Reborn to Revenge My Husband's Family Killed the Wrong ChildChapter 1 The Red Horse

At the New Year's gathering, the children goaded my son into wearing a horse mascot costume. They rode him like livestock, kicking and striking his small body, until they buried him face-down in a snowdrift.

He suffocated in the freezing cold.

I went mad with grief. I wanted to call the police, but my relatives turned on me, slandering me with accusations that I was the one who'd killed my own child.

My husband, Derek Lawson, stood on the sidelines, offering cold persuasion instead of comfort. "Just admit to negligence," he'd said, his voice empty. "Domestic violence isn't a capital offense. We can't let the children end up with criminal records over an accident."

Crushed by slander and loss, I suffered a complete breakdown. I wandered into traffic. My life ended beneath the wheels of a car.

When I opened my eyes, I was back. New Year's Day again.

I immediately contacted my mother and sent my son away. "Ethan Fletcher, you're sleeping at Grandma's tonight," I told him, voice trembling. "Do not come back here."

I watched them leave the complex, relief washing over me. But the moment I turned back toward the house, my blood ran cold.

The red horse mascot costume was there. Again.

Panic clawed at my throat. I scanned the yard. All the relatives' children were present—not one missing.

So who the hell is inside that suit?

——

The figure stumbled forward, gait unsteady. A muffled voice called out from inside.

"Dad."

I whipped around. Derek stood smoking with several male relatives, laughing.

I swept the yard again. Diana Lawson's son was building a snowman. Aunt Brenda's twins were locked in a snowball fight. The other children played in clusters. Every single one accounted for.

Could Ethan have secretly run back?

The thought hit me like a blow. My blood turned to ice.

No. It can't be.

I muttered the denial, hands shaking as I reached for my phone. I had to call my mother. Had to confirm—

A hand snatched the phone from my grip.

"All the guests have arrived. Why are you spacing out?" Derek had appeared without a sound, eyes cold, tone demanding. "Go greet them. And check the soup in the kitchen."

Before I could protest, Diana stepped forward. She hooked her arm through mine, leaning in with a sickeningly sweet smile. "Sister-in-law, come here. I have something to tell you."

Déjà vu hit like a nightmare.