Chapter 1One second before I killed myself, my phone rang.
"Skylar, did I marry you at 28?"
I froze.
That number's been DEAD for years—it was 18-YEAR-OLD Rhys.
I looked down at the pills. Laughed bitterly.
"You filed for divorce yesterday."
"Your mistress' in labor. Our baby just died YESTERDAY!"
"NO WAY! I'd NEVER hurt you!"
His roar was cut off by 28-year-old Rhys slamming the door.
He glanced at me, cold and annoyed.
"Jesus, Skylar. This shit AGAIN?"
"Even if you wanna die, sign the damn papers first."
"Quit stalling. You're embarrassing yourself."
I smiled.
Fuck that—not me, YOU DIE.
...
Rhys saw the pills on the table and frowned.
He grabbed the bottle and chucked it in the trash. Smirked.
"Oh my god, Skylar. The pill thing? Really?"
"Mila's in labor any minute. I don't have time for your drama."
"You wanna die? Cool. Do it AFTER you sign."
"I'm not letting you curse Mila and the baby."
He jabbed his finger at the papers.
"Sign. Now. It's better for everyone."
I'd heard so much.
His words didn't even hurt anymore. I'd gone numb.
I stared at the phone. Still on the call.
Something made me ask.
"Rhys... do you remember what you wanted when you were 18?"
He froze.
Then looked at me like I was insane.
"Skylar, I don't have time for your sad little nostalgia trip."
"What I wanted at 18? Who cares."
"Right now? I want you to stop being crazy and sign the damn papers."
"I want Mila safe. I want our son healthy. I want the three of us together. Forever."
I closed my eyes.
My heart—already shredded—just took another hit.
Rhys, 18 or 28, I gave you everything.
Mila called again. Rhys grabbed his coat and bolted.
Didn't forget to bark at me one last time. "Sign it."
The door slammed.
Alone again.
I held Nora's urn. Pressed my cheek against it. Kissed her goodbye.
Then poured more pills into my hand.
The rattling sound made the boy on the phone panic.
"Skylar—don't. Please."
I didn't listen. Shoved them all in my mouth.
"Skylar, is he worth dying for?"
"Think about your parents. They loved you so much—if you die, they'll be devastated!"
I lost it. Laughed like a maniac.
Laughed so hard I choked. Pills scattered everywhere.
If I had anyone left, I wouldn't end up like this
"They're gone."
"What?"
"My parents. Dead."
"We were on our honeymoon, driving through the mountains. There was a landslide."
"They died protecting us."
"Rhys, if they were still alive, you wouldn't DARE treat me like this!"
"Gone. All of them. My baby. My parents. I have nobody."
I collapsed on the table. Tears streamed down.
Turns out when you're this broken, even crying is silent.
Long silence on the other end.
Just when I thought he hung up, I heard him. Sniffling.
"That monster... is really me?"
"Skylar, please. Don't give up."
"I can help you."
"If you don't marry him—no, don't marry me—your parents won't die. You won't hurt."
"Skylar, live. I'll give you a whole new future."
Chapter 2
I froze.
Something inside me came back to life.
Right.
Rhys is from the past. He can change the future.
If he doesn't marry me, Mom and Dad won't die. My daughter won't die.
I hadn't eaten in two days.
Suddenly I was starving. Ate two full bowls of rice.
I don't wanna die.
I wanna wait for young Rhys to fix everything.
I wanna see my parents again.
Hope came back. For the first time in forever.
I started eating. Sleeping. Working out.
When I got bored, I'd call young Rhys.
He'd update me on his "Change the Future Project," looking stressed as hell.
"Skylar, I've been avoiding you all week."
"Seeing you upset kills me, but then I think about what you're going through now... I have to stay away."
"Skylar, is the future really like that?"
"I can't even stand watching you cry. How could I ever..."
Yeah.
Back then, I never imagined.
The boy who kissed away every tear at 18 would look at me with disgust at 28.
Would force me to abort our "cursed" baby.
Would worship Mila and her "blessed" son.
"Sky, is there some kind of misunderstanding between us?"
I shook my head at his desperate question.
"No misunderstanding. You just don't love me anymore."
"To you, I'm just some psycho. A hysterical mess."
"No way, Sky. You're the brightest rose there is."
Brightest rose. I turned that phrase over in my mind.
At 18, I was just like Mila. Bright. Bubbly. Happy.
No woman goes crazy on her own.
Life makes her that way.
I caught Rhys cheating the first time three years into our marriage.
He didn't come home.
I went to bring him hangover soup at some business dinner.
Found him tangled up with Mila—18-year-old waitress—in a private room.
He got on his knees. Begged.
Said his business partner forced the girl on him.
Said he'd been drugged and had no choice.
My parents were gone. Rhys was all I had left. How could I let go?
He swore it wouldn't happen again. I cried and forgave him.
But then just a year later, I caught him again.
I was asleep in our bedroom. He was in my closet with Mila, raw-dogging.
When I found them, my heart turned to ice.
That time, I screamed louder. Hit harder.
After I cracked his head open with an ashtray, he finally snapped.
"Every rich guy has sugarbabies. Get over it."
"Skylar, why do you have to be so fucking unreasonable?!"
He wouldn't divorce me. Wouldn't leave Mila either.
I developed bipolar disorder.
The endless fighting drained whatever love he had left.
On one side, a crazy wife.
On the other, a fun, lively mistress.
He got sick of me. Fell harder for Mila.
I wiped my tears.
None of that matters now.
Because Rhys and I will have a new future.
From then on, Rhys spent all his time at the hospital with Mila. Never came home.
Young Rhys stayed on the phone with me. Gave me daily updates.
"Skylar, I've been cold to you for a while now."
"You're starting to hate me. You avoid me in the halls."
"Ugh, and you've been hanging out with that new transfer kid."
"You smiled at him THREE times while helping him with homework."
"I almost punched him."
"Skylar, I looked into him. Good guy. Rich family. Better than me in every way."
"You'll be happy this time, right?"
Young Rhys got quieter every day. I smiled more.
Everything's changing.
The future will be different. Right?
But before I could see that future change—
Rhys came home with Mila. The baby was already born.
Chapter 3
Mila spotted Nora's urn on the shelf.
Something dark flashed in her eyes.
She pointed at it, covering her mouth like she was horrified.
"Rhys, how could she... keep that cursed thing in the house?"
"Remember what Vincent said? That baby had a death curse."
"She'd bring ruin to her parents, her siblings—everyone!"
"Skylar's so evil, keeping those ashes here on purpose."
"She's trying to curse you. Curse our son!"
I clutched Nora's urn tight against my chest. Eyes burning.
"My daughter is NOT cursed!"
When I first found out I was pregnant, Rhys was thrilled.
Our broken marriage started healing. Just a little.
He cut contact with Mila.
Came home on time. Gave me massages. Cooked for me.
Then some fortune teller said the baby was cursed.
Bad luck. Would ruin Rhys's business. Destroy everything.
Only solution? Abort her.
Rhys and his business buddies were superstitious as hell.
And when I was pregnant, he lost two major deals.
That sealed it. He believed every word.
He demanded I get rid of her. Said we'd have another kid later.
I threatened to kill myself. That's the only reason Nora survived.
But...
My daughter still died.
That rainy night. Fever burning through her tiny body.
That same day, Vincent told Mila her baby was blessed. A lucky star.
He'd bring Rhys wealth and success.
Rhys was so happy he flew Mila to the Maldives.
Didn't even come see Nora before she died.
"Rhys, throw that thing out! It'll curse our son!"
I locked the urn in my arms. Dropped to my knees in front of them.
I'd do anything. Anything to protect my daughter.
I bowed over and over, tears streaming.
"Please don't take her from me. Please..."
Something flickered in Rhys's eyes. Hesitation.
He reached out like he might help me up.
Then Mila screamed.
"Babe, you wanna go bankrupt?! You want that cursed baby to kill our son?!"
"Remember what Vincent said!"
Rhys's face hardened. Decision made.
He grabbed for the urn.
"Skylar, I'll find Nora a nice grave. But she can't stay here."
"Let go."
I held her tighter. Slammed my forehead on the floor.
"Please. Please don't take my baby away from me!"
Rhys didn't flinch. Yanked harder.
On the phone, young Rhys was losing it.
He screamed at his future self.
"Rhys, that's your DAUGHTER! You sick bastard!"
"You don't deserve Skylar! You piece of shit!"
