had on her phone. In it, Serena’s voice was quiet and trembling:

“Ms. White, I gave you all the candy in my backpack. Can you please not send me home? My mommy hits me every day. I’m scared of her. I don’t want to go home.”

Serena’s eyes were filled with tears, her little face full of fear and desperation. Watching the video, even the teacher broke down in tears.

The live stream was gaining traction fast. The comment sections were filled with sympathy for Serena and anger towards me.

Eric was there too, holding Serena’s body as he cried for the cameras:

“Malisa always looked down on me because I married into her rich family. At home, she did whatever she wanted, hitting me and Serena whenever she felt like it.”

He pulled up his sleeve to show bruises to the camera.

“I tried to divorce her, but she told me if I left, I’d never see my daughter again. I stayed because I couldn’t leave Serena. I kept putting up with everything for her sake, but in the end, she still pushed Serena to jump off that roof.”

“I regret it so much. Why did I ever marry such a heartless, wicked woman?”

Just like in my previous life, Eric's performance was flawless. He cried and yelled, painting me as a monster. The audience was outraged by his pain and the horror of my supposed actions.

“Oh my God, how can such a horrible woman exist?”

“She doesn’t even deserve to be called human! Her parents must be awful people too. I hope karma gets them all!”

“I’m shaking with anger. Someone needs to get rid of her for good. My keyboard isn’t enough to vent my rage anymore!”

The mob’s fury was building, everyone hungry for my destruction.

In my last life, seeing my daughter’s body, my husband’s betrayal, and the endless stream of insults from the public had crushed me. I had no way to defend myself, and I was sent to prison, where I was beaten to death. My parents had also been driven to their deaths because of me.

But in this life, as I watched the hate and slander roll in once again, I felt nothing but a sense of calm satisfaction.

I put my phone away and drove to Serena’s school. The scene was chaotic, surrounded by reporters and angry onlookers.

I smiled to myself.

The show was about to begin.