Part 1Blood Ties and Bitter Lies.

My five-year-old daughter is a master of deception.

I took her back-to-school shopping, and in the middle of a crowded mall, she screamed at the top of her lungs that I was a kidnapper. I was nearly hauled off to a precinct in handcuffs.

When we got home, before I could even open my mouth, she collapsed into her father’s arms, sobbing.

"Daddy, Mommy wouldn't buy me my supplies! She hit me in the street!"

I tried to explain the truth to my husband, but he didn't even let me finish. He backhanded me across the face, his eyes burning with rage.

"She’s five! Why would she lie? How can you be so cruel to your own flesh and blood?"

Later, when I dropped her off at school, she fell to her knees in front of all the other parents.

"Mommy, please let me go to school! I don't want to take those pictures for those men anymore!"

The teacher snatched my phone and found it filled with suggestive, horrifying photos of my daughter.

Enraged parents pushed me into traffic. I was crushed instantly, a bloody mess on the asphalt.

As I died, I couldn't understand: Why? Why would the daughter I carried for nine months do this to me?

Then, I opened my eyes. I was back at the beginning of that shopping trip.

* * *

"Everly, honey, Mommy and Daddy are going to take you to get your school supplies today. We’re going to make you the happiest little princess in the world."

My daughter didn't even look at my husband, Mark. She stepped forward and grabbed my sleeve.

"Daddy, I want to go with Mommy. All the other girls have their moms with them. You stay here and work, okay?"

Everly had been raised by her grandmother in a small rural town and had only recently moved back to the city with us.

Mark, feeling guilty about her childhood away from us, couldn't say no.

"Honey, I’ll Venmo you some extra cash. Buy her whatever she wants. She’s still little, and we owe her for the time we missed."

Hearing those familiar words, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant fist. I could barely breathe.

I realized I had been reborn.

In my past life, I listened to Mark. I happily took Everly to the mall.

At the store, Everly insisted on buying a sharp box cutter. I told her it was too dangerous. She smiled sweetly and agreed, saying kids shouldn't play with blades.

I was so relieved. I thought she was finally warming up to me.

But as we walked toward the exit, she suddenly threw herself onto the floor.

She wailed, "Don't take me! Help! She’s a kidnapper! Help me!"

The mall was packed. Hearing her screams, a crowd swarmed us. I desperately tried to explain, and just as a few people seemed to believe me, Everly pointed a trembling finger at me.

"She really is! She’s trying to take me away!"

The police arrived. I was detained and questioned for hours before being released.

I couldn't fathom why my "sweet" girl would tell such a monstrous lie. I was furious. I wanted to discipline her.

But the moment we stepped through the front door, she beat me to it. She flew into Mark’s arms.