Chapter 3

As heartbroken as I was, how could a mother hold a grudge against her own child?

But Chloe grew to hate me more and more. She barely spoke a word to me.

I tried to understand. She was just going through a rebellious phase. I knew she was a good girl at heart. She would get over it.

But life is cruel. Fate didn't give us a chance to make up.

It was just an ordinary afternoon. I was walking home after a long shift at the food cart.

But our small alley was blocked by luxury cars, surrounded by crowds of whispering neighbors.

Panicking, thinking something had happened to Chloe, I ran inside.

The moment I pushed the door open, I saw an elegant, incredibly wealthy woman holding Chloe in her arms, crying and calling her "daughter."

I stood frozen. So Chloe’s biological family was this wealthy.

But if they were so rich, why did they abandon her on a cold doorstep when she was a baby?

Before I could ask, the beautiful woman glared at me, her eyes filled with hatred.

"You heartless monster! How could you kidnap my baby?"

"Do you know how many years I spent crying, searching for my daughter?"

"You're so cunning. You even moved away! If God hadn't taken pity on me, I would have never found her!"

Before I could defend myself, Chloe pointed at me and joined in.

"You evil woman! Is your heart made of stone? My real mom is a billionaire! Why did you make me suffer in poverty with you for fifteen years?"

Tears streamed down my face.

"Chloe, I didn't kidnap you. I found you on the street!"

"If I knew your mother was rich, I would have returned you instantly. I thought... I thought they didn't want you."

"We moved back then because—"

"Save your fake tears!" Chloe screamed, cutting me off.

"Mom, let’s go. I never want to see her again. I don't want to stay in this disgusting place for another second!"

Before she stepped out the door, Chloe turned around, her eyes cold.

"Don't you dare try to ruin my new life. You are not my mother. I never want to see your face again."

Watching their sleek cars drive away, my heart shattered into pieces.

After she left, the tiny house felt utterly empty.

I desperately wanted to go to her and explain: I didn't kidnap you. Someone threw you away.

But what good would that do? It would only drive a wedge between her and her real mother.

I had no wealth, no status. I couldn't offer her a bright future. Her biological mother was successful and could give her the best life possible.

But even if her real mother was rich, I couldn't just give up.

I wanted to save up. I wanted to buy Chloe a beautiful, heavy, solid gold necklace.

When she got married, she could wear it as a gift from her adoptive mother. I wanted her to have something of her own so no one could look down on her.

I worked even harder. I woke up at 4 AM and slept past midnight, flipping burgers and serving food, just to save enough for the gold.

But the moment I finally saved up $10,000, before I could even get it to her, I died.

I couldn't accept it.

Perhaps my regret was so strong that it attracted a wandering spirit passing by the construction site.

"Old lady, I know what you're thinking," the spirit whispered. "You want to give that money to your daughter. I can help you."

"But there's no free lunch. I have a condition."

"My next life is destined to be miserable. But I can see you have a wealthy destiny in your next reincarnation. I want to swap fortunes with you."

"Deal," I agreed without hesitation. "As long as you get this money to my daughter, I'll give you whatever you want."

What did a hard next life matter to me?

My only wish in this life was for Chloe to be happy.

The spirit worked fast. Very quickly, he placed my old tin lunchbox, stuffed with the $10,000, right onto Chloe’s vanity table in her new room.

But when Chloe entered her room and saw the greasy tin lunchbox, she screamed in horror and ran out.

"Mom! This lunchbox belongs to Heather! I know it! Why is this garbage in my room?!"

Victoria walked in, frowning. "Sweetheart, you're too young to understand how manipulative these low-class people can be. Heather is trying to guilt-trip you."

"She probably bribed one of the maids to sneak this trash into your room."

"Don't worry, baby. I'll have the butler throw this garbage out right now."