Chapter 5

It was my homeroom teacher.

She had overheard some students talking about the "prank" on her way out of school and had rushed over to stop it.

It was only when she took me into the girls' bathroom to check my bruises that I finally let out a loud, gut-wrenching sob.

She patted my head gently.

"I’m going to call your parents right now. Don't worry, they will be severely punished."

She called Robert first. But before she could even explain, Robert snapped that he was busy working overtime and hung up.

So she called Sarah. The moment she said, "Amber was assaulted at school," Sarah replied in a completely uncaring tone:

"Are her bones broken? She’s a special-needs kid; it’s normal for her to be isolated."

"It’s fine, teacher. Amber will forget everything by tomorrow anyway. She won't cause any trouble for the school."

The teacher gasped, completely furious.

"This is a young girl’s safety and dignity! How can you be so irresponsible as a mother?!"

"If you don't come down here right now, I am calling the police and having them bring you in!"

Half an hour later, Sarah finally showed up at the office.

The boys hadn't had time to delete the video before the teacher snatched their phones. With undeniable proof, every single one of them was suspended.

Mr. Miller, fearing legal trouble, immediately wanted to cut all ties with our family to protect his son.

To protect me, the principal offered to transfer me to a different class.

On the way home, I walked with a heavy limp behind Sarah. She suddenly stopped and turned around, looking extremely annoyed.

"What are you crying for? The doctor said they're just minor scratches."

"You got into a prestigious school, and you don't have to marry Toby anymore. Isn't this a blessing in disguise?"

"Tomorrow, your dad and I will finish the divorce paperwork. I’ll move out with Leo, so you’d better start looking out for yourself."

My body was in agonizing pain, but my heart was breaking even more.

I thought I was just switching parents. Why did it have to be this cruel?

Did she really not love me at all anymore?

I looked up, staring directly into her cold eyes.

"Mom, is it because you think my illness makes me a burden? Is that why you don't want me?"

She pursed her lips, staying silent.

I clenched my fists, a fire burning hot in my chest.

"But I’m really, completely cured."

"In our last life, I was supposed to die in that rental apartment because of brain atrophy. But the moment I woke up here, I remembered everything."

"I know you came back from the future too. I recognize all your expressions, all your habits."

The coldness in Sarah’s eyes flickered for a fraction of a second, but she quickly turned her face away.

"You’re insane. I don't know what you're talking about."

Tears streamed down my face.

"I know how hard it was for you in our past life, Mom. That's why I was going to let you go."

"But I don't want to live with Robert. What if he tries to sell me again?"

"Mom, I love you so much. I just want to be with you. Didn't you always say that as long as you had me, it was enough?"

During our poorest days, we lived in a damp basement, sharing a single pack of instant noodles.

She would put the noodles in my bowl, and I would feed her the first bite.

She would hold me tight, laughing, "Amber is such a good girl. You are Mom's favorite person in the world."

At the mention of our past, Sarah’s body shivered slightly.

Her eyes welled up with tears, and her warm palm instinctively covered the back of my hand.

Hope flared in my chest. I gripped her hand tightly.

I was just about to warn her about how Leo’s gambling would eventually ruin Robert and drive our family to ruin.

But in the next second, she violently shook my hand off, pushing me away with immense force.

"Enough!"