Chapter 1Reborn After My Niece Killed My Son

I was back at my in-laws’ for the holidays with my husband, Jake, and our three-month-old son, Leo.

But my ten-year-old niece, Ashley, and her friend decided to throw him from an upstairs window while he was napping.

Leo was killed instantly, right before my eyes.

His cries were cut short, replaced by two faint whimpers before silence took over. He never moved again.

I went mad, scooping him up to race to the hospital, but it was too late. He was already gone.

Because of her age, Ashley faced no real consequences.

The judge ordered them to pay half a million dollars in damages, but my sister-in-law, Karen, wailed that I was trying to ruin them.

I didn't want their money. I just wanted my baby back.

I cried until my soul felt like it was tearing apart, begging them for some semblance of justice. But my husband and mother-in-law just scolded me.

"Ashley's just a child! Are you going to destroy her life just because your son is dead?"

My quest for revenge went nowhere. That winter, my heart finally gave out.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back. It was the day of the holiday party. The first thing I did was call my parents and have them take Leo away.

But this time, a baby was still thrown from the window.

...

I had just sent my son off and stepped into my mother-in-law's yard when a sickening thud echoed from the patio.

A tiny body, wrapped tightly in a blanket, had slammed onto the stone tiles. Blood seeped through the fabric, staining it crimson.

Stunned, I looked up. On the second floor, my niece, Ashley, shot me a defiant look before disappearing from the window.

Jake and his mother rushed out at the sound. My mother-in-law let out a piercing scream, her legs giving way.

Jake stumbled forward, his whole body trembling. He glanced at the bundle on the ground. "Nina... the baby... he's not breathing."

I couldn't even bring myself to look. I bolted upstairs and found Ashley had locked herself in her room.

I kicked the door. "Ashley, you open this door right now! Who did you throw out that window!"

No answer. But I could hear her and her friend giggling inside.

"Ashley, what if they call the cops? Is my mom gonna ground me?"

"Chill. We'll just say it was an accident. Besides, the cops can't do anything to kids."

Their careless words pierced me like shards of ice. I started to shake uncontrollably.

I threw all my weight against the wooden door. "Get out here! Do you have any idea what you've done? This is murder!"

Jake, who had followed me up, grabbed my arm. His eyes were red-rimmed. "Nina, calm down. You're scaring them."

I stared at him, my eyes burning with a familiar hatred. It was just like last time.

Our son was dead, and his first concern was not frightening his niece.

My mother-in-law, wiping away tears, added, "Ashley went a little too far this time, but Nina, you shouldn't be so unforgiving."

"Leo was only three months old. He's gone. You two can just try for another one."

I froze. It took a moment for their words to register. They thought it was my son. They thought Leo was dead.

But I had just sent him away with my parents.

So who was the tiny, broken body lying downstairs?