Part 2Reborn, I Told My Daughter to Say No to Her Poor Roommate

I went to the university the next morning.

Ms. Vance, Mr. Bennett, the director of undergraduate studies, Chloe, and Chloe’s mother were seated in a conference room.

Trevor was there too. He said that as cohort representative, he was concerned about a fellow student’s welfare.

The instant Chloe saw me, she stood and bowed her head.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Frost. I didn’t mean to cause Nina so much trouble.”

Her eyes were red, and the cuffs of her old sweatshirt had faded from repeated washing. She looked sensible, fragile, and desperately unfortunate.

I did not comfort her or respond to the performance.

I slid the written notice across the table.

“If you want the bed, sign this first.”

Chloe’s face stiffened when she saw the words audio recorder.

She looked up at me. “Don’t you trust me, Ms. Frost?”

Mr. Bennett frowned. Ms. Vance looked embarrassed.

Trevor spoke in a gentle voice. “Ms. Frost, Chloe is having a hard time. She isn’t a criminal. Won’t conditions like these put even more pressure on her?”

I turned to him.

“Since you’re so worried about her, Trevor, would you like to ask the university if she can move into your house?”

His smile faded slightly.

“I only think classmates shouldn’t be this suspicious of each other.”

“Your opinion does not make you responsible for the consequences my daughter might face.”

I looked back at Chloe.

“You don’t have to sign. But if you don’t, you don’t move in.”

Her mother immediately became anxious.

“Sign it, Chloe. The university has approved everything. What does one signature matter?”

Chloe bit her lip, lowered her head, and signed.

After the paperwork was completed, I took Nina aside near the athletic field.

There were dark circles beneath her eyes. She had clearly been awake most of the night.

“Mom, I understand why we needed the paperwork. But did we make this more confrontational than it had to be?”

My chest tightened.

She had been the same in my first life. Even under attack, she still stopped to ask herself whether she had handled the situation fairly.

I took her hand.

“Nina, remember five things.

“First, do not handle any of Chloe’s personal problems alone.

“Second, do not give her cash or accept cash from her.

“Third, if she cries, call the residence director. If she’s sick, call the campus health center. If she threatens to hurt herself, call her advisor.

“Fourth, update the dorm log every day. Record facts, not feelings.

“Fifth, do not be afraid of people calling you cold.”

She looked up at me.

“Mom, it feels like you’re guarding against something.”

“I am. I’m making sure no one can twist your kindness into a weapon.”

“And if they keep calling those boundaries cruel?”

“Then let them talk.” I tightened my hand around hers. “We need evidence, not their approval.”

Chloe moved into the room that evening.

The first thing she did was leave three suitcases across the walkway.

“I have a lot of things, Nina,” she said quietly. “Please don’t be annoyed. I’ll put them away little by little.”

In my first life, Nina had spent the entire evening helping her unpack.

Later, Chloe claimed that Nina had rummaged through her clothes while mocking how cheap they were.

This time, Nina did not touch a thing.

She opened the dorm log and wrote:

September 7. Chloe Pratt moved in. Luggage is obstructing the shared walkway. She has been asked to clear it. Assistance from the residence director is available.

Chloe’s voice changed.

“You have to write that down too?”

“It’s required by the notice,” Nina said.

The next day, Chloe broke a drinking glass.

She clutched her hand, and tears appeared instantly.

“Nina, did you just bump into me?”

Nina did not argue. She called the residence director at once.

“Ms. Moore, Chloe cut her hand and a glass broke. Could you come and document what happened?”

Chloe went pale.

“It’s such a small thing. We don’t need to bother her, do we?”

“Someone was injured,” Nina said calmly. “We need an adult here.”

The residence director examined the glass on the floor and the open door of Chloe’s cabinet.

Her report read: Glass broken while Chloe Pratt was organizing personal belongings. Minor cut disinfected and treated.

On the third day, Chloe asked to borrow money.

“Nina, there’s nothing left on my meal card. Could you lend me two hundred dollars? Cash would be better. Please don’t tell anyone.”

Nina took out her phone.

“I’ll send it electronically and label the transfer as a loan.”

Chloe bit her lip.

“That label would be humiliating.”

Nina put her phone away.

“Then I won’t lend it to you.”

In the end, Chloe accepted the transfer.

The note was unambiguous: Two hundred dollars in living expenses borrowed at Chloe Pratt’s request. To be repaid at the end of the month.

When she accepted the money, her stare was ice-cold.

Looking at the screenshot Nina sent me, I knew Chloe would not be able to restrain herself much longer.