Chapter 1
Last life. I did ten years for my brother Marcus Ashford’s crime.
The day I got out, he sneered:
lena, how the hell are you still breathing when little Lily’s six feet under?”
“Why didn’t you die instead of her?”
Everyone blamed me for her death. I jumped from the hospital roof and ended it all.
Then I woke up–six years old again.
Marcus lifted precious lily into his arms while I lay bloodied under the tree.
“Sorry, Elena. Can’t risk you hurting Lily again.”
“Just pretend you were never an Ashford.”
He walked away without looking back.
This time, I saved myself.
Time to show him what he should pay.
When Marcus Ashford pulled Lily out of my arms, she was still covered in my blood.
The flash flood came out of nowhere, tearing through everything in its path. I’d shielded her the entire way down, letting myself get absolutely destroyed against rocks and debris–anything to keep my little sister safe.
But when Marcus finally found us, he only grabbed her.
“Just pretend you were never part of the Ashford.” he said, ice–cold.
I watched him walk away without looking back, slowly closed my eyes, and let out a bitter laugh.
I knew right then–he’d been reborn too.
So he was here to cut his losses.
Lily isn’t actually an Ashford. Marcus and I are the real deal–blood siblings.
But they poured every ounce of their love into their precious little ” adopted daughter“.
འ་ ཇ ་
In my past life, every single time Lily pulled her wounded–bird act, they’d instantly think I’m bullying her.
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No matter how hard I tried, how much I sacrificed for Lily–the second those crocodile tears started flowing, boom. Team Lily, every damn time,
Even during the earthquake, when I screamed myself hoarse to flag down the rescue crew and get us both out alive, they still found a way to make me the bad guy:
“You knew Lily couldn’t talk, so you made sure they’d hear you first!”
“Lily’s already been through hell–you pushed ahead on purpose because you wanted her dead!”
But here’s what actually went down: the rescue team made a split–second call on the spot.
If they hadn’t moved that concrete slab off me first, I would’ve been crushed to death right there.
When they pulled Lily out? A broken shin. That’s it. Few months of recovery and she was good as new.
Cada Dight Hand Refuses to Save Her
27.9%
Chapter
They forced me to stay home and wait on 13ly hand and foot until she was back on her feet. Even when it meant saying goodbye to my tollen exams, they still told me:
This is what you owe her. Taking care of your sister for life–that’s just what you’re supposed to do.”
Lily was always delicate,” always needed someone hovering around her 24/7.
And somehow, without me even realizing it, I’d stopped being her big sister and turned into her personal servant.
Later, I ran into a totally crazy patient’s family member
the hospital.
When he went ballistic, I didn’t even think. I just threw myself in front of Marcus, took the knife meant for him.
But when I knocked the psycho down, he scrambled back up and went straight for Lily instead.
That one stab was all it took. Three years as a vegetable, then lights out.
Marcus killed the guy on the spot. When he looked
at
me
there was
thing in his eyes but pure hatred.
out,
those same eyes were waiting for me–still burning with rage and grief
I took his knife and confessed to everything. Ten years later, when I got
“Elena, who would’ve thought you’d outlive your little sister!”
“Why didn’t you die instead of her?”
In that moment, I was just… broken. Completely drained.
I jumped from the hospital roof. Set him free, set myself free too.
But now? Apparently the God decided we both deserved a do–over.
I wiped the rain off my face, def to my feet, and stumbled deeper into the woods.
I found exactly who I was looking for by the creek.
I pulled the little boy away from the water’s edge, inch by inch, until we reached a small dry cave.
I knew exactly who he was.
4
Dylan Ashford–youngest son of the Ashford family. He’d been hiking with his mom when the flash flood hit.
I’d seen it on the news in my past life, so I knew where the Ashford family would eventually find him.
Marcus left me here to die on this mountain.
But if we’re both getting second chances?
Then why should I just give up and let myself waste away?
I fought to stay awake through the fever, refusing to let myself pass out.
But it was freezing. I’d given all my dry clothes to the Ashford kid–six years old and slipping into shock, barely breathing.
Honestly, I was putting everything on the line.
If he wasn’t really Dylan Ashford, if the family didn’t find him this time around…
I kept zoning in and out. My whole body was throbbing with pain, and I couldn’t stop replaying every possible scenario in my head, until I heard voices calling out.
“Found them! Young master’s here!”
“Dylan! Mommy’s here, God blessing my baby, you’re safe now…”
“There’s a girl with him–get them both to the hospital, now!”
Land Refuses to Save Her
Chapter 1
Finally, I let myself slip away.
This time, I’d made the right call.
