A Twist of Fate and Matches

1.

I used to have a knack for playing Cupid for everyone around me.

Looking back, that was the start of my nightmare.

I remember introducing my best friend to my brother, and my roommate to my cousin.

Who would've thought my best friend would betray my brother on their wedding day?

The whole thing sent my mom to the hospital with a heart attack, and my brother became the laughingstock of the entire family. What was worse, my brother didn't just lose face; his vengeful ex-wife ruined his career after the divorce.

In despair, he jumped into a river, ending his life.

As for my roommate, my cousin swindled her out of all her dowry and wedding gifts after they married.

She was even subjected to domestic abuse when she got pregnant.

She blamed me for introducing them, convinced I had ruined her life.

One day, she stormed into my house, stabbed me to death, and then took her own life right there.

Two marriages, three tragic deaths.

My heart was heavy with regret. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day I introduced my best friend to a potential partner.

This time, with a trembling hand, I suggested my cousin instead.

The moment I sent the recommendation, a voice message from my best friend, Cheryl, popped up: "Is this your cousin? He looks pretty decent in his profile. Tell him to take us out for dinner."

In my previous life, I had foolishly asked my own brother to treat her.

Cheryl, of course, showed up with a bunch of colleagues and insisted on a high-end sushi place, running up a bill of five or six hundred dollars for my brother.

Thinking of my cheapskate cousin, Lance, I couldn't help but chuckle.

That evening, at the sushi restaurant, Cheryl indeed brought a few colleagues. As Lance and I walked in, his brow furrowed, and he muttered to me, "Your friend really knows how to spend, huh? Sushi? What's wrong with the diner next door?"

I snickered internally, but outwardly I soothed him, "First impressions, you know? You have to show a girl you're serious."

Lance clamped his mouth shut. Cheryl saw us and quickly said, "I brought a few colleagues. You guys don't mind, do you?"

To my surprise, Lance was remarkably generous. "Not at all. We're not that petty."

I was a bit taken aback. Lance and Cheryl seemed to hit it off, laughing together several times during dinner. Midway through, I went to the restroom. Cheryl followed me in and whispered, "Your cousin isn't as much of a bumpkin as you made him out to be. Get ready to call me sis-in-law!"

I could only offer an awkward smile.

I thought Lance had genuinely turned over a new leaf. He even rushed to pay the bill.

But after settling it, he declared, perfectly straight-faced, "Total bill was six hundred and twenty bucks. Just venmo me a hundred and three dollars and forty cents each."

2.

Cheryl's colleagues mumbled, "I thought he was treating. If I'd known it was this expensive, I would've gone next door."

"Seriously. Why pretend to be generous if you're not going to pay?"

Cheryl's face darkened, and she shot me a furious glare. "Didn't you say your cousin had money? He can't even spring for one meal?"

I could only offer a sheepish grin. "Maybe the sushi was just too pricey. If it was the diner, he probably would have."

Lance acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, urging Cheryl to pay. "I barely ate anything just now. Technically, I shouldn't even be splitting it. You guys aren't thinking of skipping out on the bill, are you? And you, Tiffany, even if you're my cousin, close family still settles their debts. You need to pay up too."

So, I paid my share.

Back home, Cheryl was fuming, swearing she'd block Lance. I was secretly thrilled. Who would've thought that two days later, they'd be an item?

I asked Cheryl what made her change her mind so suddenly. She beamed. "You wouldn't believe it. After that night, he not only paid me back my share but also transferred back everyone else's money."

"He said our money shouldn't benefit outsiders."

I paused for a moment before asking, "Don't you think my cousin is a bit cheap?"

Cheryl rolled her eyes. "Your cousin makes a fortune. He's not short on cash. He was just testing me."

My mind drifted back to my honest, straightforward brother. In my previous life, he had paid the bill without a fuss, only to be called unromantic and stingy by Cheryl, who complained he should have sent her roses after dinner.

After they got together, Cheryl took his debit card and became a stay-at-home girlfriend, buying luxury bags and clothes non-stop. She even took a sixty thousand dollar dowry when they married.

But on their wedding day, she was caught cheating with the male photographer in the dressing room. My brother wanted a divorce, but she managed to take a large chunk of his assets, and her antics even cost him his job.

Meanwhile, my jobless cousin ended up marrying my kind and hardworking roommate. After marriage, my roommate had to work and take care of my cousin and my demanding aunt.

Even then, my cousin wasn't satisfied. He disparaged her for her humble background and even physically abused her when she was pregnant. My roommate was beaten to the point of miscarriage but couldn't get a divorce. From then on, she harbored a deep hatred for my cousin and me.

But she couldn't fight my cousin, so she sought revenge on me, even taking me with her in death.

Just then, a knock echoed on my bedroom door. I opened it to find my roommate, Serena, her eyes red and swollen from crying. I quickly asked her what was wrong. Serena said, a little embarrassed, "My parents are rushing me to go home and get married, but I don't want to. Once you get married back home, you can't leave the boonies."

"Tiffany, do you know anyone suitable? Could you introduce me to someone?"

3.

I was about to refuse, but looking at her tear-filled eyes, I couldn't bring myself to say no. I had wronged her in my previous life. I thought my cousin was just lazy, not a scheming jerk.

Just then, my phone rang. It was my brother, Tony. "Mom said I should pick you up for dinner. When are you coming down?"

My eyes lit up. I took Serena's hand and said, "I actually know just the right person. My brother. Do you want to meet him?"

Serena nodded, and I quickly told Tony, "Don't go home yet. I'm introducing you to a friend. Let's all have dinner together."

Tony wasn't sure what we liked, so he booked a table at a high-end seafood buffet nearby. In the car, Serena hesitated, whispering, "Will it be too expensive? I'm almost out of money this month."

I gave her a reassuring look. "My brother's treating. We don't need to pay a thing."

During dinner, Tony was a quiet guy. All he did was peel shrimp and crack crabs for us. He wasn't much for conversation. Serena was a bit shy at first, but gradually relaxed, and the atmosphere was decent enough.

Later, they exchanged numbers. Serena tried to venmo Tony for the buffet, but he refused. Tony secretly asked me, "Did your roommate not like me? Why would she try to pay me? Was there something I did wrong?"

I could only advise him not to take her money and suggest Serena treat him next time. After going out a few more times, they officially started dating.

Cheryl's relationship with Lance was progressing even faster. Soon, it was time to meet the parents and discuss marriage. I thought about it and decided to be honest with Cheryl. "Lance isn't my biological cousin. He's my cousin on my moms side, and he doesn't even have a job. Are you sure you want to marry him?"

To my surprise, Cheryl already knew. "He told me all about it. He's in business, makes a few hundred thousand a year. Way better than your actual brother, the programmer who could lose his job anytime."

I almost laughed. "You actually believe that? How is he better than my brother?"

Cheryl's tone grew cold. "Are you just jealous of my happiness? You'd be happy if I ended up with your brother, wouldn't you?"

I quickly shut my mouth, terrified she might actually fall for Tony.

Serena's family was pressuring her to settle down, so after discussing it, she and Tony decided to get engaged too. Serena put a lot of thought into the gifts she brought to our house, even knitting a scarf for me. My parents were overjoyed, doubling their initial engagement gift from a thousand to six thousand.

I remembered my previous life. Cheryl's first visit to our house. She wore designer clothes but only brought a case of fruit. She claimed she didn't want us to look down on her. Even then, my parents had treated her with such warmth, let alone a considerate girl like Serena.

Cheryl, on the other hand, had a mishap the moment she met Lance's family. She called me, crying, "Your aunt and uncle actually made me wash dishes!"

4.

I quickly tried to comfort her. "That's terrible. If it's too much, just break up."

But Cheryl suddenly calmed down. "Lance said it's his mom's test. After we get married, there'll naturally be someone to do the dishes."

"Tiffany, stop trying to make me break up with him. Do you think I don't deserve to marry your cousin?"

"Lance told me you originally wanted to introduce me to your brother, that IT guy, didn't you? Everyone knows IT guys are out of a job by thirty-five. You think I'm going to marry a charity case?"

I decided to just keep quiet, offering my best wishes.

After the engagement was settled, my parents prepared a sixty-thousand-dollar dowry plus a house. Serena was overwhelmed, saying her family couldn't afford a matching dowry. But my parents and brother didn't care. My mom, beaming, held Serena's hand and said, "We're giving this to you because you deserve it. It has nothing to do with your family."

Serena's family came from a very poor rural area, but even so, her parents scraped together a thousand dollars as a wedding gift for her, hoping she'd be happy. I saw Serena wiping away tears on the balcony and suddenly felt incredibly sad. In her previous life, she had married such a jerk. How heartbroken her parents must have been.

Cheryl and Lance were also preparing for their wedding. Coincidentally, we ran into each other while scouting wedding venues.

Cheryl saw us, her eyes wide. "Tiffany, your brother and Serena want to book a venue this expensive too?"

I retorted, annoyed, "Are you the only ones allowed to?"

Lance grinned. "We just figured you wouldn't be able to afford it. After all, your brother's almost thirty. He won't be making money for many more years."

Serena whispered, "Maybe we should switch to a different hotel."

Cheryl rolled her eyes disdainfully. "A hairdresser thinking she can marry into money and climb the social ladder."

Serena opened her mouth, her face flushed crimson.

I was instantly furious. What hairdresser? She's a professional stylist, thank you very much! I was about to argue when I heard my brother ask, "How much is this venue?"

The manager, who had been watching the scene unfold, quickly stepped forward. "You're both booking on popular dates, and it's a holiday weekend. The venue fee is thirty-eight thousand, and the banquet costs are separate."

My brother spoke directly. "Fifty thousand. We'll take it."

Serena tugged on his sleeve. "Don't spend that much money."

Cheryl immediately shot a glance at Lance, who then declared, "We'll offer eighty thousand!"

My brother raised it to a hundred thousand. Lance, caught up in the moment, shouted, "How about two hundred thousand?!"

Cheryl shot us a triumphant look. To our surprise, my brother didn't raise his offer. "Fine, you can have it then."

Cheryl and Lance were completely stunned. My brother and the manager directly booked another ballroom in the same hotel. Cheryl and Lance were left arguing with the manager nearby. As we left, Cheryl glared at me, seething. "You deliberately set us up, didn't you? Just wait for the wedding day!"