Chapter 1My Daughter, The Bad Seed

My daughter was basically born bad. A real bad seed.

Skipping school, fighting, bullying classmates – she did it all.

She even started sexting with a guy ten years older than her and planned to run off with him.

I rushed to the train station, got into an argument with the guy, and fell onto the tracks. I died instantly.

But my daughter told everyone I jumped on purpose.

Then I opened my eyes. I was back six months earlier. My daughter was standing there, eyes red, accusing me of being too strict.

I looked at her coldly. "Fine. From now on, I'm done managing you."

* * *

Senior year, first major exams, and my daughter, Ashley, skipped them again.

Her homeroom teacher called just as I was leaving work.

"Sarah, if Ashley keeps this up, she's likely going to be expelled before graduation."

I gave a calm, small laugh. After a moment's thought, I said, "It's okay, Mrs. Davison. If she gets expelled, she gets expelled. As long as it doesn't cause problems for you or the school."

In my previous life, I got this same call. Back then, I immediately rushed to the school, begging and pleading with everyone to give her another chance.

Then I caught her skipping school, playing online games with friends. In front of everyone, I swore up and down she'd never skip again, that she'd make it to graduation.

But the truth was, her life was ruined before the second semester even started.

Smoking, drinking, dating… that was nothing.

The day I received the wedding invitation from my husband, explicit videos and photos of her were already going viral online. When I found out and confronted her, she just shrugged it off. "Mom, what do you know? What's the point of having a good body if you don't show it off?"

"Besides," she added, "bad press is still press. Maybe I'll become an influencer or something."

Thinking back on that, I repeated firmly to the teacher, "From now on, please don't call me about Ashley's issues. I can't control her anymore. I'm done trying."

With that, I hung up and walked away.