Blurb：
Eleanor thought her life was over—fired, betrayed, and bleeding out after her mother's "care" destroyed everything. But fate rewound time to the critical night before her downfall. Now awake with memories of her mother's sabotage—sleeping pills in milk, a "washed" laptop, and manipulative calls to her boss—Eleanor is determined to break free. This time, she won't let maternal control ruin her career at Palmer Corporation. With her brother Martin and father watching, Eleanor confronts the woman whose kindness is a cage. Can she escape the cycle of guilt and grasp her second chance? A gripping tale of family drama, revenge, and redemption.Content：
My mom seemed incapable of understanding human speech. I had stayed up late preparing a proposal and told her I had an important meeting in the morning.Yet she slipped sleeping pills into my milk and secretly turned off my phone. When I woke, it was already 10:30 a.m.
“Which daughter doesn’t deserve to be cared for? I just wanted you to sleep a little longer.”
There was no time to argue. I turned on my phone and found hundreds of messages from my boss and colleagues urging me.
Luckily, the company was nearby. I grabbed my laptop bag and rushed downstairs to see that the electric bike’s tire was flat.
“You complained that the tire had no air the other day, so I kindly pumped it for you. I forgot to screw the valve cap back on.”
With no time left to argue, I ran to the company, panting, and forced a smile as I opened my laptop.
No matter what I did, the laptop was soaked, dead, and refusing to turn on. I was fired and sent home, and Mom still wore that heavy look of disappointment.
“You said last night your laptop was dusty. I thought, it’s just dust, why not wash it clean with water? So I did.”
Anger hit me so hard I blacked out. When I opened my eyes, a strange, one-eyed old man stood over me, moving in a way that made my stomach twist.
“You’re in your thirties and still jobless. I kindly found you someone. How can you blame me?”
Rage took over. I grabbed a knife, ready to fight Mom to the end, but Dad, my brother, and the neighbors wrestled it from my hands. Their voices turned on me, calling me ungrateful.
In the struggle, the knife slipped. A sharp pain shot through me as blood spread beneath me. I fell.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on that sleepless night, working on the proposal, as if none of it had happened.
——
When I saw the thick stack of planning files on the screen, I pinched myself hard. The sting was real, and tears of joy rolled down my face. I was truly alive again!
Back on the night that had wrecked my whole life, every memory came rushing back. If I really had a second chance, I swore I would never let myself fall into that same powerless trap again.
This time, those who once called me ungrateful would taste the full weight of Mom’s so-called kindness.
As I quietly cried in front of the glowing screen, Mom walked in holding a cup of milk.
“Eleanor, look at you, working so long your eyes are red.”
“Mom feels bad, come, drink some hot milk and rest,” she added, reaching for the power switch without asking.
I quickly hit Save and snapped the laptop shut.
“No, there’s a mistake in the report. The boss told us to work overtime.”
“I probably won’t be back tonight. I’ll have to stay at the office all night.”
I couldn’t stand being in that house another second; I had to get out fast. But just as I reached for my coat, Mom blocked me with a quick, firm move.
“You’re my everything. After working late for half a month, do you still want to go? How could I let you?” she said, her eyes full of fake concern.
“Give me your phone. I’ll tell your boss you’re not coming in, let’s just rest at home!” She reached for my phone.
Ever since I started working, whenever Mom wasn’t happy with my hours or tasks, she would grab my phone and complain to my boss. Because of that, I had been scolded again and again, forced to change jobs over and over.
I valued this job, especially this proposal. If it went well, I could get promoted, earn more, maybe even transfer to the Palmer headquarters, finally breaking free from this family.
Thinking of that, I held my phone tight and pushed Mom away.
“Enough! I’m an adult, not a kid!”
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The End