I received $20 million from a property buyout. My roommate blackmailed me for $2 million, threatening to tell my dad. Out of desperation, I agreed. She kept her word and didn't tell my dad—because the moment she got the money, she told my mom instead! My mom tore our family apart over that money. I endured her tantrums and guilt trips until the very end. But the last time, she faked a terminal illness to lure me home. They locked me in and starved me. Then my dad walked toward me with a knife. Begging didn't work. I finally gave up my bank password. But the knife still came down on me... I was reborn on the day I received the buyout check. I told my roommate my dad stole the money. And she lost her mind. 1 After hanging up the phone, I saw my roommate, Zoey, looking at me suspiciously. "Lily, who were you talking to? I heard something about a buyout and compensation?" Looking at her, memories of my past life flooded back. In college, I hustled like crazy and bought a small 800-square-foot apartment in Brooklyn right after graduation. I didn't live there long before moving out to rent a place with Zoey, a college friend, closer to my new job. But as luck would have it, that small apartment was in a redevelopment zone. The buyout offer was a staggering $20 million. Zoey found out and threatened to tell my dad unless I gave her a million dollars. Back then, I was terrified of my dad, so I actually agreed. She kept her promise and didn't tell him. Instead, she told my mom, gloating: "Who asked you to be so stupid? A brainless idiot." From that day on, my mom harassed me relentlessly for the money. I withstood the pressure and even applied for a job transfer to escape. But then my mom suddenly fell "gravely ill." I couldn't ignore it. I took leave to visit her, only to find out she was faking it. And I... I never walked out of that house again. To get the money, my own father held a knife to my throat. I begged for my life. In despair, I gave him the bank password. I saw a glimmer of hope for survival, but then Zoey called and said I would definitely call the police if I escaped. She suggested they finish the job. So, my dad did. The knife he used to carve Thanksgiving turkeys... Ended up in my chest. After I died, Zoey married my brother, becoming the daughter-in-law my parents always wanted. The buyout money I worked so hard for became my brother's glorious wedding fund. In this life, I don't need a handout. I'm starting my revenge plan right now! 2 Hearing Zoey's question, I retorted: "I don't even own a house, where would I get buyout money?" Thankfully, I had kept my college property purchase a complete secret this time. But Zoey stared at me and said: "Lily, you're lying." "Last time you were out, I went through your drawers. I saw the deed. It's for that condo on 4th Avenue. You're still hiding it from me?" I broke out in a cold sweat. I thought if I kept it secret this time, I could avoid her blackmail. I didn't expect her to have known all along. In my past life, when Zoey confronted me about the buyout, I told her everything defenselessly. Hearing my answer, she smiled and said: "That's great, hehe..." That night, I treated her to a luxury dinner and bought her jewelry. But in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the restaurant, she threatened me for a million dollars, or she'd tell my dad. She even blamed me for not telling her about buying the house. But the truth was, back in college when we were close, I analyzed the real estate market with her. I told her that area in Brooklyn was going to skyrocket and likely be rezoned by the city. I urged her to borrow money if she had to, just to buy a place there. She agreed and planned to borrow $50k from me. But when I asked for an IOU, she flipped out. She sarcastically said: "What's our relationship? You need an IOU for this little bit of money?" Maybe I should have seen her true colors then. Zoey spoke again: "Lily, doesn't your phone record calls automatically?" "Why don't we listen to what that person just said to you?" As she spoke, she lunged to snatch my phone. I shoved her away with all my strength and yelled: "Who do you think you are? Listening to other people's private calls?" She fell to the floor, her face darkening. She glared at me, then turned and stormed off. 3 Although we had a falling out, my revenge plan needed a main character. A few days later, I dragged her to a bodega, claiming I wanted to apologize. I promised her any winnings from the scratch-offs I bought would be hers. I bought a thousand dollars' worth of tickets and asked the clerk to help us scratch. While scratching, Zoey suddenly asked to see my apartment. "You bought that place ages ago, and I've never even seen it." I paused, then vaguely replied: "I already rented it out. It's not convenient." Are you kidding? It's been demolished. What are you going to see? Rebar and concrete? A flash of jealousy crossed Zoey's eyes. "So you're a young landlady now, Lily?" "Must be nice, hehe..." Every time I achieved something, seeing her like this used to make me think she was genuinely happy for me. Now I know, she was insanely jealous. Like a viper in the grass, waiting for the moment to strike. Just like in my past life. Suddenly, the clerk yelled, "Ah!" "Winner! You won!" "$500!" Wow, I spent a grand to win five hundred. I grabbed the ticket and stuffed it into Zoey's hand. "Whatever we win today is yours. Consider it a token of my apology." "Zoey, please don't be mad at me anymore." She chuckled on the surface, but I bet she was cursing me internally. She said: "If only it were five million." I said: "Sigh, where would we find luck like that?" After dropping Zoey off at home, I went to a payphone and called my mom. "Hey Mom, big news! My roommate Zoey won five million dollars in the lottery!" ... "If you don't believe me, ask her! But don't mention the amount. It's a huge sum, she wants to keep it secret!" ... 4 The next day, I went to the bank and deposited $15 million into a high-yield savings account. I kept $5 million liquid. Then I invited an old guy friend I hadn't seen in ages to lunch. While we were eating, Zoey sent me a screenshot with a question mark: [?] It was a text from my mom asking Zoey if she won the lottery. I laughed internally and replied: "Didn't you win? But you know my mom, she loves to borrow money. Even ten bucks she'll ask for. So whatever you do, don't tell her you only won $500." Information asymmetry is a powerful weapon. Zoey replied with an [OK] emoji. I secretly took a photo of my handsome friend and sent it to her: "Having lunch with my bro." Zoey immediately asked for the address. Fifteen minutes later, Zoey, dressed to the nines, pushed open the door and exclaimed: "Lily! Fancy meeting you here. What a coincidence." She turned her gaze to my friend. "And this is?" I stood up to introduce them. "This is Julian, a friend who just got back from studying in the States. His family owns the Julian Group. A proper rich second generation." Then I said to Julian: "This is my roommate, Zoey. We live together." Julian raised an eyebrow: "In that dump you rent for $1500 a month?" Zoey immediately pinched me and giggled at Julian: "We just moved to New York, funds are tight, so we found a small place to transition." She paused, then added: "But my family owns property in Manhattan." I knew she was lying, but I didn't bust her. I invited her to sit and eat. During the meal, Zoey flirted heavily with Julian. They chatted enthusiastically and exchanged contacts. When I dropped a chopstick and bent down to pick it up, I saw Zoey's leg rubbing against-- Oh my eyes! After lunch, Julian offered to take Zoey for a spin in his Porsche Panamera. Playing hard to get, Zoey actually refused. After Julian left, Zoey suddenly grabbed my wrist, staring into my eyes. My brow twitched. Zoey whispered: "Lily, did you see the news? The city rezoned 4th Avenue. How is it so coincidental that your apartment is included?" "The news said compensation is over $1,000 per square foot. The $20 million should be in your account already, right?" 5 Crap! I didn't expect Zoey to find out so fast! Thinking of how she blackmailed me in my past life, and then had my dad kill me even after getting the money, terror seized me. Was I going to repeat the same mistakes in this life? No! No! The game is already half played. I can't stop now. I must move forward and make them all pay! Sheer willpower forced tears to my eyes instantly. I cried and threw myself into Zoey's arms. "My... my dad stole my buyout money!" Zoey gasped: "He could steal that? How are you so useless?" I sobbed: "My dad threatened to beat me to death if I didn't give it to him. I had no choice, I transferred it, woo woo woo..." "I've been trying to figure out how to get it back..." Zoey stared into space, muttering to herself. "Right, get it back..." While she was distracted, I grabbed her hand and cried: "Zoey, why don't you marry my brother?" "My dad said the money is for my brother to buy a house and get a wife. The bride price is at least five million!" "Five million!" Zoey exclaimed. Clearly, she was very tempted. Greed flashed in her eyes. But then her phone lit up. It was Julian. Julian sent her a picture of his garage, filled with dozens of luxury cars, asking which color she liked. Damn it! Ruining my plan! I cursed internally. Zoey immediately pushed me away and said: "Lily, there's no way I'm marrying into your family." She picked up her phone to reply to Julian. She always knew my family's financial situation. Poor and rural, she looked down on us. To be honest, if it wasn't for the buyout money in my past life, Zoey would never have married my brother. I rolled my eyes and said to Zoey: "My brother asked for your WeChat a while ago. I'll just reject him then." Zoey paused her typing and said: "Just give it to him." I beamed and immediately sent Zoey's contact to my brother, Mike. "Your sister Zoey likes you, but she's shy. Brother, you have to be proactive." I attached some of Zoey's racier photos from her "Friends Only" circle. Then I told Mike: "Aren't you on summer break? Come visit your sister for a few days. Sister Zoey is here too." "But listen, you are not allowed to ask her about winning five million. Don't slip up." ... Then Julian messaged me. "Thanks for introducing the hottie, Lily. Let me know if you need any favors next time. (Grin)" Knowing Zoey wasn't exactly a saint either, but worried my bro might get hurt, I planned to gently warn him. But Julian sent: "I'll just have some fun with her, dump her when I'm bored." Hmm... This is why I never introduced Julian to Zoey before. I knew he was a player and worried she'd get hurt. The protection I thought I was giving, Zoey didn't care about. She hated me for hiding such a good resource. Now I just want to see how she juggles these two men when my brother arrives, just like in my past life. I definitely won't let her win. 6 Two days later, my brother Mike arrived with bags of luggage, moving in. Since we lacked a spare room, he had to sleep on the living room sofa. Surprisingly, Zoey didn't object. The night he arrived, Mike stepped onto my bed with his shoes on. "Sis, I'm out of money. Give me five grand." I battled with my brother: "I don't have money, but my roommate does. She won five million." "Brother, if you make her your wife, that five million will definitely come with her as a dowry." Mike's eyes lit up. "Alright, Sis. Watch me." For the next few days, Mike launched a frantic offensive on Zoey. Bringing her breakfast, accompanying her to work, texting her constantly. But with a top-tier rich kid like Julian in the picture, Zoey didn't even look at Mike. She just kept him on the hook, lukewarm. From Julian's Instagram, things were heating up. Angus steaks at luxury restaurants, night views from presidential suites... Every time she went out with Julian, Zoey came back decked out in new designer gear. This made Mike believe even more that she got rich from the lottery. Mike lusted after Zoey more and more. Unable to conquer her, he took it out on me. "You said she likes me! I feel like that b*tch is just playing me, dammit!" I comforted my brother: "Oh brother, you haven't spent any real dough. How can you land a rich beauty like her?" Mike cursed: "So what do I do? Dad won't give me money. Should I go sell myself?" I sneered internally, but mysteriously whispered: "You can get an online loan." "Just log into a site, upload your ID, and tens of thousands will hit your card instantly." My brother hesitated: "Will that work?" I said: "Think about it. Once you land her, that five million is yours! What's a measly loan of a few tens of thousands?" "You gotta spend money to make money!" Mike thought about it and agreed. He asked me for several loan apps and lenders' contacts and left happily. In the following days, Mike was suddenly rich. Flowers and gifts flowed to Zoey non-stop. I whispered to Zoey: "My parents heard my brother likes you and are very satisfied with you as a daughter-in-law." "They sent my brother a huge sum of money, telling him he must win you over." Zoey was stunned, covered her mouth in mock surprise, and comfortably accepted the new iPhone Pro Max. That night when Zoey came home, Mike had set up a candlelight dinner. With my encouragement, he confessed and timely presented a Hermès Birkin bag worth over ten grand. Zoey blushed. That night, Mike finally entered her room. And didn't come out. As Julian's good buddy, I immediately told him about Zoey's antics with my brother behind his back. Finally, I asked him to pretend he didn't know and keep stringing Zoey along for a while. Julian: [?] I said: [I want to prank her.] Julian didn't ask much, just sent an OK hand gesture. Putting down the phone, I was moved to tears. In my past life, I drifted apart from Julian, but when I escaped and asked him for help, he flew back from the UK immediately. Sadly, when my family found out I called for help, they acted ruthlessly. I was gone. Julian tried desperately to investigate, but Zoey covered everything up perfectly. Later, he got together with Zoey, played her almost to death, then dumped her. He really was a brother who would go to hell and back for me, and send her to hell for me. My true bro!
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "390737", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel