Chapter 4

That bad feeling welled up in my heart again.

If it wasn't Tammy,

then why did every single detail point to her?

And if it was...

No, it couldn't be!

In my last life, Tammy was framed, and there was even less chance of that in this one.

I felt like I was caught in a huge whirlpool,

as if all these details, everyone around me, wanted to push Tammy and me off a cliff.

I couldn't figure out why,

but I knew one thing clearly.

At this moment, I was Tammy's only support.

Living a second life, I absolutely could not repeat the same mistakes.

Thinking of the bitter lesson from my last life, I went instantly cold and calm.

I looked at the several people who had already closed in around me,

tugged the corner of my mouth into a faint smile, and spoke evenly.

"Fine. Since everyone has their own version, then let's call the police."

The words had barely left my mouth

when Theodore flew into a rage.

"Myrtle Winfield, has your brain gone bad?!"

"We're clearly one family—this is something we can settle at home! Why would you call the police?"

"Tammy is so young. If the police come and she ends up charged with assault, how is she ever supposed to hold her head up at school again?!"

Seeing this, my mother-in-law stepped forward to talk me down too.

"Myrtle, Theodore's right. We're all family, and it's not that big a deal. Just hand Tammy over and let her apologize to Leo and Dora. Worst case, we let Leo push her down the stairs too, and that's the end of it. Why get the police involved? There's really no need..."

"Exactly."

My sister-in-law came forward to talk me out of it as well.

"Sister-in-law, I'm not trying to lecture you, but all that studying's turned you into a fool. It's obvious Tammy did this. What, you're her mother and you want to send your own daughter away? Everyone's giving you room to work with—don't lose track of right and wrong yourself!"

I let out a cold laugh inside.

They really were mother and son.

In my last life, Theodore's exact words had been,

"Apologies are useless. Do what Dora said—a leg for a leg."

And then, with a look of pure resolve, he pushed Tammy down the stairs.

Facing Tammy's body,

the Sanchez family and Dora all swore in one voice that it was an accident.

Tammy died wronged, full of resentment.

In this life, I'd be the fool if I listened to them.

"Right, Myrtle, there's really no need to call the police..."

Dora stepped forward to talk me out of it too.

I flung Dora's hand off me.

Living a second life, this absolutely could not end in the same muddle as before.

Human or monster,

whatever had actually happened here,

I had to get to the bottom of it.

Even if Tammy really had hurt Leo in some reckless act,

I was willing to accept the consequences.

But I would not just let it drop, unexplained and unclear!

I quickly stepped aside and, without hesitation, dialed 911.

The police arrived fast.

Before I could get a word out, Dora rushed up and grabbed one officer's hand, sobbing as she spoke.

"Officer, please, you have to give me justice! Just an hour ago, my son was maliciously pushed down the stairs, and now both his legs are broken. Please, you have to punish whoever did this!"

The officer looked at Dora and spoke calmly.

"Who pushed your son down the stairs?"

"It was this little girl!"

Dora pulled out her phone, found a photo of her daughter, and held it up in front of the officer.

"It's her! She's a born bad seed!"

"I have proof!"

The officer took the phone.

The instant his eyes landed on the screen, his pupils shrank violently...