Chapter 2

“People shouldn't lower themselves for money, yet you’re throwing away your dignity over cash. You’re embarrassing the entire company! Return the house deed and car keys right now before people laugh at us for this.”

As she spoke, Cassie reached for my bag, trying to search through it. I simply stepped aside to avoid her and then looked at her coldly.

“I earned these gifts. Why shouldn’t I accept them? And honestly, Cassie, you’ve been trying so hard to stop me… Is it because you’re jealous? The truth is, you want the luxury car and mansion too, don’t you? You just can’t stand seeing me have something you can’t get.”

Having her thoughts exposed, Cassie’s face instantly turned ugly. However, a second later, her eyes turned red, and she pressed a hand to her chest as if deeply hurt.

Cassie said, “Sadie, I’m saying this because I consider you a close friend, but I just can’t bear to see you lose yourself. I just don’t want you sacrificing your dignity for money and getting judged for it later. I’m only thinking about what’s best for you. How could you see me that way?”

Cassie already had the kind of soft, sad-looking appearance. The moment she put on a pitiful act to gain others’ sympathy, several male coworkers immediately started defending her.

“Sadie, Cassie was only trying to help. How can you accuse her like that?”

“You’re a woman. Why do you even need a car and a mansion? Just listen to Cassie and give them back. At least you’ll keep your reputation.”

Some of them were speaking up for Cassie, while others simply couldn’t stand the idea of someone my age suddenly owning a luxury property and an expensive car.

Elijah, who could no longer stand by and watch, tried to speak up on my behalf. “Miss Bennett, this isn’t charity. It’s a token of my gratitude. Miss Stevens saved my sister’s life. If she refuses the gifts, I’ll feel bad about it.”

Still, Cassie refused to let it go.

“If she truly did a good deed, then she shouldn’t accept gifts for it. Otherwise, doesn’t that turn a good deed into something transactional? It goes against basic principles.”

Just then, a man’s voice sounded from behind me.

“What’s going on here?”

I didn’t even need to turn around to know it was my boyfriend, Cole Tory.

In my previous life, if it hadn’t been for the relentless guilt-tripping from Cole and Cassie, I never would’ve given up the gifts just to prove I had dignity. In the end, my refusal only gave them an opportunity. They took everything that should’ve belonged to me, and after I uncovered the truth, they murdered me. It was only right before my death that I learned Cole and Cassie had been seeing each other behind my back.

I would never forget the cold look in Cole’s eyes as he shoved me down the stairs. Both of them were murderers, and this time, I wasn’t going to let either of them off the hook.

When I snapped back to reality, Cassie had explained the situation to Cole and was asking him to judge fairly.

Just like in my previous life, Cole looked at me with disgust as he said, “Sadie, Cassie’s right. You can’t accept handouts like this. If you do, don’t blame me for breaking up with you.”

The moment he said that, Cassie shot me a smug look. She was clearly convinced she had me under control.

The people around us also watched eagerly. They were certain I would compromise like always. After all, I had always obeyed Cole in the past, and more than anything, I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him. Every time we argued, all he had to do was threaten to break up, and I would immediately give in. It had worked perfectly in my previous life, but too bad for him, I had been reborn.

Facing his threat this time, I simply nodded and sneered. “Fine. Let’s break up. I was thinking the same thing anyway.”

The moment those words left my mouth, everyone stared at me in shock. Even Cole looked shocked.

“Sadie, you’d break up with me over these gifts? I never realized you were so materialistic!”

Cassie immediately chimed in from the side. “Sadie, I can’t believe you care so much about money that you’re willing to throw away a five-year relationship for it.”

At once, everyone looked at me with undisguised contempt.

“I thought Sadie truly loved Mr. Tory since she always obeyed him. Who would’ve thought she’d be so selfish and greedy deep down?”