Life Swapped, Sister’s Downfall Chapter 06
In my past life, Axel’s first beating happened on a rainy day too. He swung a wooden stick over and over, striking every inch of my body.
It wasn’t just that—he liked violence in other ways as well. A few times, I actually fainted. And when I woke up, I felt… disappointed. How I wished I could have died then… Living meant enduring yet another round of torment.
A week later, I saw Emma again.
“You-bitch! You’re reborn too, aren’t you?”
She stormed toward me, her face twisted in anger, the corners of her eyes darkened. Gone was the smug, self- satisfied look she’d worn the first time she came to see me.
I sat in my chair, smiling. “Does it matter?”
“Damn it! You framed me! I’ll fight you to the death!”
She lunged at me, but it only took a few moves to subdue her.
Pathetic. I couldn’t beat Axel, but a girl like Emma? Easy.
“Harper! You knew this was a hellish trap, and you just let me jump in! I don’t care! You’re responsible for me! How did you make money in your last life? Did you meet anyone? Tell me!”
I wanted to tell her how I had fought tooth and nail to achieve everything in my past life. How I’d survived and thrived because I dared to rise from the ashes. Only those who could be reborn in adversity would succeed.
“You can’t do it, Emma.”
Exactly. People who are always chasing shortcuts can never turn the tide in a real crisis.
Her phone rang. She answered, her face darkening. She threatened me with a few sharp words and stormed off.
After she left, I felt a knot of unease. In my previous life, I had returned home by my own ability. Axel, knowing I had escaped, had eventually come back to Pehlo to try to control me again.
Now Emma had come back with Axel. What exactly were they planning?
It didn’t take long to notice something was wrong. My roommate, Catherine Jones, had recently run into financial trouble at home and desperately needed money.
That day, she returned to the dorm with an uncharacteristically radiant smile.
“Did something good happen? Did your family come up with the money?” I asked
Since her troubles began, Catherine had been crying almost every day. Seeing her smile, we assumed things at home had finally found a solution.
She looked relieved and told us, “Heaven really has smiled on me. My cousin knows someone who can take me to Zandumore to make money. They say you can earn four to five thousand a month!”
My heart skipped. Could it be…? I asked cautiously, “Did your cousin say who this person is?”
“I think his name was… Axel Brixton. Not too sure. But he’s a man from Zandumore.”
I lowered my gaze, instantly piecing together Axel and Emma’s plan.
When Axel saw Catherine and me together, his excitement was palpable.
“You’re here too! Changed your mind, ready to come to Zandumore with me? You’re so beautiful-I’ll treat you well!”
Emma sneered. “Look at you, hearing about money and rushing over like a puppy! Weren’t you so proud before? Where’s that backbone now?”
I forced down my unease and replied, “If it really earns four or five thousand a month; there are some things worth considering.”
“Hahaha…”
Emma doubled over laughing. She stepped close, lowering her voice so only I could hear. “You know exactly wha we’re about to face. But it doesn’t matter-we’ll be free of his control sooner if we make this money.”
I smiled quietly, saying nothing. Around us, a few other girls were watching. Axel began his manipulative pitch, telling them the only way to go to Zandumore was through fake marriages. He promised all the husbands would be respectable, high-quality men to reassure everyone.
