Chapter 2 Second Chances, Schemes, and Hidden Truths

• I never imagined the heavens would have mercy, granting me a second chance to go back ten years, back to the very beginning of it all. This time, I vowed never to repeat my past mistakes. I would make sure the scumbag and the schemer paid for everything they did!
• As I looked at my emotional grandfather and the overly delicate Katie, an idea began to take shape in my mind.
• I walked over to Katie and gently helped her up. "Katie, are you alright? It's my fault. I was so worried about you earlier that I lost my composure."
• Katie's face froze for a brief moment.
• In my previous life, I was impulsive and hot-tempered, never one to hold back. She likely never expected me to say something like that.
• "I...I'm fine, Celine. I know you're upset. You can hit me or yell at me if it makes you feel better, but please don't upset Peter anymore. This is all my fault." Katie spoke while wiping away her tears.
• Peter's emotions flared as he watched the scene unfold. "Celine, stop picking on Katie! Your grandmother spoiled you, and that's why you turned out like this!"
• Seeing Katie's crocodile tears, I chuckled coldly in my heart. Fine, if she wanted to act, I would play along with her.
• "Grandpa, you misunderstood me," I said, tears welling up in my eyes. "I wasn't trying to pick on Katie. I'm just so happy! Grandma has been gone for two years, and now there's finally someone to take care of you in her place."
• Peter froze for a moment, then burst out laughing, his wrinkles deepening with his joy. "Good, good! Celine, I'm glad you've come around. I was worried you wouldn't accept this. Later, I'll send you some money later!"
• "Thank you, Grandpa!"
• Just as I finished speaking, someone rushed in. It was Nathan, my husband.
• He glanced at Katie, whose clothes were still in disarray, and said, "Celine, don't get mad. Grandma passed away only two years ago. There's no way Grandpa would act recklessly like this."
• I looked at him coldly, finding his words fake and hypocritical. Outwardly, he appeared to be comforting me, but in my past life, this same line had sparked a heated argument between me and Grandpa, where I had angrily brought up Grandma and severed ties with him. Looking back now, it was clear that Nathan and Katie had been secretly colluding for a long time. Today's incident might even have been something they orchestrated together.
• "Celine..."
• "How do you know I'm angry?" I interrupted him. "Since Grandma passed, Grandpa hasn't had anyone to care for him. Katie is my best friend, and I trust her completely to look after him. Isn't that right, Katie?"
• I turned to Katie as I spoke. Her expression stiffened, but she quickly forced a response. "Y...yes, of course. I'll take her place and take good care of Peter."
• Peter, seeing the cheerful and harmonious atmosphere, couldn't hide his smile. After chatting with him a bit longer, I left his house.
• In the underground parking lot, Nathan realized he had left his suit jacket at home and asked me to wait in the car.
• Sitting in the passenger seat, I felt something hard under my legs. Reaching down, I pulled out a bottle filled with a clear liquid. The label featured a naked girl, and the words beneath it read, "Lubricant."
• Disgust churned in my stomach. Clearly, Nathan and Katie had been using my car to fool around for quite some time. They didn't even bother hiding something so obvious, leaving it blatantly on the seat. Their secret wasn't well-concealed. It was just that in my previous life, I had been too oblivious and naive, blindly trusting Nathan.