The moment my sister rushed to my ailing grandfather’s bedside, demanding to care for him before I could even move, I knew. She’d been reborn too. In my past life, my sister Seraphina and I both qualified for interviews at an Ivy League university. But on interview day, Grandpa Arthur suddenly took a turn for the worse. I chose to stay and care for him, missing my chance. Seraphina, though, went on to enroll successfully. As it turned out, Grandpa Arthur left his entire estate to me before passing away. I achieved financial freedom without ever having to struggle through college. Seraphina, on the other hand, had a miserable time in college. She constantly alienated her peers and even managed to anger a professor. Eventually, she took all her frustration out on me, shoving me off a rooftop. I died instantly. After my death, my fiancé Lucas helped her fabricate an alibi, claiming I’d been depressed and had jumped. They then forged my will and stole everything I owned. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Grandpa Arthur fell gravely ill—the day I had to choose whether to stay and care for him.
“Grandpa, let me take care of you! I’m not going anywhere!” Seraphina darted past me and burst into Grandpa’s room. As she held his hand, vowing to care for him, then demanded he hand over the pocket watch that symbolized his inheritance, I knew. She’d been reborn too. Clutching the family pocket watch Grandpa handed her, Seraphina turned with a defiant smirk. “Sorry, Stella, the inheritance is mine now.” I just shrugged. “I wasn’t planning to fight you for it.” Seraphina clearly didn’t believe me. She scoffed, tucking the watch into her bag. “How could that be? You only stuck around Grandpa because…” She abruptly stopped herself. I knew where she was going with this. In my past life, I’d chosen to stay and care for Grandpa. Because of that choice, I missed the deadline and arrived too late for the interview. Seraphina got her acceptance letter from the Ivy League school. But Grandpa, in return, left everything to me. She enrolled in college; I inherited the fortune. But in college, everything fell apart for her. She crumbled under the pressure and pushed everyone away. In a violent rage, she pushed me off that rooftop. Seraphina smirked. “I’m not going to college. You love being a bookworm so much, Stella—you can have my spot.” I nodded toward Grandpa. Then, without hesitation, I turned and left for my interview. That night when I got back to my apartment, there was Lucas—my fiancé—with his arm around Seraphina’s shoulders. I must have been blind in my past life, only realizing on my deathbed they’d been in this together all along. When they saw me walk in, they didn’t even hesitate—their faces showed open defiance. Lucas looked at me with disgust. “Stella, the one I really love is Seraphina. I was only with you because your family had money.” “But now things are different. Seraphina’s about to inherit a fortune. We’ll never have to worry again.” “I won’t have to settle for someone as dull as you just for money anymore.” My fists tightened. So that was their game. My own sister and my fiancé. I’d always been so easygoing with them, never minded their little slights. Now I saw them for what they were—leeches, clinging to me and draining me dry. Since fate gave me a second chance, I’d make sure they paid back a thousandfold for everything they took from me in my past life! Seraphina scoffed. “Stella, I used to let you have your way because you were useful.” “But now I’m getting an inheritance. I’ll never worry about money again. What could you possibly offer that compares?” “You’ll be stuck as a struggling student forever, but Lucas and I? We’re set.” “We’re going to travel the world. That’s a life you’ll never even imagine.” They packed their bags and moved out of the apartment that same day. I watched their retreating backs and let out a cold laugh. How naive. Did they really think it would be that easy?
I aced my interview and got accepted to the Ivy League university. This was the best opportunity someone from my background could hope for. The university was far from home. After talking it over with my parents, I decided to rent a small apartment near campus. I went to a real estate agency, and the agent, Mr. Harrison, had just shown me several properties. Suddenly, a familiar voice boomed from the doorway. “Someone needs to help us right now! Show us your best apartments!” I turned to see Lucas strutting in with Seraphina on his arm, a cocky smirk on his face. When they saw me, they immediately sauntered over and sneered. “Stella, drop the act. You can’t actually afford a place here, can you?” “I checked. Even if you sold all your old stuff, you couldn’t come up with a down payment in a decent neighborhood.” At his words, Mr. Harrison’s previously eager demeanor instantly cooled. I shot back, “I can’t afford it, but you two can?” Seraphina lifted her chin with a smirk. “Of course. I’m getting a fifty million inheritance. I could buy several of these places cash.” Mr. Harrison’s eyes lit up, and he hurried over to them. “Ma’am, how can I assist you today?” Seraphina raised her chin. “I want that apartment over there.” Mr. Harrison’s eyes sparkled as he launched into his sales pitch. “Ma’am, you have excellent taste! This is our premium unit with the best location and views in the complex.” “It’s only three million—quite reasonable for someone in your position.” “Three million?!” Lucas and Seraphina froze, clearly shocked. They hadn’t realized apartments in good areas cost that much. Mr. Harrison added, “If it’s a bit steep, we do offer financing options.” Seraphina bristled at the suggestion, pride wounded. She lifted her chin defiantly. “Financing? I’m getting fifty million! I’ll pay cash!” Mr. Harrison’s enthusiasm grew even more hearing that. “If you’re interested, we just need a 10% deposit to hold it.” Lucas and Seraphina exchanged nervous glances. I frowned, losing patience. “I doubt you’ll ever see that fifty million. Are you just here wasting everyone’s time?” “If you can’t afford it, stop wasting our time and leave!” Lucas’s face turned red with anger. “Shut up! Seraphina *will* get that inheritance. The paperwork just isn’t done yet.” I waved them off. “Whatever. I’ll take this apartment then.” They both panicked when they heard that. Seraphina gritted her teeth and stepped forward. “I want this apartment! Just wait! I’ll get a loan and pay the deposit right now!”
Over the next few days, Seraphina and Lucas flooded their social media with travel photos from around the world. Every post was filled with luxury items. They even took out high-interest loans to buy a house and a fancy car. I watched their reckless spending with watching coldly from the sidelines， knowing such excess always leads to ruin. I just blocked them on everything. Three months into the semester, Grandpa took a turn for the worse. This time, there was no saving him. The day of the funeral, Seraphina posted in the family group chat. After the funeral, we’re having a small gathering at the house to thank everyone for coming. Please be there. She even messaged me directly. Stella, you have to come. Grandpa would want the whole family together. I simply replied, “Okay.” A lot of relatives wondered why she was having this gathering after the funeral. Only I knew why. She was desperate to flaunt her “victory” in front of everyone. After the funeral service, everyone gathered at the house. That’s when Seraphina and Lucas finally showed up—fashionably late, with Seraphina clinging to Lucas’s arm in a bright red dress that screamed “party” and clashed horribly with the somber mood. They immediately drew every eye in the room. They looked completely different—dripping with expensive clothes and jewelry that felt totally out of place. Seraphina started passing out expensive gifts to all the relatives and younger guests. “Family and friends, thank you all for coming to say goodbye to Grandpa today. Please stay for dinner—my treat!” Relatives stared at them like they were crazy. People started whispering about how inappropriate this all was. Seraphina pulled the pocket watch from her designer bag, waving it around for everyone to see—fake tears in her eyes but a huge smile on her face. “Before he passed… Grandpa gave me this. It means I get his whole inheritance—fifty million dollars!” The room went silent for a second, then everyone started talking at once. “Fifty million?” “Grandpa left all his money to Seraphina?” “Oh my goodness, that’s…” Finally, one of the older relatives spoke up. “Seraphina, your grandfather just passed. Has the lawyer even read the will yet? How do you know about this inheritance already?” Seraphina waved her hand dismissively. “Grandpa promised me directly. This watch is proof. The paperwork will be done soon, and the money will be in my account any day now. I’m just honoring his memory by showing him I can handle things.” Someone in the crowd muttered under my breath, “Wasn’t Lucas dating Stella? What’s he doing with Seraphina now?” Facing their confused and disgusted looks, Lucas just pulled Seraphina closer, not even fazed. “Everyone wants to get ahead in life. You all understand that, right?” “Stella might get into a good school, but she’ll just be some overeducated academic. Seraphina’s different.” “Besides, Seraphina and I are actually in love.” That comment made a lot of relatives frown. One relative spoke up. “But Stella got into an Ivy League school! That’s a real future!” Seraphina almost laughed out loud, shoulders shaking with amusement. “Ivy League? So what if she goes there? Will she ever make fifty million in her lifetime?” “These days, a fancy degree doesn’t mean anything. Just more studying and an uncertain future!” She then looked triumphantly at me in the corner. “Stella, even though you don’t deserve to be here, if you’re nice to me, maybe I’ll remember we’re family and help you out.”
The other relatives were shocked by her behavior at the funeral, faces red with embarrassment, but held back from saying anything out of respect for the occasion. Some of the more kiss-up distant relatives already started gathering around her. “Seraphina is so responsible. Grandpa made the right choice.” “Our family will have to rely on Seraphina from now on.” “Exactly! Don’t forget about us relatives when you’re rich!” Deep down, they knew Seraphina had a point. Fifty million was more than most people made in a lifetime. Some even started putting Stella down to butter Seraphina up. “Seraphina’s just being practical. Stella might graduate from an Ivy League, but she’ll still be working for someone else. She can’t compare.” I smiled faintly, standing quietly in the corner. The opportunities from a top university were worth more than any amount of money to someone with vision. Seraphina had crashed and burned in my past life because even with money, she couldn’t buy class—her insecurities always gave her away, making her a joke in high society. After everyone ate, Seraphina touched up her makeup, smoothed her expensive dress, and walked to the center of the living room like she owned the place. Meanwhile, I noticed about a dozen people with phones and cameras had quietly joined the crowd. Seraphina gave them a little nod. So she’d planned this whole spectacle for Grandpa’s funeral. Seraphina pulled out the pocket watch again. Facing the obvious livestream cameras, she put on a fake cry and spoke in a loud whisper: “To everyone watching, thank you for sharing this sad moment with me. I just lost my dear Grandpa Arthur, but he left me his love—and about fifty million dollars. Now I can honor his memory without struggling to get by.” “But look at my sister—all she does is study. She’ll be stuck in college, just another academic drone with no real future or dignity.” She gave me a pointed look as she said it. The livestream chat blew up immediately. I couldn’t read the comments, but they probably weren’t nice. Seraphina didn’t care. She suddenly pointed at me, speaking in a stuck-up tone. “Stella, Grandpa’s lawyer should be around organizing papers. Go get him. We’ll read the will right now—with all the relatives and viewers watching as witnesses.” I said nothing. Lucas stepped forward, looking annoyed. “Stella, are you deaf? Today’s about Seraphina. She’s honoring you by asking. With your status, you’re not even good enough to shine her shoes. Just run the errand—maybe she’ll throw you a bone later.” Some relatives couldn’t take it anymore. “Grandpa’s barely cold in his grave! What is this?” “Stealing her sister’s fiancé and showing off at a funeral…” Seeing I wouldn’t budge, Seraphina put on a sad-but-strong face for the cameras. “Stella, wake up. Grandpa left me everything. We’re in completely different leagues now. I’m giving you a chance by asking nicely.” I checked my watch and said calmly, “We’ll wait five more minutes.” Seraphina had no idea what I was planning. She kept up her camera-ready smile. “Fine. But waiting won’t change the fact that Grandpa left me his inheritance.” I smiled faintly. We’ll see about that. Just then, a sharply dressed middle-aged lawyer with a serious expression walked quickly in from outside. He addressed Seraphina, who was surrounded by people, in a deep, firm voice. “Ms. Seraphina, according to the will, your grandfather did *not* leave you his inheritance.”
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