Stepfather's Conspiracy: What Should I Do?

My Stepfather Was a Model Man.

He not only adored my mother but also indulged my every whim.

With his support, I abandoned my college entrance exams to pursue true love and ran away with a boy with yellow-dyed hair.

My mother died of heartbreak, and soon after, he drained all our family's assets.

As for me, I barely escaped from a den of swindlers, only to meet a tragic end on my way home.

When I woke up again, the sun was still shining.

My stepfather knocked on the door and entered with a kind smile.

"Susan, I waited in line all night to buy you the latest smartphone. It won't lag at all when you play games. Take a look."

——

I was reborn in the summer before my final year of high school.

My stepfather placed the latest smartphone on my bedside table.

"Studying must be stressful. Don't bottle it up—remember to relax."

I picked up the new phone, weighing it in my hand.

In my previous life, after he gave me the phone, my grades plummeted.

He also gave me a credit card with a high limit.

Even the tickets for my elopement with that yellow-haired boy were bought with his help.

He hid all this from my mother, claiming it was to give me freedom and support me in pursuing true love.

Looking back now, he was truly rotten to the core.

Seeing my lack of enthusiasm, he looked down, nervous.

"I asked the sales assistant. They said this is the best model, and it wouldn't lag while playing games. Are you not satisfied?"

"It's okay," I replied casually.

In my previous life, I had jumped with joy.

If I didn't know the horrible ending that awaited me, I would've been moved to call him Dad right then and there.

Dinner time.

My mother rushed home after a long day.

After so many years of not seeing her, my emotions were a whirlwind.

I was no longer the ungrateful daughter I once was and now understood that she wasn't as tough as she appeared.

She worked tirelessly, day and night, managing her shop, all for the sake of her disappointing daughter.

But every time I tried to awkwardly mend our mother-daughter relationship, my stepfather would always interfere.

It wasn't until after her death that his true nature was revealed, telling me to rot and die outside and never return to disgrace the family.

The memories of those days were as clear as yesterday.

I suppressed the surge of emotions and took a seat at the dinner table.

As usual, there was a tense atmosphere.

My mother frowned as she took a bite of food.

"You're about to start your final year of high school, and your self-discipline is so poor. You shouldn't stay at school—you should move back home."

In my previous life, I had always rebelled against her. Upon hearing those words, I flipped the table over.

My stepfather, noticing my silence, sighed hypocritically.

"Don't be so hard on the child. We need to respect Susan's wishes."

He was always good at this.

I was rebellious and immature, and my mother wasn't good at expressing herself, which led to constant conflict between us.

My stepfather played the role of the peacemaker, but in reality, every word he said was adding fuel to the fire.

I was too naive to see through his schemes and believed he was the only one who truly believed in and supported me.

But not this time, Jeremy.

I pretended to be nonchalant.

"I'm not staying at school. Didn't Uncle Jeremy tell you?"

"He helped me rent an apartment near school, fully furnished with a computer, gaming console, and all sorts of makeup. Oh, and this too."

I pulled out the new phone he had given me that morning.

Jeremy's face instantly turned pale.

"Uncle Jeremy told me to keep it a secret from you, but if I'm moving back home, I guess I can't keep it hidden."