Chapter 1 The Day Everything Broke

"Why is the coffee cold? Don't you know Liana's on her period and wants something warm? What are you standing there for? If she feels sick after drinking it, you're the one I'll hold responsible."

I jolted awake, staring straight into the furious face of the butler's son, Lawrence Carter, who was yelling at me at the top of his lungs.

He sneered when he saw how startled I was.

"Don't look at me like that again. How many times do I have to repeat myself? Liana's the only one I care about. Stop daydreaming about some CEO falling for you. Here, take the black card, buy her a hot one, and don't waste my time."

With a flick of his hand, the black card hit me square on the head.

Laughter erupted across the classroom.

"Sylvia is disgusting. Lawrence already said he likes the campus belle and she still won't back off."

"She's probably read so many romance novels that her brain's fried. Just wait. She'll probably accidentally spill the coffee on him next."

"Good thing Lawrence is kind, rich, and generous. Anyone else would've fired her by now."

Their mocking didn't anger me. If anything, a wild rush of joy shot through me.

I had actually been reborn on the very day Lawrence rented out an entire hotel and hired a top celebrity to serenade Liana.

Remembering how my last life ended, I bent down, picked up the black card, and casually grabbed a pair of scissors off the desk.

One quick motion, and the only financial lifeline Lawrence had snapped clean in two in my hand.

The moment they saw the shredded card in my hand, the entire classroom fell into a dead, suffocating silence.

Several long seconds later, Lawrence finally shrieked, "Where'd you get the guts to cut my card? Sylvia, are you out of your mind?"

Liana Kerr, the campus belle, who had been clinging to his arm, hurried forward to gather the pieces from the floor, fury shaking her voice.

"Sylvia, I know you've always liked Lawrence, but how could you destroy his card? Great. That was a black card with no spending limit. Hope you enjoy prison."

She then lifted the two broken pieces toward Lawrence, her eyes glistening as she pleaded, "Call the police. Don't let her get away with this."

Jaw clenched, Lawrence snatched the pieces and pulled out the latest iPhone to dial.

I didn't flinch. I stood in the center of the crowd and looked straight at him. "I cut up my own black card. You're really calling the cops over that?"

The moment the words left my mouth, Lawrence froze. The call had already connected, but he fumbled and hung up, staring at me in shock.

"Sylvia, what are you talking about?"

A cold smile tugged at my lips. "What am I talking about? I'm saying you'd better get used to living off your butler dad again."

When he heard me say that, Lawrence swallowed hard, his movements stiff. Then, he grabbed my arm and yanked me out of the classroom.