Three months into being bullied, I jumped off the rooftop. My tattered school uniform, hair that looked like it had been chewed by a dog, and the dull ache from my bruises all reminded me how worthless I had become. Insulting words were scribbled all over the school rooftop. Madison Pierce grabbed my head and slapped me relentlessly. I shoved Madison away with all my strength and leapt into the air. Like a butterfly with broken wings, I plummeted toward the ground. Let it end. Let it all end… 1． When I opened my eyes again, I was in an unfamiliar room—bright, cozy, and comfortable. Standing in front of a mirror, it didn’t take me long to understand: I had been reborn in a new body. My head was spinning, and nausea swept over me. I ran to the bathroom and threw up before I felt a bit better. I had no memory of her life. Searching through her room, I found a diagnosis of depression, a diary, and a half-empty bottle of sleeping pills. “Claire Harper.” I muttered her name as I traced her picture with my fingers. “She’s so beautiful.” I opened her diary and began reading about her past. September 1st. The first day of school. I was so happy. During my introduction, I didn’t reveal my true identity. I just mentioned I got in as one of the top ten students from the entrance exam. September 2nd. I moved into the dorm today. There’s a girl in my room pretending to be me, claiming she’s the daughter of America’s wealthiest family, with countless companies under her family’s name. I glanced at her cheap makeup and knockoff designer clothes, but I didn’t call her out. I responded politely to her questions, but I wasn’t as friendly with her as I was with the other two girls in the room. She noticed the genuine designer brands in my luggage and couldn’t hide the jealousy in her eyes. September 3rd. Half of my skincare and makeup products were missing. When I asked who had taken them, she said she gave permission for the other two roommates to use them. She told me not to be so stingy, but she hadn’t asked for my permission. I reported it to the teacher, but she wasn’t punished. The teacher only advised me to get along with my classmates. September 10th. It felt like she started to hate me even more. She banded together with the others to isolate me, but I didn’t really care. I stayed in the library until it closed at 10 PM, but when I returned to the dorm, the door was locked. I knocked for what felt like hours, but no one opened it. I had no choice but to stay at my family’s hotel for the night. September 11th. When I got back to the dorm, no one was there. I lay down on my bed to read. They came back later, and when I asked why they locked me out, she covered her mouth in mock surprise, claiming she hadn’t heard me knocking. Was that really possible? September 15th. The photos of me staying at the hotel were posted on the Riverdale Academy Instagram page. The hotel manager came out to greet me, but the caption suggested I was living a shady life, implying I was being “kept.” I explained, but no one believed me. Soon, the whole campus was gossiping about me. I hadn’t done anything wrong. Over the next few days, the insults continued—both directly and indirectly. I put on my headphones to drown them out, but that only made them worse. They trashed my belongings, scattering them all over my bed. I ended up renting an apartment near the school. September 20th. When I walked into the classroom, a smelly trash can was dumped over my head, and I heard laughter all around me. I was shoved onto the teacher’s desk, dirty water dripping down my school uniform. Someone pulled the trash can off my head. I stood there, filthy and humiliated, while they looked pristine and perfect. I ran back to my seat in tears. The word “slut” was carved into my desk, the sight of it searing my eyes. The class president came to my rescue, draping his jacket over my shoulders and guiding me out of the room. I glanced back and caught Madison’s hateful glare. A shiver ran down my spine. He was the one light in this school—the only reason I stayed. I didn’t transfer because I was afraid I’d lose sight of him if I did. October 23rd. My parents and brother, who were abroad, sent me loads of gifts to celebrate my new school year. My brother sent me a designer bag, saying it matched my style. I unwrapped it on the way back to class. As soon as I sat down, Madison was crying, and everyone rushed to comfort her. Then someone snatched my bag, accusing me of stealing. I told them it was a birthday gift from my brother, but no one believed me. One of Madison’s cronies shoved a video in my face. It showed me suspiciously unwrapping a package by the trash can. Within half an hour, word spread that I was a thief. I shoved the receipt in Madison’s face. She didn’t say a word, but she ripped the bag apart in front of me and handed me the pieces. I almost called the police, but she begged for my forgiveness. I forgave her, and she promised it would never happen again. November 16th. The class president invited me to his birthday party. I was thrilled and spent hours trying on different outfits. But when I entered the karaoke room, he had his arm around Madison. Several other girls, dressed in wild outfits, stood by her side. Madison slapped me hard across the face, calling me a pathetic loser and instructing the others to beat me up. She assured them she’d take the blame if anything went wrong. Slaps rained down on me. I fought back, but it only made them hit harder. December 1st. I dragged my aching body back to the apartment. The blade of a knife slid across my arm, and blood trickled down. I hid in the corner of the dark room, sobbing. The deep abyss of the night and the blood spilling from my arm felt like my only salvation. December 10th. Let an accident happen to me! I wanted to forget those people and everything that had happened. The pain was suffocating, and I couldn’t stop crying, barely able to make a sound. I felt abandoned, hated. The world was a lie, deadlier than poison, more crushing than falling off a cliff. There was no empathy left in this world. I bought a bottle of sleeping pills. I was so tired. I just wanted to sleep… The diary ended there. I closed it, overwhelmed by how much I could relate to her. She was just like me—a victim. I hugged her diary and cried. 2. But I didn’t understand. Claire Harper came from an incredibly wealthy family, with powerful brothers and rich parents. She never had to face any consequences. There were always people ready to clean up her messes. Why would a rich girl go to a school like Riverdale Academy pretending to be a normal student? Was it for the beatings? The humiliation? Now that I was Claire Harper, I would make sure her enemies paid. In my previous life, my family was poor, powerless, and subject to endless bullying. But now? Now I was a wealthy heiress. Let’s see who dares mess with me. The next morning, I walked into school with $5,000 in cash. I went straight to the senior bully’s classroom and called him out. I shoved the cash into his hands. “Here’s five grand. Teach someone a lesson for me.” His eyes lit up, weighing the money in his hands. He smirked. “Consider it done. Just give me the time, place, and name. How do you want it handled?” I handed him a note with a carefully thought-out plan. That evening after school, the bully and his crew dragged the girl who had tormented Claire to the rooftop. I followed them up there. “Each of you guys,” I instructed, “give her five hard slaps. My hearing’s a bit bad, so make sure it’s loud enough.” The sound of slaps echoed across the rooftop. Slap! Slap! Slap! After what seemed like an eternity, her face was swollen like a pig’s head, and she could barely speak. She collapsed at my feet, begging for mercy, promising to be my dog if I spared her. I stood above her, towering, holding up my phone, recording every second of it. “Apologize. And tell me exactly how you bullied me.” Half an hour later, I patted her swollen cheek. “If you ever breathe a word about what happened today, I’ll post this video. Let everyone see how you grovel like a dog.” For the next two weeks, she fetched me coffee, did my chores, and cleaned the blackboard. Everyone at school was baffled. They had no idea what had changed. If anyone came for me, she stood in their way first. It was fun! I had finally avenged Claire. Now it was time to get revenge for myself. 3． “This is our new transfer student, Claire Harper.” “Hi, everyone. My name is Claire Harper.” Facing the 39 familiar faces, I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. After taking a deep breath, I scanned the room, one face at a time. The boy with the biggest smile had cut my hair. The one clapping the loudest had poured glue all over my clothes. When I accidentally bumped into the guy in front of me, he would jump back and curse at me, as if I were something filthy. They hadn’t physically hit me, but the isolation, the insults, and the taunts had hurt just as much. The echo of their mocking laughter still lingered in my mind, sending a cold sweat down my back. Words don’t break bones, but they can destroy souls. “Excuse me.” That sweet voice felt like nails on a chalkboard. Madison Pierce walked in, looking every bit the princess she always pretended to be. “Madison, no more being late,” the teacher said, still coddling her like always. Madison stuck her tongue out playfully. “Got it, Miss Wilson. Is this the new student? Wow, she’s so pretty!” In my previous life, I had been assigned to sit next to her. She had tortured me just because a boy she liked had glanced my way. I remember her stabbing me repeatedly with the sharp end of a compass, making the entire class unbearable. My timid reaction had only encouraged her. The moment the bell rang, she dragged me into the bathroom and beat me senseless. That was the day the bullying began. “Megan, you’re just a poor girl from the countryside, and you still think you can win over Jackson? Scratch her face up for me!” Madison’s words dragged me back to the present. She was holding out her hand—the same hand that had slapped me countless times. I stared at her, speechless for a moment. As much as I hated to admit it, Madison Pierce was beautiful, with her perfectly symmetrical face and dimples that appeared whenever she smiled. An angelic face, but the heart of a devil. I fought against the tremor in my arm as I shook her hand, forcing a smile. “Sure.” Madison Pierce was my seatmate once again. 4. Sitting beside Madison made every class feel like torture. “So, Claire Harper, what does your family do?” Madison asked, her voice dripping with the same curiosity from my past life. She was deciding whether I would be her friend or her servant, depending on my answer. Her father was the City Mayor, after all, with enormous power. She didn’t suffer any consequences after she drove me to my death in my previous life. She had just continued living her charmed life. “My family owns a business. We’re doing okay.” “Everyone here’s family owns a business,” she scoffed, giving me a disdainful once-over. I glanced at her but didn’t respond. Suddenly, another girl chimed in. “You look so familiar! You’re the daughter of the Harper Corporation, aren’t you? We met at the gala last summer.” I turned toward the girl and gave a cold, indifferent nod. She was the one who had once stuck gum in my hair. Most of the students at Riverdale Academy were children of Hartford’s elite. It wasn’t unusual for someone to recognize Claire Harper. “The Harpers!” Madison’s eyes lit up. “Isn’t your brother the new department head here?” I didn’t answer, pretending to focus on the teacher’s lecture instead. Madison leaned closer. “Hey, Claire, could you grab something for me after class?” I tilted my head, giving her an innocent smile. “Do you deserve my help?” “Oh wow, the ‘Harper Princess’ sure doesn’t like to play nice, huh?” “Looks like Madison finally met her match!” “Madison’s the Mayor’s daughter! How dare Claire talk back?” The whispers grew louder, drowning out the teacher’s voice. Madison’s face turned bright red with anger. She jumped to her feet and shouted, “Shut up! Can’t you see the teacher is talking?” The classroom fell silent. “Claire Harper, you think you’re untouchable?” Madison asked, her voice as calm as if she were discussing the weather. “Mayor’s daughter, huh?” I chuckled. “Madison, you’ve had things too easy for far too long, haven’t you?” Madison’s face flushed with rage, and she raised her arm, ready to slap me. But I caught her wrist mid-swing and slapped her across the face. Once. Twice. Three times. Four. I lost count. Every strike was payback for the times she had humiliated me in my past life. “Stop this at once!” Ms. Wilson’s voice cut through the chaos, putting an end to my ‘attack.’ “You two, come with me to the Principal’s Office. The rest of you, study quietly.” I massaged my hand, which was stinging from the force of the slaps, while looking down at Madison. Her face was swollen, and she looked like a beaten pig. One word came to mind: satisfaction. “Sorry if I hit you too hard. Does it hurt?” I asked sarcastically, throwing her own words back at her. Leaving her fuming behind, I followed Ms. Wilson to Mr. Matthews’ office. As I walked away, I could hear applause from the classroom and Madison’s angry screams. 5. Standing in the Principal’s Office, I watched as Mr. Matthews calmly sipped his coffee. He was holding my enrollment file in his hand. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke. “Claire Harper, why did you hit Madison Pierce?” “She deserved it.” He didn’t seem phased. “Do you know who her father is?” Ah, here it comes. “The Mayor.” “Claire, you should know that Madison’s family isn’t one you can mess with. I strongly advise you to leave this school before she returns. Riverdale Academy isn’t for people like you.” Did he really just call the Harper family “small-time”? Without a word, I pulled out my phone and dialed my father. Before I could finish, Ms. Wilson, who had been quiet up until now, suddenly snatched the phone out of my hand and smashed it onto the ground. “Claire Harper, I am your teacher! Do you even understand what respect is?” I glared at her. “Who are you calling disrespectful?” Ms. Wilson flinched, clearly not expecting my defiance. She fumed, “You’re out of control! No wonder you come from such a lowly family. You have no class at all!” “I bet your father’s no better! A man with no manners raises a daughter with none!” She pointed her finger at me, hurling insult after insult—ones I had heard before in my past life. Furious, I shoved her back. “Say that again, I dare you!” I was Claire Harper now. This family—her family—was mine to protect, and no one would insult them in front of me. Just then, Madison stormed into the office, tears streaming down her face. She shoved me aside. “Claire Harper, how dare you push the teacher!” Ms. Wilson pointed at me, her voice shaking with rage. “This girl is out of control! I’m calling the Principal to have her expelled!” As she patted Madison on the back, the Principal walked by. Without hesitation, Madison grabbed his arm, pulling him into the office. Now it was just me and Madison. She crossed her arms, her voice cold. “Claire Harper, if you get down on your knees and beg, I’ll let you stay at Riverdale Academy.” Beg so she could keep torturing me? No way. “Madison, if I don’t get expelled, how about you get on your knees and apologize to me?” I challenged, staring her down. “Who do you think you are to make a bet with me?” Madison sneered. “You’ll be begging before the day’s over, whether you like it or not.” Madison was sure of her victory. In my past life, Madison’s favorite thing was making us kneel and apologize to her, even when we had done nothing wrong. “Who are you making kneel?” “What’s it to you?” she spat back. At that moment, Madison’s expression changed from venomous to fake innocence as she spotted someone entering the room. “Oh, Mr. Harper, I didn’t mean it like that. Claire hit me first. I just lost my temper and said some things I shouldn’t have. Saying that, Madison was about to fall towards that teacher. 6. Mr. Harper ignored Madison’s theatrics and strode over to me. Grabbing my shoulders, he shook me hard. “Little sis, are you okay?” He was shaking me so hard I felt like I might throw up. This must be Claire’s older brother, Ryan Harper, the one Madison had mentioned. “Ryan?” He looked at me, panic in his eyes. “Has this crazy girl hit you so hard that you can’t even recognize your own brother? Let me check for bruises.” I let him turn me around and check me for injuries. “I’m fine, Ryan.” I turned and shot Madison a smirk. “I’m the one who hit her.” The moment Madison realized he really was my brother, she scrambled to her feet, fixing her disheveled hair. “I must’ve done something wrong to upset Claire. That’s why she hit me, right? Ryan, please don’t be mad at her.” Ryan and I spoke in unison: “Who said I’m your brother?” Madison’s face flushed red, swelling further as the bruises began to show. Her pig-like face was almost comical. It would’ve been funny if she looked like that forever. I watched her standing there, dumbstruck and humiliated, like a dirty ragdoll—just as I had been in my previous life. “Claire Harper, are you alright?” Mr. Matthews, the principal, rushed into the room, with Ms. Wilson trailing behind him, looking like a frightened bird. “I’m fine.” I shrugged, gesturing toward the shocked and swollen-faced Madison Pierce. Mr. Matthews put a hand on Madison’s shoulder, speaking in a low, hushed tone. But Madison suddenly exploded, jumping up and shouting, “I’m not apologizing! She hit me first!” She covered her face dramatically and cried, “Uncle, she hit me! You have to expel her! Look at my face! When my dad comes—” “When your dad comes, what?” Mr. Matthews slammed his hand on the desk, cutting her off. “Even if your father himself showed up right now, it wouldn’t change the fact that you were in the wrong!” Madison stared at him, unable to comprehend what she was hearing. “You’re going to hit me, too? You’ve forgotten how you even got this job, haven’t you? If you want to keep it, you better expel this piece of trash right now!” SLAP! The sound of Mr. Matthews’ hand connecting with her cheek echoed through the room. “Enough of your tantrums! You think it’s no big deal to bully someone to the point of death?” Madison clutched her face in disbelief, tears streaming down her cheeks. To them, in my past life, pushing me to my death had been nothing more than “childish antics,” hadn’t it? “Uncle, you actually hit me for this… this nobody?” “Who did you just call a nobody?” Ryan Harper casually cleaned his ear with a finger. “I think I must’ve misheard.” Mr. Matthews, ignoring Madison’s cries, turned to Ryan. “Mr. Harper? When did you arrive?” Ryan stepped forward, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Just in time to see my little sister get treated like this.” Mr. Matthews visibly paled, bowing his head. “My deepest apologies for the misunderstanding, Mr. Harper. This… This was all a mistake.” 7. The principal pulled out his phone and made a call. I could hear the sound of someone shouting obscenities and the clatter of poker chips through the speaker. “Mr. Harper, please give me just a moment to explain the situation to Madison’s family,” Mr. Matthews said nervously. I leaned over to Ryan, whispering, “Ryan, didn’t you buy your college degree?” “Hey! I worked hard for that!” Ryan tried to hide his embarrassment, his good looks now tinged with a little awkwardness. “You think I wanted to be here? The family made me enroll just to keep an eye on you.” “Oh, I’ll make sure David hears about how much you hate it.” Ryan nearly dropped to his knees in panic. “No, please! I’m loving it. Best job ever!” “Claire Harper!” Madison suddenly shrieked, interrupting our conversation. Her face was a blotchy mess from tears and smeared makeup. “Just wait until my dad gets here! When he does, you’ll be expelled!” God, she really was thick-headed. I’d already told her she couldn’t mess with the Harper family. Let her keep going, she’ll destroy her own life. “Fine,” I said, folding my arms. “I’ll wait to see if I get expelled.” Ten minutes later, Mr. Matthews returned, his face pale. “Claire Harper, Madison’s family says they will leave the matter entirely in your hands. They trust your judgment.” “I don’t believe it! You’re lying!” Madison grabbed the phone from him and dialed her father. Mr. Matthews didn’t even bother to stop her. He knew there was nothing left for him to do. I nodded toward Ryan, and he quickly dialed our older brother, David. I passed the phone to Mr. Matthews. “Here. It’s my brother.” Mr. Matthews, trembling, took the phone with both hands. “Mr. Harper, sir! No need for that, really. Yes… Yes, of course, sir. No, no, it’s no trouble at all for you to take time out of your busy schedule. Everything will be handled, sir. Thank you for your guidance!” He nearly looked ready to cry by the time David hung up. Then he handed the phone back to me. “Big brother,” I spoke softly into the phone. David’s voice was tired but warm. “Don’t worry, little sis. I’ve got your back, no matter what. Just don’t break any laws.” He didn’t ask for details. Our family always looked out for each other. “Thank you, David.” Tears welled up in my eyes as I hung up. I had never known this kind of love and protection in my past life. “Put it on speaker, Claire,” David said before I hung up. “Let them all hear this.” I clicked on speakerphone, and Madison, seeing this, did the same with her own call. “This matter is entirely in Claire’s hands,” David’s voice boomed over the speaker. “And tell the Mayor—if his daughter dares to harass my little sister again, I’ll make sure she regrets it.” “Mr. Harper,” Madison’s father’s voice wavered on the other end, “Please, let’s not involve the adults in a petty schoolyard squabble. Surely, we can allow the children to handle this themselves?” Madison’s dad’s supplicating voice clearly reached everyone’s ears, including those eavesdropping at the door.
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