You're Losing It All This Time

"Christopher, Matthew is all alone here with no one to turn to. What's wrong with taking him out for the holiday? If I can't take him out, do you want me to bring him home instead? Would you like that?

"If you're fine with it, the three of us can all go back together. Let's see who's more embarrassed at the dinner table by then."

Tessa Coleman's furious voice hit me like a hammer, leaving me dazed.

I stared blankly at the woman smirking in front of me, and at the young man standing beside her, who had a pitiful look on his face.

He tugged at Tessa's sleeve and, as if being considerate, said softly, "Tessa, don't talk to Christopher like that. If he doesn't want us to go, then let's just skip it. I've spent years like this anyway. Spending another holiday alone is fine by me."

He tried to sound lighthearted, but his smile looked more painful than if he had cried.

Tessa's face fell. She grabbed his hand and comforted him gently, then glanced at me.

When I didn't react, her patience wore thin. She snapped, "Christopher, what are you scheming about now? Are you going to run to my mom again? If Matthew ends up hurt because of you, I won't let it slide.

"When are you going to fix this jealous habit of yours? I'm only taking Matthew out for Christmas. It's not like I'm calling off our wedding. What's with the jealousy?

"If you keep playing mute, I'll take it as a sign that you agree. But don't you dare make a scene later."

Her warning snapped me back to my senses.

She opened her mouth as if she had more to say, but I cut her off first. "Fine."

She froze, watching silently as I pulled out her suitcase and started packing for her. Something in her expression shifted, leaving her looking unsettled.

Back then, just hearing her mention the name Matthew Green was enough to set me off, and we'd end up in a huge fight. But now, as she was about to take him out for the holiday, I was calmly packing her bags.

Her eyes narrowed as she studied me. Then, when her gaze dropped to my crippled legs, she suddenly seemed to understand and let out a mocking laugh.

"Losing your legs finally knocked some sense into you, huh? At least you're not whining anymore."

She leaned against the doorframe, her tone dripping with scorn.

Matthew's lips curved into a faint smile, though his whole face radiated innocence.

"Christopher, don't be upset. Ms. Coleman only wants to take me along because she feels bad that I'm always alone for the holidays. If you're against it, then don't force yourself. I can go by myself.

"I mean it, Christopher. You don't need to pack anything."

He reached for the suitcase in my hand. But a second later, it crashed to the floor with a heavy thud.

My hand trembled as I held the clothes. Looking at the young man in front of me with a false expression of grievance, I knew without a doubt that I had been reborn. I had been brought back to the very day Matthew was supposed to go to the beach alone.

In my last life, on this exact day, Tessa wanted to take Matthew out on the water for the holiday. I refused, forcing her to stay. Our argument had even reached her family's ears.

So, they locked her up, and Matthew ended up crying and going to the beach alone, where he was brutally killed.

When Tessa heard that, she merely remarked, "So what if he's dead? Trash like that isn't worth my concern."

After that, she stopped resisting the arranged marriage and started paying attention to me.

I thought it was because she appreciated me. But once my legs healed, she hacked them apart again and tortured me until I died.

It was only then that I realized she had always blamed me for Matthew's death. She had hated me all along.