Chapter 1

Nora's POV

Hearing my sister Vanessa’s tearful pleas over the phone, a chill ran down my spine.

In my past life, my soft heart led me to take in my niece, Skylar. I gave her everything, only to have my family destroyed—my daughter died of anaphylactic shock, my in-laws perished in a mysterious gas leak, and I was killed in a car crash.

Reborn, I refused to make the same mistakes. I immediately moved my kind-hearted in-laws into my home and firmly shut the door on Skylar.

Yet my husband, Ethan, sympathized with the "poor girl" and constantly accused me of being cold and selfish.

He urged me to be generous and kind, but only I knew that the price of mercy this time would once again be my entire family.

——

"Dale is a bastard!" Vanessa sobbed uncontrollably through the receiver. "He abandoned me and the kids, didn't leave a dime, and cut us off completely. Nora, you're the only family I have left. Please, help me take care of Skylar. Please?"

I stared at the date on my phone screen, my blood running cold.

On this exact day in my previous life, my niece Skylar moved into my house.

And from that day forward, my life spirals into an abyss.

I remembered the competition backstage: my daughter, Josie, lying on a stretcher, her face so swollen she was unrecognizable as medics frantically performed CPR.

On the day of her cremation, I returned home to find my father-in-law, Ray, and mother-in-law, Diane, dead from a gas leak.

Finally, the blinding headlights, the loss of control of the steering wheel, and the shattered windshield as my car plunged off a ramp.

I never knew exactly where the nightmare began, only that after Skylar moved in, Ethan and I fought constantly until my family was wiped out.

In my past life, I pitied Vanessa. I fully funded Skylar’s living expenses and paid for her violin lessons. Vanessa contributed a mere $1,000 the entire time, but I never complained, always careful to protect her pride. Her repayment? She filed a complaint with my company, accusing me of abusing Skylar, which led to my suspension.

Given a second chance, I would never let her cross my threshold.

I hung up and immediately called Diane. "Mom, you and Dad need to move in with me today."

"Today? Did something happen?"

"Tell people your mobility is declining and you need care. I'll explain the rest when you get here."

I couldn't tell them the real reason. I only knew that three days after Josie died in my past life, Ray and Diane were killed. These two had treated me better than their own son. I couldn't watch them die again.

Two hours later, they arrived with their luggage. I relayed Vanessa’s request word for word. Ethan leaned against the dining table and scoffed. "It's just a favor. How much trouble can one kid be?"

"It’s not for a few days. It's long-term," I looked at him. "I’m her aunt, not her guardian. I have no obligation to raise Vanessa's daughter. If she moves in, the expenses, transportation, school meetings, and legal liabilities all fall on us. When Vanessa gets here, don't interrupt. Let me handle it."

Ethan frowned. "Skylar is only twelve. She's pitiful. It’s hard enough for Vanessa to raise two kids on her own."

"So?"

He paused, his voice uncharacteristically firm. "Josie always says she's lonely. If Skylar moves in, she’ll have a companion."

I froze.

Ray slammed his coffee mug onto the table. "And if Vanessa never comes back for her, are we supposed to raise her for life?"

Diane chimed in. "Nora is right. A sister is a sister, but her kids are her responsibility. You can't blur those lines."

Ethan pressed his lips together and fell silent.

That evening, the doorbell rang. Vanessa stood outside holding Skylar's hand, surrounded by three suitcases and two duffel bags. Seeing Ray and Diane, she hesitated before forcing a smile. "You're here too? Great, the house will be livelier."

But the moment she stepped inside, her eyes darted toward Ethan.

"I’m at my wits' end," she said, cutting straight to the chase after sitting down. "I want Skylar to live here long-term. Nora has a stable job, Ethan makes good money. I feel safe leaving her with you."

She pushed an envelope of cash across the table. "Here is $1,000 for her living expenses. When things get better, I promise I'll give more."

"Take it back," I didn't touch it.

"Nora, I'm showing my sincerity."

"If you're really thinking about Skylar, put her in boarding school. The dorms are well-managed, teachers are on duty, extracurriculars are convenient, and she can visit me on weekends."

Diane immediately agreed. "That's the best arrangement. Living with peers won't distract her from her studies."

Vanessa’s smile stiffened. "I just wanted to save on boarding fees. Your house is so big. She can sleep in the living room; she won't be a bother."

Ethan was already bending down to grab a suitcase, ready to head upstairs.

"Put that down," I snapped. "The living room is a shared space. If Skylar sleeps there, watching people walk past her bed every day, she'll only feel like a burden. Boarding school offers a routine, buses, tutors, and the school orchestra. She plays the violin too, right?"

"Yes," Skylar spoke up immediately. "I want to board. Mom, Aunt Nora is right. Don't make things difficult for them."

She agreed entirely too fast, as if she had a script prepared.

Vanessa glared at her, then quickly looked down and wiped her tears. "Since she’s willing, we'll try it."

I picked up the envelope and handed it directly to Skylar. "Use this for your boarding expenses. Tomorrow, your mother will take you to register."

"Can't you take her?" Vanessa asked.

"No. I'm not her mother."

Skylar gripped the envelope and whispered, "Mom, you should go. If my parent isn't there, the teachers will think no one cares about me."

Vanessa's mouth twitched. She glanced at Ethan, then finally nodded. "Fine, I'll go."