Chapter 1

Yasmine Quinn and I were always competing for Sergio Carter's attention our whole lives, only to find out in the end that we were both just side characters used as tools.

All these years, we gave everything to him, but he had already been with the main character, who was also a student from a poor background, long before we even knew it.

They had the nerve to trash-talk us for "insulting" him with our wealth while still accepting every bit of what we offered.

In the end, they brought down and took over our families' companies, driving us to our deaths.

But now, as we opened our eyes again, we'd traveled back.

*****

"I put up the money for this game for Sergio. Who do you think you are, sitting here?" I started to say.

Yasmine was just as stunned, her eyes wide as she stared at me.

For a split second, my mind went totally blank. Then it hit me. We'd both come back to life.

In my previous life, I was a filthy-rich heiress, and Yasmine was the perfect school beauty everyone worshipped.

But somehow, both of us were hopelessly obsessed with Sergio, the broke and brooding guy.

Sergio reluctantly took our money, all while calling us shallow and worldly, saying we'd never understand him.

In the end, he walked all over us to throw a lavish wedding for his heroine, then led his crew to force us to the edge until we had nothing left.

And in the end, he just tossed out. "This is what happens when you keep using your money to insult me."

Right now, Sergio was leading his basketball team in a league game.

This game was a big deal; getting a spot on the team meant guaranteed college admission and extra points. We were both willing to do whatever it took to help him win.

Yasmine even turned down a fashion magazine shoot just to be his cheerleader.

I dropped 200 thousand dollars on the team, no questions asked.

But Sergio just waved his hand and gave away all the tickets to his friends and classmates, leaving only one seat for us.

He just wanted to put us on display, making us compete for his attention in front of the whole crowd.

All to satisfy his dark, twisted sense of pride.

"Honestly, I'd rather be watching a musical than sitting through this game. What do you think?" I tossed out.

Yasmine held my gaze for a moment, then broke into a knowing smile.

I took a deep breath. "Yeah, sounds good. Come on, my treat."

Girls shouldn't make life harder for each other. Especially now that we'd got a bigger enemy to deal with. Maybe it was time we teamed up instead.

Sergio, in this life, I was gonna make you pay for every single thing you did.

As we were chatting, I could hear a bunch of guys nearby making crude, lewd comments.

"Man, I wish I were Sergio. The two campus goddesses are both head over heels for him.

"If it were me, I'd go for Yasmine. She's the Yasmine, after all," one whispered.

"I'd pick Sydney Wynn. She's filthy rich. Marry her, and you'll be set for life," another chimed in.

"Honestly, why not just go for both? They're both top-tier, and Yasmine's family is loaded too," a third voice added.

These toads were fantasizing about swans, shamelessly judging us like we were trophies up for grabs.

But soon, the most annoying guy of all showed up.

That familiar icy, arrogant voice cut through the air, sending a chill down my spine.

"So what if you're rich? I rely on myself and never take charity from anyone."

I slowly turned around and locked eyes with him. His face was full of resentment.

The sunlight caught his cold, pale features, showing off the tiny mole on his nose and those thin, almost colorless lips.

Our eyes met, and Sergio hissed the words through clenched teeth.

"Only pathetic losers think they can throw their weight around just because they're rich. Money can't buy everything, especially someone's dignity."

"Well said," I shouted, clapping my hands together with a loud, mocking applause.

"But did you forget? The only reason you're here as the team captain, playing in the city's biggest arena, is because of the 200 thousand I sponsored.

"And forget just this game. You wouldn't have even made it this far in school if it weren't for the over 80 grand I've poured into you these past two years."

Sergio's eyes went wide, his gaze practically blazing with humiliation.

"Sydney, what nonsense are you spouting? I got here on my own skills, not because of you. Don't think you can crush my pride with your money games," he shot back.

I just laughed, "Perfect, I only paid the deposit on that 200 thousand. You can pay off the rest yourself. Let's see what your pride is really worth in cash."

Maybe he was a gem, but in this place, gems are a dime a dozen. Everyone here shone just as bright.

Without me, he wouldn't even get through the door. Tickets go for 120 bucks each.

Sergio never saw it coming, me, the girl who'd always bent over backwards for him, suddenly standing up and calling him out like that.

He was stunned, his brows furrowed in disbelief and anger.

His crew was just as shocked at first, but then they started whispering and freaking out, the whole scene turning into chaos.

Just then, a staff member came over to drag Yasmine, the cheerleading captain, out for her turn.

This staffer was one of Sergio's relatives, just hanging around to leech off him and get paid, and she always treated both Yasmine and me like we were beneath her.

"I've been looking all over for you. What are you still standing here for? You're the last one we need. Hurry up and come with me," she snapped.

As she spoke, she grabbed Yasmine's arm, squeezing so hard a red mark showed up right away.

She didn't care at all that everyone was watching. She just went ahead and disrespected Yasmine in front of the whole crowd.

But Yasmine didn't hesitate. She knocked the staffer's hand away, not showing a shred of mercy.

"Who the hell do you think you are, putting your hands on me? I'm done with this cheerleading crap," Yasmine snapped.

Usually so gentle, Yasmine swept her gaze around the crowd, a cold smirk on her lips.

"You couldn't even bother to give me a seat, and now you want me to perform? Dream on," she said.

She ripped off the wristband for the performance and flung it straight to the ground.

Up until today, the two of us were known all over campus as Sergio's biggest simps.

Didn't matter how much he put us down. We were totally brainless for him, ready to do anything he wanted.

Everyone around us was left speechless, totally gobsmacked. They had no idea what just hit them.

Yasmine and I didn't waste a second. We just up and left, bold as can be.

Let Sergio enjoy the pathetic seat all by himself.

If he were so generous, handing out free tickets, he'd better be ready to cough up that 200 grand himself.