Chapter 1

My sister was considered the best wife in the world.

During the three years my brother-in-law, Derek, spent trying to get his startup off the ground, she took out a staggering 1.5 million dollars in loans to back his dreams, drowning herself in catastrophic debt.

To pay off what she owed, she and my mother stole my identity to take out high-interest predatory loans.

When the loan sharks eventually came knocking, they bled me dry. They took every single cent I owned, yet it barely scratched the surface of the hole she had dug.

My parents blocked my number and even put an announcement in the local paper publicly disowning me.

Seeing that I had nothing left to squeeze, the loan enforcers forced me onto the streets to sell my body. I contracted a horrific disease, and while stumbling blindly through an intersection in a daze, I was hit by a speeding car and sent flying.

When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn—right back to the second year of Derek’s startup.

Derek was on cloud nine. His massive funding headache had finally been resolved.

I watched him spin my sister, Megan, around in his arms before leaning in to give her a tender kiss.

"Babe, I couldn't have done this without you," he murmured, gazing into her eyes. "Thank God for that loan you took out."

My stomach tightened violently.

In my past life, Megan had accumulated so much debt that she couldn't keep up with the payments. She teamed up with Mom to brainwash me into taking out loans on her behalf.

When I refused, they stole my documents behind my back.

By the time the debt collectors showed up at my government office, the amount on the notice made my vision go black.

I surrendered every asset I had, but it still wasn't enough. When I begged my parents for help, all I got was a barrage of verbal abuse before they blocked my number.

Realizing they couldn't wring another dime out of me, the loan sharks forced me into sex work.

To pay off the debt, I was forced to take client after client every single day. They sent me the vile, sadistic men even the most experienced escorts refused to see. There wasn't an inch of unbruised skin left on my body.

I couldn't even die in peace.

Derek had only cared about launching his business. He never worried about operating costs, having only put down a few thousand dollars at the start to rent an office and buy some supplies.

Megan, completely obsessed with him, spent her days dreaming of becoming the wealthy wife of a successful CEO.

Whenever Derek furrowed his brow and sighed, complaining that company funds were tight, she ran out to take out more loans to keep his venture afloat, burying herself under mountains of toxic debt.

In this life, someone else could play the martyr.

That loan came through in Derek's second year in business. It bought him less than six months. By the time the money ran out, the company was in its third year.

Lately, Derek had taken to sighing constantly again.

Today, Megan burst into tears before we even sat down for dinner, crying to Mom that Derek's company was out of cash and all her personal savings were tied up in it.

Heartbroken, Mom rushed over to wipe her favorite daughter's tears.

"The company's in its third year now. Weren't things going well? How can you be short on cash again?"

Dad chimed in, "Can't Derek's family chip in to help?"

Derek bristled with annoyance. "My mom offered to help, but Megan insisted this is our family business and that she'd handle the financing herself!"

He turned on his heel to leave, glaring at Megan. "I told you we shouldn't have come!"

Megan panicked, grabbing his arm. "Honey, don't be mad. Mom and Dad didn't mean it like that, right?"

She cast a pleading look at our parents. "Mom, talk to Chloe. She has a stable state job. Everyone says government workers can easily get approved for large loans."

Mom immediately swung her gaze toward me. "Chloe, why don't you help your sister? As soon as Derek's business turns a profit, he'll pay you right back!"

I quickly countered, "Mom, how am I supposed to do that? I just started working. I have zero assets. Who's going to approve a massive loan for someone like me?"

Megan nudged Derek. Reluctantly, Derek offered, "Chloe, all you need to do is sign your name. We'll handle the approval process and the monthly interest. Once it goes through, I'll even give you five thousand dollars for helping us out."

I almost laughed out loud.

Mom acted like I had just hit the jackpot. "Chloe, look how generous your sister and Derek are being! All you have to do is take out a loan, and you pocket five grand. That's way better than what you make grinding at your desk job."

The whole family nodded in agreement, acting as though putting your name on a predatory loan was no big deal.

Of course. Mom was always like this.

When Megan tripped as a child, Mom would rush over in a panic. But when I fell, she scolded me for not being able to walk properly.

In my past life, even though I refused to take out the loan, Megan still convinced Mom to steal my documents. Together, they took out dozens of shady loans that left me in debt for the rest of my life.

I knew that if I bluntly refused right now, history would simply repeat itself.

Putting on a brave face, I said softly, "Mom, of course I want to help Megan and Derek."

Seeing Megan let out a sigh of relief, I furrowed my brow with deep concern.

"But what if something goes wrong and they can't pay it back? I still live here. If the debt collectors come looking for me, they'll show up at your door. I've heard what those guys do to people who can't pay."

My parents froze, trading uneasy glances before looking at Megan.

"Taking out a loan really is a serious matter. Megan, why don't we invite Derek's mother over first so we can all talk this through?"