But it was precisely because of all that caretaking that it had somehow become my obligation.

Even Aunt Patricia chimed in on the group chat: "Jennifer, I know this past year has been hard on you!"

"And I've already promised—once Derek comes back, he'll make it up to you!"

"Besides, it's the holidays! You just up and left, and now I can't find anyone to look after me!"

The moment she posted that, the rest of the family piled on in agreement.

I let out a cold laugh and typed back: "Sorry, but you never signed any agreement with me."

"And frankly, this isn't my responsibility."

"Isn't your son supposed to be coming back soon?"

"Since he's on his way, why don't you let him take care of you?"

"As for me—I don't need your so-called compensation."

The second I hit send, my fingers were already flying across the keyboard again: "Also, I know you all have opinions about this. Since that's the case, there's no point in me staying in this chat."

"From now on, your problems have nothing to do with me."

I sent the message and left the family group chat without a second thought.

I'd been disgusted with every last person in that group for a long time. All they ever did was guilt-trip me. That was the full extent of their usefulness.

After hanging up, I thought for a moment, then called Mr. Lawson.

"Mr. Lawson, isn't the company looking to send someone overseas?"

"I'd like to volunteer."

There was a beat of surprised silence on the other end.

Before the holidays, he'd posted in the company chat asking if anyone was willing to help expand the business abroad after the break. At the time, hardly anyone had been interested. The world was unstable, and the assignment meant living overseas for several years. Even with higher pay and a promotion on the table, most people had turned it down.

I hadn't wanted to go either, originally.

But thinking about that circus of relatives, I realized that putting an ocean between us might be the best thing I could do for myself.

The moment that thought crystallized, I said yes without hesitation.

Mr. Lawson told me he'd take care of all the arrangements. When I mentioned I'd need to sell my apartment before leaving, he made a decision on the spot—the company would buy it outright and convert it into employee housing.

He even offered twenty percent above market value.

I accepted without a moment's hesitation. I knew exactly why he was being so generous—he wanted to lock me in before I could change my mind.

After we hung up, I went right back to enjoying my trip.

I took photo after photo, filling my camera roll until it was bursting. Looking at all those pictures, I felt a quiet certainty settle over me. The way things stood now, I wasn't the least bit afraid of those two shameless women stirring up trouble.

I spent the entire day out exploring, and by the time I dragged myself back to the hotel, I didn't even bother showering. I collapsed onto the bed and was out cold the instant my head hit the pillow.

I was that exhausted.

Somewhere in the haze of deep sleep, my phone rang.

Aunt Patricia's voice came through, tight with panic: "Jennifer, come quick! I fell!"

The sound jolted me awake like a bucket of ice water. It was exactly the same as last time—the same call, the same desperate tone, the same hour of the night.

Last time, I'd scrambled out of bed and rushed to her apartment without a second thought.

But this time around? Why would I care whether she lived or died?

"Aunt Patricia, I'm traveling. And at this hour, I couldn't get a flight back even if I wanted to."

"You've got enough energy to call me—why not call Uncle Harold instead?"

Silence stretched across the line.

Then her voice came back, sharp and urgent: "Jennifer, you book a flight back right now!"

"I fell! You need to come back and take care of me!"

"Don't worry about the ticket—your cousin will pay you back when he gets here!"

I listened to her and let out a small laugh. "Aunt Patricia, there's nothing I can do. It's the holidays. Even if I wanted to fly back, I couldn't get a ticket now."

"Besides, I still have so many places I haven't been to yet."

"And honestly? Instead of wasting time calling me, you'd be better off calling the hospital."

In my previous life, I'd dropped everything and rushed to her house the moment I heard. I'd even called the hospital myself. They sent people right away—and I was the one who covered the medical bills out of my own pocket.

And what did I get in return? Betrayal. From every last one of them.

So in this life, their problems were no longer mine.

The second I finished speaking, Aunt Patricia's voice exploded through the phone. "Jennifer, what are you saying?!"

"I'm your aunt!"

"I'm lying here on the ground, and you won't come back?!"

"Do you have any conscience at all?!"

Her fury crackled through the speaker. I kept my voice even, almost bored.

"I'm out of town. How exactly am I supposed to get there?"

"You could've called any of our other relatives, but instead you called me—knowing full well I'm traveling."

I didn't wait for her to respond. "There's nothing I can do right now. Aunt Patricia, just call the hospital. Please."

I could hear her breathing turn ragged on the other end of the line.

"Jennifer—how can you be like this?" Her voice cracked with disbelief. "I fell. Aren't you supposed to drop everything and come take care of me?"

I smiled faintly. "Aunt Patricia, I don't have that obligation."

"You'd be better off calling Uncle Harold. Let him help."

And with that, I hung up.

I set the phone down and let out a quiet laugh. I knew she wouldn't be comfortable right now—not one bit.

In my last life, if I hadn't gotten there when I did, she would've been paralyzed. I was the one who saved her. Afterward, she'd clutched my hand, tears streaming down her face, thanking me over and over. Every relative in the family praised me for handling things so well.

That lasted exactly three days.

The moment Derek came back, everything changed. He looked at me with a cold, hard stare, anger simmering behind his eyes. And one by one, every single relative who'd sung my praises turned on me.

That was when I understood: none of them were worth saving.

This time around, none of it had anything to do with me.

I was getting ready for bed when the phone rang again.

This time, it was Uncle Harold Dickerson.

I picked up, and his voice hit me before I could even say hello.

"Jennifer, what is wrong with you? Your aunt told me everything—she called you and you refused to come back!"

"I'm telling you right now, get on a plane and get back here!"

"And another thing—I'm taking your aunt to the hospital as we speak. She doesn't have any money. You need to wire some over. Now."

His voice was sharp, laced with barely contained rage.

I listened to every word, then smiled. "Uncle Harold, what does any of this have to do with me?"

"Why on earth would I send you money?"