Chapter 1

I have a father who thinks he's a saint.

He used our family's very blood and bones to help another family thrive.

In a past life, he ignored his own son in a burning building to save another boy, leaving my brother disabled forever.

He even forced my brother to donate his corneas to that boy, eventually driving my brother to his death.

He stole my college acceptance letter to ruin my future and schemed to marry me off to my worthless cousin.

"Can't you just have some pity for your cousin? Marrying him is the best luck you'll ever have," he told me.

But I've been reborn. Now, it's time to show my saintly father exactly what happens when you betray your own blood!

1

"Bring that filthy dog out here right now."

My father's impatient voice boomed through the door, accompanied by a violent series of knocks.

I bit my lower lip hard, forcing my emotions back into a cold, dark place before opening the door.

The moment I turned the handle, the door was slammed open with such force that I stumbled back several steps.

Before I could even look up, a sharp slap stung my cheek.

"You're too slow to even open a door. I should have never let your mother have you, you little brat."

He glared at me with pure hatred, spat on the floor, and began scanning my room.

"Where is it? Your cousin wants to eat some dog meat. Hand over the dog."

Hearing those words, I felt nothing but a cold void. In my previous life, the things he said were a thousand times worse.

Back then, he had violently snatched my puppy away and killed it right in front of my eyes.

Lucky was a stray I'd found on the street a year ago. He had been a tiny thing, watching his mother feed other puppies while he was left alone.

He was just like me. So, I took him in and endured my father's beatings and insults just to raise him.

My father never gave him food and never gave me money, so I went out and scavenged for scraps just to see Lucky grow.

I wanted to love him. But my father smashed him to death and served him in a soup on our dinner table.

"He's outside eating. I'll go get him now," I said, my voice sounding as mechanical and hollow as a robot.

My father nodded, satisfied. He dragged me outside and spoke to the young man on the couch in a voice so tender it made my skin crawl.

"Josie is going to get the dog now. Just wait a little longer, Wayne. Don't be impatient."

That was my cousin, Wayne Miller―my father's golden boy.

That gentle tone was something I had craved my entire life but never received.

I used to think it was because I was a girl, but then I saw how he treated my brother, Gabe.

He treated Gabe so badly that my brother eventually took his own life.

It wasn't until much later that I learned the truth. My aunt was my father's first love, his obsession.

He never loved my mother, so he hated us by extension.

His kindness was reserved for outsiders and his nephew and niece, while we were just punching bags for his rage.

"How could a girl like you deserve something this nice? Your cousin Serena is the one who should have it."

That was his favorite line, dragging me through the dirt while putting my cousins on a pedestal.

In this life, I'm going to make sure every bit of that pain is returned to sender!

Before leaving, I made sure only my father and Wayne were home. I had already tricked my mother and Gabe into going out.

Since my rebirth yesterday, I had hidden Lucky away and prepared a different kind of "gift" for them.

This was the first surprise of many.

At the front door, I calmed the massive dog standing beside me. I didn't care if it understood English; I leaned down and whispered in its ear.

"Go in there and bite those two men. They hurt Lucky. Do whatever you want, and I promise I won't let them touch you."

I pushed the door open.

"Don't you have legs? What took so long? Get in here and kill the dog. Your cousin has been waiting!"

My father was shouting from the kitchen. When he didn't hear a response, he stormed out, looking ready to hit me again.

But the second he saw me, his expression froze.

I flashed a bright, sharp smile. "Dad, Wayne wanted dog meat. Is this one big enough for him?"

It was a massive, aggressive breed, panting heavily with saliva dripping from its jaws.

Before my father could react, the beast lunged. It tore at his clothes, its drool covering every inch of him.

In seconds, his shirt was in shreds. "Get it off! Get this beast away from me!"

I ignored him. I watched as the dog turned its attention to Wayne on the couch, repeating the same violent dance.

They were both bleeding, the red stains on the floor looking exactly like the blood Lucky had shed in my past life.

"Ahhh!"

A piercing scream shattered my satisfaction. I turned around, my face going pale.