Chapter 3
The thought still stung
But at least I come back, thadn’t cut ties with Dad yet there was still time.
This life I wasnt going to let Vanessa’s scheme succeed.
“Don’t cry, Skyler – Dad’s here. You’re safe.”
He patted my back like when I was a ldd.
That little gesture – so ordinary, so real felt amazing.
I silently cursed myself a dozen times.
How was I so stupid last time? How did I fall for an outsider’s lies and refuse to believe my own father?
“Honey, you finally made it. You should’ve heard the way Skyler talked to me → so cold.”
“I was just looking out for her and she snaps at me.”
“Dad, that’s not what I meant – Aunt Vanessa came home and didn’t check on me, she’d only been worrying about Bryce.”
Vanessa hurried to tack on: “Sweetheart, worrying about Bryce is worrying about Skyler too. She just won’t accept me as her aunt, I guess.”
Ugh–she gets to play saint and I’m the villain. Classic.
g
Dad frowned and looked at me. My stomach dropped – he’d probably bought Vanessa’s crap. Last life he’d let her poison our relationship so many times; the trust was gone.
“Shut up. Skyler isn’t that kind of person. She’s my daughter – I believe her.”
His words froze both Vanessa and me. None of us expected him to take my side.
“Robert, you… you’re breaking my heart.”
“In this house I’m the outsider, aren’t I? I’ve been nothing but loyal.”
Vanessa immediately covered her face and ran to her room bawling like she’d been crushed by some terrible injustice.
–
she played it well almost convincing.
‘Skyler, come with me.”
Dad’s voice went serious.
hesitated – something about him felt different since he came back.
n his study, Dad took a letter from the safe and handed it to me.
Seeing the signature at the bottom hit me in the gut.
It was my mother’s will.
“After your mom died, I married Vanessa to give her peace of mind.”
Reading the note made my vision blur.”
“I’d hated Dad for remarrying less than two years after Mom died. Now I saw it was what Mom wanted.
“She was scared we’d be a mess without someone to steady us.”
“I know your mother
1
if she’d seen us struggling she’d worry herself sick.”
“I didn’t want to remarry, really.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I asked.
“I wanted to wait until you were older, to find a better moment to explain.” he said.
I felt ridiculous.
In my last life i cut Dad off over this, and that opened the door for Vanessa to drive us apart. I wished I could scream at my past self for how blind I’d been.
“Don’t cry, skyter. I know those years were hard for you.”
Vanessa isn’t a good person. I’ve already decided to divorce her.”
wiped my tears, bewildered.
ast life Dad treated Vanessa like a queen; after 1 cut him off his relationship with her only got stronger.
o why did he suddenly call her out and with anger in his voice?
Listen to me – Bryce isn’t a good guy either. He deserves what happened to him. Before his true colors showed, you should have stepped away. Trust me.”
Why do you think that?” I asked, suspiciously. A feeling was rising in me.
ad sighed, eyes red.
If I told you I dreamed this – would you believe me?”
It sounded ridiculous to me at first, but the dream played out exactly like reality.”
The fire – it was planned by Bryce and Vanessa.”
Last time you burned to death and they cashed in on a huge insurance payout.”
Dad wanted to get revenge when he found out, but he fell into their trap… later…”
le didn’t finish. I knew the rest.
Dad – it’s true. I remember. I’ve been reborn.”
ad hadn’t been reborn, but he suddenly had the knowledge of what happened last time.
le froze, staring at me in disbelief.
5–Sky… Skyler, what are you saying?”
Dad, I’m not letting those two get away with it this time. Don’t divorce Vanessa yet
–
not now.”
smiled coldly.
ryce and Vanessa owed me
–
and I planned to collect, down to the last cent.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.