Chapter 1

My sister-in-law, Kendra, lived for bragging and spreading malicious gossip.

One day, she would claim the woman next door was sleeping around behind her husband’s back. The next day, she would boast that my brother was about to be promoted to vice president. The day after that, she would publicly shame a teenage girl down the hall for being loose.

She dragged every neighbor and acquaintance through the mud, utterly thrilled with herself.

Whenever I warned her to stop spreading baseless rumors, she scoffed, calling me prudish and socially clueless.

In my previous life, an enraged victim she slandered cornered our family at our front door. Kendra shoved me out into the hallway as the scapegoat.

In the chaos, an infuriated parent shoved me down the concrete stairwell, killing me on impact. Kendra casually accepted a hefty out-of-court settlement, and my entire family lived in luxury off the blood money.

She was hailed as the family’s greatest hero.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the exact day she started spreading lies about our neighbor having an affair.

1

Today was my bi-weekly family dinner, and Kendra deliberately prepared a table of completely bland, boiled vegetables.

She claimed the family had been eating too much greasy takeout lately and needed a cleanse.

Yet every single time I visited, the table was covered in cheap greens. It was obvious she simply did not want me eating their food.

My little nephew, Toby, took one look at the table, threw a tantrum, and slammed his bedroom door. My parents and brother poked at the food half-heartedly before setting down their forks.

Ever since Kendra married my brother, Garrett, she made my life a living hell until I finally moved out into a rental.

My submissiveness only made her bolder. She began nagging me to get married so my family could demand a massive bridal dowry from my future husband.

My parents slowly became brainwashed by her, treating me like a worthless burden and making it clear I was no longer welcome.

In the past, their cold indifference broke my heart. Now, it did not hurt at all.

I was reborn, back before any of the tragedies took place.

“Let me tell you, Gwen from next door is a real piece of work,” Kendra said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “She’s actually bringing men into her house while her husband is away on business.”

“You guys have no idea, but I saw it with my own eyes,” she bragged loudly.

She leaned across the dining table, completely unconcerned about whether the neighbors in the hallway could hear her.

Just like in my previous life, Kendra was defaming Gwen Fletcher.

She ruined Gwen’s reputation, forcing the entire Fletcher family to go door-to-door defending their honor.

When Gwen brought her family over to demand an explanation, Kendra pushed me into the crossfire.

I was the one who had to drain my savings and apologize on my knees just to settle the dispute.

Yet Kendra still blamed me, claiming I was the one who leaked her gossip.

My parents despised me even more after that, calling me an unlucky jinx who brought shame to the household.

“Are you sure?” my mother asked, sounding skeptical. “The Fletchers have always been decent, hardworking folks. Could it be a misunderstanding?”

After all, they had been neighbors for years and knew each other well.

“What misunderstanding? I saw it as clear as day!” Kendra snapped, glaring at my mother for questioning her. “When the man left, Gwen even handed him a wad of cash, and they were laughing together on the porch!”

“Unbelievable. I guess you really never know who people truly are,” my mother sighed, instantly buying the lie.

“Kendra, maybe you shouldn't speak so loudly,” I chimed in, pretending to be uneasy. “After all, that's her private business.”

As expected, my gentle warning instantly triggered Kendra’s mockery.

“If she's bold enough to do it, she shouldn't cry when people talk!” Kendra sneered. “You’re so pathetic you don't even dare to speak up. Don't you know the juiciest neighborhood tea is always one hundred percent real?”

“By the way, hurry up and do the dishes, then sweep the living room,” she ordered bossily. “Stop being so useless. If you're this lazy at home, no decent man will ever marry you.”

Kendra pulled my mother onto the sofa to continue her loud gossip session while barking orders at me.

My father and Garrett finished eating and immediately sank into their armchairs, scrolling through their phones and tossing in a few chuckles.

It was always like this. Whenever I visited, all the chores fell onto my shoulders, as if breathing in their presence was a crime.

I quietly carried the plates to the kitchen sink without a word of complaint. Through the corner of my eye, a cold smile tugged at my lips as I glanced at the front entrance.

Our apartment had two front doors: an outer metal security gate that provided zero soundproofing, and a thick wooden inner door.

When I arrived, I deliberately left the heavy wooden door wide open and only latched the thin metal screen.

Kendra’s piercing voice echoed loudly down the entire apartment corridor, broadcasting every vile rumor she could invent.

In my last life, she twisted the narrative when confronted, convincing our neighbors that I was the malicious gossip.

This time, I made sure her lovely neighbors heard the truth straight from the source.