“Daph, I’m going to start working out now. Come pick me up in two hours.”

Juniper was trying to get rid of me.

With the gym trainer’s help, they headed into the changing room.

Less than two hours later, Juniper suddenly called me, her voice filled with pain.

“Daph, come pick me up and take me to the hospital!”

I raced into the gym and was met with a scene that made my heart drop. Juniper lay sprawled on the yoga mat, clad only in a yoga top, her face an unusually shade of red. She was gasping for air, writhing in pain, with a disturbing pool of blood forming beside her.

The gym trainer, drenched in sweat and visibly shaken, stood there looking helpless. I recalled that he had arrived in workout pants, but now he was down to a pair of tight shorts.

Without wasting a moment, I scrambled to get Juniper to the hospital, my mind racing. I considered calling my mother and Randal to bring them over.

However, Juniper grabbed my phone and said, “Daph, please, don’t tell my husband or mother-in-law. They didn’t want me to go to the gym and if they find out I lost this baby because of this, I’m finished!”

I looked conflicted. “But with something this big, how are we even make up an excuse?”

Juniper’s eyes darted around. “We’ll just say we were walking and had a little falling accident.”

Since Juniper married into my family, she had endured a relentless stream of bullying from my mother.

Yet, everything changed once Juniper became pregnant. Suddenly, my mother started treating her with newfound respect, transforming her into the cherished darling and little princess of the family.

As a fellow woman, I understood Juniper’s struggles and agreed to help her keep the truth hidden.

Yet... in previous life, Juniper was hospitalized soon after the bleeding incident at the gym. At that time, she asked me to go to her parents’ house to grab some clothes for her.

I had just gathered the clothes and was about to leave when her parents suddenly restrained me, forcing me to drink a cup of poisoned milk tea.

My limbs convulsed, foam gushing from my mouth, but they still wouldn't let me go.

Juniper's mother spat at me viciously. "You wretch! How dare you bully my daughter! You deserve to die!"

I didn't even have a chance to explain before I was pushed out the window. I plummeted to my death, the sickening sound of bones breaking echoing in my ears.

Later, as my soul drifted from my broken body, I saw my mother and Randal. They didn't shed a single tear. Instead, they stood beside Juniper, hurling curses at me.

"Daphne got what she deserved!"

"She probably killed herself out of guilt for causing my precious grandchild's death!"

***

In that instant, the agonizing memories of my previous life came rushing back.

The truth hit me like a bolt of lightning.

Juniper's miscarriage hadn't been caused by overexertion at the gym. It was due to some shameful secret.

I had exhausted myself covering for Juniper, only to become the scapegoat who paid with my life.

I clenched my fists!

Now that I had been reborn, there was no way I'll let you kill me again!

“Daph, I’ve booked a session with a trainer. Can you drive me to the gym in a bit?”

Juniper stood up and started packing her bag.

She was dressed in a pristine white dress and tucked away in her bag was a set of sleek sports underwear, ready for whatever came next.

“Juniper, I have an important class coming up. I can’t take you.”

I turned my gaze away, striving to keep my voice steady and casual, though it felt anything but.

Upon looking around, I recognized the familiar surroundings belonged to Juniper's parents' house.

Out of the blue, a realization hit me like a cold splash: I had been so naive. We were just two college students, each with our own lives and dreams.

Yet here I was, ensnared by my mother's unyielding expectations and Randal's relentless pressure, doing my best to cater to Juniper’s every whim. And in the end, it was that very surrender that had led me to my own demise.

Juniper was quick to express her displeasure. "Daphne, what important class could you possibly have?"

"Aren’t you on summer break? Besides, your brother told you to take care of me. If you don’t drive me, I’ll tell Mom and Randal that you’re bullying me on purpose."

My mother had always been the model of favoritism, treating Randal like royalty while leaving me in the shadows. No matter what happened, she would invariably side with him first.

When Juniper got pregnant, her family instantly became my mother’s new “protected ones.”

If Juniper had ever whispered a complaint about me, I would have braced myself for a tempest of punishment and scorn.

In the past, I would have been scared and obedient.

But at that moment, I had coldly retorted, "Juniper, if I had told them you insisted on going to the gym, do you think they would have let me take you?"

Juniper's face had instantly darkened.

She pointed a finger at me and said, "What’s your deal today? Are you trying to make me gain weight just because you see how well your mom and brother treat me? Is this your way of getting back at me?"

I didn't say a word. I swiftly grabbed my things and turned to head out.

Juniper was at her family’s home with her parents to look after her. Why should I be her free labor?

I was done putting up with it.

As I pushed the door open, Juniper, seething with anger, snatched an ashtray from the table and flung it at me.

I sidestepped with a sharp move and the ashtray crashed into the door, exploding into shards.

All she got in return was the resounding slam of the door as I walked out.

This time, I wasn’t going to tolerate any more of her nonsense.

She could find someone else to bother.

With only one car in the house and summer break underway, Randal handed me the keys and assigned me the roles of Juniper’s full-time chauffeur and nanny.

To make sure Juniper couldn’t find any reason to complain about me, I deliberately left the car keys right in her sight

With no one else to drive her to the gym, Juniper ended up calling Hugo Reeds, her ex-boyfriend.

Before long, I spotted Hugo assisting Juniper into the car.

Anticipating this moment, I had strategically hidden in the garage. As they strolled hand in hand towards the car, I seized the opportunity and snapped a photo.

The sight of Juniper and Hugo still being so close would likely drive Randal up the wall.

They climbed into the car, their laughter echoing and sped off in a blur.

Reflecting on it now, I realized how I had bent over backwards to cover for Juniper, only to find myself with nothing but resentment in return. Instead of earning her favor, she’d seized every opportunity to pin the blame on me. This time, I was determined to stay one step ahead.

I called my mother and said, “Mom, my local scholarship came through! Remember how I promised to buy you that massager? Why don’t you come out with me for shopping. That way, we can choose one together!”

I knew just how to hit the right note with her.

My mom wasn’t just a fervent supporter of favoring sons over daughters; she was also ridiculously stingy.

Whenever money came in, it was always funneled straight into Randal’s pockets. Not only did she never save a penny for me, but she also delighted in squeezing every last cent out of me.

So when she heard I was offering to buy her a massager, she dropped everything and stopped her square dancing on a dime.

"That sounds great! Come pick me up right away!"

I grabbed a cab to pick up my mother and told her that the car was parked at Juniper's family home because they needed it.

Predictably, my mother was irked, muttering about how inconsiderate Juniper was, showing off her in-laws' car like she was rolling in money.

I stayed silent, but my mind was busy with thoughts.

Just wait, Mom—things were about to get even more dramatic. I hoped your blood pressure could keep up.