Chapter 48
The thought still stung.
But at least I’d come back. I hadn’t cut ties with Dad yet – there was still time.
This life I wasn’t going to let Vanessa’s scheme succeed.
“Don’t cry, Skyler – Dad’s here. You’re safe p>
He patted my back like when I was a kid.
That little gesture – so ordinary, so real – felt amazing.
I silently cursed myself a dozen times.
How was I so stupid last time? How did I fall for an outsider’s lies and refuse to believe my own father?
“Honey, you finally made it. You should’ve heard the way Skyler talked to me
so cold p>
“I was just looking out for her and she snaps at me p>
“Dad, that’s not what I meant – Aunt Vanessa came home and didn’t check on me, she’d only been worrying about Bryce p>
Vanessa hurried to tack on: “Sweetheart, worrying about Bryce is worrying about Skyler too. She just won’t accept me as her aunt, I guess p>
Ugh – she gets to play saint and I’m the villain. Classic.
Dad frowned and looked at me. My stomach dropped – he’d probably bought Vanessa’s crap. Last life he’d let her poison our relationship so many
times; the trust was gone.
“Shut up. Skyler isn’t that kind of person. She’s my daughter – I believe her p>
His words froze both Vanessa and me. None of us expected him to take my side.
“Robert, you… you’re breaking my heart p>
“In this house I’m the outsider, aren’t I? I’ve been nothing but loyal p>
Vanessa immediately covered her face and ran to her room bawling like she’d been crushed by some terrible injustice.
She played it well – almost convincing.
“Skyler, come with me p>
Dad’s voice went serious.
I hesitated something about him felt different since he came back.
In his study, Dad took a letter from the safe and handed it to me,
Seeing the signature at the bottom hit me in the gut.
It was my mother’s will.
“After your mom died, I married Vanessa to give her peace of mind p>
Reading the note made my vision blur p>
“I’d hated Dad for remarrying less than two years after Mom died. Now I saw it was what Mom wanted.
Chapter 3
“She was scared we’d be a mess without someone to steady us p>
“I know your mother – if she’d seen us struggling she’d worry herself sick p>
“I didn’t want to remarry, really p>
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I asked.
“I wanted to wait until you were older, to find a better moment to explain…” he said.
I felt ridiculous.
In my last life I cut Dad off over this, and that opened the door for Vanessa to drive us apart. I wished I could scream at my past self for how blind I’d
been.
“Don’t cry, Skyler. I know those years were hard for you p>
“Vanessa isn’t a good person. I’ve already decided to divorce her p>
I wiped my tears, bewildered.
Last life Dad treated Vanessa like a queen; after I cut him off his relationship with her only got stronger.
So why did he suddenly call her out – and with anger in his voice?
“Listen to me – Bryce isn’t a good guy either. He deserves what happened to him. Before his true colors showed, you should have stepped away. Trust
me p>
“Why do you think that?” I asked, suspiciously. A feeling was rising in me.
Dad sighed, eyes red.
“If I told you I dreamed this – would you believe me p>
“It sounded ridiculous to me at first, but the dream played out exactly like reality p>
“The fire – it was planned by Bryce and Vanessa p>
“Last time you burned to death and they cashed in on a huge insurance payout p>
“Dad wanted to get revenge when he found out, but he fell into their trap… later p>
He didn’t finish. I knew the rest.
“Dad – it’s true. I remember. I’ve been reborn p>
Dad hadn’t been reborn, but he suddenly had the knowledge of what happened last time.
He froze, staring at me in disbelief.
“S–sky… Skyler, what are you saying p>
“Dad, I’m not letting those two get away with it this time. Don’t divorce Vanessa yet
not now p>
I smiled coldly.
Bryce and Vanessa owed me
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.