Chapter 1

My late fiancé suddenly appeared in my dream.

He said, "Your job is a dead end. Quit it and invest in StarSea Tech stocks. Next month, they'll soar a hundredfold."

I took his advice, putting everything I had into the investment, even convincing my parents to mortgage our house.

But StarSea Tech turned out to be a complete scam. Overnight, the stock plummeted to zero, and we were suddenly drowning in millions of debt. The shock was so immense that my parents ended up in the hospital.

At my lowest point, my fiancé appeared again in my dream.

He told me, "Don't panic. My brother has a keepsake I left for you. Take it, and you'll inherit my huge fortune overseas."

I rushed to see his brother, but instead of helping, he shoved a massive IOU in my face, claiming it was what my fiancé owed. Then he threatened that if I didn't pay, he would break my father's legs.

When I had no one else to turn to, my fiancé appeared again in my dream, looking frantic.

"Quick!" he said. "My brother is allergic to mangoes. Get him to take a bite. While he's distracted, snatch the IOU. If you hesitate, your father will be in danger."

Desperate to save my dad, I followed his instructions. But the brother's allergic reaction was so severe that he died instantly. I got arrested for murder.

When the news reached my parents, they both suffered heart attacks and died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

The night before my execution, I swallowed poisoned wine. In my final moments, my fiancé appeared once more.

He was standing with his arm around a woman I had never seen before. He gave me a cruel, piercing grin and seemed to drive a knife straight into my soul.

"Did you really think someone like you deserved even a dream of my fortune? Ever since I faked my death, everything was a setup for your funeral," he said.

When I opened my eyes again, I realized I was back on the day when he first appeared in my dream and told me to quit my job.

*****

"Quit your job. Go buy StarSea Tech stocks now!" Brian Spencer said in a commanding tone, his anxious face strikingly clear in the darkness.

I jolted awake, heart racing, and cold sweat drenched my pajamas.

It was the same dream again.

I saw the same face that I used to be so obsessed with that it hurt.

In my previous life, listening to him had turned me from a thriving office worker into someone who lost my family, my home, and my entire world.

Actually, those so-called dreams were a carefully crafted scheme, a plot he masterminded with my parents and his "brother," all designed to set me up for my own destruction.

It was all for the massive trust fund from my grandmother, an inheritance I never even knew existed.

I rolled over, burying my face in the pillow, a cold smile curving at my lips.

To Brian and my dear parents, this time, the game was going to be played by my rules.

*****

The next morning, I got up like any other day, put on my makeup, and dressed for work.

My mom was bustling around in the kitchen. When she saw me, she tried to act casual. "Did you sleep well last night? Dream anything?" she asked.

I yawned, stretched lazily, and said, "Nope, I didn't dream a thing. Slept straight through till morning."

Her hand froze for a fraction of a second as she set down breakfast. Then she went back to her usual composure.

"Good. Eat quickly. Don't be late for work," she said.

At the table, my dad cleared his throat. "Beth, have you been feeling worn out at work lately? A friend of mine mentioned this company, StarSea Tech. It's developing fast right now. Maybe you should take a look at its stocks?"

Here he went.

They were even more impatient than in my previous life.

I took a sip of milk, feigning surprise. "Dad, when did you start caring about stocks? That's way too risky for me. My job doesn't pay much, but at least it's stable."

My dad's expression darkened. "Does it put food on the table? You and Brian are about to get married. I think you need to start saving money."

"Exactly," my mom chimed in right away. "Your dad's looking out for you."

I set down my glass, watching them act in perfect unison, and a shiver ran down my spine.

"Mom, Dad, I know you mean well, but let's talk about investing some other time," I said.

Then I grabbed my bag and bolted out of that stifling house.

The rest of the day, I felt restless, unable to settle down.

They executed their plan ahead of schedule.

In my previous life, they only started dropping hints after I "dreamed" about Brian.

But this time, even though I'd denied dreaming, they brought up StarSea Tech straight away.

That meant they had another way to make sure I "got" the message, or maybe they couldn't wait any longer.

*****

Before leaving work, I logged into my office computer and searched for StarSea Tech again.

As I remembered, every financial news site was buzzing about its potential, presenting it as a perfect investment opportunity.

But I knew better. In just two weeks, it would be exposed for cooking the books and shady fundraising, and the stock would plummet to nothing overnight.

I closed the page and shifted my focus to Brian's car accident.

There were only a few reports, with a brief news blurb stating that he died when his brakes failed on a mountain pass, and his car went off a cliff.

His body was never found, not even a single bone.

What a perfect "accident."

As I pondered, my phone suddenly rang from an unknown number.

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hello?" I said.

There was a brief silence before a man's voice came through, sounding like he was trying to hold back his "grief."

"Is this Elizabeth Graham?" he asked.

"I'm Brian's brother, Howard Spencer," he continued.

My eyes widened instantly.

So soon? In my previous life, he didn't show up until after my family went bankrupt.

"I just got back from overseas to take care of Brian's funeral," Howard said. "While going through his things, I found something he meant for you.

"He told me that if you found yourself in trouble, you could come to me."