Chapter 1

My aunt posted in the family group chat asking for help, saying my cousin was seriously ill and needed money fast.

She wanted me to sell my pre-marriage apartment to cover it.

In my last life, I felt I owed her. So I sold the place.

Later I found out their family already owned two commercial shops.

Both were leased out, and they didn't want to eat the penalty for breaking the contracts.

When I figured it out, they spread a rumor instead, saying I'd thrown myself at her son, chasing a family above my station.

They forced me out of my engagement. I spent the rest of my life depressed.

After I was reborn, my aunt tagged me in the group chat.

【Nina Fisher, your cousin Clive Chavez is sick and needs surgery.】

【Don't you have an apartment?】

【Sell it first, lend us the money for now. After the surgery we'll find a way to pay you back.】

I opened the chat and answered her straight.

【No. Here's a suggestion: sell your two shops if you need emergency money.】

【If that's not enough, I'll help you set up a Joe Hanna fundraiser.】

The chat was full of comforting words, telling my aunt not to be too upset.

Everyone said Clive's surgery would definitely go well.

My aunt sat there sobbing, 【But we're still way short on the medical bills.】

Every word, spoken and unspoken, was aimed at me.

She wanted me to make up the difference.

In my last life, I thought I was needed, that they treated me like family.

So I listed that little pre-marriage apartment for sale.

Only later did I learn their family owned two commercial shops downtown.

Rent brought in well over a hundred thousand a year. They weren't short on money at all.

The leases just weren't up yet, and they didn't want to pay the few thousand in penalties for breaking them.

The moment I sent that message.

The relatives who'd been talking all went quiet.

The chat went dead. Several minutes passed with no one saying a word.

It was my aunt who finally spoke up.

【Nina, what nonsense are you talking about?】

【If we really had that, would we be begging you to sell an apartment?】

【If you don't want to help, just say so. No need to sit here making things up.】

Her tone was full of hurt, as if I'd wronged her.

Reading it made me laugh.

【Your shops are on University Row, leased to someone running a tutoring center.】

【Two years left on the lease, and you're scared of the penalty if you sell.】

【So you'd rather make me the sucker who pays for it?】

My aunt went silent for a moment, then challenged me.

【Who's been feeding you this garbage?】

I answered her flat out.

【You've got three properties of your own, and you're still making relatives chip in.】

【Is this chipping in? This is daylight robbery.】

My uncle's wife suddenly jumped in.

【Is this really Nina?】

【You're usually so sweet. How can you say such ugly things at a moment like this?】

My aunt rushed to play the peacemaker.

【It's a whole apartment, after all, not a small sum. It's normal she doesn't want to.】

My uncle's wife spoke up on their behalf.

【We're all family. When something happens to one household, everyone lends a hand. That's normal.】

【Why is it suddenly a problem when it comes to you?】

Instead of getting angry, I smiled.

【Auntie, that sounds so noble. May I ask how much money you put in?】

That stopped her cold.

A few seconds later, she sent me a voice message.

“Nina, you know we're still paying off what we borrowed all over for Zack's wedding.”

“We haven't even cleared that yet. Where would we find money to lend out?”

“Our family didn't put in cash, sure, but we put in effort.”

“Last time Clive collapsed, it was your uncle who drove him to the hospital.”

“And you? Your parents? What did any of you contribute?”

My youngest aunt chimed in too.

【Exactly. What right does she have to stand there so self-righteous?】

I was about to type my reply.

Then my mom suddenly sent me a private voice message.

“Sweetheart, just hold your tongue.”

“That's your aunt. Family helps family.”

I drew in a deep breath and typed back.

【Their two shops are worth over two million.】

【Plus the place they live in now, that's worth a few hundred thousand more.】

【Why should someone else pay for them?】

My mom replied fast.

“Don't talk nonsense. Don't you think I know exactly what their situation is?”

“Besides, she's my own sister.”

I stared at that line, my eyes stinging.

It had been like this in my last life too.

She always took her family's side, her sister's side.

When I was wronged, she told me to swallow it.

When I was slandered, she told me not to make a fuss.

When my engagement was broken off, she said it was my own loose behavior.

I couldn't stop myself from typing.

【I'm your own daughter too. Who actually matters more to you?】

She didn't think she'd done anything wrong.

Instead, she turned it back on me.

“When did you get so selfish?”

“You never used to be like this.”

My hands froze over the keyboard.

Scene after scene from my last life came rushing up.

I sold the apartment. They took the money.

Slandered, cast out of my engagement, whispered about everywhere.

From start to finish, she never once spoke up for me.

【Mom, I'm not the one who got selfish. You're the one who's gone senile.】

And with that, I left the family group chat.

Out of sight, out of mind.