Chapter 1

On our wedding night, as Joseph's hands tightened around my throat, I finally understood one thing. He'd built his business empire with my money, but his heart had always belonged to his first love.

I opened my eyes again—traveled back through time to the very day I was about to hand Joseph financial support.

Right in front of Joseph's eyes, I transferred the money to the constantly coughing underprivileged student in our class.

Later, that sickly kid I invested in became a tech mogul.

Joseph blocked my way, his eyes burning with anger.

He demanded, "You were supposed to support me!"

Seriously? He thought I traveled back through time just to hand him a golden ticket?

*****

I jolted awake from the nightmare, my neck still throbbing with the phantom pain of being strangled.

I opened my eyes to blinding sunlight streaming through the classroom window, shining on the envelope in my hand—the one holding 7,500 dollars of financial support.

"Ariana Jefferson, why are you zoning out? Didn't you say you were going to find Joseph Ziller?" Cindy Londs, my deskmate, nudged my arm.

I looked around in bewilderment, spotting the same old classroom and the same familiar faces. Then my eyes landed on the countdown above the blackboard: 98 days left until the SAT.

I couldn't believe that I'd gone back seven years—to my senior year of high school.

A flood of memories came rushing back.

On our wedding night, Joseph, reeking of alcohol, choked me with his hands, his eyes burning with hatred. "Ariana, if you hadn't tried to buy me with your money, I would've been with Kiana by now. I hate you!"

I struggled desperately, but I was no match for Joseph's strength. In the end, pain overwhelmed me and I lost consciousness.

And now, I'd returned to the past, back to the moment that changed everything—the very day I first offered Joseph financial support.

Cindy called my name again, "Ariana?"

"I'm going now." I stood up, clutching the envelope tightly, my heart pounding wildly.

In my previous life, it was my money that started seven years of entanglement with Joseph, and in the end, it cost me my life.

Warm spring sunshine filled the hallway as students laughed and rushed past me.

Everything felt so vibrant and real, nothing like that frigid wedding night.

I took a deep breath and headed toward Joseph's classroom.

From a distance, I spotted Joseph—his slender yet upright back, the profile of his face slightly bowed, and that washed-out school uniform hanging loosely on him.

In my previous life, it was his fragile yet defiant look that made me fall for him.

Just as I was about to step forward, a familiar figure cut in front of me and joined Joseph. It was Kiana Woods.

She slipped her arm possessively through Joseph's. When she turned and saw me, her eyes flashed with a complex expression I'd never seen before.

"Well, well, if it isn't Ms. Jefferson doling out charity again?" Kiana's shrill voice cut through the hallway, drawing curious glances from the students nearby.

I froze.

In my previous life, Kiana never liked me, but she'd never openly provoked me like this before.

She strode over and, without warning, swatted the envelope out of my hand.

The greenbacks were scattered across the floor, drawing gasps from the surrounding students.

"Don't think your money makes you special. You can't buy human dignity with cash." Kiana's voice echoed down the hallway, each word cutting like a razor blade.

Joseph stood behind her, his gaze icy as he stared at me.

That look was chillingly familiar. It was the exact same cold stare he gave me the night he strangled me to death.

But what shocked me most was the look in their eyes—not just the usual teenage disdain, but something far more calculated, almost adult-like and strangely familiar.

It was as if they already knew what was going to happen.

Could it be that they had returned to the past, too?

Kiana bent down, picked up a few bills, and flung them disdainfully at me. "Keep your dirty money, Ms. Jefferson. We don't need your charity."

With that, Kiana took Joseph's hand and walked off with her head held high.

My classmates buzzed with whispers, their gazes a mix of sympathy and barely concealed glee.

In my previous life, I would've been sobbing uncontrollably by now, fleeing in panic.

I quietly watched them walk away, a faint smile unconsciously tugging at my lips.

If they'd returned to the past too, well, just perfect for me.

So they chose to reject our Jefferson family's backing and that golden ticket to success.

I knelt down and quietly gathered the scattered bills one by one.

Just then, a bony hand reached out and helped me pick up the last bill.

"Here's your money." The voice was barely above a whisper and trembling slightly.

I looked up into a pair of amber eyes—Benedict Fawn, the quietest underprivileged student in class.

In my previous life, Benedict passed away from tuberculosis during the second semester of senior year, barely leaving any impression on me.

He looked even frailer than I remembered. His baggy school uniform hung on him like a sack. His face was so pale it was almost translucent, but those eyes of his burned with astonishing brightness.

"Thank you." I took the money, and suddenly made up my mind. "Benedict, would you be interested in my financial support?"

Benedict froze, his lips trembling slightly. "Wh-what?"

"Originally, I was going to give this 7,500 dollars to Joseph," I said calmly. "But now, I want to offer it to you instead. You can use it for reference books, tutoring fees, or anything else you might need."

Benedict's eyes widened, shimmering with disbelief. "W-Why me?"

I smiled. "Because honestly, you're more deserving than certain others."

Tears sprang to Benedict's eyes as his shaky hands took the envelope. "Th-thank you. I promise I'll repay every cent."

When I saw the genuine gratitude in his eyes, it suddenly hit me how terribly wrong I'd been in my previous life—real help shouldn't be condescending charity, nor should it come with expectations of repayment.

Joseph always saw my help as an insult, yet he never once refused the advantages that money brought him.

"There's no rush to pay me back," I said softly. "Just focus on the SAT."

As I turned to leave, an unprecedented lightness filled my heart.

In this life, I wouldn't repeat my mistakes.

Well, if Joseph and Kiana were so confident they could make it without my family's help, then good luck to them.

As for me, this would be a whole new start.