Chapter 1

When I pulled myself out of the pile of garbage, covered from head to toe in dirt and filth, I realized I had been reborn.

In my previous life, this very day was when everything fell apart.

Jackson Miller, a poor student, had lost his chance at receiving the national scholarship. Consequently, he threatened to jump off the rooftop in despair. I rushed up there without hesitation to save him and risked my life.

Instead of being grateful, he framed me as the one who had pushed him.

Meryl Duncan, the school beauty, who had known me for years, immediately took off her coat and placed it over Jackson's shoulders. Without hesitation, she chose to protect him she cared about the most.

"Adam, I want to believe you, too, but Jackson has always been the kindest and the most honest. He keeps to himself and never causes trouble. If someone hadn't forced him into this, he wouldn't have done something so extreme."

Kara Jensen, who had a crush on me, anxiously checked on Jackson's injuries. She then looked at me with disappointment and accused me of bullying her best friend.

"Adam, I never thought you'd be this kind of person. Just pretend I never liked you, okay?"

They helped Jackson to the infirmary in a hurry, leaving me behind, as I remained covered in wounds from trying to save him.

With no one willing to believe me, I could only turn to Sally Robinson, the professor who had always treated me kindly, hoping she would be able to prove my innocence.

But she didn't even listen to my explanation. Without a second thought, she slapped me across the face.

"I've supported that child for years. Of course I know he'd never lie. He's always worked hard in his studies. If you hadn't stolen his scholarship through such disgraceful methods, he wouldn't have been pushed to the point of ending his life!"

They forced me to kneel and apologize to Jackson, threatening to report me to the administration and ensure I faced disciplinary punishment if I refused.

But I had never done any of those things. I had no reason to admit to something I didn't do. So, I clenched my teeth and refused.

Enraged, they locked me inside an abandoned classroom and ordered me to reflect on my mistakes. I was trapped inside with no way to escape. Days passed as I endured hunger and exhaustion.

Meanwhile, Jackson, the poor student whom everyone believed to be honest and harmless, quietly slipped into the abandoned classroom. Step by step, he cornered me until my back was pressed against the windows.

"I've hated your arrogance for a long time. What makes you think you're better than me? Why must the scholarship be yours? Why do all the beautiful women surround you?

"Why do I always have to follow behind you, picking up whatever's left over? I'm going to take back everything that belongs to me in my own way. Now, die!"

A triumphant smile twisted his face. At last, he showed his true colors. He shoved me from the tenth floor, causing me to hit the ground and die on the spot.

Even after being reborn, the panic and helplessness of falling from such a height still rang like a blaring alarm in my mind. After taking a moment to steady myself, I brushed the dirt off my clothes and climbed out of the garbage pile.

Fortunately, the point of no return had not yet happened. They had only taken Jackson away and gathered around him to comfort him. As for me, they had simply found someone to teach me a lesson.

After thinking it through, I realized that I couldn't waste the second chance at life that fate had graciously bestowed upon me. In this life, I would stay as far away as possible from those who had harmed me.

However, I had only taken a few steps when Meryl found me. Pinching her nose, she looked around at the dark, filthy, damp environment with unmasked disdain.

She glanced at me briefly, then arrogantly remarked, "I'm surprised you can still walk."

The people Meryl sent had been ruthless. They only targeted places where the injuries wouldn't be seen. On the outside, I only looked dirty, but in reality, my entire body throbbed with excruciating pain.

I moved my bruised lips slightly, only to realize that they had already stuck together from the dried blood.

Faced with my silence, she let out a soft sigh.