Chapter 1

My mother-in-law, Brenda, fell in love in her golden years. She wanted to meet her number-one TikTok Live gifter in real life.

I tried my absolute best to warn her. I told her she was too old, and that this was definitely a "pig-butchering" romance scam.

Eventually, she gave up the idea.

But when she saw our neighbor, Mrs. Higgins, coming back dripping in gold and diamonds with her own rich online gifter, Brenda began to deeply resent me.

Later, when I was heavily pregnant and about to give birth, Brenda pushed me down the stairs in a state of utter madness.

"It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t stopped me, I’d be living in luxury right now!"

My husband, Marcus, also looked at me with cold, dead eyes: "If you hadn’t tried to play smart, I would have been a millionaire CEO by now!"

Instead of calling 911, the two of them watched me bleed on the floor, waiting for me to die.

To make sure no one would find out, they eventually dragged me to the bathroom and held my head underwater until I drowned.

But I was reborn. This time, I personally recommended a shady, back-alley plastic surgery clinic to Brenda.

1

"I work myself to the bone every single day serving this ungrateful family, and I’m not even allowed to pursue my own happiness!"

Brenda was sitting on the floor, wailing and screaming.

"My life is so miserable!"

My mind felt completely dizzy.

The suffocating sensation of cold water rushing into my lungs was still terrifyingly vivid.

It was only when I saw Brenda rolling around on the floor, throwing her usual tantrum, that I suddenly snapped awake.

Had I been reborn?

"Marcus! Why aren’t you home yet? Your wife is bullying me to death! I don’t want to live anymore!"

Seeing her wipe away non-existent tears, I remembered how patiently I had tried to explain things to her in my past life.

In the end, that patience cost me my life and the life of my unborn child.

Thinking of this, I subconsciously touched my flat belly.

Thank God. I was reborn. This time, I would protect my child at all costs.

I suppressed the boiling rage in my chest, forced a warm smile onto my face, and said to Brenda:

"Brenda, you’ve completely misunderstood me. I was just amazed by how incredibly charming you are."

"Any man would fall head over heels for you."

Brenda froze on the floor.

She clearly didn’t expect me to say that.

"Yes, Brenda! You have to say yes to this guy! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!"

Standing beside her, Lily was jumping up and down with pure excitement.

"What is all this screaming? I told you guys, do not make noise when I’m on a Zoom meeting!"

Marcus slammed his bedroom door open, his eyes filled with nothing but annoyance.

Without asking a single question, he immediately turned and pointed his finger at me, screaming:

"Chloe! What kind of drama are you starting now? My mom is always so sweet to you!"

Looking at the man standing in front of me, my heart felt like ice.

The memory of him holding me down in the water alongside Brenda flashed in my mind, making me grit my teeth.

I wanted nothing more than to tear him apart right then and there.

2

The moment Brenda saw Marcus come out, she scrambled to her feet and ran to him.

"Marcus, you really need to put a leash on this wife of yours. She beats me every time you’re not home."

Brenda gave me a smug, triumphant look.

She was absolutely sure I would explode, scream, and start a massive fight.

Then she could easily manipulate Marcus into beating me up just to satisfy her sick ego.

In my past life, that was exactly what happened.

Marcus had slammed me onto the couch, punching my face repeatedly while Brenda stood by, cheering him on.

This time, I wasn’t going to be that stupid.

I lowered my eyes, keeping my voice as soft and helpless as a mouse.

"Brenda must have misunderstood me. As her daughter-in-law, I would never dare to stand in the way of her and her billionaire boyfriend."

I even squeezed out a few fake tears for effect.

The word "billionaire" instantly changed the atmosphere.

Marcus’s eyes lit up like Christmas trees.

He immediately turned to Brenda, putting on his most flattering face.

He began massaging her shoulders and rubbing her back.

"Mom, is this for real? You have to say yes to this rich guy!"

"Our family is about to become filthy rich!"

Brenda looked a bit hesitant, though her eyes shone with greed.

"But look at all these wrinkles on my face. I’m old and ugly. What if he doesn’t want me when we meet?"

Lily chimed in from the side, fueling the fire.

"Mom, we can just make Chloe pay for your plastic surgery! Problem solved!"

Brenda immediately slapped Lily’s shoulder.

"You brainless girl! Plastic surgery costs a fortune! Why should we waste Marcus’s hard-earned money on that?"

I knew Brenda was incredibly cheap.

So, I decided to give her the push she needed.

I quickly dug a shady-looking business card out of my purse and handed it to Brenda, pretending to be completely supportive.

"Brenda, what a coincidence! I actually won a free total-makeover consultation card at my company's annual party. It feels like destiny. Our family is truly meant to be rich."

Sure enough, Marcus couldn’t control himself. He practically jumped in the air.

"Mom! This is a sign from God! It is literally custom-made for you!"

Brenda lifted her chin proudly.

"Well, of course it is."

Lily and Marcus stood on either side of her, their faces flushed with excitement as they fantasized about their future high-society lives.

I sneered in my heart.

Billionaire? He’s nothing but a professional scammer waiting to butcher you.

3

In my past life, Brenda had proudly announced to the entire family that her top TikTok Live gifter had invited her to a private yacht party.

I had begged her not to go, pointing out her age and warning her that he was likely a catfish scammer.

Because of my desperate warnings, Brenda ended up canceling the trip.

But later, when she saw Mrs. Higgins coming back dripping in designer brands and real diamonds with her own rich online gifter, Brenda began to view me as her ultimate enemy.

"It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t stopped me, I’d be living in a mansion right now!"

But I knew the truth. Mrs. Higgins’s "top gifter" was actually her long-lost son who had made a fortune.

I tried to explain this to Brenda, but she refused to listen to a single word.

"Mom, you’re being scammed! That man isn’t a billionaire!"

In her psychotic rage, Brenda pushed me down the stairs.

Blood immediately pooled beneath me.

I desperately tried to reach for my phone on the floor to call 91