Chapter 3: Reborn: I Am Back

~Bianca pov~

I felt pain, heart-wrenching pain. It was like I had been stabbed in the tummy, I let out a groan and held my tummy as well as rolled on the bed, I am too familiar with the pain, and like always, I stretched my hand to the bedside table for my bottle of medicine when my hand paused.

I stiffened and my mind went blank, even the pain seemed to have disappeared. My mind turned with many thoughts but none of them seemed to stay, but one question remained—Can you feel pain when you are dead?!”

My brain snapped with that thought and my eyes opened, I sat up immediately, my mind was dazed and all I could do was take in deep breath, my head felt heavy and I had to shake it to relieve the pain. Some minutes after calming down, I looked at my hands in a daze, then at the bed, and the room I was in.

“What is going on?!” I muttered with a shaky voice. I wanted to shout but it was like my throat had been sealed and my mouth had been tapped, I could do nothing but look at my hands and the room with wide eyes filled with disbelief, and then my eyes saw the mirror, I scrambled up and rushed to the mirror-like my life depended on it, I fell but stood up immediately while holding the chair for support and when I finally got to the mirror and saw myself —

“Hahhhh!!” A scream I had been holding back came out in full force, I looked at myself in disbelief, then I heard a noise coming from outside and then heavy knocks sounded on the door.

I put down the mirror and ran to open the door and seeing the maid outside looking at me with a confused face, I grabbed her hand, “Can you see me?! Can you feel me too?!” I asked excitedly.

“Mrs Bianca! What's wrong? Why won't I see you?!” She asked irritatedly then took her hand back, then as if scared I would get hold of her hand again, she scrambled back while looking at me with disdain.

I ignored the look of disdain on her face as I was used to it though, “Wha-What year is this?! What’s today's date?” I asked anxiously.

“Oh! Today is the 4th of May 2022!” She said then without waiting for me to say another word, she ran away like I was crazy but I didn't care, all I could think of was the date she said.

I looked at the ground blankly then entered back into the room.

“If this is 2022, which is a year before I died, then does that mean I had gone back to the past?! Then if I am reborn, does that mean I have been given a chance to revenge and make things right?! Then—” I thought of everything and concluded…I am back!

“Hahaha!” The sound of my laughter was so loud in the room, it didn't sound joyful but crazy. I don't care if they could hear me, I don't care if they find me crazy, all I know is I have a chance! I have been given a chance to change it all!

I knelt on the ground and then cried, my laughter turned to tears as I cried out my eyes. Then it became soft whimpers. I stood up and then turned to the mirror, I could see my red eyes which were filled with pain and suffering, but in them there was hope.

“Nathan, Cecelia, Elena! I am back!” I laughed excitedly at my words, “I will make you pay! I will take back everything you took from me, and I will make you so miserable!” I vowed and smiled in satisfaction, but then I felt the pain in my tummy again.

I frowned and instinctively wanted to search for my medication but then I remembered the medications had been poisoned. I retrieve my hands and bite my lips painfully.

I endured it for about 30 minutes before I became better. I breathe in loudly, “So what's next?!” I thought.

“Bang!”

I sat up on heard the loud sound, when I looked up, I saw my mother-in-law, Cecelia's angry face.

Cecelia’s angry face twisted with disgust as she stood at the doorway, her hands clenched into fists. I watched as her eyes burned with scorn as she stepped into the room, slamming the door behind her with so much force that I thought the door would end up broken.

She walked towards me and looked at me with so much disdain, “I knew it,” she spat, her voice sharp like a knife. “The maid said you’ve been acting crazy, and now I see that you just want to be lazy! Have you finally lost your mind? Have you decided to bring even more shame to this family with your craziness?!” She yelled.

I didn’t move, I just sat there with my expression blank and my hands resting lightly on my lap but no one knew the rage In my heart, I wanted to pounce on her and kill her! I wanted to ask why they had done that!

She sneered, taking another step forward. “You should be grateful we’re even keeping you here, yet all you do is cause trouble! Always crying, always sick, always making problems for everyone around you!” Her lips curled in disgust. “You are nothing but a burden, Bianca. A useless, lazy woman who can’t do anything right!”

“Lazy?!” I muttered with disdain, I felt it was so funny, “Did she just call me lazy!!”

I blinked slowly, staring at her in a daze, the words rolling over me like distant echoes. Then, those words would have hurt me so much. But now… they felt different.

Cecelia scoffed at my silence. “Look at you. Sitting there like a lifeless doll. Are you even listening? Or have you truly gone mad?”

Then, suddenly—

I laughed in disbelief, my eyes became blurry with unshed tears, now I am very sure all this was real and not a dream. I am back, back to a year before my death.

My laughter sounded wild and echoed through the room. I watched as Cecelia’s body stiffened, then her face twisted in shock and confusion. She then took a step back, her eyes flickering with something I had never seen before—fear.

I scoffed and slowly stood up gently with my movements slow and careful as my body was weak and my stomach was still aching but the fire inside me had to be released, even if it was little.

I took a step toward her and then another. She swallowed with her eyes narrowing. “What… What do you think you’re doing?”

I tilted my head and a slow bitter smile spread across my lips. “Lazy?” My voice was quiet but every word was filled with malice as I watched her step back in panic.

I took another step, closing the distance between us, my gaze never leaving hers.

“I remember… this family only became rich because of my efforts,” I said with gritted teeth.

I stared into her eyes with eyes filled with hatred, I could feel it burning deep.

“So tell me, Cecelia…” My voice dropped lower, filled with cold, dangerous fury.

“How am I lazy?!”