Chapter 3

Four:

But Chester wouldn't hear a word of it. He let out a cold snort.

"Don't twist it around. If you hadn't gone banging pots and drums looking for Madge, her name wouldn't be ruined!"

"Here's what I've decided. Madge can't marry Godfrey just because of your mess. You're going to go out there and admit it. Admit that you and Godfrey are the ones seeing each other."

"Madge only went out there to look for you!"

"You were the one scared of getting caught, so you dumped Madge out there on purpose and then turned around and dragged half the town out to gawk at her!"

I froze for a second. That version of things. Why was it exactly the same as last life?

I looked up quickly.

"Everyone was there that night. And Madge and Godfrey both admitted it to each other's faces. If I go out and say otherwise now, how could anyone believe me?"

"And even if they did believe me, then what happens to me?"

"Madge's name matters. Doesn't mine count for anything?"

Emily rolled her eyes at me.

"As long as you say it, people will believe it."

"As for your name, don't you worry about that. Once you admit it, we'll have you marry Godfrey, and Madge will take your place and go off to college out of state."

"You don't lose anything either. Haven't you always been sweet on Godfrey anyway? College may not even come to anything. Being with the man you love, now that's worth something."

I laughed to myself, cold and quiet.

If college was worthless, then why, in that life and in this one, did they always have to send Madge?

But I had already been reborn, so nothing in front of me came as a surprise.

Chester and Emily had always treated Madge Roy, orphaned young, better than they treated me. If Madge hadn't insisted last night that she'd gone willingly, they'd have forced me to confess right then.

In their plan.

Whether anyone believed it didn't matter at all.

As long as I married Godfrey, Madge could take my place and go to college. Once she was far away, out from under anyone's eye, nothing that happened in this little village would touch her.

As for what became of me afterward.

That wasn't anywhere in their thoughts.

Five:

Just like last life.

They'd known perfectly well that Madge hadn't come home that night because she was out in the cornfield, and yet they never woke her. They turned around and went home instead, and lied to me to send me out looking for her.

They let me walk straight into Madge's trap.

Back then I explained myself until I had no breath left, and still they backed up Madge's false story.

"This girl's had a thing for Godfrey for the longest time. We just never dreamed she'd be this shameless."

"There's nothing for it now but to let the two of them marry. Otherwise, how are we supposed to live in this village afterward?"

And when Godfrey refused back then, they threatened him. If he wouldn't marry me, they'd call the police and have him hauled off.

They pushed all of it onto me, just because I liked Godfrey, so nothing I said made any difference. I had no choice but to marry him, and it all ended in ruin for me...

But I'd clawed my way back into this life. Why would I ever agree to be their stepping stone again?

I was about to refuse outright.

Then a flicker at the edge of my sight. I saw two figures standing in the doorway.

So I swallowed the refusal back down.

"But even if I really do admit it, will Madge and Godfrey go along with it?"

Chester and Emily frowned.

They weren't surprised I'd think that. After all, last night Madge and Godfrey had stood there with their fingers laced together, both swearing it was by choice.

Still, the two of them just waved it off.

"That's nothing for you to worry about."

"Madge has a kind heart. She knows you like Godfrey, and she's willing to give him up to you."

"As for Godfrey, he's got no way to fight it. If he refuses, we'll go to the police and say he forced himself on you. Death or a wife, he'll know which one to pick."

"It all comes down to you now. You wronged Madge. You can't just walk away from that."

Hearing this.

I put on a frightened, bashful look and nodded.

"Then... then... I'll do whatever you say, Mom and Dad."