How Death Became My Rebirth

Raymond opened his mouth but did not know what to say as he thought, ‘Is that so? Did Cas sandra do that intentionally?”

He then thought that couldn’t be it. If Cas sandra had deserted them at that critical moment, he and Yulissa would undoubtedly have lost their lives.

However, Cas sandra hadn’t hesitated to risk it all by letting Jeremiah ram into Raymond's car. Raymond survived, but the head of Jeremiah’s car was nearly totaled.

“Ray, don’t you believe me?” Yulissa asked nervously. “Although I’m timid, you’re my brother. | would never intentionally leave you. Even if Cas sandra hates me, you’re her biological brother. | can’t let her hurt you.”

Raymond remained unmoved.

Exasperation bubbled up within Yulissa. ‘How can he be so obstinate?’ she pondered in silent indignation.

Resigned, she said, “Ray, since you don’t believe me, I'll just leave. It’s my fault that you have become like this. I’m too ashamed to stay here anymore.”

She hurried towards the door, but Matthew stopped her.

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“Ray, | believe what Lisa said. You must have misunderstood her. When Fred and | went to look for you on that winding road, Lisa was worried sick, Matthew said.

“Lisa has cried all night. As soon as she found out you were in the hospital, she wanted to see you. It was me and Matt who stopped her from rushing over here late at night.” Frederick also believed Yulissa’s story.

He thought that Cas sandra must have deliberately crashed into them as an act of revenge.

“|... Lisa, I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to point the finger at you without justification.” Raymond still felt something was amiss, but since everyone had said so, he thought that maybe he had really misunderstood Yulissa.

He assumed he should apologize to her.

Satisfied, Yulissa said, “Ray, you don’t need to apologize. I’m just relieved you're not angry with me anymore.”

“All right. I’m happy the misunderstanding is cleared up,” said Leonardo.

He also unconditionally believed Yulissa. He was convinced she was kind and innocent,

Fri, 16 Feb

and everything she had done was for the sake of her brothers, so it was impossible for her to do something like abandoning Raymond.

“It's all Cas sandra’s fault.” Matthew then blamed his parents

“Why did you even let her back into our lives? She’s done nothing but torment Lisa and now, she’s even hurt Ray. What’s next? Is she going to retaliate against us, her other brothers?”

Miranda and Benjamin also itched with regret at their impulsive decision to bring

Cas sandra back home.

Besides, Cas sandra used the family name of Yates in the first place, so they didn’t even change her name after she came back. “| wanted her back because she is, after all, our child. Yet, | never expected that Cas sandra, living in the countryside for 18 years, would turn out to be such a haughty and boorish girl, Benjamin said.

Benjamin’s blood boiled, not for Raymond's hospitalization, but because the man who sent them money on Cas sandra’s behalf showed up again at around 9 p.m. last night, carrying a suitcase and returning Cas sandra’s school fees of the last two months. The money was undoubtedly a humiliation to Benjamin.

At present, everyone in his social circle knew that he did not acknowledge his biological daughter but treated her as an adopted daughter instead.

He even got humiliated first by 20,000 dollars from their despised daughter Cas sandra and then got his family’s reputation affected by the returned 200 thousand dollars.

Benjamin thought, ‘If | had known things would turn out like this, | shouldn’t have. brought her back in the first place!’

“Dad, Cas sandra is beyond redemption. I'll handle this. I'll send her to Desert Island for two years,” Leonardo said calmly yet firmly.

His declaration seemed to decide Cas sandra’s fate.

Yulissa felt overjoyed as she did not expect such a surprise.

Though she had never been to Desert Island, which was owned by Leonardo, she’d heard enough about the place from him.

It was a barren place. With no food, water, or a means to signal for help, people who were sent there couldn't survive at all. Looking at the hostility Leonardo felt for Cas sandra, Yulissa realized she could stoke these flames and keep the hatred alive. 11:21 Fri, 16 Feb mu.

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“Leo, please don’t do this to Cas sandra. She might not have meant it. It’s just that... she doesn’t like me. I’m certain that once I'm out of the picture, her anger will subside, and there won't be any more accidents, Yulissa pleaded. Her words, far from being comforting, only fueled everyone’s anger.

“Lisa, your kindness is misplaced. Cas sandra has no right to reject you. If she dislikes you, Yates family,” Leonardo responded, placing a

she’s unfit to be a part of the

comforting hand on Yulissa’s shoulder.

“Leo’s right. Lisa, you shouldn’t excuse her. She’s just an ungrateful person,” Matthew said angrily.

Cas sandra, for her part, was sweeping through her usual routine, walking into her classroom for her lesson. To her annoyance, her desk was cluttered with something unexpected.

For example, trash.

Cas sandra snorted coldly and took out her phone, snapping some photos of the mess on her desk.

“Who did this? Apologize now. It wouldn't be this easy when | find you.” Cas sandra’s. tone was cold and detached.

She thought, ‘Do they think I’m a pushover?’

Cas sandra then started to count down. “One! Two! Three!”

“Cas sandra, what’s wrong with you? Isn't it just that someone accidentally dumped some garbage on your desk? Stop escalating the matter. Besides, why would they only do that to you instead of others? Shouldn't you reflect on yourself for that? If you don’t want to attend class, then get out. We need a peaceful room!”

It was Yulissa’s best friend, Christine Lundstrom, who had stood up.

She acted like a bringer of justice, criticizing a victim.

Cas sandra suddenly recalled a quote. “Who killed you? | don’t know because they stood on moral high ground. The glare of their holiness blinded me to their faces.” She thought, ‘Isn’t that what Christine is doing right now? Reflect on myself? Why should | give in since I’m in the right?

“So, it was you?” Cas sandra’s dangerous gaze fixed on Christine.

“You sure are quick to point fingers. Instead of behaving like a rabid dog, why not find the one who actually did this? But what can we expect? You’re just a country bumpkin, and

your petty nature is something you can’t change,” Christine retorted, looking at

Cas sandra haughtily.

Convinced that the destroyed surveillance camera would keep her out of trouble, Christine felt untouchable.

“Since no one’s owning up, let's handle this in another way. We're all adults now, aren't we?” said Cas sandra.

She remembered that when she first joined the class, she was informed that Yulissa was the youngest, doted on by all.

Now, Yulissa had turned 18, marking adulthood for everyone in the class.

An adult should solve matters in an adult manner.

‘lam a law-ab iding citizen!’ thought Cas sandra.

“Hello, 911? I’m a Grade-12 student from Xemrich High School. I’m experiencing. violence and bullying from my classmates. | was wondering if the police intervene int such situations?”

Cas sandra called the police.

She didn’t name any bullies, but her complaint was serious enough to warrant

attention.

School violence cases were frequent these years, and the police investigated each thoroughly, especially in Drieso, the capital. port

Now that a student had called to report it, the police would attach great importance to it.

“Cas sandra, how dare you call the police! End this call immediately! You're crossing at line!” Christine shouted in panic.

But, surprisingly, Cas sandra stayed on the line.

“Officer, you heard it, right? I’ve just been threatened, and you're the witness,” said Cas sandra.

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