Reborn: I Made Him a Pariah

My father had an affair.

He even had a secret child, a son.

Just like in my previous life, my mother, Eleanor Montgomery, fueled by pride and anger, walked out on him, taking me with her and leaving everything behind.

I followed her into a life of poverty and hardship, eventually meeting a desolate, premature end.

But Im back, reborn. This time, I didn't hesitate. I pushed her away. I chose my father.

The double betrayal, from both me and my father, left my mother trembling with rage. She cursed me, called me an ungrateful wretch.

"So what?" I'd spat back, the words laced with a venom born of past suffering. "I'm never going back to that miserable life with you!"

It was during my sophomore year of high school that my mother discovered my father's infidelity. His secret son, Jeremy Reed, was already ten years old.

The revelation shattered her. She insisted on a divorce, no matter what. My father, Richard Reed, however, refused, threatening that if she left, she'd take me and walk away with nothing.

My mother was a proud woman. True to his word, she left him, taking nothing but me. She believed her self-sacrifice, her unwavering pride, would sting my father, make him regret his actions, and perhaps even respect her for her strength.

But he never looked back. He married his mistress, Serena Hastings, and lived what he considered a 'happy life.' My mother, meanwhile, worked three jobs a day to put me through school. The relentless stress and crushing exhaustion soon led to breast cancer. Without the money for treatment, she died far too young.

At her funeral, my father merely shrugged. "Your mother was always too stubborn, too proud," hed said, a cold, dismissive tone in his voice. "See? This is what happens when you leave me." His mistress, Serena, had covered her mouth, a smirk playing on her lips. "It was Eleanor who insisted on the divorce, darling. Richard and I only got together after that. How can you blame me? She simply didn't appreciate what she had." Our relatives chimed in, "Eleanor had a good life and threw it away. She brought it on herself."

Everyone agreed she deserved her fate. Not a single soul offered sympathy. Her pride, her fierce resolve, had earned her no kind words, only a bitter, tragic half-life.

Unable to afford tuition, I dropped out of college and started working. In the end, Serena and her son, Jeremy, fearing I might return to claim a share of the inheritance, hired thugs. They ambushed me, and I met a brutal, unjust end on my way home from an late shift.

On that night, when my cries went unanswered by heaven or earth, I swore a silent oath: if I were ever given another chance, I would never again be a lamb led to slaughter.

And mercifully, fate granted me that chance. When I opened my eyes again, I heard the familiar sound of my mother and father arguing downstairs.

"Richard Reed, are you even human?!" My mother's voice cracked, thick with tears. "I've been with you since I was twenty! You had nothing back then. We finally have a house, a car, a company, and this is how you treat me?! I want a divorce!"

She then launched into a tearful account of every struggle, every sacrifice, shed made by his side. It was the exact same scene from my past life.

"That's enough, Eleanor Montgomery!" My father's voice boomed as he rose from the sofa. "What else can you do besides drone on about the past like a broken record?" He paced, agitated. "You've been idle at home all these years. The house, the car, the companywhich of them did you work for?" He paused, his gaze cold. "Serena's right. All this talk, isn't it just an excuse to demand more money?!"

Serena Hastings was my father's mistress.

His words struck my mother like a physical blow. Her eyes wide with disbelief, she stared at my father, then nodded slowly. "Fine. That's how you see me, is it? Then divorce! Divorce immediately! Skylar comes with me. You can go off with your mistress!"

"If you're so determined to be high and mighty and get a divorce, then walk away with nothing!" My father slammed a divorce agreement onto the coffee table.

Just as in my previous life, my mother reached for the agreement, her hand already moving to sign it.

"Mom, wait." I descended the stairs, my voice cutting through the tension.

I picked up the agreement and scanned it. Identical to the last time: I was assigned to my mother, and all assets went to my father. It seemed my father had been prepared, knowing my mother's proud nature, hed deliberately provoked her into signing this one-sided document. My mother, oblivious to being manipulated, still believed he was just being stubborn.

"This agreement needs a revision," I told my father, looking at him directly. "Dad, I'm your daughter. I want to stay with you."

My father's face broke into a relieved smile. My mother, however, stumbled back a step, her expression a mix of shock and profound hurt as she looked at me.

She signed the revised agreement, packed a few changes of clothes, and turned to leave. I reached out to stop her, but she angrily shrugged off my hand. "Spineless creature! Go live with your rich father! Don't touch me!"

I knew. The double betrayal from both me and my father had wounded her deeply. But right now, her mind was consumed by her feelings for my father, and the misguided hope that her pride would make him see her in a different light. Any attempt to reason with her, to persuade her to fight for her share of the assets, would be useless. I had to take matters into my own hands.

I discreetly gathered her jewelryall gifts from my father, worth over a million dollarsand tucked them into her suitcase. In my previous life, she hadnt taken a single piece when she left, leaving them all for Serena and forcing herself to take on dishwashing and cleaning jobs for barely fifteen hundred a month. Giving her these now, I knew, would at least buy her some time if she faced financial trouble. But my fathers assets were in the hundreds of millions; this small sum was far from enough.

The next morning, my fathers company made headlines. "Reed Group Chairman's Affair Forces Wife to Leave with Nothing," "Richard Reed Abandons Devoted Wife for Mistress"the titles were everywhere. The internet erupted in a storm of outrage, condemning my father as ungrateful. Partners called, eager to get to the bottom of the scandal.

My father flew into a rage. "Who leaked this?! How did the media get such sensitive information?"

His lawyer wrung his hands nervously. "We don't know yet, Mr. Reed. But given the current situation, we simply must allocate a portion of the assets to Ms. Montgomery."

My father grumbled and cursed, but in the end, he had no choice but to agree to transfer the current villa to my mother and offer her an additional three million dollars in compensation.

What surprised me, however, was that my mother, with an almost defiant pride, refused the compensation.

My father was caught in a bind, burning under public scrutiny.

I tugged his arm. "Dad, if Mom doesn't want it, you could put it in my name. Then you can tell the media that Mom simply gave her share of the assets to me. It has nothing to do with you or anyone else."

My father agreed. He transferred the house and the savings into my name, ensuring it was legally notarized that these assets belonged solely to me. This move quieted some of the public outcry, but my mother called me, furious, accusing me of being greedy and spineless, telling me I didn't know how to earn money with my own hands.

I simply sighed. Just wait, Mom, I thought. You'll soon learn that pride is worth nothing in the face of reality.

A month after the divorce, my mother called me. Her voice was hesitant. "Skylar, how did some jewelry end up in my bag? Was it you or your father?"

Poor Mom. She was still clinging to the illusion that my father might feel some remorse.

"It was me," I stated, shattering her fantasy.

I knew this was the moment my mother was starting to feel the harsh reality of the world. Years of being a housewife meant she faced rejection everywhere she applied for jobs. She had no friends, her parents had passed away, and her life was spiraling into difficulty. In my previous life, she ended up working as a dishwasher for a thousand a month, still harboring fantasies that my father would take her back. This time, finding the jewelry while financially desperate had ignited a final spark of hope for him.

Unfortunately, my father was currently preoccupied with planning his wedding to Serena.

"Dad and Serena are very much in love, and they're getting married soon," I cruelly informed my mother. "Mom, you need to start a new life too."

My mother finally gave up hope. She sold all the jewelry, used the money to buy herself a small two-bedroom apartment, and settled down. At least this time, she wouldnt have to live in a dingy basement apartment for three hundred a month, like before. She hesitated, then said, "Skylar, I misunderstood you that day. But why didn't you stay with me? Is it because you thought I was poor?"

Recalling everything I'd endured in my previous life, I didn't answer directly. I simply advised her, "Mom, I'll study hard from now on, and you live well. Remember to get regular check-ups, and if you meet a suitable man, don't be afraid to start over."

It was a long time before she replied with a choked "Okay."

Three months after the divorce, my father married his mistress, Serena Hastings. My father bought a new villa, and twenty-nine-year-old Serena moved in, bringing her ten-year-old son, Jeremy.

Like many stepmothers, Serena was a two-faced woman. When my father was around, shed smile sweetly, constantly piling food onto my plate. "Skylar, darling, you're still growing. You need to eat more."

The moment my father left, her smile vanished, replaced by a look of disdain and veiled hostility. Shed hum a tune, primping herself, then dump Jeremy on me.

"Skylar Reed, I have errands to run. Jeremy is your responsibility. I hear your grades are excellent, so you need to tutor him properly! Make sure he finishes his homework! He is, after all, the heir to the Reed family!"

What errands could she possibly have? Just playing mahjong and clubbing with her fair-weather friends, no doubt.

"I have my own homework to do. I don't have time to tutor him," I replied. I was in the second semester of my junior year, a demanding time for studies.

"What's a girl like you doing with all that homework?!" she sneered, her face filled with contempt. "Look at your mothera college graduate, what good did it do her? Didn't Richard just dump her? I only finished elementary school, and I'm living in a grand villa, aren't I?" She leaned in conspiratorially. "Your mother, she just read too many books and ruined her brain. Had a good life and didnt appreciate it. A woman's virtue is in her obedience, not her intellect, Skylar. You don't need all that schooling; just make sure your little brother is taken care of."

The scene from my mother's funeral in my past life flashed before my eyes. I offered a gentle smile. "Of course. I'll make sure to tutor him well."

Only then did Serena relent, leaving for her mahjong game, a satisfied smirk on her face.

Before the sound of the door closing completely faded, a basketball suddenly slammed against my forehead with a thump. Stars exploded in my vision, and I nearly collapsed. Looking up, I saw Jeremy standing on the stairs, glaring down at me. "Skylar Reed, I'm the heir to this house! You may be older, but you're just a girl, and you'll get married and leave eventually! You have to listen to me and stay out of my way! Or I'll beat you up!"

"Who told you that?" I asked.

"My mom, of course! She said all the Reed family fortune is mine! I call the shots here. You're nothing!" Jeremy declared, his chin jutted out defiantly.

He was right. I couldnt cross him. Not yet. So, I would indulge him.

I took him to the game room downstairs, then, under his direction, taught him how to play various video games. Once hed grasped the basics, he waved me off, mimicking my father. "Go on, scram! Don't bother me!"

I returned to my study as instructed, a cold smile forming on my lips. Taught to be like this at ten years old? They would have quite the shock when he grew up. Jeremy spent the entire day in the game room, delighted.

At four in the afternoon, estimating Serena would soon be home, I gave Jeremy the answer key. He happily copied all his homework. When Serena checked his work, her eyes curved into delighted crescents. "Oh, Richard, look how much Jeremy has improved! All correct! He truly is our future heir!"

My father laughed, pleased. "Of course! What do you expect? He's my son."

I watched them, a chill in my heart. Even in this life, where I chose to stay with my father, it seemed Jeremy was still the only heir he envisioned for the Reed family.

From that day on, after discovering this free labor, Serena completely abandoned any pretense of supervising Jeremy. She was out early and back late every day, busy with shopping, beauty treatments, and mahjong. She ordered me to take full responsibility for Jeremy's studies, even demanding I attend parent-teacher conferences in her place. Her days, in contrast, were easy and comfortable.

The house, surprisingly, became harmonious, thanks to Jeremy and my feigned obedience, and Serena's cheerful disposition. My father, free from the previous pressures, felt utterly at ease. He constantly praised Serena for her excellent homemaking and child-rearing skills. At Serena's insistence, he even promised to transfer thirty percent of the company's shares to her when Jeremy graduated from elementary school.

My mother, I remembered, had been by his side for so many years and never received a single share.

From then on, I studied even harder, practically forgetting to eat or sleep. My academic ranking climbed steadily. When I graduated high school, I was accepted into one of the top ten universities in the country, choosing a Business Management major. At the parent-teacher conference for college applications, the counselor repeatedly commended my parents for their excellent guidance. My father beamed, his smile stretching from ear to ear, as if my academic achievements were solely the result of his efforts.

My mother, when she heard the news, wept tears of joy. She had worried that the divorce would negatively impact my studies, never imagining I could achieve such outstanding results. She didn't know that after a lifetime of no education, forced to drop out and work, I cherished every opportunity to learn now.

Serena, upon hearing my chosen major, pouted. "What's a girl like you doing studying that?"

My father, for once, didn't agree with her. He chuckled. "The family business is here, after all! Maybe she can even help me out someday!"

Serena, seeing my fathers beaming face, unhappily retorted, "Doesn't our Jeremy have the company? What does it have to do with a girl?"

My father scolded her for the first time. "You really are narrow-minded. Women can manage businesses too! Besides, Jeremy is still so young, isn't he?"

Serena, fuming but unable to argue, let out a disdainful huff. "What difference does it make? Our Jeremy is a genius! He gets perfect scores on all his homework, and he's praised at every parent-teacher meeting! His elementary school graduation results are coming out in a few days. Jeremy will definitely get first place!"

Yes, I thought. Busy with my own college entrance exams, I had almost forgotten that my exams and Jeremy's elementary school graduation coincided that year. My father, hearing Serena's words, looked even more delighted. Only Jeremy nervously lowered his head. I smirked inwardly.

On the day the elementary school results were released, Serena specifically asked my father to cancel his business appointments to go with her. "Skylar Reed, we won't be home for dinner tonight," she said, gloating. "Our little family of three is going out to celebrate. Your dad is even transferring shares to us! We'll be back late."

She deliberately emphasized "family of three," pointedly excluding me. For some reason, she always harbored a subtle hostility towards me, constantly trying to provoke me, both overtly and covertly. I pretended not to notice her venom. "Oh, that's wonderful. Have a good time."

To my surprise, less than an hour later, they were back. My father stormed through the door, yelling, "You told me your son would get first place?! Did you mean last place?!"

I nearly burst out laughing.

It turned out my father and Serena, unable to contain their excitement, had rushed to see Jeremy's homeroom teacher without waiting for the parent-teacher conference. The teacher had then sharply reprimanded them, revealing that Jeremy spent his days at school trying to skip class and play games, never studying. Shed also criticized them as irresponsible parents for sending a child to every conference. Finally, to their astonishment, she presented his report card: 25 in English, 18 in Math, 15 in Sciencelast in the entire class.

My father was shaking with anger and left before the conference even began. Serena immediately turned her fury on me. "Skylar Reed, you did this on purpose, didn't you?! I told you to tutor your brother, what were you doing?! Why didn't you tell us the truth after the parent-teacher conferences?!"

I feigned innocence. "Dad, you know I was in my final year of high school, studying for college entrance exams. I was so busy! How could I have time to tutor him every day? And when I came back from conferences, I wanted to tell Aunt Serena, but she was never home! I couldn't find her!"

My father, hearing this, grew even angrier. "Serena Hastings! What kind of mother are you?! Didn't you know Skylar was in her final year?! You burdened her with more! And you're never home! What good are you?!"

Serena realized she had been outmaneuvered. She shot me a hateful glare, then burst into tears. "Richard, I didn't know it would be like this! I always thought he was doing so well!"

My father ignored her tears this time. He turned to go upstairs, but Serena grabbed his arm. "Richard, we can talk about the grades later. Let's transfer those shares first!"

Even now, she was still focused on the thirty percent of shares.

"Shares for what?!" My father exploded, swearing. He pointed at Serena and Jeremy. "With you two like this, what good would transferring shares do?! Don't you ever bring it up again!"

After my father went upstairs, Serena raised her hand to strike me. I caught her wrist, mimicking her own words at my mother's funeral in my past life. "Aunt Serena, you were the one who insisted I take full responsibility for Jeremy's studies, weren't you? How can you blame me?"

She was so enraged her lips trembled.

I returned to my room to sleep, listening to her yelling at and hitting Jeremy in the living room all afternoon.