Chapter 1 · Reborn the Day My Father Disowned Me

In my previous life, Michael Stone stood before three hundred wedding guests and announced, "I don't have a daughter."

I knelt at the gate of the Stone Residence, my face bloody from begging, pleading for seventy thousand dollars to save my mom.

He tossed me an empty bank card and said with a smile, "Don't disgrace me."

My mom pulled the plug on herself. I broke my leg and had it amputated, and spent three years shining shoes on the street. When he finally had a pang of conscience and came looking for me, I no longer needed him.

Now, I'd been reborn to the day he threw me that empty card. He'd still say, "I don't have a daughter." But this time, I'd answer him calmly, "Okay, Mr. Stone."

*****

When I opened my eyes, I found myself kneeling on the cold marble floor.

My temples throbbed, and the sticky feeling at my hairline told me I was already bleeding.

I knew this scene all too well.

Inside the main hall of the Stone Residence, the crystal chandelier blazed harshly. The cloying sweet scent of lilies hung in the air. It was Evelyn Grant's favorite flower.

Right in front of me, Michael sat on the sofa in a sharp suit, his face cold, twirling a bank card in his hand.

Beside him stood Evelyn, dressed in a simple white dress and pearl earrings, one hand resting on his shoulder, her eyes shimmering with just the right touch of tears.

"Michael, Nina's still just a kid. At least give her a way out," Evelyn said.

Her voice was soft as a spring breeze. Every word seemed to plead for me, but every word reminded Michael, "This kid is nothing but trouble for you."

In my previous life, I didn't get it.

Back then, I was too desperate, my forehead slamming into the floor over and over. Each dull thud echoed as blows struck against a funeral casket.

"Dad, please, I'm begging you. We still need seventy thousand dollars for Mom's hospital bills. They said the treatment would be stopped if we don't pay... Dad..." I sobbed.

I was sixteen back then. I'd worn my voice out with crying and my knees to the bone from kneeling. All I could think about was Mom lying in the ICU, covered in tubes.

I didn't know Evelyn was sneering.

I didn't know the card was empty.

I didn't know Evelyn had filmed me kneeling and begging and sent her friends, saying: "Look, this is what Rachel James's daughter turned out to be, just like her mom, always begging for money on her knees."

But now, I knew the truth, because I'd been reborn.

I slowly lifted my head. Blood trickled down my nose from my forehead, and the salty, metallic taste spread into my mouth. The sharp pain in my knees reminded me I was still sixteen-year-old Nina, skinny as a stick, my sleeves frayed at the edges.

Michael looked at me with a frown, his eyes full of disgust and impatience, but not a trace of sympathy.

"Nina, as I said, I have no money right now," he said, tossing the card onto the coffee table. "Stone Corp is facing a cash flow crisis. I can barely take care of myself. Go ask your mom's family for help."

In my previous life, I believed him.

I truly believed Stone Corp had gone bankrupt and that my father was suffering too. I picked up the card, thanked him profusely, and rushed to the ATM. When the screen flashed [Insufficient Funds], I sank down on the roadside and burst into bitter tears.

This time, I just stared at the card, not moving a muscle.

"Nina?" Evelyn tilted her head, her voice full of concern. "Go on, take the card. Your dad's really tried his best."

Her fingers tightened almost imperceptibly on Michael's shoulder, but I saw the movement clearly.

I struggled to stand. Pain shot through my knees, and I steadied myself against the coffee table.

Then I did something I never would have done in my past life. I pushed the bank card back to him. "No need," I said calmly.

Michael was stunned. Evelyn's smile faltered briefly, too.

"Mr. Stone," I said, my voice far too calm for a sixteen-year-old. "I don't want this card. I'll handle my mom's medical bills on my own."

"What did you just call me?" Michael's expression darkened.

I didn't answer. In my past life, I'd smashed my forehead on the floor, only to get an empty card and a dead mom. This time, I wouldn't call him "Dad" ever again.

He didn't deserve that.

Chapter 1

In my previous life, Michael Stone stood before three hundred wedding guests and announced, "I don't have a daughter."

I knelt at the gate of the Stone Residence, my face bloody from begging, pleading for seventy thousand dollars to save my mom.

He tossed me an empty bank card and said with a smile, "Don't disgrace me."

Now, I'd been reborn to the day he threw me that empty card. He'd still say, "I don't have a daughter." But this time, I'd answer him calmly, "Okay, Mr. Stone."

*****

When I opened my eyes, I found myself kneeling on the cold marble floor.

My temples throbbed, and the sticky feeling at my hairline told me I was already bleeding.

I knew this scene all too well.

Inside the main hall of the Stone Residence, the crystal chandelier blazed harshly. The cloying sweet scent of lilies hung in the air. It was Evelyn Grant's favorite flower.

Right in front of me, Michael sat on the sofa in a sharp suit, his face cold, twirling a bank card in his hand.

Beside him stood Evelyn, dressed in a simple white dress and pearl earrings, one hand resting on his shoulder, her eyes shimmering with just the right touch of tears.

"Michael, Nina's still just a kid. At least give her a way out," Evelyn said.

Her voice was soft as a spring breeze. Every word seemed to plead for me, but every word reminded Michael, "This kid is nothing but trouble for you."

In my previous life, I didn't get it.

Back then, I was too desperate, my forehead slamming into the floor over and over. Each dull thud echoed as blows struck against a funeral casket.

"Dad, please, I'm begging you. We still need seventy thousand dollars for Mom's hospital bills. They said the treatment would be stopped if we don't pay... Dad..." I sobbed.

I was sixteen back then. I'd worn my voice out with crying and my knees to the bone from kneeling. All I could think about was Mom lying in the ICU, covered in tubes.

I didn't know Evelyn was sneering.

I didn't know the card was empty.

But now, I knew the truth, because I'd been reborn.

Michael looked at me with a frown, his eyes full of disgust and impatience, but not a trace of sympathy.

In my previous life, I believed him.

This time, I just stared at the card, not moving a muscle.

"Nina?" Evelyn tilted her head, her voice full of concern. "Go on, take the card. Your dad's really tried his best."

Her fingers tightened almost imperceptibly on Michael's shoulder, but I saw the movement clearly.

I struggled to stand. Pain shot through my knees, and I steadied myself against the coffee table.

Then I did something I never would have done in my past life. I pushed the bank card back to him. "No need," I said calmly.

Michael was stunned. Evelyn's smile faltered briefly, too.

"Mr. Stone," I said, my voice far too calm for a sixteen-year-old. "I don't want this card. I'll handle my mom's medical bills on my own."

"What did you just call me?" Michael's expression darkened.

I didn't answer. In my past life, I'd smashed my forehead on the floor, only to get an empty card and a dead mom. This time, I wouldn't call him "Dad" ever again.

He didn't deserve that.