I was a man of immense wealth, with a trust fund in the tens of billions. Money was the only thing I had left. Almost the entire city was under my ownership, including the tranquil retreat where my wife, Anna Hayes, resided. In my past life, Anna claimed she was a celestial maiden reincarnated, unfit for the company of men. She even demanded I undergo a vasectomy, and I, besotted, complied. Decades passed. When I was old, my hair white, and gravely ill, she stood over me. With her lover Sterling’s daughter and granddaughter by her side, she slowly, deliberately, pulled my oxygen tube. “Sterling dedicated his life to raising our children for me, yet he always had to remain in the shadows. All of this, Simon, is because of you.” Her voice was cold, devoid of emotion. “I’ve grown tired of being your wife. All of your fortune, after you die, will belong to Sterling and our children.” Then, I opened my eyes. I was back. Back to the day my father, on his deathbed, instructed me to draw lots for my future bride. Now, I would watch. Without my bottomless pockets, could Anna Hayes still so serenely play her part as the celestial maiden? 1. My father lay on his deathbed, his voice weak but firm. “After I’m gone, only your wife and children will be by your side. That’s why the marriage lottery list is full of suitable young women from prominent families. You cannot be reckless this time, Simon.” In my past life, everyone knew I, Simon McKinnon, was my father’s only son, heir to billions, and notoriously uninterested in business. Every family wanted their daughter to marry into the McKinnon fortune. Matchmakers practically wore a path to our door, so my father devised the marriage lottery. But I, in my foolish infatuation, fell for the seemingly gentle and virtuous Anna Hayes. Without my father’s knowledge, I secretly added her name to the list. Now, knowing my father had only thirty minutes left, I choked back my tears. “Dad, I have someone I like, but it’s not Anna. She won’t care about our family’s money, and she’ll be good to me.” I swallowed hard. “So, I’ve decided to cancel the marriage lottery.” My father’s dim eyes suddenly flickered with a spark of light. “You’ve grown up, Simon. Do as you wish. I can finally rest and join your mother.” With those words, he closed his eyes. The news of his passing spread quickly. Soon after, I received a message from her. “Are you alright?” Remembering everything she did for me in my past life, I impulsively typed a reply: “No. I’m waiting for you to come back and marry me.” After that, I received no more messages from her. At my father’s funeral, Anna Hayes wasted no time making demands. “I am the reincarnation of a celestial maiden, Simon. I cannot be touched by worldly desires, especially not a man’s. If you marry me, you must remain celibate for life and undergo a vasectomy. It’s the only way to show the world my devotion to spiritual studies.” Seeing Anna’s haughty expression, I couldn’t help but ache for the fool I was in my past life. She claimed to love the tranquility of a temple, so I invested millions to build a grand Zen retreat for her. She spoke of ancient scriptures, and I spent a fortune lighting ceremonial lamps and acquiring priceless historical texts. I even funded a media company to promote her image as a “celestial maiden,” making her a household name. And what did she do in return? While I grieved my father’s death, she was secretly with her lover, Sterling Fumero, using my money to buy him luxury watches and sports cars. She even bore his child behind my back while I was away on business. The memories of my past life’s betrayal surged, and I barely suppressed a furious urge to throw her out. “You’re dreaming,” I said, my voice cold. “I have no intention of marrying you. You’re not welcome here. Leave.” Anna remained unperturbed, instead lecturing me. “Simon McKinnon, everyone dies eventually. Your father is dead, so what? Is there any need for such grief? I dislike your tone when you speak to me.” “As a celestial maiden’s partner, one must be detached from life and death. The money spent on your father’s funeral alone could gild a statue of Buddha. If you ask me, mixing your father’s ashes into fertilizer would be a far greater act of merit.” If I hadn’t been reborn, I might have believed her outrageous lies. Anna wasn’t a celestial maiden. She was a greedy, worthless parasite, and every penny she asked for was used to buy lavish mansions abroad. “Simon, I think Anna is right. Once old people are gone, they’re no better than fertilizer. You’re being far too extravagant.” I turned to see Sterling Fumero approaching, draped in a monk’s robe, affecting an air of false piety. I had planned to deal with Anna and Sterling after the funeral. But it seemed they were eager to walk straight into their own humiliation. In my past life, Sterling had posed as a devoted follower of Anna’s teachings, feigning friendship with me. He’d moved into my house after my father’s death, claiming to offer spiritual comfort, when in reality it was to facilitate his affair with Anna. He stole my luxury watches and cars while I was away, selling them for profit. He even drugged my food with hormones, weakening me and driving me into depression. “How my father’s funeral is handled is none of your business.” Sterling ignored my sharp retort, simply assuming I was upset about my father. “Simon, why don’t I move in with you? I can chant scriptures for you. Believe me, a house where someone has died is full of bad energy. Only a pure soul like me wouldn’t mind.” My face was a stone mask. “The only bad energy here comes from the two of you.” Seeing my unyielding attitude, Sterling adopted a wounded, humble expression. “Anna, I don’t know what I’ve done to offend Simon.” Anna’s brow furrowed in concern. She clearly felt sympathy for him. “Simon McKinnon, apologize!” Sterling continued to play the victim. “It’s alright, Anna.” He then reached out to pat my shoulder. In my past life, at my father’s funeral, I’d nearly suffocated from a severe pollen allergy. It had to have been Sterling’s doing. If I died, he would be free to be with Anna. I seized his wrist, and sure enough, found pollen dust hidden under his fingernails. “I have a severe pollen allergy, and you’re carrying pollen under your fingernails. Are you trying to kill me? A devout follower of the Buddha, so malicious?” Sterling was momentarily speechless, then stammered defensively. “I didn’t! It was an accident! I don’t even eat meat, how could I harm anyone? Anna, help me!” Anna interceded immediately. “Simon McKinnon, Sterling has explained himself. Release him at once.” I sneered, my gaze falling on the diamond watch on Sterling’s wrist. “The pollen was an ‘accident,’ but where did this diamond watch come from? It was my mother’s. Sterling Fumero, you’ve got nerve, stealing something worth a fortune. One word from me, and you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison!” Sterling’s face went white. He shot a panicked look at Anna. Anna showed no hint of remorse, speaking loudly and defiantly. “I gave him that watch! Sterling diligently studies spiritual teachings, and I rewarded his hard work. What’s wrong with that? Your possessions are my possessions. I know you dream of marrying me. Your property is my property, and I have every right to dispose of it!” I ripped the diamond watch from his wrist. “Then let me formally inform you, I no longer want you. You will receive no further assistance from the McKinnon family. Now take your lover and get out!” Sterling looked heartbroken at the loss of the watch. Anna’s face was beet red with fury. “What nonsense are you spouting? How dare you tarnish my relationship with Sterling! Lover? He is merely my devoted follower.” She then changed tack, her voice regaining a condescending tone. “Simon McKinnon, out of pity for you being an orphan, I’ll overlook this. Go home and copy ten sutras. Bring them to me tomorrow morning for inspection. Otherwise, I won’t come to the marriage lottery, much less marry you.” After causing a scene at my father’s funeral, the two of them left. Once I had dealt with all the funeral arrangements, I called my secretary. “Ethan, cut off all of Anna Hayes’s credit cards.” The next morning, I began my rounds, inspecting the company’s department stores, stabilizing morale. Not far away, in a high-end boutique, Anna and Sterling were shopping. “Darling, I like this one, and this one too,” Sterling cooed. Anna, indulging him, said, “This entire mall is ours, my love. Buy whatever you desire.” She handed her bank card to the sales assistant. A moment later, the assistant returned. “Madam Hayes, your card has been frozen.” Anna’s smug expression instantly twisted into one of mortified embarrassment. “Impossible! My card has an unlimited limit! You must have made a mistake.” The assistant re-swiped it in front of her. The computer screen clearly displayed “FROZEN.” Sterling whispered, “Did you tell Simon you wouldn’t attend the marriage lottery? Is this his way of putting pressure on you?” Just as he finished speaking, Anna spotted me. She marched towards me, her face contorted with accusation. “Simon McKinnon, I told you to copy ten sutras as penance, and I would consider forgiving you. But you just keep making mistakes.” “You’re resorting to such low-brow tactics as freezing my bank account, just to force me to marry you!” I chuckled. Who gave her this incredible self-confidence? “Copying sutras as penance? Does Buddha know you’re buying a hundred thousand dollar limited edition watch for your lover? How many sutras would you need to copy for that? You’re just a fake celestial maiden, a real gold-digger.” Without warning, Anna’s hand swung, slapping me across the face. “You’re just trying to make a scene! All you want is to force me to marry you! I told you I’m a celestial maiden, I can’t be touched by men, I can’t even have children! Agreeing to be with you all these years was an act of charity and pity!” I was about to retaliate when a crowd of reporters swarmed us. “Mr. McKinnon, are these intimate photos of you?” “Is it true you sent these private photos to seduce the celestial maiden?” Ignoring the stinging pain on my face, I quickly examined the photos the reporters thrust at me. At first, I was momentarily confused, but then I realized I had never taken such explicit photos. Then I saw Sterling Fumero’s smug grin. Was this his revenge for the diamond watch? Sterling stepped forward, feigning concern, but his words were meant to pour fuel on the fire. “Everyone, please don’t spread these photos. These are Simon’s private matters.” His statement indirectly confirmed that the person in the photos was me. The reporters immediately turned their microphones towards him. “It seems you’re an insider. Tell us, does Simon McKinnon truly have strange fetishes, craving women so desperately he needs three a night when he can’t have the celestial maiden?” “And the internet says Simon McKinnon often abuses you. Is that true?” Sterling immediately adopted the posture of a victim. “Please, don’t ask me anymore. Simon warned me not to speak out, otherwise I’d…” He trailed off, looking at me with feigned terror. “Simon, did I say something wrong? Please, I beg you, don’t hold my head underwater again, don’t stick needles in my fingers!” He then began slapping himself in the face in front of the horrified journalists. Sterling’s performance was disturbingly convincing. The reporters’ eyes turned to me, filled with disgust. “These wealthy elites truly treat people like dirt.” “He’s inhumane! Someone like this should be exposed!” I tried to calm them. “Sterling is spreading rumors. Everyone, please calm down. The photos are fake.” Seeing my earnest expression and sincere tone, the reporters’ anger subsided slightly. But then Anna stepped forward. “He did try to seduce me. And he even snatched Sterling’s watch. If a man like this takes over the McKinnon family, it will surely crumble.” With her words, the reporters’ last shred of doubt vanished. That night, multiple media outlets ran stories about me. The internet erupted. My personal information was doxxed, my phone bombarded with hate messages and threats. Obscene deepfake videos of me circulated on obscure websites. Even my mail was ripped open and vandalized. My company’s stock plummeted, losing hundreds of millions in just a few days. This was mere pocket change to me, but I was burning with fury at Anna and Sterling for their underhanded tactics. I discussed a counter-strategy with my company’s legal and PR teams. It was past ten when I finally returned home. “Just getting back now? Do you have any idea how bad your reputation is?” Anna was sitting on my sofa, speaking to me as if she were the owner and I, the dog. I was about to ask how she got in when I remembered: I hadn’t changed the fingerprint lock yet. “Get out of my house,” I said coldly. Anna ignored me, pointing to a document on the table. “This is a property transfer agreement. All your houses, cars, and company shares are to be transferred to my name.” I almost laughed at her audacity.
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