Chapter 1

At first, I did not understand why my boyfriend’s best friend, Makayla Jaycox, hated me so much.

I finally learned the answer three months after my death.

She went to the psychiatric hospital every day to fawn over the person who had killed me.

She constantly urged him to kidnap my parents.

My parents were beaten bloody, and all of their limbs were broken.

She merely watched coldly and said cruelly, “I told them to change their majors to get into elite universities because I wanted fewer competitors. But that trash Sylvia had to go and ruin everything!

“She got what she deserved. I heard you two still want to fight for her case. Don’t even think about it! Today, I’ll send you two old geezers straight to hell!”

My parents let out heart-wrenching screams as they were drenched in gasoline.

Flames consumed them while Makayla laughed maniacally.

She clapped and cheered at the sight.

She broadcast herself playing the role of a Good Samaritan, pretending she had coincidentally shown up and helped put out the blaze.

My soul witnessed all of this. I cried out in agony, but it was utterly futile.

The next second, a familiar accusatory voice rang in my ears.

“Sylvia, can you just mind your own business? My intel is correct. Who do you think you are to stop everyone from changing their universities and majors?”

I opened my eyes and looked at Makayla. She looked impatient.

I was somewhat in a daze.

“My dad’s the head of the State Department of Education. He told me that a bunch of elite schools didn’t fill their spots this year, and there are tons of openings. If we don’t switch our options now, it’ll be too late!

“I’m clearly doing this for everyone’s good. Why shouldn’t we be allowed to change our majors if there’s a real chance to get into an elite university with a lower score?”

“Sylvia, don’t be selfish,” my boyfriend, Clement Gale, said resentfully with a frown.

“Sylvia, look, we put up with you being a control freak most of the time. We even give you some leeway because you’re the class president.

“But do you seriously not get how huge this application decision is? What gives you the right to block us from a better future?”

A better future? Yeah right.

College application was already a brutal competition. It was survival of the fittest, but choosing a major was no less cutthroat.

We came from a small town where there were not many good local universities. Most of my classmates were applying to universities out of state.

Those out-of-state universities only had a limited number of spots for non-residents.

If we aimed too high without a safety net, we could easily end up with no acceptances at all, or we might have to settle for a community college.

In the past, I tried desperately to dissuade everyone because I did not want them to take that risk. I never expected that my entire family would end up dying horribly because of it.

Seeing that I was silent, Makayla became impatient. She pointed at the clock and shouted, “The deadline is around the corner. If we don’t switch now, the chance to sneak into a top university with a lower score will be gone for good!

“Don’t you all want to shoot your shot? Don’t you want to get into an elite university and make your families proud?”

At that moment, a tall figure stepped forward and shoved me hard.

He was none other than Kendrick Ziegler, the person who killed me in the past.

His face was chubby and greasy, and he sprayed spittle as he jabbed a finger at my nose and hurled insults at me.

“You trash! I see exactly what you’re doing! You’re scared that someone’s going to get into a better university than you, so you’re trying to sabotage us!

“We can list up to twenty schools on our application this year. There’s no way I’m not getting into at least one of them!

“High school’s over. Quit acting like you’re still in charge!”

Watching Kendrick act as if he were destined for greatness, I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms.

In the past, he convinced himself that despite his very low SAT scores, he could still sneak into the elite Harlad University.

In the end, he barely managed to get into a community college.

He blamed me for all of it.

He let Makayla manipulate him and killed me and my parents.

Then, he used his bipolar diagnosis to evade the law.

This time, I had no intention to stop him from walking straight into his own ruin.

I looked around and was met with nothing but venomous glares from every single person there.

My heart ached, but I forced out a bright smile and said, “You know what? You’re right! Since everyone wants to take a risk, go ahead and change your universities and majors.”