Chapter 1

My dad slapped me hard across the face, spitting as he called me an ungrateful brat.

It was because I said I wanted to move out when the whole family was broke and we couldn't even afford a hot meal.

They called me selfish, useless, and ungrateful for all the years the Duncan family had raised me.

I ignored them, stared coldly at Sandra Duncan, their so-called "lucky star," huddled in the corner.

Her face, usually wearing that saintly, pitying smile, was now drained of color, panic written all over it.

In my previous life, when our family went bankrupt, Sandra claimed she was some kind of blessed child, saying that if we prayed hard enough, the heavens would send us food.

Meanwhile, I was risking my life in the system, taking on dangerous missions to get supplies so our family could survive.

The irony was, every time I stashed the supplies in the storage room, Sandra would immediately "predict" their arrival. Everyone treated her like a saint.

I became the jealous fool, desperate to steal her glory.

In the end, she cried and begged me not to reveal the truth. When I let my guard down, she stabbed me in the heart and stole my system.

As I sank into the icy river, I heard a mechanical voice. [Energy insufficient. Initiating reboot.]

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Sandra first started her supernatural charade. This time, I wasn't going to play along.

*****

"Get out, you useless brat. Once you're gone, don't even think about coming back!"

Tony Duncan, my brother, jabbed a finger at me, his eyes full of disgust.

My mom, Melissa Duncan, crossed her arms, her pampered hands brushing off imaginary dust with pure disdain.

She said, "Now that the Duncan family's fallen, you want to leave us? It weren't for us, you'd still be scavenging in some back alley."

My dad, Maurice Duncan, the once proud CEO, slumped on the worn-out couch.

He looked at me with his bloodshot eyes and croaked, "Sandra's right. You're the jinx who got us in trouble. Get out, and maybe our life won't be so miserable anymore."

I looked at the three people I'd once risked everything to protect, and my heart was numb.

We'd fallen from a luxury villa in the clouds to this tiny, cockroach-infested apartment in barely a month.

With mountains of debt and all our assets frozen, the once-proud Duncan family was now so broke we couldn't even put food on the table.

Ten minutes ago, Sandra clutched her rumbling stomach, put on that holy, pitying look, pressed her hands together, and launched into her well-practiced performance.

She said, "Dad, Mom, Tony, don't worry. I dreamed of an immortal last night.

"He said our family is facing a little hardship, and I'm the lucky star blessed by the heavens. As long as I pray sincerely, food will show up."

Watching her act all holy and fake, I felt sick to my stomach.

In my previous life, today was the day I became another pawn in her little show.

I risked everything doing system missions, dodging debt collectors, even working shady jobs, and getting beaten to trade points for food.

But the credit always went to her.

I became the freeloader, the ungrateful one, and the dead weight in everyone's eyes.

She was considered the miracle worker who saved everyone.

And in the end, when I finally decided to expose everything, she stabbed me right in the heart.

"Fine, I'll go," I said calmly, then turned and walked back to the storage room barely big enough for a bed.

I grabbed the backpack I'd already prepared.

Inside, there were a few changes of clothes, plus a bottle of water and two pieces of bread I'd managed to exchange for with the last of my system's starting points after I was reborn.

The cursing in the living room stopped dead.

None of them expected me to give in so easily.

"Andrea..."

Sandra was the first to react. She rushed over, nearly tripping, grabbed my arm, tears welling up in her beautiful eyes, looking heartbreakingly fragile.

She said, "Don't go. I know you're mad at us for being so hopeless, for dragging you down and making you starve with us...

"Hit me and yell at me if you want. Don't leave. We're family, aren't we?"

She really had a way with words.

On the surface, she was begging me to stay, but underneath, she was making sure everyone saw me as the selfish one.

Sure enough, my parents and Tony looked even more upset.

"Let her go. The Duncan family doesn't need an ungrateful daughter like her!" Tony yanked Sandra behind him, shielding her like I was some kind of wild animal.

I didn't bother arguing with them anymore. I shook off her hand and headed straight for the door.

"Andrea!" Sandra's voice called out from behind me, trembling with panic and fear. "Are you really going to be so heartless? What are we supposed to do if you leave?"

I turned back, flashing her a frosty grin.

"Not my problem," I said.

With that, I swung the door open and walked out without a backward glance.

Behind me, Sandra's sobs burst out, and my parents and Tony's furious shouts echoed through the hallway.

I walked down the shabby hallway, sunlight pouring in so bright it almost hurt my eyes.

I could tell Sandra was freaking out.

Because only the two of us knew that she was not the "lucky star" she claimed to be.

All that existed was a system for trading points for supplies, and me, the idiot she used as her personal blood bag.

However, I was done playing her game.

I'd love to see how this so-called "goddess" planned to magically whip up some food for those three now.