After caring for my paralyzed husband for over a decade and giving him a dignified funeral, I took our yellowed marriage certificate to claim his inheritance. But the clerk told me the certificate was a fake. My husband’s legal spouse was someone else. My cousin, who had lived in my house for over thirty years, smugly pulled out her own marriage certificate: "Look closely. I am Richard’s legal wife!" Furious, I lunged at her. But my adopted son blocked me. "My parents took pity on you because you were childless and let you be our housekeeper. Now you want to steal my dad’s inheritance? Have you no shame?" Enraged, I slapped him. "If you hadn't demanded to go play by the river back then, my son wouldn't have drowned!" My cousin laughed maniacally. "If your son hadn't died, how would you have willingly raised mine?" The rage was too much. I died on the spot. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the flood. Richard had locked me in the house to stop me from saving my son. 1 "What? You let Andy take your war buddy's orphan to play by the river? Don't you know Andy can't swim? The river has been flooding lately, didn't you know?!" My voice was shrill as I screamed at Richard. Under his surprised gaze, I turned to leave. "I don't trust two kids by the river alone. I'm going to get them!" Before I could reach the door, Richard grabbed my arm. "When I came back, they were having fun. Don't be a buzzkill." "Country kids grow up in the mountains and rivers. You're just being dramatic, trying to keep the boy locked up inside!" "Every kid in town is like this. If you can't raise him right, I'll take him to the city! You'll never see him again!" His words were exactly the same as in my past life. Back then, terrified he would take my son away, I listened to him. I hesitated. That hesitation cost my six-year-old son his life. He was swept away by the flood, his body found a day later by villagers downstream. I could never forget his wet, pale body, cold and stiff in my arms. Every night, I saw him in my dreams, reaching out, crying, "Mommy, save me!" My heart felt pierced by a thousand blades. But my husband, snoring beside me, complained my crying was annoying. He said my grief made him and his adopted son, Jacob, look heartless. He said Andy's death was just an accident, and my crying was just guilt-tripping them. Because of him, I only dared to cry in secret. The stress caused me to miscarry my four-month-old baby, plunging me deeper into despair. Thinking of this, I struggled against Richard’s grip. My cousin, Linda, blocked the door. "Cousin, kids need to be tough! There are tons of kids by the river, nobody else is drowning! Relax!" I bit my lip. "Andy is small. And Jacob—he’s your buddy’s only son. Aren't you worried?" Richard tightened his grip. "Jacob is smart, don't worry about him! You're pregnant, stop running around! Linda rarely visits, go cook something nice for her!" I stared at Richard. Why was he stopping me? In my past life, they never blocked me like this. A chill ran down my spine. Did they come back too? Even tigers don't eat their cubs. In the past life, it might have been an accident. This time, they were plotting murder! Any minute now, the flash flood would hit. If I didn't go now, it would be too late! I dug my nails into my palm to stay calm. I couldn't let them know I knew. Or they might kill me and my unborn child right here. These two had no conscience. Richard used a fake marriage certificate to enslave me for forty years. I cared for his senile parents, raised his son, and tended to him when he was paralyzed. And in the end? He left me homeless and penniless. Now, he wanted to kill my son again so I would continue to be their beast of burden? Rage boiled in my chest, but I forced my body not to shake. "I'm just going to get some vegetables. We're out of meat, and I ate the eggs. I'll go borrow some from Mrs. Miller next door!" Linda stopped me immediately. "No need, Cousin! I rarely visit, don't spend money on me. I'll eat anything!" Richard’s face darkened. "I'll go. You rest." 2 As he walked to the door, Linda followed, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Cousin, I'll go with you!" Watching them leave together, intimate and shameless. I hated my past self for being so blind. I had seen them being close but thought, they're cousins. I never suspected a thing. Once their footsteps faded, I rushed to the door. It wouldn't open. Through the crack, I saw a padlock on the latch. My heart turned to ice. He really wasn't giving me a chance. Hearing footsteps outside, I yelled to passing kids, asking if they’d seen my son. They told me Andy wanted to come home, but the new kid wouldn't let him leave. Now, it was almost dark. Only Andy and his new "friend" were left by the river. Cold sweat dripped down my forehead. Richard was so confident leaving Jacob there. Did all three of them come back? If so, my six-year-old didn't stand a chance against a thirty-something soul in a child's body. Jacob would throw him in. I begged the kids to find Richard at Mrs. Miller’s. It was a few minutes away. I waited half an hour. I even started the rice cooker. No Richard. I sent villagers twice more. Finally, Richard and Linda returned, laughing, holding a few eggs. Richard explained casually under my furious gaze, "Habit. I locked it without thinking. Got talking with Mrs. Miller's son. You don't go out anyway." Seeing their lingering smiles, my panic subsided. I asked calmly, "It's getting dark. They aren't back. Should we look for them?" Richard glanced at the sky. "It's fine. Boys need to build guts." Linda smiled. "Cousin, kids love to play. Don't worry." I looked them deep in the eyes. "Richard, Jacob is your buddy's orphan. You're not worried at all?" Richard paused, then relaxed. "Jacob is a big boy. He can take care of himself!" I said flatly, "Fine. Not my kid, not my problem." They didn't know I had already sent my brother to fetch Andy and take him to his house. The only kid by the river now was Jacob. Let's see if his luck holds up in this life! 3 "Flood! Flash flood by the river! Get your kids and livestock!" The village chief’s gong clanged from the edge of town. I stood up abruptly. "The kids aren't back! Richard, go find them!" Richard and Linda frowned but didn't move. "Why are you panicking? It's water. Kids can run." I sneered internally. They were so sure my son was the one dying. Seeing me anxious, Richard pushed me down. "Sit. You're pregnant. I'll go." I feigned worry and followed him to the village entrance. Villagers heard my kids were still out and offered to help search. Richard walked slowly. "My boys are smart. Thanks, but you guys go do your work. They're fine!" The villagers were annoyed. "Last year, grown men got swept away! It's dark! Hurry up!" I sped up. Suddenly, Linda "tripped" into me, knocking me down. She clutched her stomach, looking pale. Richard roared at me. "What are you doing?! Help her home! She's frail! If anything happens to her, it's on you!" I froze. "What about the kids?" "What can happen? I'll call them!" I had to help Linda home. Passing my brother’s house, I saw him holding my sleeping son. Tears welled up. Near my house, I ran into Richard. "Why didn't you look for them?" I demanded. "They're big boys! I shouted, they'll hear me. Linda is in pain, I have to prioritize!" I sneered and walked home. In the distance, the roar of the flood grew louder. Screams erupted from the other side of the village. People were running toward my house. The fastest runner arrived, gasping. "Sarah! A kid got swept away! Go check if it's yours! The chief is organizing a rescue!" "What?" Richard and Linda gasped. But their faces held barely concealed joy. I stayed calm. I hoped they'd keep smiling when they found out who it was. Jacob might be reborn, but he was in a child's body. He couldn't outrun a flash flood. I stammered, "Impossible! It can't be Andy! Richard called them back!" Richard chimed in, "Yeah, can't be my son! You made a mistake!" He added, "I want to help rescue, but I have a pregnant wife and a sick guest. I can't leave!" The villager scratched his head. "But... they said the kid was wearing green. Only Andy wears green." Richard and Linda’s smiles widened. Linda looked at me with mock pity. Richard pretended to panic. "Impossible! Andy is smart!" I shrieked, "Definitely not Andy! Wait, Richard, didn't you bring your buddy's orphan? Could it be..." "Impossible!" Linda snapped. "Jacob is wearing blue! Only Andy wears green!" 4 I nodded. "If you say so!" Raising Jacob for thirty years, I knew his vanity. Richard made Jacob wear tattered clothes to gain sympathy. But Andy had new clothes. Certain Andy would die, Jacob must have stolen Andy's clothes beforehand. Watching their smug faces, I smiled. "I'll go make eggs. Andy loves scrambled eggs!" Just as I entered the kitchen, another messenger arrived. "Sarah! Your kid was pulled out! They did CPR but he needs a hospital! You have the only bike, go now! Or it'll be too late!" "What? How could it be my kid?" I cried, urging Richard. "Ride the bike! Save him!" Under public pressure, Richard wheeled out the bike. Linda insisted on going. She hopped on the back, claiming she knew first aid. Watching them leave, I walked to my brother’s house. Seeing the little boy who haunted my dreams in my past life, safe and sound, I wept.
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