Chapter 33
Riley finally understood why Victoria hated her so much.
The intensity of that hatred revealed something significant: in their previous life, Victoria had never successfully won Nathaniel’s love.
Riley didn’t know what happened after her death, but Victoria’s bitterness told her plenty.
First, Nathaniel must not have ended up with Victoria after she died.
Riley had actually suspected this when she decided to jump from that rooftop. Even if Nathaniel had feelings for Victoria then, Riley had always been different to him.
Her suicide was deliberate. She hated them both and wanted to punish Nathaniel. She knew her death would haunt him forever.
Second, Riley could almost guarantee that Victoria’s ultimate fate had been miserable, with Nathaniel nowhere near her. Otherwise, upon discovering they’d both been reborn, Victoria’s reaction would have been different. If Victoria had won Nathaniel after Riley’s death, she would have gloated, bragging about spending the rest of his life with him.
But none of that happened. When Victoria saw that note and then faced Riley, her eyes showed shock, fear, confusion, hatred, and jealousy–but not a hint of triumph.
Riley paused at the roadside just as the sun was setting, watching it slowly disappear behind the mountains.
Tired from walking, she sat down on a long flight of steps and gazed at the sunset, lost in thought.
It was beautiful–the sky painted orange, a golden disk sinking inch by inch into the western mountains. As the light faded, darkness gradually took its place.
Part of her wanted to laugh at Victoria’s pathetic situation: fighting so desperately, using every possible means, stopping at nothing to win Nathaniel’s love, yet ultimately gaining nothing.
Even more ridiculous was how, despite being given a second chance at life, Victoria still couldn’t see clearly. She could have built a better, more beautiful life, but instead, her obsession led her to repeatedly hurt others, ultimately turning herself into
a prisoner.
But Riley couldn’t bring herself to laugh. She wanted to cry. In her previous life, she had used her own death to keep Nathaniel away from Victoria. How was she any
different?
And now, in this new life, she hadn’t sought revenge against the two people who caused her death, yet she was still being harmed by Victoria.
What had she done wrong? Why did she have to endure the wrath of someone who should have no connection to her, repeatedly putting her in danger?
Even Nathaniel, who in this life knew nothing of their past, had nearly sacrificed himself to save her and now lay seriously injured in a hospital bed.
All of this because of Victoria’s jealousy and hatred over unrequited love. Why should so many people suffer for one person’s
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I Died He Cried Now We’re Stuck in This Toxic Rebirth Loop
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Chapter 33
obsession, especially when that person refused to acknowledge her wrongs?
“Ahahaha… why me? Why us?” Riley couldn’t hold back her sobs.
The sun continued to sink, and darkness grew deeper.
People passed by on their way home–some exhausted from work, some cheerfully walking with their children, couples flirting and laughing.
But on those steps against the wall sat a lone girl, hugging her knees with her head buried, crying uncontrollably as if she’d experienced some tremendous loss. Her heart–wrenching sobs caused passersby to turn and look back at her in concern.
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