The very first thing I did after being reborn was block Aunt Patricia's entire family, grab my suitcase, and run.
On the way to the airport, I posted a photo in the family group chat.
"Going on a trip! Won't be home for the holidays this year!"
Relatives flooded in with questions—why was I leaving for the holidays? Aunt Patricia was the most aggressive, demanding to know why I hadn't told her first.
I played innocent. "Aunt Patricia, I'm just your niece. I don't need to report my every move to you, do I?"
The moment I hit send, I powered off my phone and boarded the plane.
In my previous life, Aunt Patricia had taken a fall, and I'd rushed to her house to take care of her—cooking, cleaning, everything.
But when her son came back, she turned around and took me to court. She said I was the one who'd pushed her.
"If you didn't push my mom, then why were you taking care of her?"
Those words had hit me like a bolt of lightning.
In the end, the court ordered me to pay Aunt Patricia over a million dollars in damages.
To pay off the debt, I worked myself to the bone—literally. I died from it. Overwork, organ failure, done.
When I opened my eyes again, it was the day before Aunt Patricia's fall.
……
Every memory of my past life was razor-sharp. I knew exactly what would happen if I stayed. The second she fell, I'd be the first person she called.
For years, Aunt Patricia had been in poor health, and because I worried about her, I was the one who showed up. I cooked for her. I cleaned for her. I kept her company.
Her own son, Derek Abbott? He was overseas the entire time.
Not only that—he'd call her every now and then to ask for money.
And Aunt Patricia? She always praised me. Told me I was the closest person to her heart. Closer than her own child.
Until that day.
I got her call and rushed over, frantic. I'd genuinely believed that even if she wasn't grateful for everything I'd done, she wouldn't actively try to destroy me.
Then Derek came home. He took one look at his mother's condition and dragged me straight to court.
On the stand, Aunt Patricia sobbed like her heart was being ripped from her chest.
She said I pushed her.
That was the moment it finally clicked. The woman I'd treated like family had been setting me up all along.
I had no way to defend myself. And Derek's words sealed it: "If you didn't push her, why were you taking care of her?"
I lost the case.
So now that I'd been given a second chance—why in the world would I make the same mistake twice?
I booked a plane ticket before anything else. Then I posted it in the family group chat, announcing my holiday travel plans for everyone to see.
Within minutes of posting, my phone rang. Aunt Patricia.
"Jennifer Dickerson, what is going on?"
"Why are you suddenly going on a trip?"
Her voice dripped with displeasure. "You know perfectly well that I'm not in good health!"
I listened, and I smiled.
Before—in my old life—hearing her say that would've made me feel guilty. I would've told myself she was just scared of being alone.
But now? I knew exactly what she was. I was nothing but free labor to her.
"Aunt Patricia, I have my own life."
"And there's nothing wrong with me going on vacation, is there?"
Silence on the other end. A beat. Then she recovered.
"Jennifer, your aunt is not a well woman. It's the holidays—of course you should be here helping me!"
"Leaving without a word—does that seem right to you?"
I let out a light laugh. "What's wrong with it, Aunt Patricia?"
"After all, I'm not your daughter."
"And I'm under no obligation to take care of you."
The moment those words left my mouth, her tone shifted completely.
"Jennifer, how can you say something like that?"
