Her Turn to Break the Rules

The liquid splashed onto my face, igniting a searing, all-consuming pain that seemed to fuse with my skin.

My vision blurred and never returned.

In an instant, I plummeted from heaven to hell.

…

Snapping back to reality, I loosened my grip and watched as Linda collapsed weakly to the floor, her innocent, doe-eyed face now smeared with filth.

I couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“Go ahead! Cry, scream! Show the world that face and tell them I bullied you. Do it!”

My voice rose sharply at the end.

The memory of the acid burning away my features in my previous life flashed through my mind.

Overwhelmed with rage, I stomped on her face twice before finally turning to leave.

…

Downstairs by the school building, my desk mate, Rachel Summers, was waiting for me.

“PE class started ages ago. What were you doing up there?”

I replied casually, “Oh, just bullying the new girl.”

She turned to me in shock. “What?!”

I smirked. “As the saying goes, if the whole world thinks you’re a bully, you might as well become one.”

“Who even said that…?”

“That’s not the point.”

As we reached the edge of the sports field, we ran straight into Alec.

He wasn’t in my class, but everyone in school knew he was my childhood sweetheart and boyfriend.

Alec’s gaze flicked from my face to something behind me, lingering briefly.

“Sierra, why are you so late? Oh, by the way, I heard there’s a new transfer student in your class?”

In my previous life, every time Linda smeared my reputation, Alec would always make me apologize to her, brushing the matter aside.

He seemed to be on my side, but with just a few words, he cemented the accusation that I was a bully.

The thought sent a surge of anger through me, and without warning, I raised my hand and slapped him.

“Oh my god!”

Rachel stood frozen in shock once again.

Alec’s expression didn’t change.

His gaze cooled for a moment, but it was fleeting as if the slap hadn’t even happened.

Instead, he leaned in close, his cheek brushing lightly against mine as he whispered, “What’s wrong, Sierra? Feeling upset?”

…

In my previous life, it wasn’t until much later that I learned the truth.

As a child, Alec’s mother abandoned him at an amusement park. He spent some time in an orphanage, where he met a bright, cheerful little girl.

She shared a bed with him and gave him a piece of candy.

She became the only light in his otherwise dark life.

That light was Linda.

And on her very first day as a transfer student, Alec recognized her immediately.

He believed every word Linda said about me bullying her, harboring a deep hatred for me ever since.

But because of his status as an illegitimate child, Alec had no choice but to swallow his pride and curry favor with me.

He needed our marriage to solidify his position in the family.

Thinking of this, I said coldly, “Let’s break up.”

His eyes widened suddenly. “Why? Give me a reason, Sierra.”

I pulled out a tissue and carefully wiped the part of my cheek where his touch lingered.

“I don’t want to date the son of a mistress. It feels dirty. Is that reason good enough?”

…

After leaving, Rachel nervously asked if I had been possessed.

I wasn’t surprised by her question.

After all, back in high school, I was so openly and passionately in love with Alec.

I’d wait for him after school every day so we could walk home together.

I’d bake cookies for him until my hands were covered in burns, still smiling as I handed them over.

My affection for him was so obvious that the whole world knew.

But things were different now.

The Sierra Wood who had just started her senior year of high school was already dead.

Standing here now was a reborn Sierra Wood, stronger and sharper.

…

For the rest of the day, Linda didn’t show her face again.

I knew her well enough. Her greatest pride was that flawless face of hers. If she couldn’t make full use of it, she wouldn’t act so easily.

I had all the patience in the world to wait.

Soon, Saturday arrived, marking my eighteenth birthday.