Chapter 1

My mother collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage, lying in a pool of blood. I knelt outside the ICU, begging my husband, Sean, to transfer ten thousand dollars for her emergency treatment.

He sent me ten cents instead. The note read, [Enough for a bottle of water. Calm down.]

I made over twenty calls and sent countless voice messages until my voice was hoarse.

His only response was, "She's seventy. Even if you save her, she'll just be a vegetable. Why waste the money?"

Because we missed the golden window for treatment, my mother passed away that very night.

At the funeral, I cried until I fainted. Sean arrived late with his sister, Samara, clinging to his arm.

Sean handed me a tissue and said, "Why are you crying? People who die cannot come back. I've told you so many times to prepare money in advance. Who's to blame now?"

Samara clung to Sean's arm, her eyes red as she complained, "Natasha, don't blame my brother, okay?

"He just sent me 15 thousand dollars yesterday to help me fix up my new apartment. He's really tapped out right now.

"You have to understand him. He's always treated me so well, he'll treat you the same way."

My eyes went wide as I stared at her, completely stunned. 'Is she serious right now?

'He sent Samara 15 thousand dollars on the very day my mom was fighting for her life in the ICU?'

Sean cut me off, sounding totally fed up. "Enough. She's already dead. What's the use of all this drama?"

I was shaking with rage, my whole body trembling as if someone was crushing my heart in their fist.

Years of heart trouble finally caught up with me right then. I clutched my chest and staggered, collapsing to the floor.

Samara shrieked, "Oh my god, Natasha, can you stop faking it already? You're even better at acting than my mom."

Through my blurry vision, I saw Sean pull out his phone. He didn't call 911, but to scroll through his social media feed.

"Good thing I didn't waste that 10 thousand dollars," he sneered.

His voice drifted into my ears, the last thing I ever heard.

That night, I died quietly in the funeral parlor. No one even noticed.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the morning my mom had her brain hemorrhage.

I shot up in bed, drenched in cold sweat. 'Do I get a new life? I really did.'

Without a second thought, I rushed into the bedroom and dragged out a metal box from under the bed.

Inside was all the money I'd secretly saved over the years, 12 thousand dollars in total.

In my previous life, I'd hidden this money so well that even Sean had no idea it existed.

But this time, I was going to use it to save my mom's life.

I quickly stuffed the money into my bag and was about to head out when my phone rang. It was my mom.

"Honey, I'm feeling a bit dizzy today. Can you come home early from work?" Mom asked.

Her voice was still so gentle. Tears welled up in my eyes instantly.

"Mom, don't move. I'm coming home right now, right this second," I cried, my voice trembling with emotion.

I bolted out the door, tears streaming down my face. In my last life, I got home from work too late.

By the time I walked in, my mom had already been lying there in a pool of blood for almost an hour.

This time, I swear I won't let that nightmare repeat itself.

I jumped in a cab and headed straight home, calling 911 on the way.

When I burst through the door, my mom was leaning against the wall, her face ghostly pale.

"Mom," I called out, panic rising in my voice.

I hurried over and helped her stand, just as the ambulance pulled up outside.

The doctor said we got her in just in time, and the surgery was a success.

Mom lay in the hospital bed, her grip on my hand so weak. "Sweetheart, you spent so much money on me..."

"Mom, please, don't say anything right now," I whispered, my voice shaking.

Tears wouldn't stop falling. I continued, "I'd spend every penny I have if it means you'll be okay."

Just outside the hospital room, I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone.

Sean had just sent me a message. [Hey babe, I'm grabbing dinner with Samara tonight. You'll have to sort out dinner yourself.]

I let out a cold laugh. Back then, in my last life, I was kneeling outside the ICU, begging him over the phone.

Sean was busy having sushi with Samara, blowing a grand at dinner. And all he sent me was ten cents.

I took a deep breath and dialed his number. "Sean, my mom had a brain hemorrhage. She's in the ICU at the hospital."

On the other end, there was a lot of noise and Samara's laughter in the background.

"Oh, is it serious?" Sean replied, sounding like he barely cared.

"She's already had surgery. Do you want to come see her?" I said calmly.