Chapter 3
When the muscleheads saw how unfazed I was, their bravado instantly took a nosedive.
"What do you mean? The IOU spells everything out clearly," one of them demanded.
Sure enough, the IOU had all the details: date, amount, and even my parents' signatures.
But I refused to acknowledge it.
"If you can show me transaction records for 3 million dollars, I'll pay up," I said coolly.
The group sucked in a sharp breath.
Of course, they didn't have any transaction records.
The IOU was totally fake. My parents had already cooked up a scheme with the muscleheads. After the muscleheads staged a scene, they'd split the cash with my parents once they got it.
All the blood, sweat, and tears I'd poured in ended up as Eunice's bling and luxury bags, the stuff she flaunted to her rich friends overseas.
After a long silence, the leader finally spoke up again. Transaction records? We gave your parents cash."
I burst out laughing. "Oh, really? Then show me the withdrawal slip for 3 million dollars.
"Do you think I'm clueless? 3 million dollars in cash weighs over 300 pounds. Are you seriously telling me you hauled 300 pounds of bills to lend it out? What, were you planning to drag it across town in a wheelbarrow?"
The muscleheads were stunned speechless.
I smirked, waved them off with a mocking gesture, telling them to get lost.
Just then, a furious shout echoed from the doorway. "Lily, wretched girl!"
Several people rushed over in an instant, slapping me hard across the face. They hit so hard that blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.
I narrowed my eyes and stared at the people who had just slapped me.
It was none other than my so-called loving parents.
"Mom, Dad, I'm dealing with these opportunistic debt collectors. Why are you so pissed off?" I asked. "Hold on, aren't you supposed to be dead?
"Liam, you personally delivered the news of their death, and you even blasted it all over the papers and the internet. What the hell is going on here?"
My rapid-fire questions left their hands frozen in mid-air.
"We... uh..." my parents stammered, completely at a loss.
Eunice stepped up, acting all sweet and innocent. "Lily, aren't you glad Mom and Dad are okay? Why are you interrogating them the second you see them?"
With one casual line, she effortlessly got my parents off the hook.
My parents quickly nodded along, grateful for the rescue.
"Yeah, we did get caught in that typhoon, but thankfully, Eunice stayed calm and pulled us out of it," Dad said.
I stood there, silently staring at the three of them.
As I expected of my family who pulled off this kind of stunt, faking their own deaths just to mess with me, they didn't even flinch when they lied.
My mom glanced around the room, covering her nose and mouth like she couldn't stand the stench.
"Hurry up and get these debt collectors and their junk out of here, then apologize to Eunice. This is absolutely revolting," she snapped.
My dad scowled, clearly just as annoyed.
"Lily, you've really disappointed us. Go to the social security office and restore our identities. How am I supposed to run the company if I don't officially exist?" he barked.
Eunice flashed a smile, helped them settle into their seats, then shot me a look.
"Come on, Lily, don't tell me you're upset that we miraculously came back to life?" Eunice said.
I stood my ground, unmoving.
I replied coolly, "Sorry, but as far as the law's concerned, you three don't exist here anymore.
"And Dad, you can stop worrying about the company. After your 'passing,' I inherited everything as the heir. Now I'm the one in charge."
The funeral hall fell into a sudden, heavy silence.
My dad took a sharp breath and clutched his chest, like he was about to keel over.
My mom's face twisted with rage, her glare so fierce it looked like she wished she could strangle me right then and there.
Eunice shrieked, instantly whipping out emergency heart pills.
"Mom, Dad, are you okay?" Eunice called out, worried.
She turned on me. "Lily, you bitch! Are you really that desperate? All the family's assets belong to me. Once Dad's back on his feet, you're going to cough it all up."
I crossed my arms and stepped back, staring coldly at them three, who were acting all affectionate and loving.
"That depends on whether you're capable of that," I replied, my tone icy.
With that, I felt a wave of satisfaction and enjoyed a smug sip of coffee.
The Webb family's coffee tasted so good. It was no contest compared to the tap water I used to stash in random bottles I picked up in my last life.
Watching Eunice and my mom frantically try to steady my dad, I raised my voice. "Remember, you'll have to go to a clinic. The hospital can't find your records. They won't treat you if you don't officially exist."
Eunice was so furious she started cursing up a storm. Meanwhile, I was already figuring out where to stash my newly inherited house, car, and shares.
As I headed upstairs, I suddenly heard footsteps behind me. I turned around, only to see Liam's face looking downright murderous. And then, bam. Everything went dark.
When I woke up again, it was already broad daylight. My head felt like it was about to explode, and as I struggled to get up, I realized my hands and feet were tied up tight.
On the couch not far from me, my parents, Liam and Eunice were arguing loudly, totally unaware that I was already awake.