Chapter 7

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a strange, yet familiar, room.

The ceiling beam, just like in my previous life, was half broken.

But the room was filled with many more appliances, even a television.

For a few seconds, I couldn't quite grasp what was happening.

Until my parents, several years younger, excitedly spoke up.

"Maya, you're the Maya who reset, aren't you?"

I looked at their familiar, yet strangely unfamiliar, faces.

The emotions I had suppressed for so long finally erupted.

I wanted to confront Dad.

Why had he been so cruel to me in my last life?

I wanted to ask Mom.

Had she known all along that Dad would throw me off the cliff?

But I had barely cried for a moment before my sobs caught in my throat.

Because my *new* dad was looking at me with frantic excitement.

"She has to be the reset Maya! The original Maya was so dull, she wouldn't even cry."

My new mom echoed his excitement, "I think so too! Wait here, I'll go check that old book our ancestors left behind."

A moment later, my new mom ran back in. "There are words! The ancient book has words now! It says lottery!"

My new dad instantly jumped up, ecstatic. "So, in the last life, I made Maya memorize lottery numbers? It must be true! If it were me, I'd definitely make Maya memorize lottery numbers."

I watched the two of them chat excitedly, my heart feeling like snowflakes fluttering in winter, a dense, sharp pain spreading through me.

Their conversation was eerily similar to that day in my previous life when my parents discussed taking me to the graveyard.

Perhaps my expression was too sad, because my new mom noticed my distress.

She slapped my new dad, then bent down and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"Maya, don't overthink it. Mommy and Daddy are just too happy."

My new dad also snapped back to reality. "Right, right, Maya! Dad just didn't expect what the ancestors said to be true."

Through my watery eyes, I carefully scrutinized their expressions.

But whether it was my imagination or not, I felt like their smiles were forced.

Still, I timidly shook my head.

"It's okay."

Perhaps my obedient timidity lowered my new parents' guard.

My new dad looked at me, excited. "Maya, hurry up and tell us the lottery numbers now! Today's the drawing! I'll go to town before dark, and I can even wait there for the results. If Daddy wins, I'll buy you delicious chocolates when I get back."

Hearing my new dad's words, my heart tightened again.

This dad, trying to coax me, sounded so much like my dad from the previous life.

I finally told my new parents the lottery numbers.

That very day, they took my brothers and left for town.

I was tied by the neck with a rope to the bed at home.