All Chapters of In the Next Life: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

"When she left?" Ben Cooper paused, then let out a cold laugh. "I hope you mean she's dead."The host hesitated, then gestured toward the screen behind him.On the giant display behind him, my face appeared.In the footage, I slapped the camera. Rain soaked my hair and shirt, everything clinging tightly to my skin—I looked a mess. My voice was sharp and impatient. "Stop filming. I don't agree to this."Right after, a slightly husky voice came through, sincere, "I'm not a scammer, I swear. I'm a vlogger who documents real-life stories. I can help you."I turned from the trash can and pressed my face closer to the lens. "Really? Can you cure cancer?"The man was stunned.I gave a crooked smile and laughed. "Don't waste your time. Try someone else.""I—I can try!" He reached out and stopped me from walking away.I gave him a once-over.Then I laughed—just one short burst—and pointed from top to bottom."Shirt: twenty. Belt: sixty. Pants: forty. Shoes: fifty. Oh, and the camera?

Chapter 2

"Come on, I'll take you to the hospital!"Just as William was about to lift me, I raised my hand and pushed him away.I grabbed a rag, wiped the floor, then used the back of my hand to clean the blood from the corner of my mouth. "No need."Then I walked over to the sink and rinsed the blood from my face.William's voice trembled slightly. "Please… just let me help you…"I wiped away the last trace of blood, turned to him, and looked him straight in the eyes. "I don't need anyone's help."And with that, I stepped out of frame.…[In the Next Life — Nov. 15, 2023, 3:21 PM — A Puppy Doesn't Know It's Dying, It Just Knows It Finally Has A Home]"What do you mean?"Inside the pet hospital, I stared at the vet in disbelief.He sighed and shook his head. "Most likely, his owner abandoned him because they knew he wouldn't make it. He's been starving every day, bullied by other strays. He…"I gave a small smile. "I know. You're about to say he doesn't have much time, right?"The v

Chapter 3

"But the truth is… I was never really that pitiful. I still had my brother, and my friends…" I said.A gust of wind howled through the cracks of the run-down rental. I pulled the blanket tighter around myself as silent tears rolled down my cheeks.My reddened hand was suddenly wrapped in warmth. William had reached out, his gaze steady and serious."I've saved up a bit. Let's go to the hospital tomorrow and start your treatment, okay?"I sniffled, then let out a soft laugh. "You don't even have a hundred followers on your channel yet, and you still share instant noodles with me every day. How much could you possibly have saved?"His fingers curled into fists on the faded denim covering his knees. "It's… enough to help a little.""No need," I said with a smile. "Actually, I have good news. I've saved up two thousand dollars. That's enough for one round of chemo."William blinked in surprise. Then, he smiled. "Is it enough? I can chip in too."I shook my head stubbornly. "No need

Chapter 4

"The day I left, I tore into him, called him every name under the sun. In the end, he held onto my arm, crying, begging me to stay. He said things would get better soon, that he'd bring us back to how things used to be. You see him now, all polished and put-together. You'd never imagine how pathetic he looked back then," I said as I recalled the past.William spoke in a low voice, "Why did he finally let you go?"I thought back. "I told him he was a failure. That everything he'd achieved in the past was just because of our parents. And now he was just disgracing their name. I said if he still remembered what family meant, he should let me go and find my own happiness. And then, bit by bit, he loosened his grip on me."The New Year's bell rang. Fireworks burst outside the window. I raised a hand and wiped the tears off my face.…[In the Next Life — January 1, 2024, 12:00 AM — I Hope You Live a Long Life, Part Three]William turned to the window."Happy New Year.""Thanks.""Ar

Chapter 5

"I know, I know… You don't have to forgive me. Don't ever forgive me. Just keep walking—walk all the way home. To a warm and peaceful home..."Dante closed his eyes.A sharp pain surged through my stomach, making me dizzy. I turned and stumbled outside, throwing up violently by the flower bed.By the time William found me, I was sitting on the bench beside the flower bed, dazed."Hailey!" He rushed to my side, panic in his voice. "How are you feeling?"I turned to him, my face streaked with tears. "You want the truth?""Of course.""I'm scared. I just… want someone to help me."He pulled me into his arms and gently wiped the tears from my face. "It's okay. I'll take you to the hospital right now. We'll hear what the doctors have to say. And while we're there, we'll do the chemo. I have money.""Thank you." I smiled and shook my head. "But I've already talked to plenty of doctors. The chemo… It's a lie. It stopped working a long time ago. Do you even know what 'terminal stage'

Chapter 6

Ben paused for a second. Then the corners of his mouth curled into a smile. "Well then, congratulations?""Ben, you—""I don't know who you are, and I'm not interested in hearing your story. Right now..." He glanced at his watch. "My sister's about to get out of school. I need to pick her up and take her home for dinner. I won't be keeping you company any longer."With that, he hung up.I let out a soft laugh. "He used to cook for me too, all the time."The bed began moving toward the operating room.William gripped my hand tightly. I forced a small smile."What are you so afraid of?" I asked."If you don't make it out... what am I supposed to do?" he said.I paused. Then, I said quietly, "Then let's meet again in the next life."Our hands were pulled apart, and the doors of the operating room closed behind me.…[In the Next Life — March 16, 2024, 2:07 AM — I'm Turning Into An Angel]In the footage, I'm lying on the hospital bed. The voices are muffled and indistinct."A

Chapter 7

[I agree! Ben, cherish your adopted sis well!]…I kept scrolling through the comments, brushing past more comments just like that. Every now and then, I gave one a like.The next second, my phone was yanked from my hand.William clenched his jaw. "What's so interesting about this? People like him don't deserve to be called a brother.""Don't say that." I smiled. "He's the best brother in the world.""You're still defending him? Even now?" William's voice trembled with suppressed rage. "He practically congratulated you on dying."I was quiet for a moment. Then, I took back the phone and showed him the most recent seven-figure transfer."Anonymous. They come in every few days." My tone was light. "But I know it's him."William froze. The veins on the back of his hand bulged as he gripped the phone."He's always been like that—harsh words, soft heart. There's no way he doesn't hate me. He probably hates me more than anyone else. But… he's not someone who lets go of feelings eas

Chapter 8

William gripped my hand tighter. When he saw my lips move again, he leaned closer."…Don't forget me…" I muttered.The monitor shrieked in alarm, and my heartbeat flatlined into a single line.…The video cut off.Ben's breathing turned unsteady.William turned his head and took off his baseball cap, revealing the dark circles beneath his eyes from too many sleepless nights editing.Ben heard his own voice tremble. "Where is she?""The morgue."Without another word, Ben turned and left, ignoring the live stream still running.His men followed him to the hospital entrance. He rushed for the stairs and started climbing. Then he stumbled and fell hard to his knees, not even glancing at them before pushing himself back up.He didn't stop until he saw my body."…Hailey?"Ben approached slowly, hand raised, unsure where to touch. Finally, his fingers trembled as they landed on my face."Why are you lying in a place this cold? Come on, let's go home. Time for dinner. I was just

Chapter 9

Another phone number was also flooded with calls. No one ever picked up, but a recorded message played in a loop, "I wish you peace and a happy, long life."The number Ben called the most was that one.In the dim study, as he listened to Hailey's voice over and over, tears slid silently down his face. It was a long time before he noticed Samantha standing at the door.…"Germany?"When he heard Samantha's request, Ben frowned. "Didn't you already pass the Concord Medical assessment? Why give that up? Wasn't this your dream?""Yes. But… I want to switch to gastroenterology and specialize in stomach diseases."At the word "stomach," Ben paused.Then he spoke, voice low and heavy, "So everything you studied in dermatology these past years… was for nothing?""I really want to switch to gastroenterology."The study fell into silence.Ben finally gave a small nod. "All right."As Samantha's plane took off, Ben drifted through the next six months in a kind of numbness.Meanwhile,

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