They Turned Me Into a Criminal in My First Life—This Time I Fight Back Chapter 01
On the morning of our wedding anniversary, I booked a last-minute flight and left for a business trip with my boss without telling my husband.
Ethan Caldwell grabbed my arm so hard it hurt, fury burning in his eyes.
“You’re seriously spending our anniversary with another man? Have you lost your mind?”
I jerked my arm free, too disgusted to even look at him. Without another word, I dragged my suitcase outside and climbed into the car waiting to take me to the airport.
In my previous life, Ethan’s first love, Clara Avery, had been unable to have children after multiple abortions left her uterus permanently damaged. Desperate for a baby, she kidnapped a newborn from another family.
When the child’s parents tried to stop her, she slammed her foot on the gas and ran them over.
Then she backed up and crushed them again.
And again.
They died on the spot.
But after the murder, the police arrested me.
I screamed that I was innocent. I demanded an appeal. I even requested a public trial.
The police immediately produced dashcam footage.
The video clearly showed me kidnapping the baby.
Me driving the car.
Me running down the child’s parents.
As if that wasn’t enough, my fingerprints were found all over the vehicle.
I was completely blindsided.
The judge sentenced me to death on the spot.
My parents couldn’t handle the shame and pressure. Both of them died shortly afterward.
After my execution, Ethan publicly married Clara.
The two of them even adopted the stolen baby and became internet celebrities praised as “the kindest couple.”
Only then did I realize the truth.
The whole thing had been their setup from the very beginning.
And now…
I was back.
Back to the day everything started.
…
“Baby, where are you going?”
Ethan’s voice snapped me back to reality.
As he watched me pack my suitcase, panic flashed across his face. His hand instinctively reached for the luggage handle.
“You didn’t forget what day it is, right? I already bought everything for dinner. What’s going on?”
I slowly looked up at him.
Sweat was already forming on his forehead.
I answered calmly, “It’s our first wedding anniversary. I know. But my company suddenly needs me on a business trip. I don’t really have a choice.”
His lips twitched awkwardly before he grabbed my arm again, his tone turning soft and clingy.
“You have to leave tonight? Can’t you ask your boss for one day off? Vivienne, this is our first anniversary. It’s important.”
“No.”
I cut him off sharply and pulled my suitcase away from him.
His hand froze midair.
The smile on his face slowly disappeared, replaced by resentment.
When he spoke again, his voice sounded strained.
“So you’re really leaving?”
“Fine. Go ahead, Vivienne Rhodes. But if you walk out that door today, we’re getting divorced!”
I turned around and looked at him coldly.
“Works for me.”
Then I yanked open the front door.
At the exact same moment, my rideshare driver called.
“I’m outside, ma’am.”
“Perfect. I’m coming now.”
I hung up and slammed the door behind me, cutting off Ethan’s furious shouting from inside the house.
The second I got into the car, my phone rang again.
Ethan.
I answered.
His voice exploded through the speaker, nearly hysterical.
“You’re spending our anniversary with another man? Are you insane? Or are you cheating on me? Vivienne, if you don’t come back right now, we’re done!”
I held the phone away from my ear and ended the call without hesitation.
Then, just to be safe, I blocked his number.
And every other way he could possibly contact me.
Only after my phone finally fell silent did I let out a long breath.
In my previous life, Ethan had insisted we spend our anniversary together at home.
That night, just before bed, I accidentally overheard him talking to Clara on the phone.
Clara Avery.
His first love.
The woman he had never gotten over.
Back then, Ethan’s mother had forced them apart because Clara couldn’t have children.
When Ethan and I got married, he’d confessed everything to me voluntarily.
He swore he had cut Clara out of his life completely.
He promised I was the only woman he loved.
That night, I heard him say quietly into the phone:
“Don’t worry. Everything’s already arranged. Just get some sleep. Once the police arrest her tomorrow, we’ll finally be free of this mess.”
A wave of unease settled in my chest.
But because I trusted him… and because I didn’t want to seem paranoid… I never asked questions.
The next morning, several police officers showed up at our door.
“Are you Vivienne Rhodes?”
Still half asleep, I nodded nervously.
“Yes… what’s going on?”
“You are under investigation for homicide and aggravated kidnapping. We need you to come with us.”
One of the officers immediately reached for handcuffs.
I stumbled backward in shock.
“What are you talking about? I didn’t kill anyone!”
The officer’s expression hardened.
“Last night, you broke into a private residence and kidnapped a newborn infant. When the parents attempted to stop you, you deliberately ran them over with your vehicle multiple times.”
“Vivienne Rhodes, you are under arrest.”
Before I could react, two officers twisted my arms behind my back.
“I’m innocent!” I screamed. “Last night was my anniversary! I was home with my husband the entire time! Ask Ethan!”
Ethan looked at me with fake confusion.
Then he sighed.
“Vivienne… I drank too much last night. I honestly don’t know where you went.”
His voice lowered.
“But when you came home… there was blood on your clothes.”
“If you really did something wrong, maybe you should just cooperate with the police.”
My entire body went cold.
His words sealed my fate instantly.
I stared at him in disbelief before the truth hit me all at once.
“It was Clara, wasn’t it?” I shouted. “You planned this together! You’re framing me!”