LOGINSerena shouted, "In our last life, you would've risked everything to protect me! So why did you just stand there and let me lose my legs this time? You ruined my life! This is all your fault!"I watched her rant without the slightest hint of sympathy. "Serena, are you seriously blaming me for this? You made your own choices. You were the one so desperate to protect Julian."You brought this on yourself. Every last bit of it. And if you're miserable? If you feel like your whole life's been ruined? Good."I stepped closer and looked down at her. "Did you ever stop to think about how I felt when you pushed me off that cliff in our last life?"At the mention of the cliff, all the color drained from Serena's face. It finally hit her. I remembered everything. And I'd been planning my revenge from the start."If I have to suffer, I'm taking you all down with me!"Serena let out a scream that sounded more animal than human.She pulled a gleaming knife from beneath her wheelchair cushion
The next morning, the police arrived at the hospital with a warrant and went straight into one of the mediation rooms.Julian and his parents were inside, trying to buy off the family of the girl he'd left paralyzed."Julian Whitmore, you're under arrest for aggravated assault, making false statements, and obstruction of justice. Come with us."The handcuffs clicked shut around Julian's wrists.His legs gave out, and he crumpled to the floor. "No! I don't want to go to jail! It was an accident!"He clung to his mother's pant leg, sobbing uncontrollably. "Mom, help me! Give them money! Please!"Two other officers took his parents into custody. "You're also under investigation for attempting to bribe a witness. Both of you are coming with us."The three of them kicked up a huge scene in the hospital lobby, screaming and begging as the officers hauled them away.From the second-floor hallway, I watched coldly as the police dragged Julian into a patrol car.He was finished. With a
Caspian said to me, "The money's yours, and Julian will even be friends with you from now on."I hefted the envelope and smirked. These two would stop at nothing to clear their son's name. Too bad they'd picked the wrong person."A hundred grand to give false testimony? Is that seriously all you're offering?" I pretended to consider the money, making sure they could see the greed in my eyes.Freya took the bait and quickly stepped forward. "That's negotiable! How about 200,000 dollars? Just tell the police Serena was the one harassing Julian, and we'll transfer the money immediately!"Besides, Serena's already lost her legs. What do you have to lose? Helping us can only work in your favor."I felt for the phone recording in my pocket, making sure I'd captured every word. "Two hundred grand, huh? That's certainly tempting."Then I threw the envelope straight into Julian's father's face, my voice turning cold. "Too bad I don't want your filthy money. Take your money and go figure o
Serena froze when she saw me. Then her eyes lit up. "Adrian, you came!"She dropped the broken glass and reached out for me. "I knew you still cared about me! Please, come here and hold me. I'm in so much pain."She burst into tears, sobbing like a little girl, hoping I would feel sorry for her.In our previous life, she would give me the silent treatment for days, then show the slightest bit of vulnerability. And like an idiot, I would forgive her every single time, no matter what she'd done.She clearly thought I would fall for it again.I walked over to her bed, crossed my arms, and looked down at her. "Serena, you look like hell."Her sobs stopped dead. She slowly lifted her head and stared at me in disbelief. "Adrian, what are you talking about? Didn't you come to be with me?"I let out a mocking laugh, making no effort to spare her feelings. "Be with you? Why would I waste my time on someone who can't even get out of bed without help? I only came to tell you some good news
The sky began to clear, and sunlight filtered through the mist onto the rubble.I took a deep breath, breathing in the scent of damp earth, and felt better than I had in years. I'd finally gotten some payback for what happened in my previous life.Serena had lost both her legs, and knowing how bitter and obsessive she was, I doubted she would let things end there. And Julian certainly wasn't going to sit back and accept an assault charge.Sure enough, a few days later, I ran into someone I never expected to see in the hospital hallway.It was Gina. Her hair was a mess, her eyes sunken, and she looked ten years older. The moment she saw me, her eyes lit up.She rushed over and dropped to her knees in front of me, looking at me like I was her last hope. "Adrian, please! I'm begging you, go see Serena!"She grabbed my pant leg and held on tight, sobbing. "She woke up and found out her legs were gone! Now she's got a piece of broken glass, and she's threatening to slit her wrists!"
The injured girl shouted, "He's a monster! He'll do anything to save his own skin!"Several other students who'd been rescued chimed in, their eyes brimming with tears."She's right! We saw the whole thing!""Julian's always pretending to be such a nice guy, but when his life was on the line, he didn't think twice about sacrificing someone else!""He did this to Serena!"The crowd turned on Julian, shouting accusations at him.Julian finally panicked. He backed away, his face drained of color. Covering his ears, he screamed, "You're all lying! You're trying to frame me! I didn't push her! She lost her balance!"But no matter how much he denied it, the bloody shoeprint on the injured girl's shoulder told a different story.Gina stood rooted to the spot. She stared at Julian in disbelief, her shock slowly giving way to seething hatred.She finally understood that I wasn't the one who'd ruined her daughter's life. It was Julian, the boy she'd always doted on and treated like her







