I Took the Fall for My Sister

I loved Charles Anderson for ten years, yet he hated me to the bone. He resented me for occupying the position of Mrs. Anderson, making Freya Scott, his first love, suffer endlessly. It wasn't until I was diagnosed with ALS that he finally sat by my bedside, feeding me my favorite strawberries in my final moments. With red-rimmed eyes, he said, "Ava, let's not meet in our next life." Yet after my death, he shot himself before my grave. When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn at the critical moment when the Scott family went bankrupt, and someone had to take the blame and go to prison. In my past life, my younger sister, Freya Scott, took our father's place in prison and died miserably within a year. This made Charles hate me forever. This time, I stepped forward. "Dad, I'll go to prison. Let Charles marry Freya." I took on all the guilt, wishing that he and his first love would finally be together. "What did you say? Repeat that!" My father, Michael Scott, shot up from his leather chair, staring at me in disbelief. The Scott Group faced a financial crisis and was involved in large-scale accounting fraud. Now that the truth had come to light, someone had to step up and take the fall. Otherwise, the whole family would end up behind bars. That person would be either Freya or me. My voice was calm and firm. "Dad, I'll surrender myself. I'll go to prison." Freya was my paternal half-sister and Charles's girlfriend. In my past life, my father chose to sacrifice Freya. She endured relentless bullying in prison and died of depression in less than a year. Because of her death, Charles never forgave me. He hated that I, as her older sister, could stand by and watch my frail, sickly younger sister take the fall for the whole family. Our ten years of marriage were nothing but coldness and loathing from him. It wasn't until I developed ALS, my body stiffening until even swallowing became difficult, that he showed a flicker of pity. After my death, he shot himself before my grave. 'Charles, if you couldn't let me go, why did you treat me that way in the first place?' Living this life again left me exhausted. I was done with this struggle. "Ava, do you realize how serious these charges are? At least ten years! Are you out of your mind?" Michael's brow furrowed deeply. He looked at me with a complicated expression. I knew what was on his mind. To Michael, I'd been spoiled since I was a child and couldn't endure hardship. Meanwhile, Freya was gentle and obedient, which made him favor her more. But after all, he still felt guilty toward my mother. Sending me to prison would weigh on his conscience. Yet if I refused, Freya would have to go instead. "I know." I met his gaze steadily. "I'll bear all the consequences. Just say the word." Michael was silent for a long moment before sighing heavily. "Are you sure about this?" "Yes, I am." I turned and left the study. Next, I needed to go to Anderson Manor. My engagement to Charles was arranged by James Anderson, his grandfather. With me going to prison, the engagement was off. I had to tell them myself. The moment I entered the manor, a heated argument rang out from the living room. "Kneel!" James Anderson's cane slammed against the floor with a thud. Charles stood stiffly in the center, his spine straight as a rod. "Grandfather, I won't marry Ava. I love Freya." James trembled with rage. "You i***t! Freya's about to take the blame for the Scott family and rot in prison! What do you want? Ava is your fiancée!"