In my next life

"I didn't kill her!" I screamed, my voice tearing through the air.

Five years ago, I married Aiden - my father's choice, not mine. I never loved him. He was cold, distant, and came home only to remind me how trapped I was. So I invited my best friend, Sofia, to keep me company. I thought she was helping me survive my marriage - until she started dressing up for my husband, whispering that I should divorce him, and avoiding my eyes.

Then came his mother's birthday - the night everything shattered. A push. A scream. A body tumbling down the stairs. His mother - gone. And every gaze turned to me.

Before I could speak, Aiden's men beat me to the ground. He looked at me with hate and grief I'll never forget. "You wanted a divorce so bad you killed my mother?"

But it wasn't me.

Later, Sofia appeared, smiling through her tears, a bowl of poison in her hands. "You always had everything, Lilly. Now lose it all." She forced it down my throat and screamed, "She killed herself!" when Aiden rushed in.

As I choked on blood and betrayal, I realized the truth too late - my best friend was my ruin.

If only I could return... just once more