Chapter 2

I flipped open the insurance policy. My fingers shook as I traced them along the astronomical figure.

“Hello. The deaths of my parents and my adopted sister are already on the news. The payout is one hundred million. Please transfer it to my account as soon as possible.”

Across the table, the president of the insurance company looked glum. He gasped for breath.

“Unbelievable! What luck! You buy the insurance, and the very next moment, Mr. Jameson dies for real. I’ve never been this unlucky in my whole life.”

He could curse all he wanted. Before I bought the policy, I spent a fortune on expert advice. The coverage fit perfectly with the cause of death—three lives lost in a typhoon. There was not a single loophole. The company had no choice but to pay.

Before long, one hundred million was wired into my account. I counted the zeros, and tears almost fell from my eyes.

In my past life, I lived on plain boiled noodles to save money. I could not even afford pickled vegetables and only sprinkled a little salt.

I refused to turn on the lights at night to save on utilities. I washed in public restrooms at shopping malls and endured the mocking stares of strangers.

I had once been the Jameson family’s heiress. Yet when a car knocked me over while I was delivering food, I had no health insurance and no money for the hospital. I bought a roll of tape from a street stall, wrapped it around the torn wound, and prayed it would heal.

It did not. The wound became infected. By the time I died, I was walking with a limp.

Matthew broke off the engagement while I was struggling. I blamed myself for dragging him down.

A tear fell onto my phone screen. I could not tell if it was from hatred or relief.

I wiped my face, stepped out of the insurance company, and ran into Matthew.

His eyes filled with shock. He closed the distance in a few steps and reached for my phone.

“Serena, your parents just died, and you came to the insurance company instead of arranging their funeral? Do you have any conscience at all?

“I remember your parents never bought insurance here. Show me how much they paid you.”

I shut off the screen, slipped into a cab, and slammed the door shut.

“To the registry office, please.”

The car shot forward and left Matthew behind. I walked upstairs with quick steps and handed over the documents. My eyes brimmed with tears as I spoke.

“My parents and my adopted sister have passed away. I’m here to close their records.”

The staff member immediately recognized me.

“You must be the girl from the news.

“Poor thing! You worked so hard to become the city’s top scorer, only to end up with this. What were your parents thinking? Leaving such a good daughter behind while taking an adopted girl into a typhoon. They gambled with their own lives and their child’s future.”

Her eyes softened in pity. She muttered under her breath while she completed the paperwork.

Once everything was entered into the system, my parents and Jane lost their identities in this world.

I lowered my head and tried to keep the smile off my face. Just as I took the proof in hand, a furious shout came from behind me.

“Serena, what are you doing?!”

Matthew rushed forward, grabbed the paper from my hand, and shook with rage after a single glance.

“Who gave you the right to close their records? How is Jane supposed to go to college now?”