Part 1The High School Sweetheart's Betrayal

The day before the SATs, Ethan, my childhood friend, met a party girl named Bella at a bar. She invited him to celebrate his 18th birthday with her.

Ethan, who usually prioritized his studies above all else, surprisingly agreed.

Earlier that day, I had accidentally overheard Bella talking to her friend in the restroom:

"Tonight, I'm going to make sure Ethan has the time of his life! He won't even make it to the SATs tomorrow!"

So, in my past life, when Ethan mentioned his plans, I tried desperately to stop him.

But all I got in return was his mockery:

"Maya, Bella planned this party for my 18th birthday. Just because you're a coward who won't celebrate with me doesn't mean you can stop me from pursuing my happiness."

For the sake of his future, I ignored his insults and secretly told his parents.

That night, Ethan's parents locked him in his room and personally escorted him to the exam center the next day.

Ethan got into an Ivy League school as he wished.

But Bella, because her plan failed, got drunk and was assaulted by strangers. Unable to bear the trauma, she jumped from the 33rd floor and died instantly.

When Ethan heard the news, he broke down completely.

He invited me to his house, pretended to make amends, and then drugged me to create compromising evidence. After I left, he called the police and accused me of sexual assault.

My future was ruined. My parents, unable to withstand the cyberbullying, committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning at home.

Ethan stood outside my house, coldly recording my parents' dying moments.

He brought the recording to visit me in prison.

"Maya, I want your whole family to pay for Bella's life!"

The shock gave me a heart attack, and I died in prison...

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day before the SATs.

I looked at Ethan, who was chatting excitedly about his birthday party tonight, and smiled.

In this life, I'll let him do whatever he wants...

* * *

"Maya, what's with that attitude?! Can you not be so sensitive just because there's a girl around me?!"

The familiar voice snapped me back to reality.

I looked down at my hands, free of handcuffs, and then at Ethan, who was pointing at me...

I was really reborn!

In my past life, today was the day I stopped Ethan from going out with Bella to celebrate his 18th birthday.

Ethan got into his dream school, but Bella died tragically.

After hearing the news, Ethan pretended to be nice, lured me to his house, stripped off his clothes, filmed a video, and posted it online. Then he called the police, accusing me of assault.

I was thrown in jail. My parents, hounded by cyberbullies, committed suicide.

Ethan stood outside our door, filming their death throes with a smile, then left.

The next day, he visited me in prison, played the video, and screamed at me:

"Maya, if you hadn't stopped me, Bella wouldn't have died! My grades were always perfect. Even if I went out with Bella the night before, I would have still gotten into an Ivy! You selfish bitch! Bella died for nothing, and I want your whole family to pay!"

He knew I had a congenital heart condition.

So, the moment I saw the video and my heart gave out, I saw the smile lingering on his lips...

The chilling memory made my face pale.

"Come on, Ethan, you have to understand Maya. She's the top student, too scared to go out and have fun. It's normal for her to be jealous that Bella gets to go out with you..."

Ethan's friend's words pulled me back.

Ethan looked at me with a sneer, then patted his friend's shoulder proudly:

"Bella said she prepared a huge surprise for my 18th birthday tonight. I'm really looking forward to it. Celebrating with such a beautiful girl... I'm sure I'll perform even better tomorrow..."

I laughed inwardly.

This morning, I overheard Bella and her friend talking in the restroom:

"I'm going to play with Ethan all night tonight. Don't disturb us!"

"He has the SATs tomorrow! Don't go too crazy!"

"SATs? Once he's my man, he won't be taking any exams. If he goes to college, he'll forget about me..."

It was because of this conversation that I tried so hard to stop Ethan.

This wasn't a birthday celebration; it was a trap to ruin his life...

But Ethan didn't know good from bad.

Thinking of this, I looked up at the smug Ethan and smiled.

"Go ahead, Ethan. I also believe that with a beauty like Bella accompanying you tonight, you'll definitely perform beyond expectations tomorrow."