The Teddy Who Changed My Fate

My lucky streak started the day I found a stray poodle.
It wasn't just landing my company's biggest contract or the promotion and raise that followed. It was catching the eye of a wealthy matriarch who decided I was the perfect match for her son. She offered me cars, a house, and promised to sign over the entire family fortune to our firstborn.
I was ready to refuse, but when she showed me a photo of her soncurrently away on businessthis certified sucker for a handsome face was sold.
The wedding was arranged in a whirlwind, but the groom missed his flight and never made it. His mother, my new mother-in-law, had me walk down the aisle with the poodle in my arms and, right there at the altar, transferred an extra million dollars into my account as a wedding gift.
Just like that, I married into high society. A few days later, my roommate pushed me off our apartment building's rooftop.
"We both saw that dog!" she screamed, her face a mask of rage. "Why do you get the fairytale wedding while I get nothing? If you die, I can start over! I can have it all!"
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing on that same street corner. This time, I made sure she was the one to adopt the poodle.

1
"Oh, you poor little thing! Are you lost?"
My roommate, Stella, a notorious neat freak, scooped up the filthy poodle that was circling our feet. Before I could even process what was happening, she shot me a sharp look.
"Phoebe, I'm keeping this dog. Don't you dare try to take him from me."
I saw the fierce determination in her eyes, a stark contrast to how things had played out the first time.
I knew instantly: she was reborn, too.
A triumphant smirk played on Stellas lips. "I feel a real connection to this dog, like he's a good luck charm. Who knows what he'll bring me." She paused, sizing me up. "I know you want him, but you already have two dogs. You can't possibly handle a third, right?"
I glanced at the poodle nestled in her arms and gave a slight shrug. "You're right, I'm stretched thin as it is. If you want him, he's all yours."
In my previous life, I only took him in because he followed us all the way home. I felt sorry for the matted, dirty creature, so I gave him a bath and some food. He never left. I had no idea that simple act of kindness would completely derail my life.
At my words, Stella's eyes lit up with an excitement she couldn't hide.
"You promise? No take-backs!" she said, her voice giddy. "Even if he helps me marry... well, whatever happens, you can't get jealous!" She cut herself off, probably worried she'd say too much and I'd change my mind.
After I swore a solemn oath that I wouldn't regret it, she hugged the dog tightly and practically skipped home.
At the same moment, a notification materialized in my mind.
[Congratulations. You have been granted one chance to be reborn. The death of the key individual at this critical juncture will allow you to return to this moment and change your fate.]
The message was a revelation.
Rebirth wasn't random; it was a power that could be activated. The trigger was the death of the other person who received the opportunity.
No wonder Stella had said my death would let her start over. She had been given the same power. But from her reaction just now, it was clear she had no idea that I was reborn, too.
The moment I walked through our apartment door, Stella blocked my path. "Phoebe, did you hear a weird noise just now?" she asked, her expression a mix of panic and anxiety.
I knew exactly what she was talking about, but I just frowned. "What kind of noise? Is someone breaking in?"
"No, it was like... a robot voice. It said something about being reborn... and death."
I rolled my eyes. "You've been reading too many fantasy novels, Stella. Rebirth isn't real. You should stop daydreaming."
She scrutinized my face, searching for any hint of a lie. When she found none, she visibly relaxed. Humming a cheerful tune, she disappeared into her room. I watched her go, a small, cold smile touching my lips.
She had no idea that this poodle had another name: the Wicked Fleece.
I hoped she was ready to pay the price for taking him in.

2
That night, just as I was about to go to bed, a frantic knocking echoed from my door.
"Phoebe, go give this filthy animal a bath! And make sure you scrub him clean!" Stella demanded.
For some reason, the thought of touching that poodle filled me with a primal revulsion. "I have a report to finish for work. I don't have time."
I tried to close the door, but she stuck her hand in the way. "What kind of attitude is that? You'd better watch your tone with me. When I make it big, if you're lucky, I might hire you as my dog's nanny!"
As if on cue, the poodle trotted out of the bathroom and began humping her bare leg. Stella let out a frustrated shriek and kicked him away. The poodle slammed into the wall with a painful yelp.
I winced but hardened my heart. "If you can't handle it, take him to a groomer. They're professionals."
I shut the door in her face, her muffled curses following me.
In the days that followed, Stella not only started copying my style of dress, but she also began taking the poodle to work with her. At first, our colleagues cooed about how kind-hearted she was. That lasted less than a day.
Because Stella didn't bother with a leash or a crate, the poodle, clearly in heat, started marking its territory everywhere and lunging at people's legs.
"Stella, can you please control your dog? He just soaked my pant leg!"
"Ugh, he got into my trash can and now there's garbage everywhere."
"Damn it, Stella! He just peed on the copies I just made!"
Stella ignored their complaints completely. Our manager was already on edge because a major client was due for a site visit. When he saw the chaotic state of the office, he exploded.
"Stella! Who gave you permission to bring a pet to work?" he roared. "Do you have any idea how important this client is? Our entire second half depends on this deal! You have ten minutes to get this place cleaned up, or you and that dog can get out!"
Stella, however, remained completely unfazed. She wasn't even scared of the manager who used to terrify her. "I know exactly who's coming," she said with a smug little smile. "That's why I brought him. And just so you know, without me, none of you would be closing this deal today. So, I'd appreciate it if you stopped yelling. Or you might not be a manager for much longer."
A stunned silence fell over the office, followed by snickers of disbelief.
"Has she lost her mind? She's an intern, talking to the manager like that."
"I think she's genuinely unwell. Earlier she was telling everyone she's about to marry into a rich family and that we'd better not cross her."
"Seriously? This is the girl who budgets her takeout orders down to the cent? Marry into a rich family? The only 'old money' she's getting is the change she finds in the sofa."
But I knew. Stella wasn't lying.
The important client arriving any minute was the poodle's owner: Eleanor Vance, the chairwoman of the Vance Corporation.
Though furious, the manager was a seasoned veteran of the business world. Stella's unwavering confidence gave him pause. "You'd better be right about this," he warned, his voice low.
After ordering the cleaning crew to do a rush job, he escorted Eleanor Vance and her entourage into the office.
The poodle immediately darted to her feet, nipping at her trouser leg and yapping excitedly.
A strange expression crossed Eleanor's face, and a wave of fear washed over the room. The manager rushed to apologize. "Mrs. Vance, I am so sorry. I'll handle this immediately. Stella, get over"
Before he could finish, Eleanor bent down and lifted the poodle into her arms. She examined him closely before turning her sharp gaze on Stella. "Is this your dog?"
Stella stepped forward, her voice a timid whisper. "I'm so sorry. He's usually very well-behaved. He's such a poor, sweet thing. He would have starved if I hadn't found him. Please, don't hurt him."
Eleanor's eyes scanned Stella from head to toe. "Hurt him? My dear, I should be thanking you. This is my lost dog. You are a very kind young woman. Name your reward. Anything you want, it's yours."
Watching the scene unfold from a new perspective, I couldn't shake the feeling that Eleanor's expression wasn't one of gratitude or admiration. Her words felt less like an offer and more like a hunter laying a trap.
Stella, however, could barely contain her excitement. "Really? What a coincidence! I only took him in because I felt sorry for him, I never expected a reward. But... if you really want to thank me, I hope you'll give our company's proposal serious consideration. I stayed up for nights writing it myself."
Gasps rippled through the office.

3
Someone started to speak, but the manager silenced them with a single glare.
Eleanor seemed surprised for a moment, then nodded. "If you're in charge of the project, then let's sign the contract. I trust that a person as kind as you must also be dedicated to her work."
She turned to leave, then paused and looked back. "Stella, is it? Join me for dinner tonight. I'll have my driver pick you up."
The triumphant joy on Stella's face was unmistakable.
As soon as Eleanor was gone, the manager announced Stella's promotion from intern to full-time employee. "Phoebe," he said, turning to me, "give Stella your files. She'll be taking over the project from here."
"But sir, this project was" a colleague tried to defend me.
The manager's face darkened, and I quickly stopped her. I handed the thick folder to Stella, and the manager's expression softened. "See? Phoebe's a team player. She understands the big picture. When the company succeeds, we all succeed."
After he left, Stella strutted over to my desk like a proud peacock. "I bet you're regretting it now, aren't you, Phoebe? But it's too late. You're the one who gave him up." Her voice dripped with malice. "Are you angry? Frustrated? The project you've worked on for six months is mine now. This is payback for not helping me last night!"
She leaned in closer. "And let me tell you, soon I'll be Mrs. Julian Vance. And you? You'll be stuck slaving away in this miserable office for the rest of your life!" She then turned to the rest of the office. "And as for the rest of you corporate drones, you'd better start treating me with some respect. Once I'm a Vance, if I'm in a good mood, I might just throw a big client your way."
With that, she flounced out of the office.
My colleagues erupted in a chorus of angry muttering.
"She finds a lost dog and suddenly thinks she's royalty? It was a one-time thing, does she really think this is her ticket to the high life?"
"What a horrible person. Stealing Phoebe's project like that. One stroke of luck and she thinks she's better than everyone."
"She's delusional. A rich woman was polite to her for five minutes and now she thinks she's marrying into the family? Get real."
"Don't worry, Phoebe. We'll all be here to watch her come crawling back when reality hits."
I just smiled without saying a word.
Because I knew that tonight, Eleanor Vance would indeed ask Stella to be her daughter-in-law. That's why she was acting so insufferably arrogant.
But a marriage born from a lost dog... could it really be that simple?
Sure enough, two days later, Stella appeared at the office, dripping in jewels, to hand out wedding invitations. She stopped at my desk, looking down at me with disdain.
"Phoebe, I'm sure you're dying to come to my high-society wedding. After all, some people will never get an opportunity like this in their entire lifetime."
"Stella," I said calmly, "I hear Mr. Vance is still abroad. You haven't even met him. Don't you think getting married so quickly is a bit... rushed? What if"
She cut me off. "Ha! I've seen pictures of Julian. He's handsome and rich. Why wouldn't I marry him? My mother-in-law said that even though it's last minute, it will be a proper wedding with all the trimmings. You're just jealous."
There was no point in arguing. As I reached for the invitation she held out, she let it slip from her fingers. It fluttered to the floor, and she promptly pinned it under her stiletto heel.
"You want it? Shine my shoes, and it's yours."
It wasn't that I wanted the invitation. But I had too many unanswered questions, and I needed to get inside that hotel.
After a few seconds of tense silence, I knelt and wiped her shoe.
Stella burst out laughing at the sight of my submission. "That's more like it!" She gave my shoulder a light kick before putting on her sunglasses and striding away.

4
The day of the wedding arrived. The venue was decorated exactly as I remembered. And, just like last time, the groom missed his flight. The hall was buzzing with gossip.
Before Eleanor could say a word, Stella bravely announced that she would complete the ceremony alone. Eleanor, clearly impressed by Stella's understanding and poise, readily agreed and transferred another million dollars to her account on the spot.
With Julian absent, the reception ended with Stella heading to the bridal suite alone, clutching the poodle.
The moment she was inside, I pulled out my phone and activated the hidden camera I had planted earlier, slipping into the room when the staff was distracted.
On the screen, Stella squealed with delight at the balance in her bank account, rolling around on the large, red matrimonial bed. A moment later, Eleanor entered and told her to drink a glass of milk and get some rest.
Soon after, Stella was fast asleep, still in her wedding dress.
In my past life, I had also drunk the milk and passed out instantly. When I woke up the next morning, my clothes were strewn on the floor, and my body was covered in strange marks.
Now, I was finally going to see what happened after I fell asleep.
The next thing that appeared on the screen made my eyes go wide.
A ghostly, transparent image of a man shimmered into existence above the bed. I watched in horror as the apparition's hands roamed over Stella's body, deftly unfastening her dress. His face was twisted in a lecherous grin, and he muttered obscene things under his breath.
"Been a while since I had a taste of a real woman. God, I've been dying for this." His spectral hands caressed her skin. "So soft... your hair smells so good, your skin... I'm going to take real good care of you..."
Then, as if remembering something, his expression soured, and he slapped Stella across the face. "You bitch! You dared to kick me, again and again. Let's see how you like it when I teach you a lesson!"
Though he was just an apparition, angry red welts immediately appeared on Stella's cheek. The voice was familiar, and as I studied the ghost's features, I realized he looked exactly like the man in the photograph. He looked like Julian.
In my past life, when I discovered the marks on my body, I had asked Eleanor about them. She told me her son Julian had come back during the night. They had consummated the marriage, but he'd had urgent business and had to fly out again immediately. I was inexperienced and too embarrassed to question a senior about such intimate matters, so I let it go.
I never imagined that the "consummation" she spoke of was with a ghost.
The apparition's movements grew rougher. He ripped the skirt of Stella's dress, showing no hint of tenderness. But just as he was about to descend upon her, he stopped.
His eyes narrowed, his spectral face contorting with rage.
"Damn it! You whore!" he snarled. "I thought she was pure... but she reeks. What a waste of my time."
I frowned. He had just been saying how good she smelled. Why the sudden change?
Perhaps his enraged shouting was too loud, because Eleanor came back into the room. She saw Stella's bruised and battered body and rushed to intervene.
"Son, what's wrong?" she cried. "We finally found a suitable woman. Take it easy! If you damage her body, how is she supposed to bear your child?"
The ghost of Julian was seething. "Suitable? She's not worthy! We've been tricked! She's not pure, Mom. She reeks of other men. There's no way she can carry my child."
This was even more confusing. I didn't know anything about Stella's personal life, but what did that have to do with having a child?
Their next exchange gave me the answer.
Eleanor frowned, sniffing the air. "What are you talking about? I don't smell anything."
"Mom, would I lie to you? Have you forgotten? The master opened my spiritual senses. I can tell if a woman is a virgin just by her scent. This one covers it up with perfume, but once her clothes are off, the stench is unbearable. God knows how many men she's been with. Mom, what do we do? We found the wrong one!"
Eleanor looked just as bewildered. "How could we be wrong? The master was specific about the time and place where we would find a virgin with a pure yin constitution, perfect for you. He even said she would be kind, soft-hearted, and a lover of animals, and that she would surely take you home."
"Everything matched the time and place where Stella found you. How could it be a mistake?"
Hearing this, I clapped a hand over my mouth to stifle a gasp.
If what they were saying was true... their original target was me.
My rebirth had thrown them off course, and Stella had taken my place. But even if I did have this "pure yin constitution," why was it so important for me to have Julian's child?
The next words I heard sent a deathly chill down my spine.

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