“Honey, is the water too hot? Am I pressing too hard…?”

Michael Bennett’s eyes snapped open, his heart racing.

Along with the sound of water spilling, a labored breath reached his ears—a woman's voice, shaky and full of fear.

Every word trembled, laced with unease and caution.

Michael blinked hard, completely thrown off. Just moments ago, he’d been in a boardroom mid-meeting.

Now, somehow, he was back in that tiny, beat-up apartment from two decades ago.

Cracked walls. Peeling cabinets.

The ceiling light flickered weakly, casting flickers of yellow across the room.

This was... his home from twenty years ago.

Small, run-down—but tidy. The bed had clean sheets, though faded. One bedroom, one living area. The bathroom was barely big enough for one person.

On the dining table, there were just a couple of dry buns and a dish of pickled vegetables.

Everything looked so old, but to Michael, it all felt painfully familiar.

He frantically grabbed that clunky old phone lying nearby. The date on the screen?

Exactly twenty years in the past.

He froze, staring like he’d seen a ghost.

He’d… come back.

Reborn.

Slowly, Michael looked up—his gaze falling on the woman crouched at his feet, washing them gently.

She looked to be in her early twenties. Messy hair, pale face, but her delicate features and figure could've easily made her an online celebrity in today’s world—even without a filter.

That was his wife, Alice Walker.

But her face was ghostly white, body weak and frail.

Her hair was tangled, and nasty bruises shadowed her cheeks and eyes.

Each press on his foot made her gasp faintly for air.

Next to her stood a little girl, eyes wide and nervous. She wore a ripped white tank and her twin ponytails made her look heartbreakingly adorable.

Especially those big, watery eyes—so bright, so full of life.

That was his daughter...

Emma Bennett.

In that moment, everything clicked.

He really had returned.

Overcome with emotion, Michael reached out, trembling, wanting to touch his daughter’s soft cheek.

“Emma... Daddy missed you so much…”

But as soon as his hand moved toward her, Alice froze. She yanked Emma into her arms and instinctively backed away.

Her eyes darted toward Michael—filled with terror, disgust, hatred, and cold disdain.

Emma mirrored her mother. She stumbled back, hiding her tiny hands behind herself.

She pressed her back to the wall, her small frame trembling.

They were both terrified of him.

How could they not be?

He’d left scars that ran too deep.

For five miserable years, his wife and daughter had lived in his shadow—trapped in fear, smothered by the pain he’d inflicted.

Cheating, debt from gambling, abuse, beating his own child...

He had been a complete monster.He didn’t just mooch off Alice Walker's parents' pensions—he even gambled away Alice’s paycheck. Yeah, he dragged her folks' pension money to the betting tables too!

Because Michael Bennett had debts all over town from gambling, loan sharks showed up at their place basically every other week. His wife and daughter would be so terrified, they’d just hold onto each other, shaking with silent sobs.

And the worst part? Every time he had a drink, he turned into someone else entirely.

He’d flip out at the slightest thing and start hitting.

Every time he came home drunk, reeking of booze, mother and daughter would dive into the closet, not even daring to breathe.

The most horrible time? He beat Alice unconscious. Just left her there like it was nothing.

Little Emma got so scared, she ran a fever through the night—and he didn’t lift a finger.

Alice came to, blood trickling down her forehead, and still had to carry her feverish daughter to the hospital by herself. She even had to borrow money from the neighbors just to get her admitted.

“Michael,” Alice pleaded, barely able to hold it in, “Hit me, yell at me, treat me however you want... Just don’t touch Emma. Please. I’m begging you.”

“She’s just a kid. She doesn’t deserve this…”

Then, she dropped to her knees, right in front of him. Her eyes welled up in tears in an instant.

Michael’s head felt like it had just exploded. His mind went blank.

“No, I didn’t mean it like that—”

“I just…”

Before he could finish, there was a loud thud. Alice started banging her head on the floor.

Even when her forehead split open, she didn’t stop.

“Michael, I saw the contract—the one for selling Emma’s corneas.”

“I’ll pay your debts. I’ll work three jobs if I have to. Just don’t sell her eyes. If you have to, take mine. Please.”

“She’s still your daughter. She’s got your blood in her veins…”

Alice's sobs were heartbreaking. She was crying like she had nothing left.

And right then—Michael snapped out of it.

He remembered everything from his past life.

That time when loan sharks came knocking and threatened to cut off his hands.

To save himself, he actually took Emma to an underground clinic and sold her corneas—for 100,000.

She wore a white bandage over her eyes, sitting on that hospital bed with a confused look on her tiny face.

And he? He hid in the bathroom, counting his cash with a grin.

Emma had no clue that from that day on, her world would be nothing but darkness.

That cruel deal shattered Alice.

After it all, she completely broke down. Took Emma upstairs to the twentieth floor—and jumped.

“I… I failed you both…”

Michael’s voice cracked, choked with guilt.

It wasn’t until they died that he really woke up.

Then he started from scratch and worked himself to the bone—for eighteen years straight.After hustling hard to build his business, Michael Bennett had everything—success, money, the so-called dream life.

But deep down, his world was empty.

It was the death of his wife and daughter that paved the way for all of it.

That guilt? It never let him go.

He finally understood—no amount of wealth could ever bring the two people he lost back.

“Alice, get up, please!”

“I swear, I won’t hurt you again. Just… just get up, okay?”

Michael bent down in panic, trying to help her to her feet.

“I’m sorry. It was all my fault. I acted like a monster, like I wasn’t even human.”

“I destroyed your hopes for marriage, for life. But please… just give me another chance. Let me make this right—for you and Emma.”

As he spoke, he slapped himself hard across the face.

“You don’t need to say sorry…”

“Michael, all I ask is that you let us live.”

“Please, let’s just get a divorce.”

“I don’t hate you. I just want to raise my daughter in peace. I want her to grow up healthy, that’s all.”

Alice’s voice was hushed, pleading.

There was no love left, just a desperate need to escape.

She couldn’t let this man stay near their daughter a second longer.

To her, he was beyond saving.

Nothing was left in him but cruelty.

He’d gone so far as to consider harvesting their own daughter's organs… what kind of father did that?

Michael’s chest sank as he heard her words.

His crimes were crushing.

Redemption felt almost impossible.

But not hopeless… not anymore.

He had a do-over.

This time, he’d fix it.

Everything he lost—he’d get it back.

Everything he ruined—he’d make it right.

“I’ll agree to the divorce.”

“Emma can stay with you.”

“But I want one condition.”

His throat tightened, and it took everything in him to force the words out. He was breaking inside.

When Alice heard him, she stared in complete disbelief.

She could barely hide how relieved she was.

Was it… really happening?

Every time she asked for a divorce in the past, she’d be beaten half to death.

But now… not only had he not lashed out, he actually agreed?

“Okay… what’s your condition?”

She braced herself, speaking softly.

She didn’t care what it was.

Even if it meant taking on all his debts, she’d do it.

As long as she could walk away from this nightmare—

As long as she could take Emma and never, ever come back—

That was enough for her.