She Killed Me Once , This Time, I Choose Myself

My husband's sister had been kidnapped, and the abductors were demanding ransom. I was supposed to deliver the $500,000 to save her.

Instead, I donated every cent to charity.

When Luke found out, the color drained from his face. He screamed at me.

"Have you lost your mind? That money was supposed to save Sophia's life!"

In my previous life, I'd taken that ransom and gone to save her. She repaid me by driving a knife into my chest.

In that moment, there hadn't been a shred of fear on her face. She'd smiled, triumphant and gleaming with satisfaction.

"Just because I called you 'sister-in-law,' you actually thought you mattered? Without you, Luke would've married me a long time ago. But don't worry. I'll take good care of your daughter. In a few days, she'll be coming down to join you."

Afterward, Luke helped Sophia fabricate a false testimony and fled the country with her.

Days after my funeral, they got their marriage license.

My mother killed herself. Depression. She left behind only my disabled brother, who spent every day fighting to clear my name.

Then I opened my eyes, and I was back. Back to the day Sophia demanded the ransom.

……

Sophia's lackey called me, told me to bring the $500,000 to an abandoned construction site on the edge of town.

I hung up. Then I wired the money to a charity.

The notification chime confirming the transfer made Luke Simmons go rigid.

He snatched the phone from my hand.

His face went white. He shouted, voice cracking with fury.

In my previous life, I'd been so worried about Luke's panic that I grabbed the cash and rushed straight to that construction site. Sophia killed me with her own hands.

In that moment, there hadn't been a shred of fear on her face. She'd smiled, triumphant and gleaming.

Luke helped Sophia fabricate her testimony and took her out of the country.

My mother killed herself. Depression. She left behind only my disabled brother, fighting alone to clear my name.

Then I opened my eyes again, and I was back. Back to the day Sophia demanded the ransom.

...

"Marlene Barnes, do you understand that was Sophia's lifeline? Why would you do this?"

The man who was always so composed now had reddened eyes. He stared at me, brimming with accusation and disbelief.

He demanded to know why I'd done it.

Not once did he ask if I was safe.

Not once did he wonder whether the kidnappers might kill the hostage. Whether they might come after me.

Just like in my previous life. I'd gone there to deliver the ransom. So why had I been the one who died?

Why had I lain dead for three full hours before anyone noticed?

Why had the kidnappers taken Sophia, yet the person they killed was me?

Luke Simmons had never thought about any of it.

Instead, afraid my corpse might upset Sophia, he'd rushed to have me cremated.

Ten years of marriage. That was when I finally understood: to him, my life had never been worth a thing.

Hatred flooded through me, seeping into every bone, every nerve. I looked at him. Calm. Steady.

On the video call, Sophia Simmons's wailing started up again.

"Luke! Marlene! Please help me, he's hitting me, it hurts so bad! Save me! Please, save me!"

Tears streaked her face. She looked lost, helpless, like a lamb waiting for slaughter.

Eleanor Simmons burst into tears and started pounding her small fists against me, one after another.

"Mommy's mean! I hate you, Mommy! You're a bad person! A bad person! Why won't you save Auntie?"

I let out a cold laugh. This was the wonderful daughter I'd raised.

The daughter I'd endured months of spinal injections to bring into this world.

Too bad they were all worried for nothing.

Because Sophia was never going to die.

She'd tried to kill my baby long before this. Back when I was still pregnant with Ellie, she'd brought me a bowl laced with something meant to destroy my child.