Chapter 2

"Eleanor, I really appreciate your help. Skylar's the same age as your Mia, and taking care of one kid is the same as taking care of two, right? I'll transfer the living expenses to your account every month, so please bear with us."

Looking at the familiar SnapChat message from my husband's brother, David, and the $100 deposit notification in my banking app,

I finally confirmed I'd been reborn.

I couldn't help but chuckle at that $100.

They really had it all figured out.

Because my daughter was in her senior year, and I'm a freelance writer with a flexible schedule,

I'd rented an apartment near the school so Mia could commute.

David and his wife, Brenda, found out and used the excuse of going out of state for work to send Skylar to live with me.

Then they said they'd give me $100 a month for her living expenses.

I knew that $100 wasn't even enough for her food.

Not to mention all the extra expenses a teenage girl has.

But she was family, a child I'd watched grow up since she was tiny.

Could I really have refused?

And just like that, Skylar moved in.

Fearing the young girl would overthink things,

I told her that her parents sent me money for her living expenses every month—though I didn't tell her how much—and encouraged her to treat this place like her own home.

And anything my daughter had, I'd buy one for her too.

From small things like a single pen or school supply,

to larger expenses like pocket money and tutoring classes.

I never once treated her poorly just because she wasn't my biological daughter.

At first, when she volunteered to do chores, I'd even refuse.

But later, I worried she'd feel useless and hurt her pride, so I agreed to let her do some light, quick tasks.

Ultimately, both girls got into Harvard, and I was incredibly proud.

I felt all the effort I'd put into caring for them both had paid off.

But I never imagined it was all one-sided, my own wishful thinking.

And that I'd raised an ungrateful viper.

The memory of being cyberbullied and dying a terrible death in my previous life flashed through my mind.

This time, I wouldn't go soft on her again.