After My Best Friend Destroyed My Family, I was Reborn

In my previous life, I only found out about my parents' divorce after my mother passed away.

They had split during my college years, but kept it under wraps, pretending all was well.

I'm not sure when Olivia started seeing my dad, but it definitely wasn't after they divorced.

Distressed, Dad whisked Olivia away. As they passed, he softly warned my mom, "If you start spouting nonsense again, I won't let it slide."

I looked up just in time to see my father disappearing down the stairs.

A flicker of smugness crossed Olivia's face.

She rarely showed this side, at least not around me.

Previously, she always played the part of the poor, fragile innocent around me.

Well, it seemed she didn't need to anymore.

In my past life, I was fooled by such facades.

But now, with a second chance, there's no way I'll fall for that again.

After helping my mom back home, I was ready for some rest, but suddenly the door burst open.

Dad stormed in, his face stone-cold, and glanced at my mom and me without a trace of affection.

"I don't need to remind you who owns this house, do I?"

The dreaded moment had arrived as expected.

This is where my nightmare started in my previous life.

"Jim Anderson, do you have to be so cruel?"

Mom was devastated and looked at him in disbelief, but Dad, unflinching, said coldly, "I don't want to see you again in three days. After that, I need to be here to care for Olivia's pregnancy."

Olivia, clutching her belly, stepped forward, her usual softness replaced by a stern look, "Lily, I know you can't accept me, but I didn't wreck your parents' marriage."

"We got together after your father was already divorced..."

Olivia tried to explain further, but my father cut her off and looked at me sternly, "Why are you telling her this? We should just be together."

I stood up, grabbed Olivia before anyone could react, and started slapping her repeatedly.

SNAP!

SNAP!

SNAP!

SNAP!

"What are you doing!"

My father roared and shoved me aside. I lost my balance and fell.

He didn't have time to worry about me. He held Olivia in his arms, distressed, "Olivia, are you okay?"

Olivia, tearless yet visibly shaken, had her pale face covered in red slap marks, which oddly made her look healthier.

She shook her head helplessly, biting her lip while staring at me.

My father turned around, picked me up, and slapped me hard across the face.

"Olivia is your best friend. She's always considered your feelings. What about you?"

His eyebrows knitted in fury. "After we got together, she was scared you wouldn't accept it, so she asked me to keep it a secret. Even when she was pregnant, she didn't dare tell you. How could you be so ungrateful!"

I laughed out loud. It was absurd how the mistress felt sorry for the daughter of the original wife.

Mom pushed Dad away and said in a trembling voice, "Jim Anderson, why did you hit Lily? She is your daughter!"

Dad sneered, his gaze softening as it fell on Olivia, "We've been married for years, and you couldn't even give me a son, but Olivia gave me twins."

He looked at his wife, her face etched with sorrow, and said calmly, "Since we've been married so long, I'll give you a few more days. If I still see you here after a week, don't blame me for being harsh."

Mom suddenly laughed, a mixture of misery and defiance, "I leave? Don't forget who owns this house!"

Shocked, I looked at my mother, a chill running down my spine recalling my past life.

Dad pursed his lips and hesitantly added, "You bought this after we married. It's joint property. Even if we get divorced, it doesn't belong to you alone."

I stared at my father, feeling something shatter inside me.

"Get out! Get out right now!"

Olivia looked at my mother and me with barely perceptible cruelty in her eyes.

But when she turned to me, the cruelty vanished, replaced by a look of grievance and helplessness.

I saw it all, and hated myself for not seeing the obvious malice before.

Dad left dejectedly with Olivia, and the house returned to silence.

My mother locked herself in her room. I sat quietly on the sofa, but a bottle of perfume on the table triggered memories of the past.

Back in college, Olivia and I shared a dorm with Susan Carter and another girl.

Susan, despite the fact that she and Olivia came from the same town, often looked down on Olivia, mocking her both openly and subtly. We argued many times over this.

I vividly remember one time Susan's boyfriend got her a bottle of perfume, which she always worn.

One day after Susan sprayed her perfume, she complained about a strange odor on her.

She suspected Olivia had tampered with it, but without proof, the issue remained unresolved.

Details had faded out of my mind, but I could still recall Susan's words to me.

"If you help her now, you will regret it later."

I flipped through my address book and found Susan Carter's number.

"I told you ages ago her private life was a mess, but you just wouldn't listen."