My sister, Chloe, always claimed she hated money. She’d say the biggest burden in her life was inheriting our parents' multi-million dollar company. Later, she sold off a subsidiary just to buy her boyfriend a yacht, causing a huge rift with our brother, Ethan. Between the two of them, I chose Chloe, believing in her free spirit unchained by material wealth. The result? I was scolded for eating leftovers, beaten for wearing clean clothes, and when I tried to reclaim the bed they stole from me, I was kicked out of the house. "You're just like your money-grubbing brother," she screamed. "All you care about is spending money on pleasure. I despise people like you!" When her boyfriend racked up a massive debt with loan sharks, he wanted to sell me off to pay it back. I cried and begged Chloe to save me. She just frowned. "He's your future brother-in-law. What's wrong with earning some money to help him out? Don't be selfish like your brother. Family should help each other." In the end, I died from a disease I caught, my body dumped in an alleyway where rats gnawed me down to the bone. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Chloe sold the subsidiary. Ethan and Chloe were asking me who I wanted to go with. Chapter 1 "My boyfriend wants a yacht. As his girlfriend, what’s wrong with spending a little money on him?" "You can't buy happiness, you know! All you talk about is money, money, money. Just as tacky as Mom and Dad were!" "I'm selling this subsidiary today. If you try to stop me, I'm cutting ties with you!" Hearing this, Ethan finally snapped. He slammed his hand on the desk. "Fine! Cut them!" "I turned a blind eye to how you spent money on that boyfriend of yours before. Even when you drained the company's cash flow, I didn't say a word. But now you want to sell the subsidiary Mom and Dad left for Mia? Dream on!" Chloe looked at us with pity, as if we were poisoned by greed beyond saving. She shook her head at me. "Mia, it's because of your company that your brother and I are splitting up. But you're young, so I won't hold it against you. If you can let go of your obsession with money and material things, I'm willing to be your guardian." She twisted everything to make it my fault. But Ethan pulled me behind him, shielding me. "You're the one blindly throwing money at a man! Don't pin this on Mia!" My heart raced as I watched the scene unfold, exactly like in my past life. Chloe stood by the door, arms crossed, looking cool and detached, like some pure, untouched flower. Ethan was red in the face, his tie loosened, furiously flipping through the documents in his hand. In my last life, I thought Chloe’s disdain for money was cool. Compared to Ethan, she seemed gentle and stable. I thought she’d be a great guardian and role model. So, without hesitation, I chose her. But after living with her for two years, I realized Ethan's temper was entirely her fault. Remembering my miserable death in the streets, I didn't hesitate this time. "Ethan, I don't want to go with Chloe. I want you to be my guardian." Ethan froze mid-page flip. He looked at me in surprise, his angry flush fading slightly. Chloe glanced at me, then shook her head with a sigh. "Like brother, like sister. Your behavior is exactly the same." "Whatever. You materialistic people will never understand true, pure love. It’s something money can't buy!" Ethan frowned, tired of her preaching. "Since Mia chose me, don't even think about touching her subsidiary." "And since you've always complained that the company restricts your freedom, I'm setting you free. I'll find someone to replace you. Don't bother coming in tomorrow." I stepped out from behind Ethan and added, "Chloe, I remember you still hold quite a few shares in the main company. For someone as transcendent as you, that must be a heavy shackle, right? Why don't you..." Chloe’s chest heaved, but she quickly composed herself. She forced a smile, trying to maintain her 'money is dirt' persona. "Hah, you're right. Money is a heavy chain. I don't want any of it! The company, the shares—keep them!" "You'll never reach a level of spiritual freedom like mine!" She turned to leave but paused at the door, giving me a meaningful look. "I hope you don't regret this." I scoffed internally. Living a life of luxury with Ethan? What’s there to regret? The real question is, when she runs out of money, will she regret today? Chapter 2 In my past life, I chose Chloe. She immediately cashed out my subsidiary to buy her boyfriend, Jason, a luxury yacht. They ignored me completely, disappearing to sea for two months until they ran out of money to pay the crew. Jason was a thug with no real job. He moved his mom and sister into the small apartment Chloe rented. Once they moved in, they acted like they owned the place. They demanded five-star meals, a live-in maid, and bought luxury goods daily. Chloe smiled and said they had "taste" and "pursued a quality life," unlike Ethan who just hoarded money. She spent on Jason's family without blinking. But this high life only lasted two weeks before Chloe’s cards were maxed out. Desperate, Jason’s mom told Chloe to do housework. But Chloe had never wrung out a rag in her life. So, they forced me to do it. It was during my crucial final year of high school. I complained to Chloe, but she said, "Just do it. It won't kill you. Don't be selfish like your brother. Family should help each other." Seeing she wouldn't stand up for me, I cried in secret. If my own sister wouldn't defend me, who would? I became the lowest rung in that house. To save money, Jason’s mom made me hand-wash clothes in freezing water. My hands were covered in chilblains, swollen and purple, itching and hurting so much I couldn't hold a pen. Later, after cooking for everyone, they wouldn't let me eat at the table. I had to eat leftovers in the kitchen. When it got cold, Jason’s sister, Jessica, threw an old coat at me. But as soon as I put it on, she screamed that I stole it. Jason’s mom beat me with a hanger, calling me a motherless beggar. Chloe watched and said nothing. Afterwards, she even comforted Jason’s mom: "Don't let her upset you. She's been obsessed with money since she was a kid. Bad habits." Emboldened by Chloe’s indifference, Jason’s family took over my only sanctuary—the storage room. It was small and dark, fitting only a tiny twin bed. I curled up there after exhausting days. But they started piling junk on it. Jessica even put a stray dog she found on my bed, turning my only clean space into a filthy mess. I tried to shoo the dog away, but Chloe screamed: "You really are as disgusting as your brother! Selfish! You won't even let a puppy sleep on your bed? You're heartless!" Listening to her hysterical scolding, I finally understood how Ethan felt. I just wanted food and a place to sleep. Yet, that was "greedy." Meanwhile, Jason’s family spent all our money. When it ran out, Jason borrowed from loan sharks. When the debt collectors came knocking, Jason couldn't pay. So he offered me up. He said a virgin high schooler would fetch a good price. Terrified, I begged Chloe to save me. She just frowned. "He's your future brother-in-law. What's wrong with helping him out? Don't be selfish like your brother. Family helps family." I died of a disease, my body dumped in an alley for the rats. I will never go through that again. Regret leaving her? Impossible. Chapter 3 After our parents passed, Ethan and Chloe were supposed to manage the company together. In reality, Ethan did all the work. Chloe just used her position to funnel money to Jason. Even with all the benefits, she constantly whined about money restricting her freedom. But for someone who hated money, she sure couldn't live without it. Her closet was full of designer labels. Her bag collection was worth millions. Not a single accessory she owned cost less than a thousand dollars. She had stylists come to the house for her hair and nails. Someone carried her bags when she shopped. Could she have any of that without money? It was ironic. She wanted the reputation of being above material things while living in absolute luxury. And she had the nerve to call me greedy and Ethan selfish? Hypocrite. Without Ethan and the family fortune, I couldn't wait to see how "transcendent" Chloe would really be. Just then, a commotion erupted downstairs. It was my sister’s shameless boyfriend and his sister. They were lounging on our sofa, legs crossed, acting like they owned the place. "My girlfriend said she's giving me that subsidiary, so it's mine! I've already picked out a yacht. I'm waiting for the cash. Don't think you can back out!" "Mia is just a kid. She doesn't deserve a big company. Cashing it out for us to spend makes way more sense!" Jessica chimed in. Their shamelessness was exactly like before. But this time, Ethan was there to protect me. Chapter 4 Ethan, tall and imposing, pulled me behind him and pointed a finger at Jason. "Watch your mouth!" "It doesn't matter what she promised you verbally. It has no legal standing. Besides, that subsidiary belongs to Mia. Chloe’s promise is worthless." "Also, Chloe has cut ties with us. She's no longer my sister, so her problems aren't my problem!" Hearing "cut ties," Jason and Jessica's eyes bugged out. Jessica tugged on Jason’s arm. "What's going on with Chloe? How could she cut ties without asking us? And... you can't just cut ties! She's still a Miller! She should get something, right?" Jessica winked frantically at Jason, hinting they needed to grab something before leaving. Jason caught on immediately. "Right! Even if Chloe cut ties, she still has Miller blood. You, as her brother, should compensate her! I think giving her Mia's subsidiary is fair." They really took us for fools. Ethan, used to dealing with business elites, was stunned by their sheer audacity. He stood there, face cold, searching for words. Watching them, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. "What's so funny?" Jessica rolled her eyes at me. I wiped a tear from my eye. "I'm laughing because you can't understand human speech. The subsidiary belongs to me. Only I decide what happens to it. Do I need to repeat myself?" "You!" Jason raised a fist but backed down under Ethan's glare. I continued, "Also, did you not ask? Chloe didn't just cut ties. She gave up all the companies and shares. Simply put, she's broke now." "She said being penniless matches her high moral standards." Jason and Jessica stood there, dumbfounded. "What? High moral standards? Is she insane?!" Ethan had enough. He called security. Soon, Jason and Jessica were escorted out. But Ethan, being soft-hearted, couldn't completely let go of his sister. He didn't want to see her suffer. "If she wants money, tell Chloe to come talk to me herself." Remembering Chloe’s arrogant exit, I wasn't thrilled. But I also wanted to see if she could stick to her "money is dirt" philosophy.
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