Chapter 1

My girlfriend, Chloe, was cornered by some rough types, clearly in distress, but all I did was quietly flip open my textbook and review.

In my past life, I couldn't stand by. I stepped in, and I ended up hurting one of those guys. The next day, Chloe framed me, claiming *I* had assaulted her. I lost my chance at a scholarship, a direct path to a prestigious university. Eventually, the police let me go due to lack of evidence. But when I walked out, I saw Chloe nestled in that thug’s arms, giggling, “Honey, this nerd doesn't get our fun. He actually thought you were assaulting me, hahaha, it’s so hilarious!”

Chloe then added, "Good thing we set him up to take the fall. Otherwise, that scholarship wouldn't have been mine."

"Since he loves meddling so much, I'll just break an arm and a leg," the thug sneered.

They beat me, left me crippled, and dumped me in a saltwater tank, where I suffered agonizing, bone-rotting torture every day. My Nana Sue, who came looking for me, was drowned in a tub by those same thugs.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on that very day Chloe was being cornered.