Chapter 2

My first life replayed in my mind, a nightmare reel.

Years of back-breaking labor, starting with construction sites, dust and sweat my daily bread.

I built a real estate empire, brick by painful brick.

All for Jessica, for "our" son Kevin.

A lavish house, expensive cars, designer clothes for her.

The best schools, endless funding for Kevin's medical career. He became a renowned surgeon.

I thought he was my legacy.

My reward? A young death, lungs scarred from early exposure to construction dust, heart strained from endless work.

And then the truth, stark and brutal.

As my soul watched, Jessica didn't mourn.

She confirmed to Chad that Kevin was his. "Our brilliant boy," she'd cooed, looking at Kevin's graduation photo, the one I paid for.

My life savings, my empire, she was already planning how to transfer it all to support Chad's failing ventures.

"Mike was a good workhorse," Chad had said, laughing, as they toasted with my expensive champagne. "Too bad he didn't last longer."

The memory fueled a cold fire in my chest.

This new life, this second chance, it wouldn't be for them. It would be for me.

And for my mother, Maria.

She was a housekeeper for the Miller family, Jessica's family.

She worked her fingers to the bone for me.

In this new life, the first thing I had to do was get her away from them.

Jessica found me again the next day, her expression a mix of anger and something calculating.

"Mike, Chad's knee is seriously damaged. The doctors are saying he might need surgery, a special ligament graft."

Her eyes bored into me.

"His parents are blaming you. They said you hesitated, that you should have jumped in first."

"I told everyone, I'm not a good swimmer. Chad was closer and he's her boyfriend."

"Don't be difficult, Mike," she said, her voice turning saccharine, a tone I once found irresistible. "You know how much I... cared about you. If you help us, if you apologize, maybe even help with Chad's medical expenses..."

She was trying to reel me back in, using the ghost of my past affection.

I almost laughed. She thought I was still that lovesick fool.

"Help how, Jessica?"

"They might need a tissue donor for Chad's ligament. A perfect match. You're healthy."

The sheer nerve.

"And why would I do that?"

"Because," she said, stepping closer, her eyes glinting, "you wouldn't want anything to happen to your mother's job, would you? Or to your reputation here."

The veiled threat. Classic Jessica.

"Are you threatening me, Jessica?"

"I'm just saying, it would be wise to cooperate."

She was definitely reborn. This level of manipulation, this early, confirmed it.