Chapter 2 

Seeing me cat peacefully, Matthew finally relaxed and smiled. [] 

“Babe, you go ahead and eat. Our daughter said she’s craving some chicken soup, so I’ll head to the market and see if I can find a fresh chicken.” || 

As soon as Matthew left. I quickly called my daughter. 

“Mom, what’s up?” 

Hearing her voice on the other end made my eyes well up with tears. 

That voice–my daughter’s voice–was the sound 1 had longed to hear in my past life until the moment I died. 

But now, here it was, clear and real, right in my ears. 

Fighting back tears, I asked, “Einma, while you’ve been home resting, has anyone hurt you? Have you been injured?” [] 

She replied, “Of course not! You and Dad have been spoiling me, there’s no way anyone could hurt me.” 

I paused, then asked seriously, “And… do you have any issues with me? Have I done anything that’s upset you?” 

Emma laughed cheerfully, without hesitation, “No way, Mom! You’re the most loving person in the world. Why would I have a problem with you?” 

*Td stick to you like glue every day if I could!“]] 

Her answer was so natural, without a hint of dishonesty. 

But if that was true, then how did she end up with old injuries in my past life? What about the footage showing her being 

beaten? 

And why did she set herself on fire? 

There were too many unanswered questions swirling in my mind. [ 

Everything had spiraled out of control so quickly last time, leaving me with no way to stop it. 

But this time, I was determined not to let the same thing happen again![] 

I firmly told her over the phone, “Stay home, don’t go anywhere. I’m coming back right now![] 

With that, I raced out of the office and headed home. 

When I arrived at the neighborhood, I had just parked the car when I ran into my best friend, Victoria, carrying a few bags of groceries. 

She looked a bit surprised to see me. “Charlotte, shouldn’t you be at work? Why are you home all of a sudden?” [ 

Victoria and I were close, so much so that we had bought houses in the same neighborhood just to be near each other.[] 

“It’s a slow day at the office, so I thought I’d come home to spend some time with Emma.” 

心 

As I spoke, I watched her closely, not missing a single detall in her expression. 

Victoria smiled warmly and sald. “You’re such a doting mom! Any chance you get, you’re right there with her.” 

Her compliment seemed genuine, and there was nothing suspicious in her demeanor. Still, something nagged at me. 

I stared at her and asked, “Do you really think I’m good to my daughter?” 

Without hesitation, she replied, “Of course! Sometimes I’m jealous–I wish I’d been born 20 years later so I could be your daughter!” 

Victoria passed the bag to me, her kindness and warmth as genuine as ever. She even spoke about Emma with such sincerity that it didn’t feel fake at all] 

“Here, I saw Emma post on social media yesterday that she was craving grapes, so I picked some up for her while I was at the store. You can take them up to her and save me the trip.” 

She passed the bag to me, her kindness and warmth as genuine as ever. She even spoke about Emma with such sincerity 

that it didn’t feel fake at all. 

But the more natural she seemed, the more unsettled I felt. 

Even when she talked about my daughter, her eyes were filled with genuine warmth.] 

She didn’t seem like someone who would wear two faces, pretending to care. 

But the more sincere she seemed, the more confused I became. 

Victoria had always been incredibly close to our family. She even made my daughter her goddaughter, doting on her, always there to help with anything she needed.] 

To me, she was like family–someone I trusted completely. 

So how could someone like her, who I had trusted so fully, accuse me in public of being my daughter’s murderer? 

1 just couldn’t figure out where things had gone wrong. 

As I stood there, puzzling over everything. Victoria turned and walked away.[] 

I looked down at the grapes in my hand and at her retreating figure, and suddenly it hit me.] 

I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed a number 

“I need you to do something for me, and do it fast!” 

“And don’t tell anyone.“] 

After hanging up, I didn’t go home. Instead, I got in the car and drove away from the neighborhood