Chapter 3

On the day we were set to depart for the island, Mina received a text from the bank. The 30 million dollars in redevelopment compensation had been deposited.

She immediately handed in her resignation to the company. Then, wearing a bespoke suit, a watch worth over 100 thousand dollars, and sky-high heels, she strutted over to my desk under the envious stares of our colleagues.

"Elora, from today onward, we're no longer from the same world. You can just keep slogging through late nights and overtime for a few measly thousand dollars here, while I go enjoy my life."

Then, she pulled out 200 dollars from her bag and casually threw them onto my desk.

"Take it. Consider this me feeling bad for you. After all, we were best friends. Now that I've struck it big, I can't just watch you suffer like this, right?"

The insult was unmistakable.

Everyone around us went silent as they shot me sympathetic glances.

In my past life, though I hadn't humiliated her like this, I had given her a card loaded with five million dollars the moment the redevelopment compensation was deposited. This was so she could try to build a better life. Looking back now, my kindness might have seemed like the ultimate show of arrogance and mockery in her eyes.

I looked at her calmly. "Mina, have you ever wondered why all this good luck is suddenly coming your way?"

Mina blinked, then burst out laughing like she had heard the funniest joke.

"Why? It's because I have Riches, the cat, obviously! I know you're feeling bitter, Elora, but you just have to accept it. It's fate!"

"Is that so?" I asked, my lips curling into a faint smile. "But I've heard old folktales saying that sudden windfalls, especially those involving dark riches, come at the cost of your destined life span. The more you take, the faster you die."

Mina's face turned pale in an instant, but rage quickly took over.

"What nonsense are you spewing? You're just jealous of me! You can't stand to see me live a good life!" she screamed. "I'm telling you, Elora, my good luck is only just beginning. Just wait and see!"

With that, she strutted off, her hips swaying.

I stared at the two bills on my desk and felt a chill crawl up my spine. She had no idea that I wasn't joking at all.

In my past life, as my wealth accumulated, my body deteriorated. I often felt dizzy and disoriented, and there were even a few times when I would collapse on the street. And once Cassian and I officially got together, these episodes only became more frequent and severe.

I would often forget chunks of my memory, like what we had had for dinner the night before, or what we had talked about. Whenever I woke up the next morning, those memories would be wiped clean from my mind.

Doctors couldn't find anything wrong with me. They merely said that I was too stressed and just needed to rest more.

Looking back now, those forgotten memories were probably hiding a far more terrifying truth.