Chapter 1
My fiancé and my own brother hated me for a decade.
They were utterly convinced I’d bullied the sweet, fragile girl they both adored.
And at my engagement party, they exposed my so–called “crimes” for the world to see.
“She’s nothing but a bully and a disgrace to the school!”
The video streamed live across the internet, where the so–called innocent girl–Julie–stood with tears shimmering in her eyes and a gentle smile on her face.
“I don’t blame her anymore,” she said softly.
“Looking back, time washes all wounds away.
Overnight, Julie became an internet sensation.
I, on the other hand, was condemned by everyone. Rabid fans tracked me down, and one even threw acid at me. In utter despair, I dragged her down with me–we died together.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my senior year of high school.
Julie was standing right in front of me, pouring water over her own head, grinning as she asked,
“So, have you figured out how you’re going to apologize yet?”
I snapped.
grabbed her by the hair, dragged her into the bathroom, and shoved her face into the toilet.S
This is what real bullying looks like. You want to accuse me? Wash your filthy mouth before you go crying for help.“”
The last thing I remembered from my previous life was the searing pain as acid splashed into my eyes.
Through the agony and blurred vision, I saw Julie cowering behind my brother as he shielded her.S
Then I snatched up a cake knife, lunged at her, and drove it straight into her chest.
“If I’m going to hell, you’re coming with me!”
…&
When I opened my eyes again, everything was startlingly clear, so vivid it knocked the breath from my chest.
And there, not far away, was Julie–much younger, dressed in a faded school uniform, twisting the tap and drenching herself with water.
She glanced at me, smiling slyly. “Who do you think they’ll believe? Me, or you?”
It hit me at once.
This was the day it all started–the day I was branded her tormentor.
Julie watched me stand there in shock, her smile widening.
“Have you decided how to apologize yet, princess?-Aah!*
Oid hatred and new rage surged up inside me.
I lunged, seized her by the hair, and dragged her into the bathroom.
Her screams echoed off the tiles as I forced her face into the dirty water.
‘You think a little cold water and crocodile tears are enough to frame me? Let me show you what real bullying means.”
Julie thrashed wiidly, arms flailing like she’d been wired to an engine, but she couldn’t break free.
All she could do was press her face into the filthy water and sputter,
“Corinna Gardner, let me go–gurgle–ugh-!”
I threw my head back and laughed.
“With a mouth that filthy, maybe you should wash up before you run off to play the victim.”
Maybe this was a second chance. Maybe it was just a dying dream.
Either way, I didn’t care.
This time, I was done playing nice.
