**Chapter One**

My grandpa was accused of r\*pe.  
They said he used violence and coercion.  
And now, he was being taken to court.

Yet here I was, lounging at home, scrolling through my phone as if nothing was wrong.

In my previous life, I had thrown myself into uncovering the truth.  
I volunteered to be the plaintiff’s lawyer, just to dive deep into the case.  
I even begged my brother, Ethan Quillan, the so-called genius attorney, to come back and defend Grandpa.  
But he called my story an absurd lie.  
A desperate attempt to stop him, our mom, and my best friend from taking their vacation to Dalewood—a picturesque town famed for its charm.  
He blocked me on every platform without a second thought.

In the end, Grandpa was sentenced to life imprisonment.  
He had a heart attack right there in the courthouse and died.

And my family? They blamed me for all of it.  
They said I sided with the plaintiff, that I didn’t care about my own flesh and blood.  
They pinned his conviction and his death squarely on my shoulders.

When Mom returned and saw her father’s body, she broke down.  
In a blind rage, she got behind the wheel, ran me over, and ended my life.

When I jolted awake, drenched in sweat, I realized I’d been given a second chance.  
I was back.  
Three hours before Grandpa was officially charged.  
The memory was so vivid I could still feel the phantom pain in my limbs from Mom's car.

I forced my breathing to slow, trying to calm my racing heart.  
My family’s accusations, my own mother killing me… it all replayed in my mind.

Ding!

A notification on my phone snapped me back to reality.

“Summer, the firm just got a case. A plaintiff needs a lawyer, and she specifically requested you,” the message read.  
At the exact same moment, another call came in—the news about Grandpa being charged.  
Just like last time.

My mind raced, strategizing, desperate to avoid the same tragic fate.

My best friend, Raina Xavier, and I grew up together.  
She and Ethan had an old family pact—an arranged engagement from their youth—so my parents and brother always favored her, their perfect future daughter-in-law.

Compared to Raina, I was an afterthought.  
Whenever we had a disagreement, it was always my fault.  
I was selfish, petty, a liar.

Even when I had cried and begged Ethan to believe me, to come back and help Grandpa, that’s all I got in return.  
In the end, even Grandpa’s death was my fault, the treacherous granddaughter who didn’t care.

Fine.  
If that’s how it was going to be, I wouldn’t play the hero this time.

I set my phone aside, letting the call about Grandpa ring out until it fell silent.  
Once it ended, I casually strolled to the fridge, grabbed a slice of apple pie, and plopped down on the couch to scroll through videos.

Just then, my grandma emerged from her room.  
The moment she saw me lounging, a scowl twisted her features.

“Summer Quillan, who said you could eat that? I bought it for Raina. Do you think you deserve it?” she snapped.  
“All day long, you’re just glued to that phone. Why don’t you do something useful?”  
“Looking at you just makes me sick. Why couldn’t Raina have been my real granddaughter? Thank God she’ll be my granddaughter-in-law soon enough.”

She never missed a chance to tear me down.

I sighed, looking up at her.  
“Grandma, I’m your granddaughter. Don’t you think it’s unfair that I can’t even have a single slice of pie?”

Her expression shifted, ready to launch into another tirade, but my phone rang, cutting her off.

It was the courthouse. She answered.  
“What? The courthouse? What are you saying? That’s impossible! My husband is an old man; he couldn’t have done something like that!”  
“You must have the wrong person! Don’t you dare slander my husband!”

Just as I expected.

After hanging up, she collapsed onto the couch, sobbing uncontrollably.  
Dad rushed over, asking what had happened.

Once Grandma explained, he herded us all toward the door to head to the courthouse.  
Seeing their frantic expressions, I pretended to be just as clueless and anxious, following them out.

Standing at the courthouse entrance, it felt like a lifetime ago.  
This was the place where I had lost everything.

Dad dragged Grandma to the information desk.  
They learned that only a successful defense could save Grandpa; otherwise, he was facing life in prison.

Grandma, her voice trembling, turned to me. “What if… what if Summer handles it? She’s a lawyer, isn’t she?”  
Dad gave me a skeptical look. “Mom, she graduated from some second-tier college. Letting her defend Dad would be a death sentence.”

Their disappointed glares felt like daggers.

Even when I was trying to stay out of it, I was still the villain.

The irony was, the “second-tier college” they sneered at was actually the top law school in the country.  
But in their eyes, only Ethan, the Ivy League prodigy, and his beloved Raina mattered.  
They never bothered to learn a single thing about me.

I brushed away a tear, feigning panic.  
“Ethan—Ethan’s the one who went to a top school. I’ll call him right now. If he’s here, Grandpa will be fine.”

Grandma latched onto my words like a lifeline. “Yes, my brilliant grandson! The big-shot lawyer! Quick, call him now!”

Dad hesitated. “Ethan… he’s been really busy. Maybe we shouldn’t bother him…”  
Busy.

Right. Too busy enjoying his little getaway with Mom and his precious fiancée.

Even though I knew their true colors, it still sent a chill down my spine.

Grandma collapsed to the ground, wailing. “Then what are we supposed to do while your father sits in there?”  
“I don’t care! Nothing is more important than his own grandfather. Call him now!”

My aunt, who had just arrived, chimed in urgently.  
“Exactly! Ethan’s the only one who can save him. Call him!”

I pulled out my phone and dialed Ethan’s number.  
Beep… beep… beep…  
The unanswered rings made the air grow colder.

“What is he doing? Why isn’t he picking up?” Grandma’s voice rose with agitation.  
My aunt tried to soothe her. “Mom, don’t panic. Maybe he just hasn’t seen the call.”  
Dad nodded. “Yeah, Mom, Ethan’s probably just tied up with—”

His words were cut off as the call finally connected.  
“Are you insane? I told you to stop calling me with your problems. I don’t have time for this. Figure it out yourself. Got it?” Ethan’s voice snapped through the speaker.

I took a deep breath, feigning urgency.  
“Ethan, please, I’m desperate. Grandpa, he—”

He cut me off. “Stop. I don’t care if you’re desperate. I said, handle it yourself.”

The call ended.  
I stared at the disconnected screen, feigning shock.  
My aunt snatched the phone and quickly sent Ethan a text, explaining Grandpa was in court and needed a lawyer.

He replied instantly with three voice messages.  
The first was a laugh. “Are you kidding me? Grandpa accused of r\*pe? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Hahaha…”  
The second was pure venom. “Summer Quillan, do you have a brain? If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. How dare you drag Grandpa into your pathetic drama?”  
The third message was Mom’s voice. “You little troublemaker. Are you trying to start a fight? Making up stories about your own grandfather? Just you wait until I get my hands on you.”

My aunt sent another message. A red exclamation mark appeared.  
Blocked.

Grandma turned on Dad, her voice a furious hiss.  
“This is your wonderful wife and son! What in the hell are they doing?”  
Dad looked away, guilty. “They’re… on vacation.”

Grandma trembled with rage, nearly fainting.  
As the trial time approached, my aunt grew frantic.

“Brother, call them! Get them back here! We’re running out of time!”  
Grandma shoved Dad. “Are you crazy? Your father is in there, and you’re hesitating? Do you even care about this family?”  
“Call them now! Get them back here!”

Dad fumbled with his phone and finally called Ethan.  
“Son, you and your mom need to come back. Now. Grandpa is in real trouble.”

In the background, we could hear an airport boarding announcement and Raina’s sweet voice.  
“Babe, Mrs. Quillan, we should board. I’ve been so excited for Dalewood…”

After some shuffling, Ethan responded.  
“Dad, what’s gotten into you? What did Summer promise you to make you play along with this stupid lie?”

Dad’s voice was urgent. “Ethan, this isn’t a joke. Your grandfather is in the courthouse right now. The trial is about to start. Get back here, immediately.”

Ethan hesitated, but then Raina’s whiny voice cut in.  
“Babe, we’re about to take off. We really have to get off the plane now?”  
“We’ve been planning this for so long… It would be such a shame to cancel.”

Mom grabbed the phone. “We’re boarding. Stop it. It wasn't easy to plan this trip with Raina. Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it when we get back.”  
“Honey, you’re a grown man. Use your judgment. Don’t believe every little rumor.”

My aunt screamed into the phone. “Judgment? Pearl, I’m telling you, if you don’t come back now, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!”

Grandma snatched the phone. “Pearl Baxter, I’m not playing games! Do you think this entire family is trying to trick you? We need Ethan. I’ve never begged you for anything, but I’m begging you now. Trust me, just this once. If I’m lying, may I never find peace!”

Mom sighed dismissively on the other end. “Mom, don’t say such awful things. Is it really worth it over some little girl’s lie?”  
“Ugh, I’m done with you all. Are you really that upset we’re taking Raina on a trip? Fine, I believe you! Tell Dad we’ll be back in a few days and we’ll handle it then.”  
“That’s it. We’re boarding. Bye.”

The call disconnected again.  
In a fit of pure rage, Grandma threw the phone to the ground, where it shattered.  
My aunt sighed, retrieved the shattered phone, and handed it back to my dad.

Watching Grandma break down again, we were all at a loss.  
No one could have imagined that to my mom and brother, a vacation with Raina was more important than Grandpa’s life.

I calmly helped Grandma, who could barely stand, and watched their despair with a strange sense of satisfaction.

In my past life, when I poured my soul into helping, no one understood.  
All I got were insults, culminating in my own mother murdering me.

So in this life, as I stand by and do nothing, what will happen?

Source: Novellia

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