Chapter 1

My husband was suddenly diagnosed with acute kidney failure. The surgery cost 150 thousand dollars.

Desperate, I called my daughter. After all, when she got married, I'd emptied our savings to buy her a home.

The call went through. I heard her husband say, "Don't pick up. Your mom is just trying to leech off you. You need to cut ties with them."

My daughter hung up. Moments later, my daughter texted: [Mom, I am married now. I have to prioritize myself and my husband first. Please stop leeching off us.]

In the hospital corridor, I begged relatives for help, but couldn't raise enough money.

My husband died right before my eyes.

At his funeral, my daughter came dressed in designer clothes, arm in arm with her husband, crying her heart out.

However, the first thing she said to me was, "Mom, now that Dad's gone, it's a waste for you to live alone in that big house. Sign it over to me. My husband and I could sell it to pay off bills."

Rage and heartbreak burst in my chest. I collapsed on the spot from a brain hemorrhage.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my daughter and her fiancé came home to ask me for money for their marital home.

*****

When I opened my eyes again, my daughter, Thalia Sweeney and her fiancé, Alex Harrell were sitting across from me on the couch.

Alex was holding Thalia's hand, looking at her like she was his whole world.

He said, "Thalia, I know you've suffered.

"I wanted to give you the dream wedding and a home you deserve, but we're still short 150 thousand dollars for the down payment."

Thalia instantly switched on the drama, turning and fixing her gaze on me.

"Mom, don't blame Alex, alright? He's really tried his best," she said. "He even promised, if you and Dad can lend us the money now, we'll pay you back double and treat you two like royalty once we've made it big."

In my previous life, I totally fell for her sweet talk.

I thought Thalia had finally matured, and found herself a dependable man who'd look after her.

So I handed over most of the life's savings Jude and I had built up over the years, just to help them with the down payment.

But this time, I just sat there, clutching my cup of coffee, my face completely blank as I stared at them.

Alex launched into his slick talk and twisted logic, working hard to sway me.

"Mrs. Sweeney, come on, it's the twenty-first century. You gotta let Thalia think for herself now," Alex said. "Young people these days are supposed to build their own nuclear families.

"The first step is cutting off old family ties that just drain us and hold us back.

"If you help us out now, you're not just giving money. You're helping Thalia break free from her past chains so she can build a real future and our own family together."

He made his pitch sound so convincing, like I was the big obstacle standing in Thalia's way—all because I wouldn't cough up the cash.

I scoffed inwardly.

I set my cup down slowly, watching the eager hope flicker in their eyes, and finally nodded.

"You know what? You're right," I said. "Guess it's really time to break away and let go."

When I finally gave in, Alex and Thalia's eyes sparkled.

Soaking up their thrill, I walked into the bedroom, pulled out the bankbook with all the life savings Jude and I had scraped together, then set it right on the coffee table in front of them.

This was our retirement money—and the life-saving cash Jude never lived long enough to use in my last life.

Alex practically lurched forward. His breathing quickened, and he was unable to hide how desperate he was to get his hands on that bankbook.

"But..." I paused.

Just as Alex's hand was about to touch the bankbook, I placed my hand over it.

"The first thing I'm breaking free from is the outdated, guilt-tripping expectation that parents should sacrifice everything just to buy their kids a house," I said.

Then, right in front of them, I picked up the bankbook and slipped it back into my pocket.

"Your father, Jude and I have already talked it over," I said, my voice steady. "Next week, we're heading to the hospital for a full check-up.

"And whatever's left? We're going on a luxury senior tour, hitting ten countries across the Odrita Islands. After a lifetime of hard work, it's about time Jude and I got out and enjoyed ourselves."

Thalia's face fell instantly.

"Mom! Are you serious?" she snapped, her voice full of disbelief. "You'd rather waste all that money traveling than help me buy a house?

"So your short-term pleasure matters more than my entire future?"

I stared at her angry face, feeling nothing but an unexpected calm wash over me.

In my previous life, I had put Thalia's happiness above everything. And what did that get me in the end?

I ended up dying a miserable death, and Jude died of illness.

This time, I kept my cool and looked her straight in the eye.

"That's right," I replied. "And from now on, don't come to bleed us dry again."