Second Chance Rising

In my previous life, I was Sarah, a girl whose world revolved around Nathan, the son of a wealthy family who took me in after my parents\' death. My father, a comrade-in-arms of Nathan\'s father, had sacrificed his life to save theirs, binding our families with a debt of loyalty and a childhood betrothal. Nathan was everything—handsome, brilliant, a model student—while I, the orphaned daughter of a soldier, was seen as unworthy, merely tolerated out of obligation. Yet, I loved him fiercely, trailing after him like a shadow, my heart tethered to his every smile.

But that life ended in betrayal and tragedy. Just before the college entrance exams, Nathan and his new flame, Lily, falsely accused me of stealing her expensive watch. The accusation, though baseless, shattered my mental state. Nathan, the boy who once promised to protect me, locked me in a room to \"teach me a lesson,\" leaving me to scream for help as the exam loomed. My performance tanked, landing me in a mediocre university, and later, I died in a car accident orchestrated by Lily\'s jealousy. The pain of their betrayal lingered even in death.

Then, I was reborn—three months before the college entrance exams, with a chance to rewrite my fate. This time, I vowed to break free from Nathan and his family, to forge my own path. The first thing I did was change my college preference from University B, where Nathan and Lily planned to attend, to University A, my dream school. My teacher, shocked, asked if Nathan knew. I smiled faintly. \"I don’t think that way anymore. University A suits me better.\"

Memories of my past life fueled my resolve. I remembered Lily’s tearful performance, accusing me of theft in front of a crowd, and Nathan’s cruel words: \"Being poor isn’t wrong, but letting poverty breed evil intentions is.\" The disdain in his eyes, the mocking crowd, the locked room—all of it burned in my mind. This time, I wouldn’t let them ruin me.

I began packing my things from the Thompson family’s villa, a wedding gift for Nathan’s future. Olivia, Nathan’s mother, treated me like her own, but my heart had hardened. I owed them nothing now. As I packed, I crafted a rigorous study plan, my eyes fixed on a photo of University A pinned to the wall. Hope surged within me—I could leave this place behind forever.

Nathan, oblivious to my plans, continued bringing Lily to the villa. She played the innocent, delicate girl, squealing over the dinners I cooked while subtly excluding me. One evening, she spat out my peanut-based porridge, claiming an allergy, and cried to Nathan that I didn’t like her. He frowned at me, accusing me of malice, but I ignored him, focusing on my studies. When he stayed on campus to tutor Lily, I moved my belongings to my childhood apartment in the suburbs, cleaning my father’s military plaque and whispering, “Dad, I’ll achieve my goals, no matter what.”

As the exams neared, Nathan mentioned our engagement banquet, planned for after the tests. I brushed it off, saying we’d discuss it later. Olivia, sensing my distance, canceled the banquet without protest, respecting my unspoken resolve. She and her husband assured me I’d always be their daughter, but I knew I’d leave them after the exams.

Days before the exams, history seemed to repeat itself. A $10,000 watch appeared in my desk, and Lily, with theatrical tears, accused me of stealing it. The classroom buzzed with accusations, but this time, I was prepared. I demanded the security cameras be checked, knowing they’d been conveniently disabled. When Nathan suggested paying for the watch to hush it up, I sneered, “You think I did it? You’ve known me for years, Nathan. Do you really believe I’m that kind of person?” His hesitation stung, but I held my ground. Lily’s friends pushed for police involvement, but she backpedaled, fearing exposure. In a moment of clarity, I slapped her, silencing her crocodile tears. “Pathetic, Lily. Do you need me to air your dirty deeds?”

The incident passed, but Lily wasn’t done. On the eve of the exams, she locked me in my apartment, hoping to sabotage me. I filmed her from the window, securing proof, and escaped in time to take the exams. I poured every ounce of my strength into those tests, determined to reclaim my future.

At the celebration banquet, Nathan, still clueless, offered me a spot in a preparatory class to retake the exams, assuming I’d failed. Lily’s friends echoed his condescension, but Ryan, the class’s perennial runner-up, cut through their nonsense. “Lily, your audacity is incredible,” he snapped, defending me. When Nathan tried to drag me home, insisting his family could “take care of me,” I slapped him. Ryan, stepping in, punched him, shielding me. “She doesn’t want to go with you. Back off.”

The exam results brought vindication. I ranked first in the grade, securing my place at University A. Lily, exposed for planting the watch and locking me in, was arrested. Her boasts about Ryan taking first place backfired, and online ridicule buried her. Nathan, learning the truth, confronted her, ending their relationship with a hefty settlement and a cold dismissal. His world crumbled as he realized he’d misjudged me.

At University A, I thrived, balancing studies and part-time work, consistently topping my class. Ryan, also at University A, became a quiet presence—sitting beside me, sharing meals, waiting after exams. One winter evening, by the river’s fireworks, he confessed his love. “Sarah, I’ve watched you for years, hurting for Nathan. I’m hopelessly in love with you. Let me wield the sword for you.” His words, tender and earnest, broke through my walls. I placed my hand in his, smiling. “The job’s yours, boyfriend.”

That same night, Nathan appeared, haggard and desperate, begging for a second chance. “Sarah, I was wrong. Let’s start over.” I kneed him in the stomach, pushing him away. “Go home, Nathan.” Ryan, stepping in, shoved him aside. “Haven’t you haunted her enough?” As we walked away, Nathan’s figure faded in the cold wind, a relic of a past I’d left behind.

Under the fireworks, Ryan asked, “Does this mean what I think?” I laughed softly, my heart lighter than ever. For the first time, I saw a future not defined by betrayal or obligation, but by my own strength—and someone who chose to stand beside me.