Chapter 5

"Can we call a truce? Let's just be ordinary classmates and get along. Okay?"

Her complexion shifted—first a flush of embarrassment, then a dark shadow of annoyance. She stood abruptly.

"When did I ever—"

She cut herself off.

"Forget it. Whatever."

She stomped her foot and turned to leave, radiating frustration with every step.

......

I never expected to see my younger brother in the hospital. I hadn't seen him in over a year.

He wore a caregiver's uniform, scrubbing the floor near an elderly patient's bed. A lame leg dragged behind him as he moved. Disheveled. Broken.

The sight triggered a memory from my previous life. At this exact time back then, I had been in his shoes—hauling goods in a warehouse, breaking my back to pay for Jasmine McLaughlin's medical bills.

Back in the village, neighbors had accused us of moral corruption. They broke my leg and torched our home, forcing us to flee.

Once we left, Jasmine's stepsister hired thugs to harass us constantly. To protect herself from her stepfamily, Jasmine feigned madness—smashing shopkeepers' goods, causing chaos wherever we went.

I worked three jobs a day, only to come home to the wreckage she left behind. I spent my life on my knees, apologizing and compensating strangers for the destruction she caused.

Now, I watched a family member of the patient scold my brother for his rough movements.

"I'm disabled!" Landon shouted, eyes red-rimmed as he shoved them away. "You make a cripple do heavy labor—have you no heart?"

The family sneered. "If we didn't pity you for being lame and dragging that stupid wife around, we wouldn't have hired a novice like you. If you won't do the work, get lost."

Landon spun around in a rage—

And locked eyes with me.

He froze. Then, taking in my pale, hospital-gown appearance, a sick glint of excitement sparked in his gaze.

"Brother!" A cruel grin spread across his face. "I *told* you. Sooner or later, you'd end up like me. Trying to ride the coattails of the rich, provoking those second-generation heirs!"

He limped closer, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Why are you here? Did they push you into a pool? Throw you down the stairs?" His eyes rolled. "I'll give you some advice. If you want to survive school, stay away from those rich girls. Don't think about climbing the social ladder. Trash like you isn't even fit to be their toy."

When I remained silent, he grew agitated, desperate to prove his superiority. He started bragging about how good Jasmine was to him. How much she loved him.

He claimed she felt sorry for him, so she stopped smashing things and secretly helped with chores. He swore that Jasmine's biological father would acknowledge her soon.

Then, he would be rich.

And I? I would be chased back to our hometown like a dog because I offended the elite. Destined to die miserably.

As he ranted, Jasmine McLaughlin emerged from the stairwell.

The moment she saw him, her eyes welled up. She threw herself into his arms.

"Husband! What's wrong? Who made you angry? I'll bite them to death!"

She turned, ready to attack the elderly patient and his family. "I'll beat you bad people to death!"

That protective ferocity... I had seen it in my past life.

But what good was it?

Jasmine relied on her "madness" to destroy things without consequence, knowing people wouldn't argue with a fool. But the blowback always fell on me.

What should have been a simple scolding would turn into a beating and a massive debt because of her unreasonable escalation.

Sure enough, Landon forced a smile and hugged her tight.

"It's okay. Husband isn't afraid of being scolded."