Chapter 1

In my last life, I sponsored a poor girl from the mountains for ten years. To put her through school, I scrimped and saved so hard I couldn't even bring myself to buy my daughter the new dress she wanted.

But on the day she got accepted to a top university, she went on a livestream and tearfully claimed I'd spent years emotionally controlling her. She said I'd treated her like a maid and crushed her out of jealousy for her talent. Furious netizens dug into my family until my daughter was driven into depression and lost her life, and I died full of hatred.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the charity gala. The girl stood there in a washed-out school uniform, looking at me with hopeful eyes. "Aunt Grace, only you can help me leave the mountains."

Looking at her fake, innocent face, I smiled and pulled back the check. "That just means you didn't work hard enough. What's that got to do with me?" Emily Lane froze, and the hope in her eyes turned to shock and humiliation.

Guests nearby turned to look, whispering among themselves. My husband, David Shaw, came to my side and asked under his breath, "What's wrong?" I ignored him and kept my eyes on Emily.

She reacted fast - her eyes reddened at once. "Aunt Grace, have I done something to make you misunderstand me? Did I... say something wrong?" That teary, aggrieved look won over some of the crowd instantly, and a few people were already looking at me with open disapproval.

In my last life, this was exactly how she fooled me. I thought she was proud and overly sensitive, so I always tiptoed around her feelings. In the end, all I did was raise an ungrateful snake. I let out a cold laugh.

"I barely know you. What misunderstanding could there be? As for sponsorship, all the slots at our company are already taken. Try somewhere else." After saying that, I took David's arm and turned to leave.

Emily's unwilling voice came from behind me. "But Director Lewis clearly said you thought highly of me and had saved a spot for me." She hurried forward and tried to grab my hand, but I sidestepped her.

"If I think well of you, does that mean I have to sponsor you? I think highly of my housekeeper too. Should I hand over my entire fortune to her?" A low ripple of laughter went through the crowd.

Emily's face flushed deep red, and this time real tears spilled down. She stared at me, naked hatred in her eyes. Yes. That was more like it. That was her real face.

A heavyset man walked over and shielded Emily behind him. It was Mr. Warren, a building-materials businessman. In my last life, he'd gone to prison a year before my death for tax evasion. Now his greasy gaze ran up and down me.

"Mrs. Shaw, why bother arguing with a young girl? Just look how pitiful she is." He pulled out a business card and handed it to Emily. "Here, don't cry. That sponsorship spot? I'll take care of it for you. If you run into trouble later, come to me anytime."

Emily instantly perked up. She took the card and called out sweetly, "Thank you, Uncle Warren." Then she looked at me, her eyes full of challenge and smug pride, as if to say that even without me, she could always find someone else to latch onto.

I smiled. Perfect. May the two of you stay tied together for good. I grabbed David and left the ballroom without looking back. Once we were in the car, he finally asked, "What was that all about today? Weren't you the one who used to think the most highly of Emily Lane?"

I watched the city lights streak past outside the window. "I regret it," I said. "I want to buy my daughter a new dress first." David went still. When we got home, Lily was already asleep.

I pushed open her bedroom door and saw a crumpled flyer by her bed. On it was a little girl in a princess dress. In my last life, Lily had asked me for it over and over, and I still couldn't bring myself to buy it. I told her we had to save the money for that girl in the mountains.

Lily was such a good kid. She never brought it up again, but I knew she had always wanted it. Even at the very end, she was still wearing old clothes. It felt like a hand was squeezing my heart.

I walked over and gently kissed Lily on the forehead. "Lily, Mom was wrong. This time, Mom's going to give you the very best." Early the next morning, I skipped work and pulled her right out of bed. "Up you go. Mom's taking you dress shopping."

Lily rubbed her eyes, looking like she couldn't believe it. "Really, Mom? The one I told you about last time?"

"Yep." She shot up from the bed and let out an excited squeal, and watching her happiness slowly filled the hollow place in my heart.

I took Lily to the fanciest mall in the whole city and went straight to the boutique that sold princess dresses. A sales clerk greeted us warmly, and I pointed at the most gorgeous dress in the display window. "Take that one out. My daughter wants to try it on." Lily's eyes lit up.

Just then, an unwelcome voice cut in. "Well, if it isn't Mrs. Shaw." I turned and saw Emily walking over with her arm looped through Mr. Warren's. Dressed in designer clothes and carrying the latest handbag, she looked nothing like yesterday's poor student in a faded uniform. Her eyes shone with smug pride.