Before my father-in-law passed away, he handed me a bank card with three million dollars. “Lily, as the eldest daughter-in-law, you should be the one to hold onto this three million.” In my previous life, I was so deeply touched by his gesture, I swore I’d protect this family with all my heart. But less than three days after his funeral, my brother-in-law, Kevin, and my mother-in-law, Brenda, cornered me, demanding I use the money to buy Kevin a house. When I swiped the card, there was only three hundred dollars inside. I tried desperately to explain, but they wouldn’t listen. Instead, they dragged relatives and friends to surround me, demanding I compensate them. Otherwise, they’d take the house my parents bought for me as a wedding gift. I refused. During the argument, Kevin brutally hit me over the head with a wooden stick, leaving me in a deep coma. My husband, Mark, signed a waiver and pulled my oxygen tube. My house was transferred to Kevin. Just before I faded away, I realized it was all their twisted plan. In this new life, I’ll make sure they get what they deserve.
Looking at the familiar scene before me, I knew I’d been reborn. “Lily, come here in a moment. Dad has something important to tell you.” Mark said that and went into my father-in-law’s room. Through the window, I saw Brenda and Kevin already inside. They scanned the room nervously, as if afraid someone might be eavesdropping. I hurried to the bathroom and made a quick call. “Lily, Lily, hurry! Dad’s almost gone! He has something to tell you!” Mark grabbed me and pulled me along. The other relatives and friends in the yard followed us in. My father-in-law lay quietly on the bed, his cheeks sunken, his face ashen. His cloudy eyes scanned the room, landing on me as I entered. He beckoned me closer. “Li… Lily, take this card. It has three million dollars in it. Take it!” Murmurs spread through the crowd. “Old Mr. Miller really favors his eldest daughter-in-law, giving her all this money!” I stood still. An auntie next to me nudged me. “Lily, go on, your father-in-law is calling you.” I looked uncomfortable. “How could I possibly take this? It should go to Mark or Brenda.” “Well, that’s true. You’re all family anyway, so it doesn’t matter who takes it.” My father-in-law waited, but I still didn’t move. He pointed at me anxiously, repeatedly calling out, “Li… Lily, take it!” Kevin, fuming, snatched the card and tried to shove it into my hand. I dodged him. “Lily Miller, what’s wrong with you? My dad’s on his deathbed, and you won’t even grant his last wish?” My father-in-law’s eyes welled up with tears. Brenda shot me a fierce glare. “Why are you dodging? Your dad trusts you, he sees you as one of his own, that’s why he’s giving it to you!”
Seeing this, the relatives and friends around us started to persuade me. “Lily, at a critical moment like this, you can’t be childish.” “Sister-in-law, why are you so stubborn? Just play along, even.” “Just take it, so the old man can rest in peace.” I said, expressionless, “I won’t take it. What if there isn’t really three million in it? Who’s responsible then?” At my words, panic flickered across Brenda’s and Kevin’s faces. Mark frowned, looking at me disapprovingly. “Lily, how could my dad lie to you? This might be his life’s savings.” Everyone paused, starting to sense something was off. No one spoke. Kevin pointed at me, enraged. “What nonsense are you spouting? You have to take this card!” Kevin’s overly defensive attitude just made everyone more suspicious. “I’ve heard of siblings fighting over inheritance, but I’ve never heard of them being so polite about it.” “Kevin is usually so money-hungry. Why is he acting so strange today?” I pressed my advantage. “I won’t take this card, but my devotion to Dad is genuine, Heaven as my witness.” My father-in-law, seeing his scheme fail, gasped, his breath caught, and then, just like that, he was gone. His eyes remained wide open, staring. Brenda shrieked and lunged at me. “You killed the old man with your stubbornness! Mark, your wife killed your dad! If you don’t teach her a lesson, how can you face your father’s spirit?” Everyone was in a flurry of activity, some trying to break up the fight, others arranging the funeral. At the wake, all the relatives and friends were present. Brenda sat on the floor, wailing to the heavens, pounding the ground with her hands. “Old man, our family is in such a mess! You toiled your whole life for this family.” “But your daughter-in-law wouldn’t even grant your last wish. You can’t even rest in peace!” Brenda’s cries were heart-wrenching. The two brothers glared at me, eyes practically spitting fire. The aunties helped Brenda up, advising me to show “respect for the deceased” and not cause a scene. Seeing Jake, my cousin, approaching from a distance, I nodded. “Alright. But first, I need to test the card in front of everyone to see if it really has three million dollars.” I asked Jake to bring a POS machine. Looking at Brenda, I said softly, “Mom, please give me the bank card. If I swipe it, we’ll know if there’s three million, won’t we?” “If there is, I’ll accept the card and kneel to beg your forgiveness. If there isn’t, then please stop trying to force this useless card on me.” At my words, Brenda clutched her pocket even tighter. She looked at Mark, who was burning paper offerings. Mark’s face darkened. “Don’t flaunt your wealth. Lily, what’s wrong with you today? Why are you always arguing with us? It’s just about holding a bank card. Just take it and keep it safe.” I scoffed in rebuttal. “Your dad himself said there’s three million on this card before he died. Everyone knows that. But whether there’s actually three million on this card, no one can guarantee.” “Besides,” I paused, looking pointedly, “someone who usually begs you for even a couple hundred bucks, isn’t tempted by this card’s money and is eager for me to keep it—I don’t believe there’s nothing shady going on!” Kevin stamped his foot, furious. “What are you rambling about? I’m showing you respect by letting you take it!” “Oh? You don’t even call me ‘Sister-in-law’ normally. Now you know how to show respect?” Jake held up the machine. “Arguing is useless. One swipe with this machine will tell us. This one’s from the bank, guaranteed real. Hand over the card.”
Brenda clutched her chest, pretending to collapse. Kevin lunged forward fiercely, trying to snatch the machine. But Jake, being much taller and stronger, easily pushed him back, making him stumble. Mark’s face was rigid, his brows furrowed as he accused me. “Lily, if you have issues with me, we can talk about them at home. My dad was just killed by your anger, and now you won’t even spare his funeral?” The people helping with the funeral also gathered around, pointing fingers at me. “Lily usually seems so sensible. Why is she so weird today?” “I think she’s heartless. Look, Old Mr. Miller passed away, and she hasn’t shed a single tear.” “Mark is so easygoing. If my wife killed my dad with her temper, I’d beat her half to death.” Brenda sat there whimpering, while Kevin kept egging Mark on. “Big Brother, look at this woman. She shows no remorse. You need to teach her a good lesson!” Mark, usually so timid, suddenly looked menacing. “Lily, you’ve disappointed me greatly.” He raised his hand to strike me. At that critical moment, Jake pulled me aside. “You’re going to hit my sister in front of me? You’ve got some nerve!” Jake’s timely intervention made Mark’s swing miss, only fueling his rage further. He pointed at me, yelling: “Lily Miller, if you don’t want us to get divorced, then get on your knees and apologize to my mom. Then we can go on living peacefully together.” “Otherwise, don’t blame me for turning my back on you.” Brenda, hearing this, suddenly stood up from the floor, dusting off her pants. She sneered at me. “Too late! An apology isn’t enough. Give your brother-in-law the house your family gave you as a wedding gift. Otherwise, don’t even think about stepping foot in our Miller family home again!” Mark and Brenda were convinced I’d apologize and give in. After all, I had loved Mark to death back then, willing to break ties with my own parents just to be with him. I remained cold and silent. Mark gave Kevin a look. Kevin immediately took a few of his friends and dragged Jake away, pushing him into a room. “What are you doing?” A bad premonition gripped me. “Mark Miller, you’re breaking the law!” Mark’s face was smug. “Lily, a funeral is a solemn occasion. Jake’s causing trouble at my dad’s memorial. Even if you call the cops, he’ll still be charged with disturbing the peace.” “If you want him to walk out of here unharmed, then just do as I say.” I felt incredibly stifled, but I had no choice but to back down. Kevin, quick-witted, pulled up a chair for Brenda. Brenda sat on it, looking down her nose at me. Under everyone’s gaze, I reluctantly walked up to her and bowed three times. “I’m sorry, it was my fault!” Brenda held her head high and said nothing. Mark cleared his throat.
Brenda reluctantly spoke: “Hmph, it’s good you know your place. Just like Mark said, after your dad’s funeral is over, transfer the house to Kevin!” I was expressionless. “Can Jake be released now?” Mark’s face was a little awkward. He took my hand, trying to calm me down. Brenda, seeing this, got angry again. She scoffed. “Let her go home. Just looking at her unlucky face makes me furious. Your dad probably doesn’t want to see her most of all right now. Let her leave, we don’t need her to wear mourning clothes!” No sooner had Brenda finished speaking than I ripped off my mourning clothes and shoved them into Mark’s arms. I grabbed Jake’s hand and hurried out. This time, not a single one of the Miller family’s relatives or friends tried to stop me. They all stood in small groups, whispering. On the way, Jake was indignant. “Cousin, why did you apologize like such a doormat? I don’t believe they would’ve actually laid a hand on me!” “I couldn’t risk you, Jake. Apologizing doesn’t mean I lose a limb. I can handle it.” “Cousin, do you still want to stay with Mark?” Jake asked cautiously. I scoffed. “Me? Stay with him? I’d have to be out of my mind! Don’t worry, every injustice we suffered today, Jake, I’ll make sure they pay for it!” I returned to the house Mark and I shared. I opened a drawer. My wedding jewelry was still there, untouched. Luckily, the house deed was also there. I packed up the house deed and other valuables. I glanced over and saw the watch I’d bought Mark. Without a second thought, I grabbed it too. After we got married, I’d completely let my guard down with Mark, keeping all our valuables in one place. In my previous life, Brenda and Kevin had shown up demanding money. I tried desperately to explain, but they wouldn’t listen. Brenda said arrogantly, “If you don’t give us three million today, then the house will be transferred to Kevin. Otherwise, you won’t like the consequences.” Of course, I refused. Kevin blocked me, and Brenda, knowing exactly where it was, easily found where I hid the house deed. She also took my gold and silver jewelry with it, then just ran off. Kevin shoved me hard and ran off too.
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