Chapter 1

In my past life, I finally saved up a $500,000 down payment for my dream home.

When I swiped my card at the sales office, the agent looked at me and said my balance was only $50.

I checked my transaction history, confronted the bank, and called the police, but everyone treated me like a lunatic.

Because every single charge on my bank statement was crystal clear.

Yet, I was living frugally—I had never spent a single penny of that money!

When I told my coworkers, instead of sympathy, they scrolled through my statement and sneered.

A few toxic male colleagues even mocked me:

"Look at Luke, dropping thousands at VIP nightclubs at three in the morning. That’s the exact price of an overnight high-end escort!"

No matter how desperately I explained, no one believed me.

I posted my story anonymously online, only for commenters to accuse me of making up fake drama to gain followers and sell junk.

Only one user left a serious comment: "Watch the people around you. See if someone’s spending matches your exact bank charges."

I paid close attention. Soon, I discovered that our department's newest intern, Trent, had charges that mirrored my card’s deductions down to the cent.

Once I was certain, I confronted Trent directly. He just laughed in my face.

He claimed I had squandered my own money and was crazy enough to pin it on him.

He even turned the entire office against me and had me committed to a psychiatric hospital.

I suffered there for two agonizing years. Unable to bear the torture any longer, I finally escaped and jumped into the freezing river.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back—on the day right before I was supposed to buy that apartment.

The first thing I did after waking up was open my mobile banking app.

Sure enough, my balance was just $50.

My thoughts cleared instantly. At this point in time, my money had already been transferred into Trent's account through whatever twisted trick he used.

I wanted nothing more than to tear him apart, but I remembered the heartbreaking image of my parents’ hair turning white overnight after my death.

Impulse in my past life had cost me everything. Repeating it would only lead to the same ruin.

Just then, our department manager, Sarah, called me over.

"Luke, this new client is a tough nut to crack, but the commission is five grand! Don't say I never look out for you!"

My throat bobbed, and I swallowed hard on instinct.

Five thousand dollars. That was enough to cover a month’s rent with plenty to spare.

Yet, I turned it down.

"Thanks, Sarah. But I’m not taking on any new clients for the next month."

Ignoring her stunned expression, I turned and walked out of her office.

The thin walls offered zero privacy, so everyone outside heard every word.

Instantly, whispers broke out across the floor.

"Luke is our top sales rep! He used to snatch up every lead, but today he just passed on one?"

"Not just today—did you hear him? He said he’s not taking any for the entire month!"

Tuning out the gossip, I opened DoorDash.

I ordered a venti iced Americano, draining the last $50 from my card.

In my previous life, I wouldn’t even spend four bucks on a fast-food drink.

To make a name for myself in this ridiculously expensive city, I had literally risked my life working.

I stayed up until two or three in the morning following up with clients, woke up before sunrise, and squeezed into crowded subway trains like a sardine for two hours just to clock in on time.

Being late once meant a fifty-dollar penalty.

That was nearly a week’s worth of groceries for me.

My only dream was to buy an apartment near the office, even if it was just a tiny three-hundred-square-foot studio.

Every payday, I kept only three hundred dollars for basic survival.

The rest went straight into savings.

And yet, the $500,000 I broke my back to save had somehow ended up in someone else's pocket!

Suddenly, the office door flew open with a loud thud.

"Listen up, everyone! Lunch is on me today!"

Trent’s obnoxious voice echoed across the room.

His face was flushed with excitement, and a brand-new Swiss watch gleamed on his wrist. He strutted in like a lottery winner swimming in cash.

"We’re going to The Grand Regency! Order whatever you want!"

The office erupted, and colleagues swarmed around him.

"Trent, did you strike gold?"

"Did you score a sugar mama or something?"

I didn't move. Holding my coffee, I stared at him with cold, venomous eyes.

Because I knew every single dime he was flashing was mine.

Surrounded by the crowd, Trent waved his hand, putting on a modest front.

"Oh, come on, I just bought a random lottery ticket a couple of days ago and hit a little jackpot."

A nosy coworker immediately pressed, "How much did you win?"