When Alex brought Brynn, his student, back to our apartment, I quickly decided to let them have the bed.

In my past life, a fierce storm had raged outside when he brought Brynn back late at night and told me to sleep on the floor with our daughter, Nevaeh, leaving the bed to them.

Enraged, I argued with him and yelled at Brynn, who ran out crying and accidentally fell into a ditch, drowning.

Alex said nothing. Later, during another storm, he opened the storm drain and shoved me and our child in, saying, "Brynn was my mentor’s daughter, and I don’t know how to face him now that she’s gone. You can go down there and apologize to him for me!"

Before Nevaeh and I could even cry out for help, the icy, foul water filled our lungs.

After our deaths, I found out that Brynn hadn’t died at all; it was a malicious prank to punish me for insulting her. Our bodies hadn’t even had a chance to cool before my husband joyously brought Brynn back to live with him.

Now, as I opened my eyes, thunder rumbled outside the door, and Alex walked in with Brynn by his side.

Alex hurried Brynn through the door, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Both of them were soaked from the rain, and Brynn was trembling, pale as a ghost.

“What are you doing standing there? Get us some dry towels!” Alex barked at me, snapping me out of my shocked daze.

The familiarity of the scene and his voice hit me—had I really been given another chance at life? Instinctively, I held my daughter close, tears streaming down my face.

Alex shouted at me again, “What are you crying for? Keep it to yourself, will you? Did you hear me?”

I choked back my fear, wiped my tears, and got up to fetch some dry towels for them.

Ignoring his own drenched clothes, Alex fussed over Brynn, drying her hair carefully. Yet, Brynn started to cry softly.

“Mr. Matthews, does Mrs. Russell hate me? Maybe I should leave,” she said weakly.

“It’s dangerous to go out in this storm. Stay here tonight,” Alex replied.

In my past life, witnessing their closeness had bottled up resentment within me, and I couldn’t help but ask, “What were you two doing out so late, just the two of you? Why isn’t she in her dorm?”

Brynn blinked her large, teary eyes and explained, “Today’s my birthday, and Mr. Matthews took me to a restaurant, but then the storm hit. I didn’t mean to disturb you. I can leave if you want.”

Alex grew anxious as she spoke of leaving and held onto her hand. With eyes blazing with anger, he turned to me. “I didn’t bring you and the kid to the city so you could interrogate us. Just do what you’re supposed to!”

A wave of sadness washed over me. I had married him young, older by three years, and I had raised him, cooked for him—even funded his college tuition with my hard-earned savings. I had worked various jobs, cared for his mother, and handled the household all while he studied.

Now, after nearly three months in the city, he hadn’t once taken me out for a meal, yet he could afford to treat Brynn to a fancy dinner. How could I not feel bitter?

“Alex, you said we couldn’t afford to take Nevaeh to the doctor when she had a fever and suggested rubbing alcohol would suffice. But you’ve got money to take someone else out?”

Brynn looked at Alex apologetically and said, “I didn’t know it was so hard for you, Mr. Matthews. I’ll find a way to pay you back for the dinner.”

Embarrassed, Alex snapped at me. “I managed with just rubbing alcohol when I was sick as a kid. Why’s our daughter so sensitive? Kaylani, watch your mouth!”

“Enough. It’s late, and Brynn’s tired. She should have the bed while we take the floor.”

Brynn instantly protested, tugging on his shirt. “Mr. Matthews, you have an early class tomorrow. You can’t rest properly on the floor. I’ll take the floor.”

“No, you’ve been drenched. You need proper rest, or you’ll fall ill.”

“I insist. You take the bed; I’ll sleep here.”

They went back and forth in front of me until Alex finally conceded. “Fine, fine. We’ll both sleep in the bed. Come on, lie down.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Alex! I’m right here, and you’re sharing a bed with another woman. What do you take me for?”

He waved his hand dismissively. “What can we do in front of you, anyway? Stop letting your old-fashioned mindset question the bond between a teacher and student!”

I pointed at them, seething with anger, and shouted, "What a ridiculous scandal about teacher-student relationships! You're both nothing but frauds! Maybe I should ask the principal if all his teachers are sharing rooms with their students!"

Brynn covered her face and started sobbing. "Mrs. Russell, if you tell the principal such things, my reputation will be in shambles. I shouldn't have bothered you. I'm leaving."

With that, she rushed out the door.

Alexander was desperate to follow her, but I stood in the doorway with our child, blocking his path.

"Let me through! She could be in trouble!"

"The school is just a few minutes away. What kind of trouble could she be in?"

In his anger, Alexander struck me across the face, and our daughter, Nevaeh, began to cry, her sobs echoing through the night.

Our neighbors, including Alison, gathered to find out what was happening.

"Mr. Matthews, can't this wait until morning? We all need to sleep."

In the end, Alexander stayed inside and didn’t pursue Brynn out the door.

Early the next morning, there was an urgent knock on our door. Kellen, a young student, stood there looking troubled and told Alexander, "Mr. Matthews, last night Brynn fell into the river and... she passed away."

I thought Alexander would rush out to confirm the news, but he remained eerily calm.

"Okay, I understand. You should head back. Don't be late for class."

After Kellen left, Alexander continued his morning routine without a word, washing up, getting dressed, and picking up his lesson plans before leaving.

I felt a twinge of guilt deep down. If I hadn’t spoken so harshly the night before, Brynn might not have left, and this wouldn't have happened.

That evening, when Alexander got back from work, I quietly set the table for dinner. I wanted to apologize, but he asked as if nothing had happened, "Where do we keep our cash?"

I pointed to the cabinet beside the bed. "There's a tin box in there where we keep all our important stuff."

"Oh, take some money and buy a new outfit for you and Nevaeh at the department store."

Even though his tone seemed normal, there was something unsettling about him. I didn’t dare ask more questions. After dinner, I took Nevaeh out shopping.

I picked out the cheapest clothes I could find and bought Alexander a stylish-looking coat. The salesperson said it was the latest trend.

As soon as I returned to our building, the neighbors busy preparing meals in the hallway greeted me, "Oh, new clothes! Mr. Matthews treats you well."

"Yeah, we're all a bit envious, Mrs. Russell. Mr. Matthews is such a well-educated and decent man."

Their words made me blush with a mix of pride and embarrassment.

That evening, a torrential rain began to pour. Alexander put on the new coat I bought him and encouraged me and Nevaeh to wear our new clothes as well. Then he pulled out an umbrella and smiled at us, "Come on, let's go out for dinner tonight."

"It's not safe to go out in such heavy rain. How about we wait until tomorrow?"

But he said nothing and simply took Nevaeh’s hand, leading her out the door. I felt it was better not to argue, so I followed them into the rain.

As I approached a quiet alley near the old bistro, he suddenly halted. When he turned and locked eyes with me, I felt a pang of fear. The look in his eyes was twisted and terrifying.

"Kaylani, you know it wasn't safe with the rain pouring down. How could you let Brynn, just a young girl, run out into the storm?!" he exclaimed angrily.

"How did I end up marrying a woman with such a cold heart? It's not her who deserves to be damned—it's you!"

Before I could react, he roughly pushed me into an open sewer. My hands desperately clutched at the edge as I struggled to pull myself back up. My daughter, Nevaeh, cried out and reached for me, trying to grab my hand.

"And you, you little pest, if you hadn't cried so loudly that night and alerted the neighbors, I wouldn't have lost you both!"

With those words, he kicked Nevaeh forcefully in the back. Her small body collided with my head, causing my grip to weaken. We both fell into the rancid water below.

There was no time to scream before the icy, filthy water filled our lungs, drowning us both.

As I regained consciousness, the overwhelming sense of despair lingered. This time, I said nothing. I simply held Nevaeh's hand and watched silently as they flaunted their affection in front of us.