Abandoning the Billion-Dollar Legacy

At my father-in-law's funeral, the grieving family could hardly conceal their delight. My mother-in-law, adorned in jewels, held her chin so high it was as if her husband had not just passed away. This was all because the old tycoon had left them an inheritance of nearly a billion dollars.

In my previous life, I discovered the truth as he lay on his deathbed. His investments had collapsed long ago, leaving him with nothing. His extravagant lifestyle was sustained only by a web of high interest loans from online lenders, all to feed his vanity. Yet, seeing him so frail, I kept the secret, hoping he could pass in peace.

After his death, my mother-in-law worked me relentlessly. The funeral was my first chance to rest. I had intended for us to face the debt together as a family. Instead, she publicly tried to force me into a divorce, demanding I relinquish any claim to the inheritance. I refused, for I still loved my wife. But my refusal only convinced her I was after a share of the money.

That night, as I slept, she crept into my room and murdered me with a knife. She then greeted my wife, who had just returned, with a chilling smile. "Don't worry, dear. I took care of that useless trash for you. He won't lay a hand on your money, or my grandson's inheritance. You must sort out the marriage papers quickly. I won't have my grandson born a bastard."

As a spirit, I watched my wife and her mother dispose of my body. They wove a tale for the police, painting me as an abusive monster and claiming she had killed me in self defense. Amid a firestorm of online hatred directed at me, my wife signed a letter of forgiveness for her mother.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back at my father-in-law's funeral. This time, I will not hesitate. I will agree to the divorce and sign whatever they put before me. Let them enjoy the tens of millions in debt he left behind.

"Alex, get this dress to my sister, now. She needs to change soon."

A dress was shoved into my hands, and I looked up into the sharp, critical face of a woman. I was dazed.

"Don't just stand there spacing out. Can you try to be useful for once? No wonder my sister can't stand you."

The familiar words sent a jolt through me. I whipped my head around, taking in the scene.

She was still rambling. "I have no idea what kind of dumb luck you stumbled into to marry Isabelle. I'm telling you, she could do so much better. A small-timer like you doesn't deserve"

Before she could finish, I threw open the door and ran. It was real. I was back. Thank God.

I found my mother-in-law, Meredith, holding the dress. She had been chatting cheerfully with a guest, but the moment she saw me, her face soured.

She snatched the dress from my hands and shot me a venomous glare. "Have you no sense at all? Can't you see I'm with a guest?"

"Just wait for me by the door of the changing room."

I offered her my arm to help her, a cold sneer hidden deep inside. It was her husband's funeral, yet she'd already changed her outfit three times. Was she really oblivious to the strange looks the other guests were giving her?

After she changed, I was gathering her discarded clothes when I caught her staring at me with a calculating glint in her eye.

My heart steeled itself. Here it comes.

"Alex," she began, her voice dripping with condescension, "now that your father-in-law is gone, Isabelle is the pillar of this family. I'm sure you understand what I mean."

"I've been more than generous, letting a good-for-nothing like you stick around for this long. But this family will not be dragged down by a man like you."

"So, know your place. Get the divorce done with Isabelle, and do it now."

I feigned shock, lowering my head and mumbling, "Meredith I know I've let Isabelle down. But what does she think about this?"

Meredith let out a scornful laugh. "You think she's going to plead your case? Let me tell you, this is my decision, and it's final!"

"I'll get her in here right now. I'll make you give up, you pathetic worm!"

A few moments later, Isabelle pushed the door open. Her expression was calm. She first offered me a soft, gentle smile before turning to her mother with a look of confusion.

"Mom, what's wrong? Why did you call me over in such a rush?"

"How could I not rush? This man is going nowhere, and today is the day. We're settling this divorce!"

"Mom!" Isabelle's voice was sharp, as if trying to cut her off. Meredith pulled her aside, and they began whispering furiously. I watched as a cascade of emotions washed over Isabelle's faceshock, anger, conflictbefore finally settling into a mask of profound sorrow.

"Mom, could you leave us for a minute?" she said, her voice heavy. "I'd like to speak with Alex alone."

Meredith shot me a cold, triumphant smirk before closing the door behind her.

Isabelle walked toward me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She reached out, her hand gently caressing my cheek.

"Alex I I have no choice," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I've already lost my father. I can't lose my mother, too."

"She has a heart condition, you know. She can't handle any stress. I can't be selfish I can't put my love for you before her health."

"Let's just let's just get a divorce for show. Once I've calmed her down, we'll get married again, I promise. You're the only one I've ever loved!"

She delivered the lines with such heartfelt passion, you'd think she was a tragic heroine from some old play, forced to abandon her love by a cruel matriarch. But I wasn't her fool anymore. I knew exactly who she was.

In my last life, I had truly believed she loved me, that all the trouble we had was just Meredith's doing. It was only after I was dead, after I'd heard her conversation with her mother, after I'd seen the cold, detached look in her eyes as she stared at my corpse, that I finally understood. She knew everything. She had let it all happen.

In fact, she had been the one to push her mother to kill me. She was the one who wanted the divorce. She was the one who wanted me dead.

I dropped my gaze, hiding the mockery in my eyes.

"I know I understand, Isabelle. I'll I'll divorce you."

The moment the words left my mouth, Meredith burst back into the room.

"Let's go, now! We can make it to the courthouse before it closes. Let's get this done."

"Wait!" she added, her eyes narrowing. "First, you have to sign a waiver to the inheritance. Isabelle, this boy is sneaky. We can't let him get a penny of your father's money!"

Her hand clamped down on my arm, her nails digging into my flesh as if she was afraid I'd make a run for it.

Isabelle looked away, her eyes darting around the room, unable to meet mine.

"...Fine. I'll sign it. I won't touch a single cent of your family's money."

I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white, fighting the urge to laugh out loud.

I had waited so long to say those words. Once I sign this paper, all that debt has nothing to do with me.

Isabelle must have mistaken my trembling for grief. A flicker of pity crossed her face.

"Mom, maybe we should just let it go. It's not like we can't afford to support one more person."

My expression tightened, but Meredith's reaction was far more extreme.

"What are you talking about? Isabelle, you have no idea how much trouble a man can cause! Besides, you have a child to think about now!"

At the mention of a child, Isabelle's eyes flickered, and she fell silent.

I obediently signed the waiver, then followed Isabelle to the courthouse to file for divorce. We would have to come back in a month to finalize it.

As we left the building, she seemed to want to say something more, but I couldn't stand another second of her hypocritical performance. I turned, hailed a cab, and left her standing there.

In the cab, I saw messages from my parents asking if I was coming home for dinner. With a sigh, I told the driver a new address.

When I got home, the table was filled with all my favorite dishes, a rare sight. I picked at my food, my appetite gone, and then quietly announced the news.

"We're getting a divorce."

I braced myself for the storm, the screaming and shouting. After all, they had always been so proud that I'd married into a wealthy family, constantly reminding me to suck up to them, caring more about Isabelle than they ever had about me.

But this time, there was no anger. They exchanged a look, a flash of unconcealed joy passing between them. My mother even put a chicken wing on my plate.

"Oh, Alex, don't be sad. It's trendy to be single these days. Mom thinks it's perfectly fine to be on your own."

I nodded, a small part of me touched. Maybe they finally understood.

I was about to tell them about the family's financial situation after dinner, but just then, my brother, Kevin, walked in.

As he passed me, a familiar scent hit me, and I froze, the realization striking me like a bolt of lightning. I finally understood why my parents weren't upset about the divorce.

I have an extremely sensitive nose; the scent of most commercial perfumes is overwhelming to me.

That's why I had personally blended a unique fragrance for Isabelle, with Blue Tansy as the main note. It was a scent unlike any other. And right now, that was the exact scent I smelled on Kevin.

So, Isabelle's affair was with my brother. No wonder my parents weren't upset.

In their minds, only their precious younger son deserved to marry into money, even if it meant he had to steal his own brother's wife.

I'd always known they favored him. My birth name, the one they gave me, was a cruel joke, a pun on the word for "failure." I changed it myself when I got older. Growing up, I did all the chores while Kevin lounged on the sofa, ordering me around. New clothes and toys were always for him; I only got his hand-me-downs when he grew tired of them.

Even after I got a good job at a prestigious firm and sent them money and gifts every month, they still doted on Kevin, who did nothing but leech off them.

And now, they had helped him steal my wife, too.

My mother glanced at my brother with a look of pure adoration before placing another chicken wing on my plate.

"Alex, honey, your brother has found someone special. But you know our family's situation I'm worried her family will look down on him. Do you think maybe you could help him with half of the down payment for a house?"

I kept my head down, shoveling food into my mouth in silence. Suddenly, my father slammed his hand on the table.

"All you do is eat! Your elders are talking to you. Have you no manners?"

"Your brother is getting married! As his older brother, it's your duty to contribute!"

I set down my chopsticks and looked up, meeting their eyes directly. I hadn't even realized tears were streaming down my face.

"Married? To who? Isabelle?"

I watched the color drain from their faces and let out a bitter, hollow laugh.

"He's the homewrecker who stole his brother's wife, and I'm supposed to buy them a house? Am I just a complete joke to you?"

"Who are you calling a homewrecker? You useless bastard, it's your own fault you couldn't keep her!" Kevin roared, lunging at me, his fist aimed at my face. We tumbled to the ground, trading blows.

When it was clear Kevin was losing, my father bellowed, "That's enough!"

He and my mother rushed over to pull me off. He pinned my arms while she held me down, allowing Kevin to land several solid punches, splitting my lip and drawing blood.

"You're the older brother! Why can't you just let him have his way for once? How dare you raise a hand to him, you animal!" my father yelled, his hand swinging back before connecting with my cheek in a series of sharp, stinging slaps.

I collapsed onto the floor, watching my mother coo over Kevin, fussing over a scratch on his hand, while my father stood over me, his face contorted with rage. A wild, broken laugh escaped my lips.

"I have to let him have whatever he wants? If he wanted to murder someone, should I hand him the knife?"

"Why are you so biased? Why do you hate me so much? Sometimes I really wonder if I'm even your biological son!"

I screamed the words, a desperate attempt to vent the years of resentment. I never expected to see a flash of pure terror in my mother's eyes.

Before I could process it, my father lunged, his hands closing around my neck, squeezing tight.

"You ungrateful whelp! After everything we've done for you, you dare to scream at us!"

"You're not setting foot in this house again until you've learned to reflect on what you've done!"

He dragged me out of the house and slammed the door shut.

I covered my face with my hands, silent sobs shaking my body as tears slipped through my fingers. So it was true. I wasn't their son.

And in my past life they must have been a part of my death, too.

In the chaos of the fight, I had managed to grab a strand of hair from the floor. I sent it to a lab for DNA testing.

While I waited for the results, I went to a real estate agency.

Thank God I had resisted Meredith's pressure to hand over all my savings back then. Now that I had nowhere else to go, I at least had enough to buy myself a home.

After looking at a few places, I made up my mind. I was just about to confirm the purchase with the agent when I heard a familiar, sycophantic voice behind me.

"Sweetheart, I want a villa with a garden. We can plant those roses you love."

I turned and saw him: Kevin, with his arm wrapped possessively around Isabelle. They saw me at the same time.

Isabelle's face went rigid, but Kevin strode over, a smug, triumphant grin plastered on his face.

"Bro, I'd start thinking about your future if I were you. It's tough for a divorced guy to find someone new. If you blow what little money you have on a house, how are you going to live?"

"Not like me, of course. I've got a rich family to back me up. You should probably just go apologize to Mom and Dad."

The real estate agent's eyes lit up. She'd overheard Kevin mention buying a villa and immediately hurried over to them.

"Sir, perhaps you'd be interested in one of these properties? They have large, beautiful gardens. This one, in fact, comes pre-planted with a full rose garden, perfectly suited to your lovely partner's tastes."

Kevin's eyes gleamed, but Isabelle hesitated. The inheritance hadn't been settled yet; she didn't have the cash on hand.

"Kevin, we said we were just going to look today. We can buy it once the money comes through"

Hearing her whisper, I decided to pour some fuel on the fire.

"What's the matter, Kevin? You went to all that trouble to seduce your brother's wife, and now she won't even buy you a house?"

The agent's expression shifted as she took in this juicy piece of gossip, her eyes darting between the three of us.

Kevin's face turned beet red. He looked at Isabelle, his eyes pleading. She hardened her resolve.

"We'll take it," she said, her voice sharp. "We'll pay right now. For the one Kevin likes."

She pulled out her phone and, with a few taps, secured a multi-million dollar online loan. Then she shot me a look of pure venom.

"Alex, when my father's inheritance comes through, you'd better not regret this. You have disappointed me so much today!"

"Why? Were you planning on having both of us, Isabelle? A little brotherly sharing?"

My sarcastic retort made her face go pale. I guessed it pricked whatever was left of her conscience. She always did thisput on a show of being soft-hearted while doing the most monstrous things.

Kevin, who obviously knew her well, tightened his grip on her hand and placed his other hand on her stomach.

"Honey, the baby just kicked. I think he's angry, too."

"I'm not a useless man like my brother. You and I are going to have lots of children together, Isabelle."

Isabelle's face lit up with a look of genuine surprise and delight. She placed her own hand on her belly, not sparing me another glance as she walked away, clinging to Kevin's arm.

Watching her dig herself into an even deeper hole, I smiled and called the agent over. I bought the small apartment I'd had my eye on, paying in full.

Back at my temporary place, I was planning my move when my parents called. I answered, and was immediately met with a torrent of abuse.

"Alex, you've really grown a backbone, haven't you? How dare you publicly call your brother a homewrecker! Do you have any idea that his wife is pregnant? What if the stress caused a miscarriage? How can you be so vicious?"

Listening to them, I thought with a detached sense of irony, Wow, Kevin really tattles fast.

"Did I say anything that wasn't true? He is a homewrecker. What, do you expect me to babysit the child they conceived behind my back?"

"You Alex! You get over here and apologize to Kevin right now! If you don't, we'll go to your office and make a scene until you get fired!"

The absurdity of it made me laugh, but a chill ran down my spine.

"Fine. Go ahead. After you're done and I've lost my job, I'll make a scene of my own. I'll make sure the whole world knows that Kevin is a snake who seduced his own sister-in-law."

"I have nothing left to lose. I'll just drag my feet on finalizing the divorce, and Kevin's precious child will be born a bastard."

The other end of the line went silent. I pressed my advantage, my voice low and menacing.

"Don't push me. I don't mind taking you all down with me. If I'm going to be miserable, so is everyone else."

I hung up and blocked all of their numbers.

The call served its purpose. For the next few weeks, they left me alone, and I moved into my new apartment without any trouble.

When the one-month waiting period was over, I arrived at the courthouse on time. My threat had clearly worked; Kevin was already there, anxiously waiting with Isabelle by his side.

The moment the divorce certificates were in our hands, he couldn't resist a final jab.

"Hey, bro, if you get on your knees and apologize, maybe I'll let a little cash slip through my fingers for you. We're talking about a billion dollars here. You couldn't earn that in ten lifetimes!"

I was about to fire back a cold retort when Isabelle's phone rang.

It was Meredith, her voice frantic and laced with panic.

"Isabelle, it's it's bad! There are there are people here demanding money! They're saying they're saying your father took out loans from loan sharks!"