After Rebirth, I Ruined Them All

"Oucch! Right there, Gerald. Right fucking there!" Amara dug her nails into his back as he pushed himself into her.

Her legs were spread and wrapped around his waist, their weights sinking into the bed.

"I love you, Amara." He jerked inside her, beads of sweat trickling down his face. "I love you more than I love your sister," he moaned into her ear.

Amara smirked victoriously. "I know."

⸻

"Doctor, can you repeat what you said?" Sarah tapped her ears gently. "I think my ears are faulty and causing me to mishear your words." She put her hands on the table, her chest heaving due to the anticipation within her.

The doctor chuckled and stretched a white envelope toward her. "You heard me right, Mrs. Sarah. You are two months pregnant. It's a miracle that you only just started getting the symptoms," he mumbled.

Sarah's eyes lit up, and her hands trembled as she collected the envelope from the doctor. Unhurriedly, she opened it and brought out the test result. When her eyes fell on Positive, she gasped and sprang up. "Doctor!" She covered her mouth with her hand to prevent the sound from carrying. "I am really pregnant." Tears rushed to her eyelids.

"Yes, Mrs. Sa-"

She interrupted the doctor.

"I need to go now." She put the test result into her bag. "My husband needs to hear this. I bet he will jump with joy," she said, grinning from ear to ear. Before the doctor could say another word, she had already left his office and was heading outside.

She went straight to her car and drove off.

While driving, she played her favorite gospel song and hummed along to its lyrics. For years, she had been trying to get pregnant. It had been four years of marriage, yet there was no child to show for it. Every month, she kept having her menstruation even though she wanted it to stop. She almost cried her eyes out when she saw her stained panties last month, not knowing she had already conceived.

A drop of tears of joy slid down her face. She wasn't barren. She would become a mother too.

On the highway, the journey was going smoothly. She was just a few miles away from home when she felt something was wrong with her car. Every attempt to press on the brake failed; it was stiff. Fear gripped her, and she gasped. With one hand on the steering wheel, she called her husband, Gerald. However, just as she lifted her head to focus on the road while speaking with him, a white delivery truck crashed into her. A sharp honk tore through the air.

Then impact.

Metal slammed into metal, and her body jerked forward violently.

The car slowly began sliding over the bridge. Her breath hitched as she turned the steering wheel, hoping it would stop, ignoring the blood streaming down her head and the injuries on her body.

"Please.... Please... stop!" she stuttered, hitting the steering wheel, fear boldly written on her face. Her body shook vigorously.

⸻

Sarah breathed out heavily as the car finally stopped rolling over the bridge. "Thank you, God," she muttered.

People surrounded her, but nobody dared to help because the position of her car was risky. She couldn't step out either because a slight movement could cause the car to roll over into the deep sea.

With shaky hands, she picked up the phone on her lap and dialed her husband's number again. The phone rang for a long time but wasn't picked up. She called again, and this time, it was answered after the third ring.

"Hello, Gerald!" Sarah said hastily. "I'm in trouble. I had an accident, and my car is stuck on the edge of a bridge right now. Please come over and send help." She screamed, tears rolling down her face freely.

Laughter erupted on the other side of the phone, making her glance at the caller ID once more to be sure it wasn't a wrong number.

"Gerald! Are you there?" Her voice croaked.

"Hey, sister. Gerald is here, but he isn't ready to speak with you."

Sarah's forehead twitched at the familiar voice. "Amara... is that you? Why do you have Gerald's phone? Are you at my place?" She paused. "Okay, it's good that you picked up in his absence. I'm stuck here, Amara. I'm in trouble. A truck ran into me and almost pushed me over the bridge. You guys should come over. I'm scared, sister," she cried.

Again, Amara laughed.

Sarah found it irritating. She wasn't taking the situation seriously. "Amara! I just told you I'm in danger. Are you listening at all?"

Amara scoffed. "Of course, sister. I heard you, but why should I do what you want? Why should we come to save you?"

Sarah huffed. "I don't know what you're talking about, Amara, but this isn't the time to be funny. Are you even listening to me? My car is slowly sliding over the bridge, and it could fall into the sea. I'm in the car, Amara. I'm. trapped. in. the. car. That means I could die." Her voice shook just like her body.

"Oh! Let me explain in layman's terms, Sarah. I DON'T CARE IF YOU DIE OR SURVIVE. GERALD AND I WILL NEVER COME TO RESCUE YOU," she emphasized every word.

Sarah was taken aback. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Are you-"

"Listen to me before you die, Sarah. You need to know how long you've been a fool in this life so that you can learn to be smart in your next life."

"That night you said yes to him?" she chuckled. "Yeah... he was in my bed after that."

"What!" Sarah exclaimed. "What nonsense are you spea-?"

"Let me speak, Sarah. I don't think you have a lot of time left, and every second is important to me," Amara interrupted.

"Gerald never loved you, but you were so bent on marrying him because you think he's your savior," She laughed.

"Guess what, Sarah? He wasn't the one who saved you from drowning six years ago. His uncle did, but you were so blinded that you couldn't see the one who truly loved you." She laughed again.

"Ama... Amara... Don't lie to me.... Stop lying to me," Her voice became low. She had forgotten about the situation she was in and was fully invested in what her sister was saying.

Amara snickered. "This is not the time to call my name, Sarah. I'm not even done with the story." She rolled her eyes.

"Your friend saw us that night." She paused briefly.

"And since we couldn't let her ruin things... we handled it." She added.

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Tears choked Sarah's throat. She didn't know which hurt more-the betrayal from the two people she trusted most or the wounds all over her body.

"The girl did everything to make you see the truth, but did you believe her? No. You were so focused on shielding your man as if he were some chick. You left the man who truly loved you for Gerald, who only lusts after you. You are pathetically stupid, Sarah." She giggled mockingly.

"Stop... stop talking!" Sarah snapped.

"You're lying. You have to be lying... You are a liar," She burst into sobs.

Sarah struggled to breathe steadily as she tried to comprehend everything. Gulping the lump in her throat, she asked, "Why are you doing this to me?"Her voice cracked.

"What did I ever do to you? I gave you everything I own, Amara. Your acting career is excelling now because I sacrificed mine for you. I've always been a good sister. I don't deserve this kind of betrayal from you..."

"Shut up, Sarah. Stop acting like you're a victim. Stop acting like you've been wronged. If there's anyone who should feel that way, it's me. Dad and Mom stopped loving me the moment you came into our lives. They said you went missing when you were young, and so what? That shouldn't make me inferior to you," she barked, every word dripping with venom.

Sarah gasped, shocked. "You've gotten this all wrong. Our parents love us equally. I don't know what you saw, but they've never treated you as inferior to me. And even if there was something, you should have come to me, Amara. We are sisters. We could have settled this-"

"Shut it, Sarah. I don't want to hear anything from you. You didn't see it because you weren't in my shoes, and I don't fucking want to hear your holier-than-thou speech," she snarled, then burst into laughter. "You're going to die anyway. Maybe we can sit and talk about it in your next life."

Then Sarah remembered she was still stuck. The crowd was large, but the rescue team hadn't arrived. Nobody dared move closer. "Amara! Listen to me!" There was tension in her voice. "We can sort this out. Please, just get me out of this danger. I promise to make things right," she begged hastily.

"Do you know what I love most about this?" Amara snickered "You're still hoping I'll save you. BUT THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN,"

"You can't do this to me, Amara. I'm your sister for God's sake," She cried.

She didn't hear her sister again. Instead, her husband's voice sounded in the background.

"Honey, why are you still here?"

The voice grew louder and was followed by the sound of lips colliding. Sarah's heart dropped. Her lungs burned with betrayal. She had listened to everything Amara said but never believed Gerald could do that. She thought it was just Amara taunting her. She never expected to hear Gerald speak so intimately.

A thud followed, indicating the phone had been flung aside.

"Amara! Gerald!" she called, hitting the steering wheel, forgetting the delicate position she was in.

At that moment, the rescue team arrived and began setting up their equipment.

Right then, Amara's and Gerald's moans drifted into her ears. Her breath hitched, and her vision blurred. She stared blankly at the people around her.

Her grip tightened on the wheel.

A broken laugh slipped past her lips.

"I was such a fool..."

Before the rescue team could reach her car, she turned the steering wheel. The last support holding the car gave way, sending it over the bridge.

Everyone yelled.

SARAH

"Ahhhh!!!" I shouted, jerking myself from the unknown force that kept pulling me deeper into my slumber. The bulb glowed softly above me. I blinked, trying to understand what had just happened. Why wasn't I in the water?

My eyes scanned the room. There were two chairs, two other beds, and a shelf beside each of them. While I was still trying to comprehend where I was, the sharp smell of drugs wafted into my nose and made my stomach churn.

If I could feel this... did that mean I was still alive? When my eyes lowered, I saw the hospital gown on me. That meant I was at the hospital.

Gasping, I sat up. How did I get here? Was I saved by the rescue team? But how was that possible? I remembered drowning until everything went black.

At the same time, the door opened, and my parents hurried in. When our eyes met, they rushed over, and my mother pulled me into a tight hug.

"My darling, you're finally awake," she said, breaking the hug and grinning in relief.

I was confused and shocked at the same time. My mind couldn't process anything. How did I end up here?

My father came closer and patted my head gently. "Thank you for surviving, my dear. Your mother and I wouldn't have been able to forgive ourselves if something bad had happened to you," he mumbled, nodding, a grateful smile hanging on his lips.

I stared at them. If they were talking about survival, did that mean I really survived...

"Did the excitement of your engagement make you lose your appetite? You kept straining yourself until your body couldn't take the workload anymore and collapsed," my mother stated. "Have you imagined how it would have felt if you had fainted at your engagement party tomorrow?" she added.

Wait. If she was talking about my engagement, that meant... This was years before I died.

But why? How? I was certain I got married to Gerald, and everything that happened afterward was real. So how did I find myself in the past? What was this supposed to mean? Was I given another chance? Gosh! I'm going crazy. I never thought rebirth was real.

"Sarah!" I was startled. "Sarah... are you okay?" My mother's voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me out.

I tilted my head and took her hands in mine. "I... I'm sorry, Mum. You know how much I love Gerald. So the thought of being his fiancée tomorrow made me skip meals unknowingly."

Thinking about this same scenario in the past, I would call myself a fool. I actually skipped meals because I was afraid I would gain weight before my engagement, and God forbid I looked bad beside Gerald in the engagement pictures.

The door opened, and my sister Amara appeared, and behind her was Gerald. The sight of Amara and Gerald sent memories rushing in like waves. Something twisted painfully in my chest. They even walked in together. I wouldn't be surprised if they came here right after a hot round of sex.

"Sister!" Amara rushed over and attempted to pull me into a hug, but I shifted to the side. Her arms hung when she saw my reaction, and her smile froze. "What, sister? Did something happen?" she asked.

Her voice made my blood boil. Gosh! Her fake smile and act of vulnerability churned my stomach with irritation. She was really good at her game; I shouldn't blame myself for not being able to see through both of them until I got killed in my previous life.

My gaze shifted to Gerald, who was staring at me with eyes full of smiles and relief. I cringed. How did I find that smile sexy and contagious in the past?

"Is there something wrong, Sarah? Why do you keep looking at everybody without talking? We were all worried about you. Your sister almost peed herself when she heard you fainted," he said. Every word sounded like a dog's bark and a cow's moo in my ears.

"No, Gerald. Nothing is wrong. I just don't think all that drama is needed. I only fainted. It isn't death," I muttered without sparing Roseline a glance.

Gerald chuckled. He sat beside me and held my hands. As soon as his hands touched mine, it felt like I was being pierced by thousands of needles, but I endured. I didn't want to raise suspicion. Not now.

"Your sister is just worried about you, Sarah. She cherishes you so much and always does things in your interest," he spoke softly. "So I don't want you to see anything she does as dramatic. She loves you so much, and being loud about you is the only way she can show how much you mean to her."

Oh! Of course, you'd defend her.

Being an advocate for your woman must be thrilling.

I stared at him for a few seconds, flashed a half-smile, and nodded, pulling my hands from his smoothly. "I heard you, Gerald." Then, I faced Amara. "I'm sorry for acting that way when you tried to touch me. I don't know why I suddenly feel like the affection isn't real, so I..."

"That's not the way to speak, Sarah." My mother scolded me. I pursed my lips and nodded. I loved how my mother was always assisting me at the right time. I really didn't want to have a full-length conversation with Roseline, and she helped with that.

⸻

After another two hours, I was discharged. Gerald and Amara left thirty minutes after their visit. Their excuse was that they wanted to go back to the engagement venue to check the preparation and arrangements. Deep down, I knew they just wanted to spend more time together, and I didn't even bother to stop them. Their presence made me uneasy. It was better to have them out of my space.

The car was quiet as we drove back home. Resting my head against the window, I allowed my mind to run wild. My engagement to Gerald is tomorrow, and getting married to him would lead to my untimely death right after finding out I was pregnant.

My death in my previous life was pathetic. I was pathetic. I lived pathetically, but not anymore. Not in this life. Not when I've been given a second chance... a pen to rewrite my story and make things right. I would be a fool to let history repeat itself. Never.

"Can you drop me off at the subway?" I asked our chauffeur. My mum and dad stared at me for a few seconds. I didn't need to be told what those stares meant.

I giggled to ease the tension. "I... I just want to check on Gerald at home. I suddenly miss him," I lied with a smile.

"Gerald...? He should be at the event hall with Roseline. They both-"

"They already left. He texted me to let me know he had gotten home a few minutes ago," I lied, hoping they wouldn't probe further.

My mother wanted to say something, but my father touched her and squeezed her hand.

"Let us know if there's any trouble, huh?" my father said, and I nodded.

I was dropped off at the subway as requested, then I hailed a taxi and headed toward Gerald's uncle's house.

Once I got there, I scanned the driver's QR code, made the payment, and rushed in.

I hadn't gotten to the entrance door when my steps slowed and finally halted. The man I was looking for, the one who saved me from drowning two years ago and the one who could stop this engagement, stood a few steps away from the door, with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a phone to his ear.

Tears rushed to my eyelids. He should have been the man I married in the past. He loved me so much. I didn't know how, but I believed Gerald was my savior when this man was the one who always helped me out of every problem I encountered in my previous life. How did I never suspect Gerald? God... I was such a fool. How did I not see it?

Wiping the tears from my face, I kept walking until I stopped in front of him. He was still on the phone, but his eyes didn't leave my body. They were dark, shining, and filled with possessiveness. That was how he had always looked at me. It didn't change-not even when I got married to his cousin in the past.

"Look who we have here. My nephew's little girlfriend who will turn fiancée tomorrow," he teased, expressionless.

My lips parted, but before I could say a word, he snatched my waist and pulled me to himself. My breath hitched, and my body tightened as his cologne drifted into my nose. My lashes quivered, and my eyes fell on his abs. Gosh! They were well-defined under the blue shirt.

"Are you here because you've had a change of mind? What? Will you marry me instead of my nephew?" he asked, a smirk hanging on his lips, piercing his gaze into mine, his jaw clenched.

I didn't respond. I stared unblinkingly and hiccupped softly.

Then his lips curled into a smile. The smile only lasted a second before it turned into a dark expression. He moved closer to my ear and whispered, "Do you know what you are doing, Sarah? Coming to my house alone when your engagement is tomorrow... You've got some courage, I must confess." He pulled back afterward.

Tightening my jaw, I pursed my lips and let out a deep breath. "Let me show you how much courage I've gathered." Before he could blink, I rose on my toes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and captured his lips with mine.

SARAH

I felt his body tense against mine, but it only took him a second before he grabbed me tighter and returned the kiss. Heat crawled to my neck and face.

After a few seconds that stretched endlessly, I pulled back, breaking the kiss. I took steps backward. His dark eyes glittered with hunger and lust. At that moment, regret and fear filled me. Maybe I shouldn't have kissed him. What if he decided to take things further than I wanted?

"I... you...," I stuttered. The situation was awkward. What was I supposed to say after kissing him like that? I just suddenly kissed a man I've hated for years. Wouldn't he be suspicious?

His lips tugged into a grimace as he gazed at me, his eyes glittering with mischief. "My nephew's little girlfriend has really got some nerves." He started coming closer, erasing the space between us.

Before I could say anything, he grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him. His eyes probed mine as though searching for clues about what was happening.

"Tell me," he mumbled. "What's with this trick of yours? Did my nephew send you here?" There was distrust and disappointment in his eyes.

I stared at him for a few seconds and said, "Marry me, Knox. Let's have our engagement party tomorrow."

His brows creased, and confusion briefly crossed his face before it turned into his usual cold and sinister expression. A smile formed on his lips. "Don't joke with me, little girl." He released his grip on my waist and tucked his hands into his pockets. "Tell me... who sent you here? Gerald or his family? What do they want you to get from me?"

The more he emphasized Gerald and his family, the more I suspected that there was something between them. Maybe the relationship between them wasn't as smooth as I thought. Gerald also never liked speaking about his brother, even in my previous life. Well, that explained why Gerald lied to me that he was my savior so he could marry the same woman his uncle had always loved.

Chuckling, I walked to him and ran my fingers across his chest. "For a man who chased me for years, I didn't expect this reaction after hearing my proposal. Why do you think I would be your family's tool against you?" I raised my gaze at him and flashed a flirtatious smile. "I'm going to ask you again, Knox. Do you want to marry me? If yes, let's get engaged tomorrow."

His eyes grew colder, and his aura exuded danger. Goosebumps rose on my skin. I almost reacted out of fear, but I held back. He wouldn't kill me. He loved me so much in the past that he didn't dare marry somebody else because he was afraid of being entangled with someone else by the time I decided to choose him.

"Do you realize the mess you're walking into?" He grabbed my chin and tilted my head up. His eyes were a mixture of coldness and something almost like intoxication. His fingers grazed my face as he whispered, "Do you also know what will happen to you if I find out you are lying?"

Of course. Who wouldn't know that? Everybody knew he was a heartless and wicked bastard. He was nicknamed "Demon" all over town. There was also a rumor that he killed his business partner because of betrayal. In the past, I didn't believe any of that, yet I couldn't stop myself from running from him. That was one of the reasons I hated him.

Sighing deeply, I held the hand he placed on my face and smiled. "I know, Knox, and you are free to do whatever you like with me if this turns out to be a deception."

Releasing my face, he nodded. "Does Gerald know about this?"

"No, he doesn't. I have free will, and I'm using it freely," I responded, staring into his eyes.

He snickered. "Your free will might get you into trouble, little girl."

"That's why I have you to protect me. You won't watch people castigate and judge me harshly for choosing you, will you?" I leaned forward.

He stared at me for a few seconds, chuckled, and poked my nose. "I see what you're doing. You want to break the engagement, and you think I'll be the right person to use, huh? Don't you feel indebted to him anymore? He saved you from drowning two years ago." Something shifted in his eyes when he said that, but it disappeared before I could name it.

My heart sank at the statement. I was such a fool. I've been running after the wrong man for years.

Shrugging off the thought, I grabbed his arms tightly. "Aww... you're so smart, Knox, but I'm not using you. I really want to be your bride," I mumbled, intentionally ignoring the 'savior' part. I was scared I might reveal my secret if I kept talking about it.

He encircled his arms around my waist and pulled me against him. He stared into my eyes as if I were some kind of treasure.

"You cannot leave after today, Sarah." His voice was soft for the first time since I had known him.

"I know."

"You will stay with me henceforth," he said.

"I don't mind," I responded.

I didn't care what his conditions were. I just wanted to find a capable ally and take my revenge on those who hurt me in the past.

•

The next morning, the sound of my phone woke me up. When I opened my eyes, it was already morning, and the rays were filtering through the window.

Picking up my phone, I realized I'd missed countless calls. While I was still trying to check who had called, my father's text came in, asking why I didn't come home the previous night and where I was.

Then I remembered I hadn't texted to inform them I would be sleeping out. Knox wouldn't let me do anything. He took me into the bedroom and stayed with me until I fell asleep. It was as though he was afraid I might vanish if he let me out of his sight even once.

Immediately, I texted my father back and told him I would go directly to the engagement venue when it was time. Afterward, I flung my phone to the side and got out of bed, forgetting entirely about the calls.

Knox was nowhere in sight. With the way he acted last night, I thought he would stay in the same room with me, but it seemed that was just wishful thinking.

When I got downstairs, the workers were everywhere, engaging in different activities. I looked around but didn't see Knox. Just as I was about to head outside, my eyes caught a glimpse of the kitchen, and an idea surged in my mind.

How about I make something good for him to assure him that I was with him? Maybe that would help me gain some of his trust because, even with my explanation yesterday, I could still see doubt in his eyes. Don't get me wrong-I deserved it and wasn't complaining. After everything I did to him, it was only right if he built walls of defense around his heart.

I walked into the kitchen, and the maids gaped at me, surprise and admiration evident in their expressions.

"Hello, Ms. Sarah." A woman dressed differently from the others stepped forward with a smile tugging at her lips. From her demeanor, I could tell she was the head of the maids.

"Good morning, ma'am," I greeted.

"Please, call me Jane. I'm the head of the staff in this house," she introduced. "Mr. Knox told us to give you everything you want. Please kindly tell us what you would like to eat for breakfast," she added.

I looked around, still feeling awkward under so many eyes. I could sense envy in some and curiosity in others. I wouldn't be surprised if I were the first woman Knox had brought into this house.

"I want to cook," I announced, earning surprised glances from them.

Jane smiled. "You don't have to do anything yourself, Ms. Sarah. Just say the word, and we will make sure whatever we prepare suits your palate," she said.

"No, Jane. It's not about me. I want to surprise Knox with breakfast, and if I want it to be a real surprise, I have to make the food," I told her.

She exchanged glances with the others, and they smiled, their cheeks turning red. One after another, they left the kitchen, leaving only Jane and me.

"I'll stay with you in case you need any assistance," she said, bowing slightly, and I went straight to work.

I was about to plate the food when I heard a maid scream, followed by Knox's voice. Fear gripped me.

When I rushed out of the kitchen, I froze the moment I reached the living room.

Knox was strangling a man.