As final year exams approached, I paid Serena, a top scholarship student, to tutor me. But the day she was supposed to start, she showed up with her boyfriend, Julian, and insisted he join our study sessions. I politely declined, and she didn’t press the issue. However, on the very day they left my house, Julian was hit by a car, crippling him. He had to drop out of school to work. After that, Serena continued to tutor me. We both got into college, fell in love, got married, and even had a child. But on our wedding anniversary, during our intimate celebration that night… Serena poisoned my soup. I watched in horror as I coughed up blood, staining the floor crimson, little by little. “This is all what you owe Julian, Ashley. You deserve to taste utter despair!” It turned out she’d held a grudge against me for what happened all those years ago. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day Serena brought Julian to my house for our tutoring session. It was our fifth wedding anniversary. The moment I stepped through the door, I saw a huge spread of dishes on the table. Serena, her hand on her stomach, smiled at me. “I have a surprise for you.” I thought the surprise meant she was pregnant. I was overjoyed beyond words. Even when I smelled a faint, strange odor from the soup Serena handed me, I didn’t think anything was wrong. But five minutes after I finished it, my stomach felt like it was being twisted by knives. “Serena, my stomach hurts so badly…” “Hurts? Good. It *should* hurt.” Only then did Serena reveal her true face, her smile utterly cruel. Cold sweat drenched me as she kicked me hard in the stomach. Even though our marriage wasn’t as sweet as other newlyweds, we had never fought. Let alone resorted to physical violence. My eyes, wide with a terrifying mix of shock and fear, landed on her. What was happening? Another dull ache ripped through my lower body. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably as I struggled to beg her to take me to the hospital. But Serena locked the door, looking down at me with a cold, scrutinizing gaze. “Serena, please, save me…” I couldn’t understand why she was doing this to me. She stood with her back to the light, her face obscured, unreadable. “If you hadn’t hurt Julian all those years ago, causing him to get hit by that car, he wouldn’t have had to drop out and work, or live under his wealthy in-laws’ thumb, completely stripped of his dignity! “This is all what you owe Julian, Ashley. You deserve to taste utter despair!” She savored the words “left alone and helpless,” spitting them out with venom. Blood began to seep from the corners of my mouth. Serena continued to curse me with hateful words. I was in too much pain to think clearly, but with immense difficulty, I pieced together what led to this moment. It turned out that last night, during a work dinner, Serena had overheard someone talking about Julian being publicly humiliated by his new wife’s family. So, she came home and decided to inflict everything Julian had suffered onto me? All those years ago… All those years ago… It was just one time I refused to let her bring Julian to my tutoring session. And Serena was blaming Julian’s accident on me? She’d harbored this grudge for an entire lifetime! If that was the case, why had she married me? Why had she so calmly accepted all my kindness? I bit down hard on my lip, unable to utter another plea for help. A large pool of red spread beneath me. It felt as if my body was trying to drain, forming a river of blood. My consciousness faded, and I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by agony.
“Ashley, your friend is here.” It was Mom’s voice. I shot up from my desk, my hands flying to my mouth and stomach. No blood, no pain. Mom was knocking on my bedroom door, reminding me. I was wearing my old high school uniform. Yet, the painful memories lingered in my mind, refusing to dissipate. I stood there, stunned, for a long time, trying to make sense of my situation. I had been reborn. In the living room, Serena and Julian sat somewhat awkwardly on our couch. Without a doubt, today was the day Serena would bring Julian to my house for tutoring. It was also the origin of all the suffering in my previous life. Seeing me emerge, Serena practically leaped to her feet. She asked, “Ashley, Julian’s academic foundation isn’t very strong. Can he join us during our tutoring sessions?” Julian watched me cautiously from the side, his brows slightly furrowed, as if the request embarrassed him. Serena gently patted his hand, signaling him to relax. I took in all these small gestures. Facing their hopeful gaze, I shook my head gently. “No.” In my previous life, that’s what happened: I refused Serena, and she started to hate me. Julian had transferred to our school in his senior year. He seemed clean-cut and refined. The first time he was introduced to the class, Serena’s eyes were drawn to him. Julian’s family wasn’t well-off either; he only had a disabled father. Perhaps it was a mutual affinity between two struggling souls, but Serena and Julian quickly became close. Julian, often struggling with his studies, would bring test papers covered in red marks and timidly sit next to Serena, asking, “Serena, could I ask you a question?” Serena would always take his papers and patiently explain the solutions, completely devoid of the impatience she showed when tutoring me. Once, Julian was upset because he placed last in physics. Serena pushed Julian’s deskmate aside, quietly sitting by him, tirelessly comforting him. By evening study hall, a thick packet of compiled basic knowledge points appeared on Julian’s desk. Classmates often said Serena and Julian were a perfect match, making my presence seem out of place. But my refusal had nothing to do with that. It was because three days before Serena brought Julian to my house, I accidentally overheard Julian talking to his friend in the restroom. “Julian, Serena seems really into you. Are you two dating?” Julian scoffed, his tone mocking. “Look how poor she is. Do I look like I’m tired of living a good life? She’s just a tool to help me with my studies.” “Nice, Julian. Ashley has to pay Serena to tutor him.” “Tsk, with Ashley’s brain, he won’t learn a damn thing. Just wait, I’ll completely steal Serena away from him.” Hearing those words, I trembled with anger in the restroom stall. At the time, Serena was so devoted to Julian every day, and it was senior year. I was afraid of upsetting her, so I never told her. I just subtly suggested that Serena keep her distance from Julian. That’s why when Serena asked if Julian could join our study sessions at my house, I immediately said no. Julian felt humiliated, ran out of my house, and didn’t see the traffic light intersection, resulting in one of his legs being crippled. Serena, her eyes red with fury, blamed me, secretly weaving a web of deceit around me. Everything I did had turned into self-serving martyrdom, costing me my entire youth and even my life. Now, I understood a crucial truth: let go of the urge to help, and respect others’ destinies.
Seeing my refusal, Serena became agitated. “Tutoring just you is one thing, but adding Julian to study together, why is that so impossible? “Ashley, this is a crucial stage for our studies. Can’t you be less selfish?” She was fuming, glaring at me, making me doubt my judgment of her all those years ago. In high school, Serena was brilliant and proud, but so poor she barely had enough to eat. Even though I hated studying, I paid her a high tutoring fee to help me with my lessons. It was all to protect her pride and self-esteem. After graduation, I brought her to my dad’s company for an internship, pulling strings to get her a project manager position. After we married, I completely handed the company over to her to manage. But despite everything I did, Serena still wanted me dead. How could I possibly repeat those mistakes now? At that moment, Julian cautiously looked up at me, feigning vulnerability. “Ashley, if I don’t get into college, my dad will force me to work. “I really want to keep studying. Could you please just save my life? I promise to repay you for the rest of my life.” Serena roared, “Do you want Julian to be practically driven to his death before you’re satisfied?” I quickly took a few steps back, putting distance between us, as if I feared catching something unclean. “What are you even saying? Your life is far too precious for me to bear such a burden.” I pulled out my phone and, right in front of them, SnapChatted Serena a thousand dollars. Serena’s SnapChat was still pinned at the top of my contacts. So annoying. “Your tutoring fee for this month is transferred. You don’t need to come anymore. “Spend the rest of your time focusing on tutoring your friend Julian. I won’t interfere.” Julian’s face lit up with joy, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Serena. But Serena didn’t respond to Julian. She watched my actions, her brows furrowed. She stared intently at me, her eyes filled with disbelief. “What did you say? You don’t want me to come anymore?” I was afraid she hadn’t understood, so I repeated myself. “Serena, you don’t need to come to my house to tutor me anymore. Julian needs your help more now, or he might not get into college and it’ll be the end of him.” “But… I’ve been tutoring you for two years. Aren’t you worried you’ll suddenly fail your exams?” Serena’s voice trembled slightly. “That’s none of your concern. You can go now.” In my previous life, even after Serena tutored me, I still ended up studying abroad just to pad my resume. My grades didn’t improve, and I was stuck with the label of having crippled Julian. Looking back, I was a total chump. Serena’s hands trembled, her fingertips white as she clenched them, and she gritted her teeth. “Fine, Ashley. Don’t you dare regret this!” With that, she angrily stormed off with Julian.
From that day on, Serena began to study with Julian even more conspicuously. Their discussions were often loud; I could hear them even with headphones on. I had also started studying seriously, though I was still in the phase of grasping basic concepts. Julian seemed unable to stand seeing me focus. He came over, waving a textbook where Serena had just highlighted key points, trying to provoke me. “Oh, Ashley’s finally studying, too? How’s it going, just trying to figure it out on your own? “I have Serena’s notes here with all the important bits highlighted. I could lend them to you for reference.” He waved the book around, a sneer on his face. “Oh, I apologize. I forgot. Serena isn’t willing to teach you anymore. “So, I guess I can’t lend you these materials for now.” Julian’s voice was sharp and grating, attracting the attention of many classmates, who glanced over at me. Even Serena, who usually paid no mind to such things, cast a cold look my way. I propped my chin on my hand, asking him with amusement, “Do you have this much time to worry about how others study? Why don’t you check your own single-digit physics score first?” Julian’s face flushed red, embarrassed and furious. Serena walked over and tapped my desk. “Care to step outside and talk?” Before I could refuse, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the classroom. Serena led me to the hallway, her lips pressed into a thin line. “If you’re willing to accept Julian, I can continue to tutor you.” Since I fired Serena, I heard she’d started working part-time in the cafeteria again. It seemed she was short on cash and was trying to get money from me again. She really thought I was a big idiot. “No, thanks.” I refused without hesitation. Serena’s eyes flared with anger. She grabbed my shoulders, her grip tight, and spat, “Things were fine before, weren’t they? I’ve tutored you for three years. Or is it because you mind Julian and I are too close? “Ashley, are you jealous, or are you just playing hard to get?” Quite a few students had gathered, watching Serena’s outburst, whispering and pointing at us. Serena was a girl, so I couldn’t just shake her off. I could only try to reason with her. “I genuinely don’t need you anymore. Just let go!” Serena’s eyes were fixed on me, forcing me to give her the answer she wanted. That obsessive gaze reminded me of the Serena who had poisoned me and kicked my stomach in my previous life. Sure enough, the seeds of extreme violence were already evident then. But back then, I saw her through rose-tinted glasses, and all her flaws were overlooked. Just then, someone came over and tapped Serena’s shoulder. “Hey, Serena, the ‘Academic Star,’ if someone says they don’t need your tutoring anymore, isn’t it kind of pathetic to keep hounding them for money?” I looked over, stunned. It was Blair, my deskmate, known for being a cold beauty.
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