Reborn From The Poison We Call Love

I suddenly opened my eyes. Before me was the familiar car interior, the scent of gardenia perfume my mother Jennifer Parker always wore lingering at my nose. The highway signs outside the window blurred past at lightning speed; the sign reading "30 miles to the city" flickered so fast it made my head spin. Shouldn't I be in the hospital morgue? After the engagement banquet in my previous life, Ryan Edwards' father died of anger, his mother was seriously injured after banging her head against the wall, and Ryan, distracted while driving, crashed through the guardrail, plunging both himself and the car into the river. When I went to identify the body, I was hit by an out-of-control truck. I pinched my thigh sharply with my fingers; a stabbing pain shot through. This isn't a dream. I had truly been reborn, back to the day before the engagement banquet, sitting in my father John Parker's car on the way to a hotel in the neighboring city to confirm the banquet arrangements. Memories from my past life surged in like a tidal wave. On the day of the engagement banquet, Jennifer pulled out a crumpled pink paper right in front of all the guests. She claimed it was proof that I had secretly undergone hymen restoration surgery, called me shameless, and tearfully begged Ryan's family to show some leniency. Ryan's father, who had a severe heart condition, clutched his chest in anger and lost his breath before the ambulance even arrived. Ryan's mother, almost mad, slammed herself against the corner of the wall, blood streaming down her forehead. Ryan was holding his father's corpse, his eyes so empty it was terrifying. Later, while driving, probably still reeling from the shock, he got into a car accident. Our two families were destroyed just like that by my mother Jennifer. Why did she do it? It wasn't until later that I understood: she was afraid that once I married into the Edwards family, they would look down on her as a "rural-born" relative. So she tried to expose the family's dirty laundry first to gain sympathy and portray me as someone who seems needed the Edwards family's acceptance, hoping to gain the upper hand in negotiating the betrothal gifts. How ridiculous, how malicious. The car pulled off the highway, and my father John glanced my way. "Barbra, your mom said to downgrade tomorrow's banquet by a level to save money for your brother Bill's game console. What do you think?" I stared at my father's simple, honest face, and a cold shiver ran through me. In my past life, I was too obedient; I listened to Jennifer and agreed to downgrade the banquet. Though Ryan's family said nothing, the guests whispered behind my back that I was marrying beneath myself. This time, I won't let her get her way. Jennifer sat in the passenger seat and, before I could say a word, cut me off: "What does a girl know? If we can save money, we should. Your brother Bill's taking his college entrance exam next year and really needs it!" I curled my lips slightly, my voice calm but sharp: "Mom, the engagement banquet is a once-in-a-lifetime event. If it's held too shabbily, people will say the Edwards family looks down on our family, and they'll also say that you, as a mother, don't value your daughter. " Jennifer was momentarily stunned, probably not expecting me to push back against her. She turned to glare at me, "What are you saying? How you dare talk back to me?" I didn't say another word, just stared out the window. Jennifer, in my past life, you dragged both me and the Edwards family straight to hell. This time, I'll make sure you truly savor the misery of having your secrets exposed. The car stopped at the hotel entrance. I opened the door and took a deep breath. The script of revenge is about to begin.