Reborn Rich: Trading Family for Fortune

After my rebirth, I saw Simon again, dressed in his signature suit.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, staring at me with visible frustration, and casually pushed a bank card across the table.

There's five million in this card. Consider it compensation for all those years you spent lost out there. I've also bought you an apartment in the city center. You should move out today.

"You know Miranda doesn't like you. Every time she sees you, she ends up in the hospital."

Miranda was the fake heiress who'd been switched at birth at the hospital all those years ago.

Simon paused, his expression somewhat unnatural.

"If you need anything else, as long as it's not too much, I can satisfy your requests. But from now on, don't come back to this house."

In my previous life, I'd refused the money he offered, focused only on winning my family's love.

To please Simon, I'd worked factory shifts to buy him gifts, only to be killed by a drunk driver on my way to see him.

When he learned of my death, he felt no sadnessonly relief:

"That clingy pest is finally dead. I can finally live in peace."

It turned out that the family affection I'd desperately longed for was nothing but a shackle around his neck.

This time, I calmly tucked the bank card into my pocket:

"Thank you. I have one more condition. Give me ten million, and we'll sever our relationship completely."

"What did you say?"

Simon looked at me in disbelief.

I simply gazed at him calmly and repeated:

"Give me another ten million, and I'll sever ties with you. From now on, I'll never appear before you again."

"That way, Miranda won't have to be hospitalized every few days because of me. Ten million in exchange for Miranda's good healththat's a bargain, isn't it?"

Perhaps finding my proposal absurd, Simon remained silent for several seconds before speaking:

"Do you love money that much? For ten million, you'd give up your own family?"

I looked at him and nodded.

I did indeed need money.

In my previous life, forget ten millioneven a thousand dollars would require me, a high school graduate, to work grueling factory shifts for ten days.

In this lifetime, family affection meant nothing compared to money.

Born again, I only wanted to surviveand to live comfortably and happily.

"I just want ten million."

Simon's chest heaved violently with anger.

"I knew it! You're nothing but a gold digger!"

He probably felt ashamed to share blood ties with someone so obsessed with money.

"Fifteen million total, right? Sign this voluntary severance agreement, and the money will be transferred to your card immediately."

I picked up the pen and wrote my nameChloeon the severance agreement.

Under Simon's complicated gaze, I walked out of the Christopher family mansion, gripping the black card containing fifteen million.

"Miss Chloe, Mr. Simon instructed me to take you to your new home."

The driver quickly opened the car door when he saw me emerge.

I glanced back. Simon's silhouette was reflected in the second-floor window of the Christopher mansion.

He watched me leave.

In my previous life, he'd been just as considerate at first.

On my first day moving into his house, he'd already prepared an exquisite room for me:

A large wardrobe, flowers filling the room, sheets smoother than my own skin.

It was these small gestures of warmth that made me believe this was the family affection I'd longed for.

That's why I'd thrown myself at him like a moth to flame, desperate to please him.

But in reality, it was merely politeness on his part.

In his heart, his only sister would always be Miranda.

Every time Miranda accused me of something, he'd believe her unconditionally.

Of course, having died once already, I no longer cared.

Snapping back to reality, I politely said to the driver:

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary."

I pulled out my phone and hailed a ride.

Since we'd agreed to sever ties, I wouldn't use the Christopher family's car anymore.

I didn't need his so-called consideration, not even a little.

Three days later, at a caf.

"Miss Chloe, the contract is now in effect. You're officially a shareholder of Spring Company."

Three days ago, when I'd received that fifteen million from the Christopher family, I'd already decided how to use it.

Now, I'd successfully converted it into the equity contract in my hands:

Fifteen percent of Spring Company's shares.

Company President Alexander excitedly shook my hand:

"Miss Chloe, thank you for your trust. We'll use this capital where it counts most. I guarantee you won't lose money on this investment."

I nodded. Of course I knew he wouldn't let me lose money.

Spring Companythe future Spring Groupwould become the world's largest drone manufacturing company, ranking among the Fortune 500.

This fifteen million investment would yield returns of a hundred, even a thousand times in the future.

"For the follow-up business plan, how about I take you to dinner sometime and explain everything in detail?"

Alexander asked sincerely.

I shook my head.

"Thank you, Mr. Alexander, but dinner won't be necessary."

"As for business matters, I trust you. Leave professional matters to professionals."

"I invest in people."

I paused, then added:

"Besides, I'll be starting classes soon."

Alexander looked startled: "Classes?"

"I enrolled in a finance training program. They teach you how to evaluate projects and calculate return rates."

I smiled: "My foundation is weak. I need to start from scratch."

He studied me for two seconds, didn't press further, and simply said:

"Alright then. You're welcome to visit the company anytime."

Leaving Spring, I headed straight to the office building where I'd registered for classes.

The finance training program was on the twelfth floor.

When I pushed open the door, the classroom was already more than half full.

As I looked up to find a seat, my peripheral vision caught a familiar face in the front row by the windowMiranda.

Two or three girls surrounded her, smiling as they listened to her talk.

Just like in my previous life, wherever she went, she was the center of attention.

I didn't look twice. I walked straight toward the back row.

But just as I passed by her, she suddenly looked up.

Our eyes met.

She froze for a moment, then curved her lips into a smile, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the people around her to hear:

"Chloe? What are you doing here?"

"This class isn't cheap, you know. Simon just gave you some money and you're already squandering it like this?"

I didn't respond.

She frowned slightly, as if suddenly understanding something:

"I should have knownpoor people have limited horizons. Get a little money in their hands and they don't know who they are anymore!"

"Don't tell me you think taking these classes will turn you into some sought-after professional?"

She laughed lightly, her mockery unconcealed.

"But at the end of the day, this is all just theory. Without a family business, all the studying in the world is useless."

"Unlike meSimon's already letting me practice real investments at the company. I'm only here to get a certificate."

A girl beside her immediately chimed in:

"Miranda, Simon treats you so well."

"Of course he does."

Miranda smiled with her eyes curved, her gaze sweeping over me as if by accident:

"Let me tell you, these days, studying theory alone is completely useless."

"Just the other day, there was this PhD graduate from some prestigious school who came to see Simonwhat was his name, Sergio something. He begged Simon for investment, acting as submissive as a dog."

"For just five million in investment, he'd do whatever Simon said. Even when Simon scolded him, he had to smile and apologize. What good is a high degree? In the end, he's still"

I suddenly looked up at her.

Five million? Dr. Sergio?

Sergio Reyes!

It had to be him!

I remembered this man.

In my previous life, Simon had mentioned him countless timesthe investment he most regretted not making.

This man he'd treated like a dog would become someone far beyond his reach in the future.

The five million investment now.

In six years, it would be worth at least fifty billion!

Seeing me suddenly stare at her, Miranda assumed her words had struck a nerve. She sneered:

"What? Finally getting it? Realizing that studying theory alone won't work? You need money in hand!"

She closed her book, turned around, and suddenly became generous:

"Tell you whatSimon bought you that apartment, right? You living there is just a waste. Sell it to me. I'll give you five million."

"With that five million, you can actually practice investing!"

She smiled sweetly, but her eyes were full of condescending charity.

I understood. She just didn't want me living in the apartment Simon had prepared. She didn't want me to have any connection with Simon whatsoever.

But it suited me just fine.

"Sure," I said with a smile.

Miranda froze, clearly not expecting me to agree so readily.

But soon, she smiled again:

"Great. Send me your account information."

My phone buzzed. Five million deposited.

I looked at that number, about to thank her, when I suddenly heard

"Idiot!"

Miranda burst out laughing: "I told youyou're poor with limited vision and don't understand investing, and you still don't believe it."

"Did you research the location? Do you know how much this apartment will be worth in a year?"

"Six million!"

"A 120% return rate in one yearthat's real investing!"

"You don't even know to hold onto the most profitable real estate. Give you all the money in the world, and it'll just go down the drain!"

The people around her joined in mocking me.

But I simply looked at her calmly.

Of course I knew the apartment would appreciate in a year.

But six million would be its peak price.

In the future, the real estate market would crash. The longer people held onto these properties, the more they'd lose.

Sergio Reyes's project, on the other hand, had the most promising future.

It would yield returns of a hundred, even a thousand times.

And my most important task right now was: finding Sergio Reyes.

"Class is starting."

Just then, the class bell rang at the perfect moment.

Everyone stopped talking and returned to their seats.

The teacher walked ina middle-aged man wearing black-framed glasses. He spoke quickly and flipped through his PowerPoint slides just as fast.

I put away my thoughts, opened my notebook, and started listening attentively.

Honestly, much of it was still too advanced for me.

IRR, valuation modelsthey sounded like gibberish.

But I wrote down every word, circling anything I didn't understand to look up after class.

During the entire two-hour class, I didn't lose focus for a second.

When the bell rang, I'd already filled six pages of notes.

The moment I looked up to rest, I suddenly noticed someone standing at the door.

Sergio Reyes.