My icy statement caused Marilyn's face to freeze over for a second.

"Lizzy, how can you say something so hurtful? Aren't we best friends? How could you call me an outsider?"

Did she finally remember that we were supposedly best friends?

I had never once wronged her. From the very first day we met, I knew her family situation was dire. Her parents adored her younger brother and gave her barely 20 dollars a month to live on.

So, I helped her however I could. I shared half my meals with her every day, saved and scrimped so I could buy her clothes and blankets.

I even lied and told her they were just things my family did not need anymore just to protect her pride, yet somehow, I had earned a hatred so deep she ruined my entire family in my previous life.

Witnessing her pitiful act, I forced myself to calm the rage burning in my chest.

I replied nonchalantly, "That's the truth, isn't it? That's my home. You and I aren't related, so how are you not an outsider?"

In my past life, the moment she looked the slightest bit hurt, I would rush to comfort her. However, I was not that same girl anymore.

After everything she did, the fact that I was not already strangling her was me being calm.

Marilyn's expression cracked.

"Elizabeth Warren, what's that supposed to mean? You call me your best friend every day, and now, I'm suddenly an outsider? Fine. If that's how you feel, I'll leave!"

With red eyes, she stormed out of the dorm.

I let out a long breath as her figure disappeared down the hallway. Then, I packed up my things as fast as I could and took a taxi straight home.

I did not bring her home, so that nightmare from my past life should not repeat itself, right?

Steve would be able to take the exam the next day and would not end up dying in some horrible factory accident.

I stepped out of the taxi with those thoughts haunting my mind. When I reached my front door and glanced up, I felt all the blood drain from my body.

Standing right there at my house, smiling and chatting with Steve, was none other than Marilyn, the same girl who had run out crying from the dorm not even half an hour ago.

When Steve saw me, he waved cheerfully. "Lizzy, you're back!"

I did not even know how I made my legs walk toward him.

My voice came out dry. "What... What's she doing at our house?"

Marilyn hurried up and looped her arm through mine like we were joined at the hip.

"Sheesh, Lizzy, we already talked about this, remember? You said you didn't want me staying alone in the dorm during the exam break, so you'd bring me home for a few days."

Steve nodded with a smile. "Your friend came over to the senior building looking for you. She said you promised to bring her home but forgot because you were busy. So, I brought her over."

He flicked my forehead lightly. "How do you forget your own classmate?"

My whole body went stiff.

Of course, I could not explain the memories from my past life. Who in the right mind would believe something like that?

They would think that I had lost my mind.

Besides, I still did not know why she had done all those things before. Steve's exam was the day after.

If I pushed her too hard, who knew what she might do?

If she insisted on showing up, maybe it was safer to keep her where I could see her.

My brain spun for a few seconds before I finally forced myself to smile. "Yeah, my memory's terrible. Thanks, Steve. Let's head inside."

As we walked in, Marilyn trailed behind me, her voice dripping with smugness.

"See, Lizzy? I knew you couldn't stay mad at me. I knew you wouldn't mind me talking to Steve myself."

I muttered a few meaningless replies, but the whole way in, my mind was racing, trying to figure out what I needed to do that night to protect my brother.

My parents had no idea there was an entire lifetime of hatred between Marilyn and I.

The moment Steve introduced her as my best friend, they rushed over to welcome her warmly.

My dad even made a special trip to the supermarket and came back with bags of snacks, telling her to help herself and make herself at home.

Marilyn did not hold back one bit. She sweet-talked my parents, flattering them until they were beaming with joy.

Watching her pretend to be all innocent and grateful made my stomach turn.

That night, just like in my previous life, my parents said they wanted to give up their master bedroom for her so she could sleep more comfortably.

I noticed her discreetly glancing at the distance between the master bedroom and Steve's room, calculating just like before.

My fingers clenched.

Then, I stood up and said, "Marilyn, since it's your first night here and you might not be used to the place, I made you a cup of warm milk."

I handed her the mug and added casually, "My dad bought it just for you tonight. It's an imported brand."

I knew Marilyn too well. She could not resist taking advantage of anything fancy.

Sure enough, she stopped pretending to decline and downed the whole cup instantly.

I watched her walk into the master bedroom.

At first, I could hear a bit of noise, probably her scrolling on her phone. Then, it went completely quiet.

I pushed the door open a crack and called her name softly a few times.

There was no response. She was completely out cold.

Right then, I hurried to Steve, who was about to go to bed. "Steve, go stay at your friend's place tonight. Didn't he move into the next building?"

My parents were stunned.

"Why on earth would you make Steve go sleep at someone else's house? His exam is tomorrow! How can you ask him to bother someone else like that?"

I gritted my teeth and insisted, "I don't care what it sounds like. He has to stay at his friend's place tonight."

They tried to talk me down, but I rarely pushed for anything this hard. The more they argued, the more I felt myself spiraling toward a breakdown.

In the end, Steve gave in first.

"Alright, alright. It's just one night at my buddy's place. We're close. How is that bothering him? Mom, Dad, don't worry."

He grabbed his phone, shot his friend a message, and headed to the building next door.

Even after he left, my parents kept scolding me for being unreasonable, saying I was stressing him out on the eve of his exam.

Only I, being reborn and remembering everything, knew the truth.

Seeing Steve safely walk out of the house filled me with a wave of relief so strong it almost made me lightheaded.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by a scream.

I shot up from bed in an instant. A quick glance at the clock told me it was the exact time my parents usually headed out to buy groceries.

Marilyn was standing at Steve's empty doorway, face dark with panic.

"What's going on? Elizabeth, where's Steve?"

Seeing her expression, a bitter laugh echoed in my head, though my face stayed perfectly calm.

I replied lightly, "He stayed over at a friend's place last night. Why? What did you need him for?"

"Stayed over?"

She practically snapped at me.

"That won't work! Damn it! How did I sleep so deeply? What about my plan..."

She stopped abruptly, realizing she still had an audience.

"Will he be back this morning?" she demanded.

I shrugged. "Probably not. He'll head to the exam from his friend's house."

Marilyn was losing it. Her eyes darted around frantically.

Then, she saw my parents getting ready to head out, and the front door was open with neighbors walking past in the hallway.

Her eyes lit up like she'd just found salvation.

"Help! This family's son tried to..."

Before she could finish the sentence, I clamped my hand over her mouth with all my strength.

Rage pounded in my chest so hard I could barely breathe.

I could not believe it. After I had already destroyed her entire setup, she still planned to brute-force her way through.

She wanted to scream her lie into a crowded hallway full of parents escorting their kids to the exam center, hoping rumors would explode before Steve even arrived at the test site.

Half the high school seniors in that building went to Steve's school. Some were even in his class.

If her words spread among them, Steve's exam would be over before it even began.

This evil, vicious woman... I could've strangled her on the spot.

While holding her mouth shut, I yelled to my stunned parents, "Close the door! Now!"

My parents had caught fragments of what she yelled. They slammed the door shut and rushed over.

"Lizzy, what is happening?"

Marilyn tore herself free and exploded, "Elizabeth, are you insane? Why are you covering my mouth?"

I icily snapped, "You know exactly why. Marilyn, I have no idea what I ever did to you. I said no yesterday. I told you not to come, but you insisted. After one night here, you're already accusing Steve of assaulting you? What kind of grudge do you have against my family?"

My parents stiffened in shock.

"What? Steve assaulted her? That's impossible! He wasn't even home last night! How could he have assaulted anyone?"

The moment she heard that, the truth hit her. My earlier words had not been a bluff.

Steve had been gone all night, and she had lost her perfect ambush.

Fury twisted her face, and she shouted, "I don't care! Who knows if you're lying? He did assault me! He has to take responsibility!"

My mom snapped, "What nonsense are you spewing, Marilyn? My son wasn't home! He slept at his friend's place, and his friend was with him the whole night. He has a witness! How dare you make things up?!"

My mom's anger rattled her. Marilyn had not expected to be cornered that easily.

She insisted, "You're bluffing! I said he did it, so he did!"

I glared at her coldly. "Get out of here right now. Our family doesn't welcome a vicious ingrate like you."

I shoved her hard.

She shot me a venomous look and threatened, "Elizabeth Warren... Just you wait!"

Then, she bolted out the door.

Even long after she left, my parents were still furious. They were shocked that the sweet, polite girl they welcomed just last night was actually a backstabbing witch.

My mom was still pale as she said, "Thank goodness you were smart enough to send Steve out. If he was home, she would've pinned it on him for sure!"

For the next three days of exams, my parents were extra careful. They personally drove Steve to the test center and picked him up afterward.

At last, I could breathe easy. If Marilyn had backed off, then maybe, my new life really would be different.

Perhaps the nightmare from before would not replay itself.

After the exam, Steve finally heard the story from my parents. He was mad for a couple days, but he forgot about it when the exam scores came out.

Steve ranked number one in the entire province.

My parents were over the moon. For once, they splurged and threw him a big celebration banquet, inviting neighbors and relatives.

However, on the day of the banquet, an uninvited guest appeared.

Marilyn walked in with a group of police officers behind her.

Tears streamed down her face as she pointed at Steve. "Officer, it's him! He's the one who forced himself on me that day!"