Twice Reborn And Still Choosing To Leave You Behind

I married my former best friends brother, a man who would become both my decades-long tormentor and my deepest savior.

At the wedding reception, Tessa Reed wore a smirk that was razor-sharp.

I cant believe, after everything that happened at The Havenyou being framed and losing your adoption slotyou still found a way to climb into a Nash bed, she drawled, her voice loud enough to carry.

Then she leaned close, her breath smelling of champagne and something cheaper. Too bad you were a little late to the party.

Just a little tip from one woman to another, she whispered into my ear. Callum Nash only likes red lingerie.

Before I could process the petty cruelty, someone bumped me, sending me straight into Callums arms.

As the crowd cheered, I looked up. Callum, already drunk, was looking past me, straight at Tessa. His gazeardent, burning, and utterly possessivewas a secret I instantly understood, a silent promise I spent the next fifteen years paying for.

Despite my suspicions, I pressed down on every dark thought and we became the perfect warring couple.

He ruined our child to protect Tessa; I orchestrated a scheme so he missed his parents final moments.

He lost the use of his legs saving me from a fire; I single-handedly averted his familys financial ruin when they were on the brink of collapse.

It was a tumultuous, heartbreaking dance that lasted for over a decade.

Then, Tessa died in a sudden car crash. Callum, in his wedding tuxedo, took his own life the next day.

He left a note saying he would spend his next life making amends to me, yet he willed his entire estate to Tessas orphaned son.

I ended up broken, destitute, and dying alone on the streets.

But I woke up.

I was back in The Haven Childrens Home. A handsome, clear-eyed boy strode in with his parents. He pointed right at me, excited.

Mom, Dad, if youre getting me a sister, pick her! She looks tough and smart. Shell be the perfect addition to the family legacy.

The moment those words left his mouth, I knew. Callum had come back too.

I recalled the words of his suicide note, and a soft, bitter laugh escaped me. He was certainly trying to keep his promise.

In my previous life, driven by a desperate hunger to escape the poverty and abuse of The Haven, I had been ruthlessly ambitious. I worked tirelessly to catch the eye of the affluent. My calculation had succeeded: Callums parents were ready to adopt me. But the day before my rescue, Callum walked in with Tessa.

Believing Tessa's manufactured tears and her accusationsthat I had been manipulative, had flirted with a staff member, and was simply a congenital liarhe had ripped my dream apart.

That day, as he led Tessa away, he made sure to shout a warning to the entire room: Amanda Lane is a curse. Stay away from her if you want any luck.

In that instant, I fell from a hellhole into an abyss, and I endured another five years of relentless suffering. Tessa, meanwhile, was adopted by the Nashes and became their cherished heiress.

Now, I stood before Mr. and Mrs. Nash. Callum, speaking to me, said, This time, youll be my sister. Ill take care of you. You wont have to envy anyone... and you wont have to suffer another five years alone.

I understood. He was trying to atone for the guilt of his previous life. He knew Tessa had lied. He was tortured by his decades of regret and those five extra years I spent in misery.

Mr. and Mrs. Nash nodded, their eyes, just like before, already fond of me. I was about to refuseI wanted no part of his atonementwhen a young Tessa ran in, sobbing.

Her clothes were torn. She had a bloody gash on her arm.

Tessa! Are you are you alright?

She glanced at me, a flicker of warning in her eyes, before collapsing at the Nashes feet. Mr. and Mrs. Nash, please tell me youre here to save me! I dont want to die! Please, Im begging you!

She was imitating me. That desperate act was how I had once saved myself from the director, a true monster. Tessa, always the lucky one, always the darling of fate, had never been targeted by him.

In my past life, seeing my self-rescue tactic used against me had sent me into a destructive fit of outrage, leading the Nashes to immediately dislike me.

Now, Callum knew she was lying, yet he couldn't help the flicker of pure, agonizing concern.

Who hurt you? I swear Ill make them pay.

Tessa didn't dare risk not being adopted and incurring the directors wrath.

I blinked, stepped forward, and spoke in a cool, rational voice. It was the director. He preys on the prettiest girls. Tessa is the prettiest one here.

What? That animal! Mr. Nash clenched his fist.

Oh, darling, dont cry, Mrs. Nash murmured, her compassion immediate.

Callum stood beside them, his lips tight, his gaze lowered. I knew him too well. He had changed his mind.

Mom, Dad, lets adopt Tessa.

Mr. and Mrs. Nash, you should adopt Tessa.

Callum and I spoke in unison.

Amanda, why? Callum looked at me, utterly bewildered.

He knew that at this exact moment in the previous life, I would have fought like a cornered animal to be saved, desperate to leave this pit. But now I was giving up the chance.

I ignored the complexity and guilt in his eyes, maintaining a cool, detached composure. Mr. and Mrs. Nash, I want to try being an only child for once. Id prefer a family without any other children. Thank you for the offer.

The Nashes looked disappointed but accepting.

As Tessa was being led away, she deliberately came over to me.

She tilted her head up, a look of pampered arrogance and triumph washing over her face. I told you, Amanda Lane, you cant beat me. Im going to be a rich mans daughter now. As for you? Stay here and suffer. You only have yourself to blame for being too stupid to call out my lie!

Tessa laughed and walked away.

After she left, a shaken, slender figure emerged from the shadows.

Callum looked utterly lost, his face a portrait of suspicion. He hadn't expected Tessa to be anything less than a pure, innocent victim; he hadn't expected her to utter such... despicable words.

He looked at me with a desperate, complicated expression, his eyes seeking my help.

He was reaching for me, depending on me to offer him solace and perspective. I chose to ignore him. I turned my back and walked away.

Amanda.

I paused.

You came back, too, didnt you?

I didn't answer.

Amanda, Im sorry. You know how it is, Tessa is still young. Shell change.

Oh, right. I smiled. Why should I care? I had no intention of ever being involved with either of them again.

Amanda! Callum panicked, darted forward, and grabbed my arm. He pulled out the meager cash he had. Take this for now. I failed you again. I owe you this. Within half a month... no, five days. Three days. I promise Ill find a way to get you out.

Dont bother.

Amanda, I will save you. Wait for me! Callum had to rush off, not because I had refused him, but because Tessa had stumbled nearby and cried out.

I simply smiled. Of course.

Thank goodness I hadn't let a single ounce of hope latch onto Callum Nash this time.

After Tessa was gone, I don't know what she told the director, but this lifes version of him was crueler, his methods more vicious. The threat of immediate danger became overwhelming.

Three days passed.

Five days passed.

A half a month... a month passed

Callum never came.

I, risking the possibility of a broken arm, managed to record video evidence of the directors crimes, successfully contacting the police and the media.

As the police led the director away, the boys who were usually favored by him surrounded me.

Amanda Lane, this was you, wasnt it, you ungrateful bitch!

Ill kill you! The director is gone, what are we supposed to do now? Starve?

Kill her! Kill Amanda Lane, the lying little tramp!

Beat her!

I struggled to protect my head and already-injured arm, utterly overwhelmed by the pain.

I had expected this.

The five boys attacking me were the directors own biological sons. They were defending their father.

Suddenly, the ringleader picked up a rock and aimed it at my head. In a flash, a figure leaped in front of me.

The rock struck.

Ah! A cry of pain.

Callum Nash had been hit while shielding me.

My pupils contracted. Callum! Are you okay?

A stream of bright red blood ran down his forehead, obscuring his vision.

Callum wiped the blood from his face. He looked frail, yet he laughed, euphoric. I finally saved you this time! Amanda, I was on time this time!

At his words, the immediate concern and guilt in my heart vanished.

In the past life, our babyso small, so sweet, the one who loved us mosthad died.

Because of Tessas lie, Callum had abandoned me and the child in the freezing wilderness. I was forced to watch our baby die, before wandering the mountains like a zombie for three days. When the rescue team found me, I was insane.

My revenge against Tessa was total. And Callum, naturally, had to protect her.

We had completely destroyed each other. I attacked his deepest insecurities; he targeted my very soul. The decades of entanglement only ended when he sacrificed his legs to save me, leaving the proud, elegant young man a cripple.

At the time, consumed by guilt, I decided to let go of the past and live a life with him. But he used that very sacrifice as leverage.

Pale and weak, sitting in his hospital bed, Callums eyes were red as he begged me, Amanda, let go of Tessa. Do it for my legs.

My soul emptied out of me in that instant. I cried silently and agreed. Fine. I promise.

Now, Callum was hysterical, holding my hand even through his pain. Amanda, I told you I would protect you.

The next second, I was shoved to the ground.

Slap Tessa appeared and struck my face several times.

You curse! Stay away from my brother! Hes mine!

Tessa carefully helped Callum to his feet.

Tessa, dont do that. Apologize to Amanda immediately.

Tessa immediately burst into tears, and Callum, unable to stand her distress, began to soothe and mollify her.

I ignored the triumphant smile on Tessas face, brushed the dirt from my clothes, and prepared to leave.

Stop right there! Who said you, the curse, could leave? Tessas true, spoiled nature emerged. Stay away from my brother. I wont allow you to hurt him.

Tessa! When Callum saw me turn, he instinctively stepped forward, shielding Tessa with his body.

He always assumed I was the aggressor who would hurt Tessa. He always automatically forgot that my situation was invariably worse than hers.

I rattled off a few names and several complex account numbers.

Tessa was utterly confused; she didnt understand a word. Her gaze toward me sharpened with malice.

Callum, however, understood. That was the exact information detailing the start of his parents business decline. It had taken me years of effort, contacts, and painstaking investigation in the previous life to uncover that data, which I had used to save his company.

Amanda, what are you

Thank you for saving me this time, but dont bother again. Callum, I dont owe you anything. I hope you can keep your distance from now on.

Callum was struck dumb, as if his soul had been pulled from his body. He couldn't process it.

He likely never imagined that the woman who had deeply loved him in the previous life would now only wish to escape him entirely.

Soon, the state took over The Haven. They improved the facilities and brought in professional, ethical staff.

The former director was already locked up. I and the other children had been spared five years of hardship.

The other kidsthose who had both bullied me and occasionally protected menow recognized the positive change Id engineered. They began to rally around me, seeking my approval and friendship.

The directors five illegitimate sons, however, started to get bullied themselves. I watched, satisfied. I always pay my debts, good or bad.

The following month, Callum rushed to find me. He apologized profusely, explaining that Tessa had been sick and he had been tied up caring for her.

He hung his head, apologizing.

He was always like this: choosing Tessa, then offering me a shred of warmth... like dangling a carrot on a stick for a donkey.

Amanda, I found a new school for you. And I found a family willing to adopt you.

No need, thank you. My tone was polite but utterly distant.

The government had already arranged schooling for all of us.

It was an unfortunate coincidence that Tessa and I were placed in the same class.

Within three days, the entire grade knew the rumor: I had flirted with the forty-year-old director of the orphanage. Boys pulled at my clothes strap; girls looked at me with disgust and contempt, ostracizing me.

Soon, they gave me a vicious nickname, The Pit Stop, and hurled every insult they could think of. All of this was Tessa's work.

I calculated the time. My birth parents, whom Id painstakingly found in my past life, should be returning to the country soon.

Feeling confident, during a class break, Tessa threw her pencil case, hitting me in the back of the head.

She yelled, Hey, Pit Stop, new clothes today, huh? Which man did you trade for that outfit?

Hahaha!

Right! The total trash!

Shes disgusting, that Pit Stop

I stood up instantly and strode toward Tessa.

As she watched me, cocky and challenging, I grabbed her hair and slammed her head straight into the mop bucket.

Ah! Ahhh! Let go of me, let me go!

I grinned, a cruel, cold expression. Your mouth is filthy. You keep giving me disgusting nicknames. Tessa, we both came from The Haven. The Nashes wanted to adopt me. I gave that slot to you. The director initially targeted you. I protected you. Now, you repay my kindness by spreading lies and bullying me? You are a traitorous, ungrateful bitch!

No! Ah! Stop it

The dirty mop water spilled into Tessas mouth as she screamed.

I sped up my accusations, detailing the things Tessa had done: how shed turned people against each other, the nasty things she said about her own clique, how shed spread rumors that forced the previous teacher to quit...

As I spoke, nobody tried to stop me from punishing Tessa. In fact, some even shouted encouragement. More people were exchanging glances, realizing that everything I was saying about Tessa was true.

Amanda Lane, I wont let you hurt Tessa!

Someone charged at me from behind. I lost my footing and fell.

My left arm, the one Id injured recording the director, took the brunt of the fall. The pain was excruciating; I was sure I heard the sickening crunch of the bone breaking again.

My face went white.

Callum, who had rushed over and helped Tessa up, looked at me on the floor, his eyes filled with shock and immediate regret.

Tessa, sobbing, clutched his arm. Brother, make her leave school! Amanda bullied me! Get her expelled!

Alright, I promise, little sister.

I scoffed. Of course. Callum, you are as predictable as ever, and just as contemptible.

Callum lowered his head. Amanda, you were wrong first. But I will make it up to you later.

You dont have to, because I

The teacher suddenly burst excitedly into the room, oblivious to the chaos. She shouted, Amanda Lane, your birth parents are here to take you home! They said they are taking you abroad for a family reunion!