Home / Earthquake Choice: They Rescued the Wrong One / Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

All Chapters of Earthquake Choice: They Rescued the Wrong One: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

The earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks. My crushed leg had gone numb from blood loss.I could hear people shouting and crying all around me.Through a gap in the rubble, I saw my parents stumbling toward me. Before the rescue team could even explain the situation, they blurted out, "Save the child in pink!"That was when I knew that they had been reborn too.In my previous life, my brother, Bryan Caldecott, and I had swapped clothes for fun before the earthquake hit. When the building collapsed, we both ended up trapped under a massive concrete slab.There was only enough time to save one of us.When my parents learned what had happened, they broke down, sobbing that they loved us equally and couldn't possibly choose.With the aftershocks still shaking the ground, they had to make a choice immediately, or both Bryan and I would die.Ever since Bryan was born, I'd always come second. The words I heard most from my parents were, "Renee, you're the older sister. Ju

Chapter 2

In my previous life, my parents had loved me more than anything. They treated me like their little princess and gave me everything I could have wanted. They even built me a dream playhouse.When I got married, they gave me a hefty sum of money and plenty of gifts, just so I would never be mistreated by my husband's family.Even when the neighbors called me a jinx who had caused Bryan's death, Dad stormed over, his eyes bloodshot as he barked, "There's no one else like Renee! She's not a replacement for anyone, and don't you ever call her a jinx!"And yet, they had refused to choose me both times.Another aftershock hit, and the rubble pressed down harder. I could feel the wound in my abdomen rip wider, sending waves of excruciating pain through me.Beside me, Bryan began to sob.Mom panicked and yelled, "Renee, can't you hear Bryan crying? How can you be so selfish and just watch him die?"Dad dropped to his knees in front of the rubble and begged, "Renee, please. We're begging

Chapter 3

They left without looking back.Not long after they were gone, a rescue worker came over with a lollipop, trying to cheer me up. "Hey, sweetheart, don't cry. How about I take you to the camp?"There was no response.Sensing that something was wrong, the rescue worker turned me over. The moment she saw my ashen face, she went pale.Her hands trembling, she reached down to check my pulse."Captain, quick! This kid isn't breathing!" she screamed in panic.And just like that, my life came to an end. My soul drifted back to my parents.When they learned that Bryan had only suffered a few minor injuries, they breathed a sigh of relief. But they were still frowning."I can't believe Renee is so selfish!" Mom grumbled. "She actually tried to take the ambulance spot from Bryan. Could that old man really have been right? Did she do it on purpose?"Dad remained silent.In my previous life, I had tried to explain why Bryan and I had swapped clothes. But at Bryan's funeral, a psychic poin

Chapter 4

Eventually, Mom couldn't stand the wait any longer and called the rescue team herself. When she learned that I wasn't at the shelter, she panicked."What do you mean she's not there? Her name is Renee Caldecott. She's about four feet seven inches, wearing a blue shirt... Yes, yes. Please call me as soon as you find her."Watching Mom pace the room anxiously after hanging up, I felt only confusion.They were the ones who kept insisting on saving Bryan. I had simply given them what they wanted. Why was she panicking now?…Two days later, the rescue team called back.But the moment the phone rang, Bryan hung up.He blocked the number and murmured, "I'm sorry, Renee. If you want to blame someone, blame Mom and Dad for choosing you in our previous life. I want to live too."It turned out that Bryan had been reborn too. That explained why he'd blocked the rescue team's number and kept them from reaching Mom.When Mom still heard nothing, she became increasingly agitated.Bryan tri

Chapter 5

Mom's hand froze around the phone, her face draining of color.Struggling to keep her composure, she asked, "Funeral home? Cremation? I don't know what you're talking about. Is this some kind of prank? And who are you? Why do you have my daughter's smartwatch?"There was a long silence on the other end. When the worker spoke again, his tone was heavy with pity. "Ma'am, I'm calling from the funeral home. Your daughter passed away in the earthquake. We've been trying to reach you. If you're available, please come down to identify her body—""You're lying!" Mom cut him off, her voice shaking with anger. "I saw them pull her out with my own eyes! How could she be dead? Is she still throwing a fit? Did she pay you to say this just to spite me?"The man let out another quiet sigh. "Believe what you want, ma'am. I just sent the address and intake details to your phone. I'm sorry for your loss."With that, he hung up.Mom's hands trembled as she opened the text message. When she saw that

Chapter 6

"It's all my fault. I was so careless that day. If I'd paid a little more attention to her, maybe things wouldn't have ended this way!"Mom was crying so hard she was dry-heaving, struggling to catch her breath.I stood in front of her with a blank expression. The last time I'd seen her cry this hard had been after Bryan died.So, they could grieve for me after all.Dad snapped out of his shock, glaring at Mom with disbelief and anger."You knew something was wrong with Renee. Why did you abandon her? You always hated her, didn't you? Well, she's dead now. Are you happy?"His words cut deep.In my previous life, Mom developed a strange, volatile temperament after falling ill. She kept calling me home at crucial moments in my career. More than once, she'd throw a fit and leave me humiliated in front of my boss.Back then, I thought she'd simply become a difficult old woman. Only now did I realize she'd been taking her anger out on me because of Bryan.Dad's words pushed Mom ove

Chapter 7

Mom sobbed uncontrollably, slamming her head against the coffin over and over. It was as if physical pain could somehow ease her overwhelming guilt.I'd seen this same scene countless times after Bryan died in my previous life, so I felt nothing.That was always how they were. They talked about love, but in the end, all they felt was guilt because they knew they were in the wrong.Out in the reception area, Dad sat by the entrance, chain-smoking one cigarette after another.When he heard Mom's cries, he finally lost his temper. He stormed into the funeral room and grabbed her by the collar."Who are you putting on this act for?" His voice shook with rage. "You chose Bryan over her, and now you're wailing like this? She's my daughter too. I'm devastated! If this is how things are going to be, maybe we should get a divorce!"A flicker of life returned to Mom's hollow eyes."A divorce?" She burst into a derisive laugh. "Why am I the only one taking the blame for her death? You were

Chapter 8

In the photograph, I had my arm around Bryan's shoulders, smiling brightly.Bryan pressed the photo tightly against his chest, sobbing so hard he could barely breathe. "Why did you save me, Renee? I was the one who was supposed to die… I was selfish, petty, and wrong about you."Mom finally snapped out of her stupor. She rushed over and grabbed Bryan by the shoulders. "What did you say? You said you were the one who suggested swapping clothes?"Bryan nodded."Then, what that psychic told us… was all a lie?" Mom stuttered.She let go of him and collapsed onto the floor. Her eyes were empty, her lips trembling uncontrollably."Renee didn't switch clothes on purpose… She wasn't a jinx…" Mom's voice broke. "She only wanted to celebrate Bryan's birthday. Oh, God, what have I done?"Dad stood nearby, his face as pale as a sheet.Every harsh word he'd spat at home and every horrible thing he'd done over the last few days came rushing back to him."I'm a monster," Dad muttered under h

Chapter 9

A drizzle fell as we made our way to the cemetery.Bryan walked at the very front, clutching my urn to his chest as he slowly made his way to my grave. Mom and Dad followed close behind, their eyes red and swollen from crying.When we reached my grave, Mom knelt beside it and carefully lowered my urn into the ground. She ran her fingers over the urn, just as she had once caressed my face when I was born. "My sweet Renee, if there is another life, please come back to me. Be my daughter again, okay?"Dad couldn't bear to watch. He covered his face and broke down.I smiled softly as I watched my body slowly fade away. So this was what it felt like to finally let go of everything.But if there was another life, I wouldn't want to be their daughter again.…That night, before I left this world for good, I visited their dreams for the first time.In the dream, Mom was holding me in her arms and rocking me to sleep when she caught sight of me. She froze for a moment, then rushed over

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