Chapter 1

"You don't have to return to the company after getting the money, Natalie. Head straight to the construction site in the afternoon to pay the workers." My boss stuffed a bank card into my hand. Only then did I feel like I'd truly been reborn.

In my past life, I'd gone to the bank to withdraw 20 thousand dollars after leaving the company. I'd headed home after that, afraid that I would lose the money before paying the construction workers. I'd locked the money in my bedroom before leaving the house, thinking of buying envelopes in which to put the workers' pay.

I hadn't expected Dad to take the money during the hour I was gone. He lent it to our next-door neighbor so they could buy a house. I'd wanted to get the money back, but Dad had stopped me.

"What do you think you're doing? How can you ask someone to return the money when it's already been lent? How do you expect us to be friendly from now on?"

I'd been furious. "That's my company's money that you lent to someone else—this is embezzlement of funds! If my boss reports this to the police, I'll have to go to jail!"

Dad had been unfazed. "Your boss is filthy rich—he wouldn't care about 20 thousand dollars."

I'd known I wouldn't be able to talk any sense into him, so I'd left the house to knock on the neighbor's door. Dad had caught up with me just as the door had opened. Before I could ask them to return the money, Dad had dragged me back home and slapped me after shutting the door.

"How could I have a daughter like you, Natalie York? You know nothing about interpersonal relationships! Tell your boss that I've borrowed the money from him—that should be enough to pacify him!"

That had made my blood boil. "You borrowed the money from him? You don't have a job or any savings—why would anyone lend you anything?"

Dad had been pissed by that. He'd kicked me to the floor and started punching me. "How dare you talk to me like that, you ingrate? I'm your father!"

At that moment, Mom and my brother, Sean York, had entered the apartment. They hadn't even batted an eye when they'd seen me getting beaten up.

Mom had merely sneered upon learning the reason for the abuse. "This is what you deserve. You know your father loves loaning money to others, yet you didn't keep the money properly."

The matter had ended with me coming clean to my boss. He hadn't called the cops on me after finding out; he'd merely withdrawn another 20 thousand dollars. However, he hadn't dared to keep me around anymore. He'd fired me after making me sign an IOU. After that incident, Dad had landed me in more trouble.

I couldn't help feeling like Dad was still punching me when I thought about my past life. I looked up at my boss and asked whether I could pay the workers in the morning—I told him I was afraid to carry so much money around. He agreed after some thought.

After withdrawing the money, I headed straight to the construction site, not daring to delay anything. I only relaxed after seeing the workers receive their pay.

When I got home, I saw Dad unlocking the door to my room. "Why are you going into my room, Dad?"

He jumped at my words and smiled at me. "Perfect timing. Do you have any money? Could you lend me some?"

"Why do you need it?"

"Our next-door neighbor wants to buy a house and asked me whether I could help," he said. "Give me some—this is the first step to building a good relationship with them."

I rolled my eyes at him. Everyone in our residential area knew what a fool he was. He would help out with anything as long as he was approached, whether in terms of monetary or physical assistance.

My family had never had savings—Dad would lend the money to someone as soon as any of us saved anything.

I said bluntly, "I don't have anything. You can ask Sean—I heard him telling Mom that he wanted to buy a car. I guess he has some money saved up."