Chapter 7
In my first life. Kellan dit made it into the Air Force Academy.
Back when he had full bellies and no weights dragging him down.
Not now.
The Hendersons had a newborn demanding
g constant care.
The parents never cooked–five hungry mouths waiting to be fed
Money vanished instantly between groceries, Mr. Henderson’s “business dinners,” and Mrs. Henderson’s poker nights.
Even Kellan’s dad’s pension couldn’t keep up.
Every expense–diapers, formula, utilities–drained him like a parasite,
No study time. No energy for workout drills. No connections for tutoring.
Trapped in an endless cycle of chores.
So he cornered me.
Eyes red, voice soft like he cared.
“Mia, I know your dad did some shady shit to climb the ranks. I can help clean it up if you want.”
I knew exactly what he meant–that bullshit scandal from my first life where my dad allegedly “pimped out” his daughter for a promotion.
He was eager to resurrect that lie early, get my family exiled to Alaska, so Mr. Henderson could snap up the empty spot.
Too bad none of it was true.
In my first life, it was Luna who couldn’t resist the cash–became some married guy’s mistress.
And dad? He took the fall to protect her, let them label him corrupt.
I shrugged, meeting Kellan’s gaze–this stranger who hadn’t spoken to me in years.
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
Kellan’s jaw tightened.”
“Look, it’s messy. But if you won’t help expose him…I’ll have to do it myself.”
He walked away.
Two days later, Colonel Hawthorne showed up at the Hendersons‘ with a couple of guys.
Right there in front of everyone, they snapped Kellan’s leg without
Kellan collapsed, screaming for help.
But the yard was full of kids–none brave enough to step in.
They just watched, wide–eyed, as he lay there/howling.
Colonel Hawthorne lit a cigarette, sneering.
warning.
“So you’re the little rat who reported me? Cost me that promotion? Think your dead daddy’s give you a free pass? Newsflash–every family here’s got hero. You ain’t special.”
Kellan gritted his teeth, sweat mixing with tears.
“You know what you did a keep reporting you a lung
Hawthorne frosted
He didn’t remember crossing any “Brown Lately, best if the kid was gonna be strode…
He hand moved to bus gun
That’s when Lama soiled out, sipping a cold Coke, flashing a sweet smile and begging the general to spare Kellan-
Her floral mini skirt highlighted her curves, and something in Hawthorne chest twitched.
“Sure thing, sweetheart. No problem.”
“Thank you, Sir…”
Her voice dripped with flirtation.
In that second, Kellan forgot the pain.
His mind cleared instantly.
Limping over, he grabbed Luna’s arm and warned: “You stay away from him. You hear me? STAY AWAY!”
Luna yanked free, disgusted.
“I just saved your life, and you’re yelling at me? Please. Like you’ll ever make pilot now.”
After that, Kellan quit studying. Quit training.
He shadowed Luna everywhere.
But even that wasn’t enough.
Luna and Hawthorne started hooking up.
This time, she had no powerful parents to protect her.
Her parents didn’t care; the neighborhood and school labeled her as trash.
So folks gossiped freely, snickering about her “shady business.”
Word got out fast.
Mrs.Hawthorne eventually showed up, grabbed Luna by the hair, ripped her shirt, and beat her raw in front of everyone.
Nobody helped. They just watched and laughed.
Even Kellan–eyes red and hollow–couldn’t shed a tear.
