Before high school graduation, I fell in love with Liam, my nanny’s son. I bought him limited-edition sneakers and unreleased gaming consoles. I even used my money to pay off his childhood sweetheart so she would leave him alone. I gave up the chance to attend an Ivy League university. Instead, I married him right after high school and attended a community college near our home. After we married, I juggled managing my family's company and raising our child. But when I came home early from a business trip, I found him in bed with his childhood sweetheart. I rushed forward to fight the mistress, only for Liam to smash a heavy glass ashtray into the back of my head. As I lay dying, he leaned close to my ear and whispered: "You're just trash from a community college. You really thought you had a chance with me? If it weren't for your money, I wouldn't have looked at you twice. Oh, by the way, the child isn't yours. I swapped him at birth. Also, your parents' car accident? That wasn't an accident. You can die now." I died consumed by hatred. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my senior year of high school. Chapter 1 I stood in the school hallway, staring blankly at the young, handsome face of Liam. I pinched my thigh hard. The sharp pain told me this wasn't a dream. I had truly been reborn. In my past life, I loved Liam with a humble, clumsy devotion. I ignored my parents' objections and showered him with gifts. If he smiled at me, it made my day. Back then, he had a girlfriend—Hailey, his childhood sweetheart. I thought it was an unrequited love until Hailey approached me privately. She said if I sponsored her studies abroad, she would break up with Liam. I admit, I took the bait. I gave her a large sum of money. True to her word, she broke up with him and left the country. Months later, I finally "won" Liam over. To give him security, I bought him luxury cars and put our new villa in his name. After my parents passed away, I took over the company. We married, and I got pregnant. At Liam’s insistence, I let him help manage the business and transferred shares to our child. Then came the betrayal. The murder. The revelation that my entire life was a lie. My parents' death was orchestrated by Hailey. My child had been sold and replaced. They had played me for a fool. I died in rage. But God gave me a second chance. This time, I won't make the same mistakes. "Being rich doesn't make you special. The way you throw money around makes me sick," Liam said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I like independent, kind girls. I will never like you. Stop trying; it’s disgusting." Hearing his voice again, the words I heard before dying echoed in my mind. I forced myself to calm down, suppressing the urge to tear him apart. I looked him up and down. Young Liam was indeed handsome; I hadn't been blind in my past life. Right now, he was holding a box of unopened, limited-edition sneakers I had just given him. He said I made him sick, yet he never refused my gifts. Hypocrite. He wanted the moral high ground and the loot. "Wait!" I called out. Liam stopped, looking impatient. "If you're going to ask me to be your boyfriend again, save your breath. You're delusional." I walked up and snatched the sneaker box from his hands. "Liam, I think you're right. We're students. We should focus on graduation, not dating." I wanted to kill him, but for now, I’d just take my stuff back. Liam was stunned. He stared at the empty space in his hands. "What are you doing?" I cut him off. "You hate it when people throw money around, remember? These shoes are expensive. I realized I shouldn't insult you with them. After all, you're not a materialistic guy." Liam opened his mouth to speak, but I didn't give him the chance. I turned and walked away. If I stayed any longer, I might have punched him. I contacted the sales associate and exchanged the sneakers for a set of luxury skincare products. Why spend money on a scumbag when I could spoil my mom? After school, my mom called. Her voice was cautious, trying to please me. "Sweetie, about giving Martha a raise... I thought about it. Five thousand a month is a bit much considering she’s currently making three. How about we settle on four thousand?" My eyes welled up with tears. "If she insists, just give her the five thousand," my dad’s voice chimed in from the background. This was my family. They loved me unconditionally, tolerating my whims. In my past life, I brought wolves into our home, leading to their deaths. "Mom," I said, my voice trembling. "I thought about it. Let's not give her a raise. It disrupts the market rate." Chapter 2 After school, our Rolls Royce was waiting at the gate. I got in and told the driver, "Home." The driver, Dan, chuckled. "Miss Serena, the Young Master hasn't come out yet." Everyone knew I was Liam's lapdog. Even the driver. My expression went cold. "Young Master? My parents didn't give me a brother. Drive." Dan paused. "Miss, what are you saying? You and Liam are so close. Let's wait for him." I looked at Dan in the rearview mirror. I suddenly remembered. In my past life, shortly after my parents died, Dan married Liam’s mother, Martha. They had been conspiring together long before that. I pulled out my phone and called my dad. "Dad, get me a new driver." Dan’s face turned pale. He immediately started the engine. As the car began to move, Liam walked out of the school. He banged on the window impatiently. "Unlock the door!" Dan glanced at Liam with a pained expression but didn't dare stop. In the mirror, I watched Liam chasing the car for a block, stomping his feet in anger. When I got home, Martha—our live-in nanny and Liam's mom—was ordering the other maid around while she leaned against the counter cracking sunflower seeds. Shells littered the floor. My mom sat on the couch, looking annoyed but staying silent for my sake. My blood boiled. This family was shameless. "Martha," I snapped. "We pay you to work, not to watch others work while you make a mess." My mom sat up straight, her eyes lighting up. Martha jumped, quickly sweeping the shells into her hand. "Miss Serena, where is Liam? Didn't he come back with you?" Using her son to suppress me? I shook my head. "Martha, Liam and I are just classmates. I'm not his keeper." Martha's face shifted. "Serena, Liam promised me he'd stop talking to Hailey. You just need to coax him a little, and maybe he'll agree to be with you." Coax him? She still thought I was that pathetic girl. I laughed coldly. "Chase him? I'm the heiress to a billion-dollar fortune. Why would I need to chase a charity case?" My mom looked at me with surprise and relief. Martha turned pale. She couldn't believe the girl who used to worship her son was now mocking him. I ignored her and handed the skincare set to my mom. "Mom, for you." Mom rolled her eyes playfully. "Hmph, I don't need it." "Fine, I'll take it back." "Hey!" She grabbed it. Minutes later, she was video calling her friends. "Look what my daughter bought me! Jealous?" I hugged her tight. The same gift given to Liam would have earned me a scowl. Giving it to my mom brought her pure joy. Dinner was served. Liam finally came home. I ate only what I liked, ignoring Liam’s preferences. He looked sullen, and Martha watched me nervously. I finished quickly. As I headed to my room, Mom pulled me aside. "Are you really over him?" "Mom, I woke up," I smiled. "It was irresponsible of me to chase someone who didn't value me while ignoring my responsibilities to this family." Mom smiled, relieved. "In that case, I'm firing the nanny. It's ridiculous to have two maids where one waits on the other." "I trust your judgment, Mom." Crash! We turned to see Martha on her knees, a broken bowl beside her. She was trembling. "Madam, please! I beg you! I'll do my job properly! I need this money for Liam’s tuition! Liam, come here! Kneel to Miss Serena and beg for mercy!" She wanted her son to kneel to me? Wasn't she always talking about dignity? I looked at Liam, waiting for his reaction. Chapter 3 Liam was stunned by his mother's groveling. He tried to pull her up, but Martha refused to move. Liam glared at me, his face full of stubborn pride. "Mom, stand up! You're disappointing me. We may be poor, but we have backbones!" A gold digger talking about backbone? I almost laughed out loud. Martha, desperate, slapped Liam across the face. "Shut up! Miss Serena, I'm sorry. I'll teach him a lesson." She turned to my mom. "Madam, please gives us a little more time. Let us stay until he finishes his exams." Mom sighed and didn't speak, which meant she agreed. Liam clutched his cheek, looking at me with disdain. "You disappoint me, Serena. Using your family's power to bully us. I won't be swayed by money." He turned to go upstairs. "Don't want our benefits?" I laughed. "Then move out now. I've never heard of a live-in nanny bringing her adult son to work anyway." Liam froze. He didn't turn back, just walked stiffly to his room. He talked about pride but refused to leave the villa. There were cheap apartments a mile away, but he clung to the luxury life. The next morning, Liam ate breakfast with his head down, a red handprint still on his face. I ignored him. I wasn't firing Martha immediately because simply firing them was too easy. They deserved hell for what they did in my past life. Plus, Martha had sticky fingers. Once I had proof, I could send her to prison. When it was time for school, I got into the car. Just as the door was closing, Liam rushed over. He stood by the car, chin raised high. "I'll let you win this time. I'll allow you to sit in the back with me." Allow me? The audacity. I rolled up the window and told the new driver, "Go." Looking in the rearview mirror, I saw Liam standing there, confused and angry. Liam started taking the bus. He treated me coldly at school, acting like I owed him money. Martha became cautious, trying to convince Liam to be nicer to me. It backfired. One day, Liam brought Hailey home. My parents were out. I watched from the second-floor railing. Liam held Hailey’s hand firmly in front of his mother. "Mom, stop trying to set me up with Serena. I'm telling you, I will only marry Hailey!" Martha was furious. She slapped him. "You choose this pauper over the heiress? Is your brain filled with water?" Hailey put on a fragile act. "Auntie, we are truly in love." "Love?" Martha scoffed. "You have no future. What right do you have to be with my son?" "Hailey treats me like a king!" Liam defended her. "She shares her umbrella in the rain! She cooks instant noodles for me!" "Instant noodles?!" Martha was shaking. "I raised you on gourmet food, and you're swayed by noodles?" Martha realized force wouldn't work. She changed tactics. "Listen to me. You two have bad grades. You won't get into good colleges. Why don't you do this: Liam, pretend to be with Serena. Marry her. Get the Li family fortune. Then you can be with Hailey." Chapter 4 A chill ran down my spine. My past life’s tragedy was confirmed from Martha’s own lips. It was all premeditated. "Mom, how can I do that?" Liam protested weakly. "Hailey wouldn't agree." Hailey was silent for a moment. "It hurts, Liam, but Auntie is right. Maybe you should... sacrifice yourself for our future." Liam hesitated. "No, I can't." He didn't agree immediately, but I knew he eventually would. I held my breath. They couldn't know I heard them. After they finished whispering, I coughed loudly and walked down the stairs. The three of them froze, panic in their eyes. I walked up to Hailey, putting on the act of a jealous girl. "What are you doing in my house? You're not welcome here!" I pressed the panic button on the wall. Security guards rushed in. "Miss Serena?" "Trespasser," I pointed at Hailey. "Throw her out. Don't let her in again." Hailey tried to resist, but the guards dragged her out unceremoniously. "You useless princess!" Hailey screamed as she was hauled away. "Relying on bodyguards because you can't handle me!" Liam tried to stop them, but Martha held him back. Despite the humiliation, they looked relieved that I seemed to just be acting out of jealousy. I stormed back upstairs. The slap Hailey got from security was just the interest payment. School exams were approaching. I threw myself into studying. Our private school brought in star tutors for a crash course. It cost $2,000 a week. I signed up immediately. The class rep came to collect the money. "That'll be $6,000, Serena." "Isn't it two thousand?" "Liam said you'd pay for him and Hailey." I laughed. "I'm only paying for myself. I didn't give birth to them." The rep nodded and left. Later, Liam found me. Hailey was clinging to his arm. "Serena, why didn't you pay for Hailey? Her future is at stake. Can you afford to ruin it?" "Do I look like her mother?" I retorted. Liam softened his tone. "This tutoring is crucial. If you pay for her, I'll... accept the gifts you bought me." He was trying to frame his acceptance of my money as a reward for me. "Sure," I said without looking up. "I'll pay for her. On one condition. Hailey has to kneel on the playground in front of the whole school and call me 'Mommy'. Once I acknowledge her as my daughter, I'll pay. I take a child's education very seriously." Hailey turned red. "Liam, let's go. Rich people are so prejudiced." Liam glared at me. "I'll give you time to reconsider." As they walked away, Hailey shot me a hateful look. "I know you're jealous. But love is free. If you want to compete, do it fairly. Don't block my education with money." I wasn't blocking her. I just wasn't paying for her. Her logic was astounding.
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