To teach our son about gratitude and giving back, my wife and I often brought him to the orphanage whenever time allowed.

There was one boy there—born with a disability. He couldn’t walk.

My son took pity on him, begging, “Dad, can we buy him some new clothes? Please?”

So we did.

But the moment the boy slipped into the new clothes, he grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go.

“Sir, I wanna be your son too… Can you adopt me? I promise I’ll be a good kid!”

My wife and son kept pleading. Eventually, I gave in and agreed to the adoption.

What I didn’t expect was that just a week later, our son fell from the balcony. He died on the spot.

Just days after the funeral, my wife and I were in a car accident. We didn’t make it.

But death was not the end. Everything we owned was passed on to the boy we adopted.

As my soul drifted above, I saw him rise from his wheelchair—on his own two feet—and tear up our family photo with a twisted grin.

“It’s all mine now!”

Then—I opened my eyes. I was back on the day we were about to adopt him.

This time, I pulled my hand right away.

——

“Wow, sir, this shirt is really nice! I ain’t never had new clothes like this. I love it! Thank you, sir… and you too, ma’am. Y’all real kind!

“Sir, I wanna be… your son too! My legs don’t work, and the other kids always messin’ with me. Please… take me with you! I promise I’ll be really obedient. I’ll work really hard to repay you!”

As he spoke, Tyrell Gooding tried to get down from his wheelchair to kneel in front of us.

My wife Cecily rushed to stop him, her face full of sympathy.

“As long as you like it. But… are there really kids bullying you here? The director seems like a good person. How could something like that happen?”

Our son’s eyes were red with pity as he looked up at me.

“Dad, can’t we bring him home? I want a little brother to play with!”

Their voices brought me back to my senses.

I had been… reborn!

I was back—to the day we were about to adopt Tyrell!

In our past life, he always played the poor, pitiful boy whenever we visited for charity work. With his disabled legs and sad face, he always made sure to be the first to greet us.

Trying to set a good example for our son—and because my wife and I were soft-hearted—we eventually gave in and adopted Tyrell.

Who would’ve thought that a single act of kindness would end up destroying our whole family?

After we died, Tyrell stood up like he was never injured. No limp, no sign of disability.

His real documents even showed he was already over 20.

He must’ve been faking it all those years, pretending to be a poor orphan just to win sympathy.

In the end, Cecily and I had been completely played.

There’s no way I’m letting that happen again!

I hardened my expression and said firmly, “We don’t have an extra room for you at home, so adopting you is out of the question. This orphanage gets plenty of support from good people—you’ll be fine here.”

My wife looked at me like I was a different person.

“Honey, what’s wrong with you? Tyrell was just speaking from the heart—why are you so mad?”

Our son tugged on my shirt, clearly upset.

“Dad, you always told me to help others when we can. You said good people get rewarded. Tyrell is really pitiful. Can’t we please bring him home?”

They both begged me.

But I stood my ground.

“No.

“If you want to see him, I’ll bring you here every week. But bringing him home? That’s not happening.

“Alfie, you’re our only son. You’re the one who gets all our love. Do you really want to bring home a brother who’ll take half of that away?”

My son was still young, but after thinking it over, he seemed to understand where I was coming from.

“I’ll listen to you, Dad.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

But then Tyrell’s eyes started to turn red.

He struggled to wheel himself over in front of us.

“Sir… life here ain’t what you think. Folks donate what they can, but it’s barely enough. I was born like this—I can’t walk, so I can’t fight the other kids for stuff. And the director? He only really look out for the healthy ones. They got a shot at gettin’ adopted. Ain’t nobody checkin’ for somebody like me.”

“It’s been years, and y’all the only ones who ever really talked to me… or got me somethin’. If y’all don’t take me this time… I might not even be here next time you come around.”

“I’m beggin’ you, alright? Sir, I know y’all doin’ good. Takin’ care of me wouldn’t even be that hard. I could help out around the house, look after your son—I’ll do whatever. I ain’t scared of hard work.”

That calculating look in his eyes sent a chill down my spine.

I took a step back and pulled my son close to me.

“I already told you—it’s not gonna happen. We’re not taking you in. Yeah, we’re doing okay, but that didn’t fall from the sky. We worked for it. Helping you is kindness, not an obligation. Just because I have money doesn’t mean I’m gonna spend it on strangers. I’m not some saint.

“And we already give you 100 bucks every week as allowance. That’s more than enough for you to live on. Don’t push it.”

Without waiting for his response, I turned and left with my son.

Cecily followed closely behind, not really understanding why I acted that way—but she’s always backed me no matter what.

While she was getting the car ready, Alfie and I stood outside soaking up the sun.

Then I felt it—that cold, venomous stare from behind.

I turned my head—Tyrell was at the window, staring straight at me.

He switched expressions fast—pleading and pitiful.

But I caught it—that flash of something cruel and twisted like he had already made up his mind to get what he wanted.

I frowned and rushed my son into the car.

Even then, I was still shaken. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

Cecily handed me a tissue and asked, confused, “Are you okay today? You don’t seem like yourself. Tyrell’s just a kid, why take him so seriously?”

My son looked up at me, clearly upset.

“Dad, you were kinda scary today…”

I forced myself to relax, gently patting his head.

“Alfie, it’s good to help people, but we have to know who we’re helping. Some people are grateful, others bite the hand that feeds them.

“You’re still young, but you’ll get it one day. Everything I do—it’s to protect this family.”

Seeing the doubt in Cecily’s eyes,

I told her everything from my past life like it was just a news story.

How someone adopted an orphan out of kindness, only to have that kid destroy their whole family.

She frowned deeply and said, “There’s actually people like that? I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have questioned you.

“You’ve got a point. Alfie’s our priority. We should focus on him. Other kids… They have nothing to do with our family.”

Hearing her say that, I leaned back in the passenger seat and closed my eyes.

But inside, I was still uneasy.

Tyrell, at such a young age, already knew how to fake a disability just to survive.

‘That kind of trick… If he’s got his eyes on us, there’s no way he’s giving up that easily. Looks like we won’t be visiting that orphanage again.’

Thankfully, his fake ID says he’s 17. Once he turns 18, the orphanage will have to let him go.

At that point, he won’t need to be adopted, and this whole mess should blow over.

I guess I’d been too tense because once I relaxed, I passed out cold.

In my dreams, I was right back in that past life again.

Tyrell’s twisted grin kept flashing before my eyes.

When I woke up, I was drenched in sweat, and the car had already pulled up to our building.

Alfie hopped out, full of energy, heading upstairs.

That’s when my phone rang—it was the orphanage director.

“Mr. Lyttleton? Sorry to bother you. I just wanted to let you know. Someone’s adopted Tyrell. Since you’ve been supporting him for a while, I thought you should hear it from me.”

I couldn’t care less about Tyrell at this point.

I just muttered something, said I got it, and hung up.

‘Guess he’s found a new target now. Hopefully they won’t end up like I did in my last life. I’ve done all I can.’

Back home, I helped my son wash up and get to bed.

But I couldn’t sleep. Tossed and turned until three in the morning.

Then came the knocking.

The knock was loud and repetitive. I sat up in a panic.

Cecily woke up too, heading for the door.

I stopped her fast, put a finger to my lips.

I crept to the door and peeked through the peephole.

Tyrell’s eyes—cold and intense—stared straight back at me.

My whole body went weak. I had to cover my mouth to stop from gasping.

But he didn’t leave.

After two minutes of silence, his voice came through, choking up and crying.

“Sir… Ma’am… I know y’all in there. Please… please help Tyrell.

“My adoptive folks took me home and started beatin’ on me—nonstop. I barely got out alive. If y’all don’t help me, they gon’ drag me back… and I’m not makin’ it out again.

“Sir, Ma’am… I’m beggin’ you! I’m on my knees right now!”

I had no idea how he even found our place.

Cecily, in a panic, was about to open the door. But I quickly blocked her.

Shouting through the door, I said, “Tyrell, we’re already asleep. The director said you’ve been adopted. Legally, we’re not your guardians! If your adoptive parents accuse us of kidnapping, we’d never be able to clear our names!

“You should go back. We really can’t help. Alfie has school tomorrow. Please stop shouting.”

Cecily looked at me, frowning.

“Finch, don’t you think you’re being a bit too paranoid? He’s just a kid, and he can’t even walk. What could he possibly do?

“It’s just one night. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take him to the police department. We can find him a new home or send him back to the orphanage.”

She reached for the lock again—I shoved her back a good two meters.

“Did you even think about this? If his legs don’t work, how did he find our place? And how the hell did he get to the 15th floor?! There’s no wheelchair ramp downstairs!”

Cecily froze.

It hit her instantly.

Outside, Tyrell’s cries got louder, drawing attention.

He started tearing his clothes, showing off all the bruises and injuries.

The neighbors began whispering.

“Whose kid is that? Poor thing looks beat up… Didn’t this family just get back this afternoon? Why won’t they open the door?”

Tyrell, looking pitiful, told them he was an orphan, that we used to help him, and now he had nowhere else to go but our place.

Hearing that, the neighbors started knocking on our door too.