Chapter 2 A PAST THAT BETRAYS ME

JUDITH'S POV

I sat on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my heart heavy with confusion. Five years... somehow, I had gone five years back in time.

I didn't understand how or why, but everything around me was real. I could feel the soft fabric of my bedsheet beneath my fingers, hear the distant voices of my family from the living room, and see the faint moonlight spilling through my window.

Was this fate giving me a second chance? Or was I being forced to relive my pain all over again?

A sharp knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts.

I sat up immediately. I already knew what Nina was there for.

She was the only one in this house who knocked before ordering me around. Not out of respect, but out of habit. She would demand that I clean the kitchen, cook dinner, or do whatever chores she didn't feel like doing.

I sighed. "Come in."

The door opened, but instead of Nina, it was Elena.

My boldness disappeared instantly.

She stood there, her arms crossed, her face filled with barely contained rage.

I swallowed hard. "Why the look?" I asked, trying to sound normal, though my voice came out weaker than I intended.

Elena stepped closer, her movements slow and deliberate, like a predator toying with its prey. "Stay away from Erod," she said, her voice calm, but sharp like glass.

My breath caught in my throat.

She knows.

But how? I had been so careful. No one was supposed to know about my secret relationship with Erod.

I forced a small laugh, pretending I had no idea what she was talking about. "What are you saying?"

Elena tilted her head, her eyes darkening. "Don't play dumb, Judith." She took another step closer, lowering her voice. "Stay. Away. From. My. Erod."

The words sent a chill down my spine.

Then, just like that, she turned and walked out, leaving me frozen in place.

My mind raced.

First, Nina was supposed to be the one knocking, not Elena. And second, Elena wasn't supposed to know about Erod and me.

This is not how things happened before.

Something was changing.

---

That Night

I couldn't sleep.

Elena's words kept repeating in my head.

"Stay away from my Erod."

Erod was mine. He had chosen me. We had promised to keep our love a secret until we could reveal it at the right time.

So why was she saying that now?

I turned over in bed, staring at the darkness of my room.

A terrible thought crept into my mind.

What if my second chance wasn't to fix my mistakes?

What if it was to suffer a worse fate?

No.

I wouldn't let that happen.

I needed to talk to Erod. I had to know what was going on.

Next Morning – Before School

I woke up feeling restless. My chest felt tight, like something terrible was waiting for me.

I moved through my morning routine in a daze, my mind stuck on Elena's warning.

Downstairs, Nina was already at the dining table, eating breakfast. She barely glanced at me as I sat down.

"Wash the dishes before you leave," she muttered, taking another bite of her bread.

I didn't argue. I never did.

Immediately I entered the kitchen, Emma followed.

"Wash the dishes before you leave," she muttered,

I turned to her, anger boiling in my chest. "You don't have the right to tell me what to do."

She froze. Slowly, she turned back to me, her eyes narrowing.

"Who gave you the authority to question me in my father's house?" she spat.

I clenched my fists. "Well, Emma, this is my father's house too."

Her face twisted in anger, and before I could react, she moved closer and slapped me across the face.

"Yeh!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the whole house.

Footsteps thundered down the hallway. My father appeared in the doorway, his face filled with concern.

"What happened?" he demanded.

Before I could say a word, Emma spoke up quickly.

"She mistakenly hit her head on the wall," she lied, her face innocent.

My father turned to me, his gaze searching. "Is that true?"

Before I could respond, my stepmother walked in, placing a plate on the counter.

"What is going on?" she asked, giving me a quick glance.

Emma wasted no time. She turned to her mother and repeated her lie. "She mistakenly hit her head on the wall."

I stared at them both, my cheek still burning from the slap. I wanted to scream, to tell the truth, but my father's eyes were already filled with doubt.

I swallowed hard. If I spoke now, would he even believe me?

"Judith, is that true?" my dad asked, looking straight into my eyes.

I swallowed hard. My heart pounded. I was already late for school, and I knew arguing would only bring more trouble.

Judith softly, avoiding eye contact, "Yes, Daddy."

My dad sighed, concerned "Judith, be warned," He gives me a lingering look before walking away.

The moment he left, my stepmother's smirk deepened.

Emma smiled- a wicked smile

I bit my lip, trying to hold back my tears. Before I could react, my stepmother moved closer and- SMACK!

"Next time, think before you speak." Nina said

Pain shot through my head, but I dared not scream. They walked away, giggling. I wiped my tears, grabbed my school bag, and stepped outside.

The driver waited, but I knew the truth-today, I was only allowed in the car because of my father's presence.

Inside the car, Emma whispered to her sisters.

"Am loving this," she said.

Laughter erupted. I clenched my fists, staring out the window, silent tears rolling down my cheeks until we reached school.

---

The moment the bell rang for break, I hurried to the abandoned classroom where Erod and I always met.

It was our secret place, hidden from everyone.

My hands were shaking slightly as I reached for the doorknob.

I needed to hear him say that Elena was wrong. That nothing had changed. That he still loved me.

I pushed the door open.

And my world shattered.

Erod and Elena.

Kissing.

I froze. My heart stopped.

Elena's fingers were tangled in his hair. Their lips-together.

A choked sound escaped my throat.

The noise made them break apart.

Erod turned to me, his eyes wide with shock. "Judith-"

But I didn't wait to hear what he had to say.

I spun around and ran.

Tears burned my eyes as I rushed down the hallway.