Chapter 3

In my previous life, I never understood my mom’s true nature. I kept telling myself that if I worked harder, achieved more, and treated her better, she’d finally see my worth and love me the way I wanted to be loved.

So back then, the moment I realized I’d won the lottery, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I ran straight to her and blurted it out.

“Mom, forget about buying rice! I’m taking you out for a fancy dinner. Guess what? I won the lottery—$5 million! We’ll never have to worry about money again!”

She was overjoyed, but her first words weren’t about us.

“That’s amazing! Now your cousin can finally get married. The girl’s family said they won’t approve unless he has a house and a car. Your uncle’s been so stressed about it.”

She didn’t even pause to think. “I need to call your uncle and tell him the good news!”

Her words made me freeze. I grabbed her arm, confused and angry. “Mom, this is *my* money. What does Uncle’s family have to do with it?”

She looked at me, disappointed, as if I were the one being unreasonable. “Your uncle is my only sibling. When I’m gone, your cousin is the one who’ll take care of you. Don’t you want to build a good relationship with him?”

Her logic made no sense to me. I was supposed to sacrifice my future for some vague promise of care from my cousin?

I refused, but I had no idea she’d already made up her mind. Behind my back, she stole the winning ticket and gave it to my uncle.

Uncle cashed it in, and his family took the entire $5 million for themselves.

When I confronted them, my uncle laughed in my face. “That money? Your mom *gave* it to me. It’s mine now. Don’t even think about asking for it back.”

When my health started failing and I needed surgery, I begged my uncle for help. He refused outright.

“I don’t have money for that,” he said bluntly. “My wife’s pregnant, and raising a kid is expensive. Besides, your condition sounds serious. Why waste money on a lost cause?”

When I brought up the lottery money, he got angry and hung up on me.

“That was *your mom’s* gift to me. It’s got nothing to do with you!”

When my mom found out, she scolded me for being selfish. “Your uncle has his own problems. You need to stop thinking about money and start valuing family.”

In the end, I died at just 26, unable to afford the surgery I needed.

At my funeral, my mom barely shed a tear. She stood by my grave and muttered, “You can’t blame me for this. You’re a girl—girls are meant to marry out. It’s not like the money would’ve done you any good.”

I hated her with every fiber of my being.

Now, I’ve been given a second chance. This time, I won’t let her control me.

If she’s so desperate to sacrifice everything for her brother, she can go right ahead. But she’ll do it without me.

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