Chapter 1Reborn with Vengeance: My Brother's Baby, My Parents' Betrayal

My brother got his wild girlfriend pregnant, and after she gave birth to a boy at a dodgy clinic, they both just vanished. The doctor, using the address Jax had given, showed up on my doorstep, baby in hand. My parents literally *knelt* and begged me to adopt him. Just like that, I, a single woman, began the daunting task of raising a child all on my own.

Years later, just as I finally thought I’d raised him, my brother came back. He wept, clutching my son, claiming I’d stolen the child out of jealousy, tearing their family apart. My son, my pride and joy, abandoned me on the spot, running straight into her arms. My parents kicked me out. The whispers and condemnations from the neighbors became my personal hell. In utter despair, I jumped from the rooftop of my apartment building.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my brother’s baby was born.

The moment the sky began to lighten, a frantic knocking pounded on the front door. I jolted awake, my heart hammering like it was trying to escape my chest. Last time, it was at this exact hour that the doctor from that clinic had shown up, pounding on our door, baby in tow, waking up the entire neighborhood. He’d thrust the baby into my arms right in front of everyone, screaming at me, claiming I’d given birth and then just dumped the baby, that I was heartless. Later, I found out it was my brother, Jax, who had gotten his girlfriend pregnant. My parents had begged me on their knees, saying since I wasn’t planning to marry anyway, I might as well keep the child. My heart softened, and I agreed. And that decision ruined my entire life, filling me with utter loathing.

Now, hearing that knocking again, my stomach lurched. I practically sprang out of bed, covering the distance to the door in two strides. The moment I opened it, that familiar face appeared – Dr. Reed, from the clinic.

“Skylar, you dumped your baby after giving birth! Do you know that’s illegal?”

The neighbors were already peeking out, some rushing over in their slippers to gawk. I stared at him, my mind barely processing, then I *snapped*. I raised my hand and smacked my slipper right across his face!

“You disgusting old man, how *dare* you try to scam me? I’ll knock you flat! Me? I haven't even had a serious boyfriend! Where would I get a baby from? Have you ever seen a woman who just gave birth hit someone this hard? Look at me! Do I look like I’ve ever been pregnant?”

I reeled off a string of insults, forcing him to stumble backward, his face turning green. That’s when Aunt Carol from across the street spoke up:

“She’s right! Skylar goes to work on time every day. Who’s ever seen her with a big belly?”

“Could he have the wrong person?”

“Isn’t that the doctor from that shady clinic on the corner? I heard he doesn’t even have a proper license!”

I put my hands on my hips, raising my voice even louder: “You old fraud! Running a dodgy clinic and trying to frame me? I’m calling the police right now!”

At the mention of police, he immediately panicked. “I… I’ll go, alright!”

I lunged forward, grabbing the hair at the back of his head. “Trying to run? No way!” I pulled out my phone and dialed: “Hello, 911? I’d like to report a potential child trafficking case here!”

“Don’t you dare lie!” he stomped his foot in frustration.

I glared at him. “When the police get here, if you don’t explain everything, I’ll tear down your pathetic clinic!” The universe gave me a second chance. All the humiliation, all the pain from my last life? Today, it’s payback time!

When the police arrived, Dr. Reed was nursing a bruised and swollen face, still clutching the newborn baby, its umbilical cord not even cleanly cut. I stood there in my pajamas, one hand holding a slipper, my eyes red-rimmed. The entire neighborhood was gathered at the door, everyone chattering about what had happened. The police inspected the baby, confirmed it was a newborn, and frowned at the doctor.

“Alright, what’s going on?”

“This… these are the patient’s records. The address is hers, and the name matches.” Dr. Reed nervously pulled out a medical record.

The officer looked at it. It indeed had my address and the name “Skylar.”

I sneered, crossing my arms. “I don’t even know this person. Someone used my name to have a baby, and now they want me to take the blame?”

Just as I finished speaking, my parents pushed their way through the crowd.

“Skylar, since you’re not getting married anyway, why don’t you… just keep the baby?”

I turned to them, my voice like ice. “Mom, Dad, what you’re saying is heartbreaking. A kid from God knows where, and you expect me to just take him in? Who knows what his real parents were into? What if they were drug addicts? Or criminals? What if he’s carrying diseases, or worse, has drugs in his system? Am I supposed to raise someone who might just turn on me?”

My parents were speechless, choked by my words. Dr. Reed’s face turned ashen. He practically shoved the baby into my arms. “Your family business is your problem! This baby was born to Jax’s girlfriend! Let him raise it himself! If I’d known you people were impossible, I would never have come here!”

The entire street went dead silent. Everyone’s eyes widened. So, this baby was Jax’s doing!