The Quiet Conspiracy

My sister's best friend borrowed 20 thousand from me, saying it was for her mother's medical bills.

As a cop, I lent it to her. I figured if I could help, I should.

When it was time to pay me back, she didn't return a cent. Instead, she showed up at my precinct holding a baby and accused me of indecent assaults.

After a paternity test, the baby turned out to be mine.

She went on livestreams, crying about how I broke the law despite being a police officer. She used the scandal to make herself famous.

The force treated me like a disgrace and fired me.

I tried to explain, but no one believed me. I went from a model officer to a criminal overnight.

My parents were cyberbullied; with nowhere left to turn, they both drowned themselves.

My wife was also beaten in the street. She suffered a miscarriage from the attack and died from massive blood loss.

As for my sister, guilt drove her insane; she was hospitalized before vanishing from the public eye.

After my family fell apart, I hanged myself one night.

Then I opened my eyes again.

I'd been reborn. Facing my sister's evil friend, I vowed to fight back.

"Mom, Dad, this is my friend, Fiona. Her staff dorm is being renovated, so she's gonna stay with us for a few days."

My sister, Judy Floyd's, voice crashed over the room like thunder.

I looked up.

Judy was bouncing with excitement as she introduced her friend, Fiona Shepard, to my parents. Fiona was a young woman with a cool, slightly embarrassed face.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd. I'm Fiona. Thank you so much for having me. I honestly didn't know where I'd go."

Right then, I realized I'd been given a second chance. I'd been sent back to the day Fiona moved into my parents' house.

I still hadn't had time to change out of my uniform, and Fiona kept glancing at me.

"Judy, who's this?"

Judy ran over and hugged my neck, her voice bright. "This is my brother. He's cute, right?"

Fiona finally looked me over properly, a little shy. "Yeah, he's handsome. You're pretty, too. Your parents have really good genes."

My parents and Judy burst out laughing at that.

Just like before, Fiona knew exactly how to charm people. In her first week in our house, everyone was saying what a thoughtful, sweet girl she was.

Judy even pushed past my wife, Lara Floyd's, objections and urged Fiona to work for us as a nanny.

Seeing Fiona again now made my skin crawl. In my last life, she had destroyed my family. This time, I vowed to make her pay.

Judy led Fiona into her room. Not long after, Fiona came out wearing an apron and went into the kitchen.

"No, you're our guest. We can't let you cook for us," my parents protested.

"I didn't graduate from college, and I do housekeeping work. I can't afford rent, but I can at least cook," Fiona said. "Please, just sit and try some of my cooking."

She quickly won the elderly couple over and dove into making dinner.

"Judy, you should treat Fiona well. Look at her—she might not be well-off, but she's got pride and carries herself with dignity. She's a good kid," my father said.

He admired Fiona's attitude.

But I started asking questions.

"Judy, how did you meet Fiona? You're a lawyer, and she's not the kind of person you'll come across usually."

"Oh, FIona's old boss accused her of stealing, and I was her defense lawyer. That's how I met her. She's really great. She even brings me food at the firm."

In my last life, I never understood how Judy and Fiona became so close.

Was Fiona's friendship planned from the start?

At dinner, Fiona kept the mood light with jokes here and there.

"Nelson, I saw your wedding ring. Where's your wife?" she asked casually.

I swallowed the food in my mouth. "She's pregnant. I told her to stay home and rest."

Judy suddenly set her utensils down. "Nelson, why don't you hire Fiona as your nanny? Lara's really sick from the pregnancy, and Peter needs looking after. We know Fiona—she's reliable. Wouldn't she be perfect for your house?"

My parents agreed right away.

I was about to refuse, but then I thought, if I pushed Fiona away, who knew what kind of foul trick a schemer like her might pull? It was better to keep her where I could see her.

"You're right. It actually sounds like a good fit."

Fiona looked thrilled. "Really? You'll hire me? That's amazing. I promise I'll do my best!"