Sponsoring My Killer

Only after they conspired to kill me did I learn that Stella Randell hated me to her core.
It didn't matter that I had funded her for years, throwing money and resources at her, giving her the best life imaginable. In her mind, I had used my wealth and power to blackmail her, to tear her away from her first love.
When I opened my eyes again, Stella was throwing my credit card on the ground, her gaze cold and proud.
This time, I simply said, my voice flat and detached:
"If that's how you feel, then the sponsorship ends now."

1
The credit card landed with a sharp clatter at my feet.
"Why are you here again?" The girl's voice was laced with pure annoyance.
I followed the sound, my gaze locking onto Stella across from me. Her face was a delicate, porcelain mask, but there was an undisguised chill in her eyes.
Seeing my silence, Stella’s friends grew bolder, their teasing loud and unrestrained.
"Come on, Stella, Louis is head over heels for you. Just give the guy a chance!"
"I heard he gives her a six-figure monthly allowance. What a show-off—"
"But Stella's gorgeous and a top student. She has tons of guys after her. Money isn't everything."
"Exactly. Besides, Stella doesn't care about materialistic things like that."
…
In the center of the group, Stella tilted her chin up arrogantly.
"Louis, can you please stop with your condescending charity? I'm busy. I don't have time to entertain a rich kid like you. Besides, I have my own two hands. I don't need to depend on anyone!"
The girl before me was defiant, speaking the exact same lines I remembered from my past life.
Only now did I finally believe it. I was reborn.

2
In my previous life, I didn't just pay for Stella’s college education; I sent her abroad for her post-grad, helping her achieve her dream of becoming a research scientist.
Even though she was always cold toward me, I brushed it off as her being fiercely independent, a byproduct of her strong pride.
It wasn't until she returned, famous and successful, that she got me drunk and tricked me into signing a fraudulent contract. The vast Croft family fortune vanished overnight.
Not long after I went bankrupt, I had a car accident.
In my final moments, she leaned close, her voice a venomous whisper in my ear.
"Louis, the doctors say you won't make it through the night. Good. Leo made sure to have your brakes tampered with.
"And don't you dare call me cruel. If you hadn't used my future to threaten me, Leo and I wouldn't have wasted all these years apart. What could you ever give me besides money? Only Leo could give me real love.
"You can die in peace now. Without you, Leo and I will be perfectly happy together."
Her gaze grew colder, and my breath hitched in my chest.
As my consciousness faded, I could vaguely see her smiling, wrapped in Leo's arms, a tenderness in her eyes I had never once seen directed at me.
I closed my eyes for the last time, my heart filled with rage and bitter regret.

3
My thoughts snapped back to the present.
I lowered my gaze and bent down to pick up the credit card.
"Louis, just give it up," a clear male voice cut in. "No matter how much money you throw at her, it doesn't mean she'll ever want you."
I looked at the young man standing next to Stella. He was tall and lean, a taunting smile playing on his lips.
Leo. Stella’s classmate. The two of them were always "studying" together at the library. I had warned Stella about him multiple times, but she just sneered that I was possessive and had a dirty mind.
In my past life, after I sent Stella overseas, I thought they had finally lost contact. Now I realized they had probably been in touch the entire time.
But I never forced them apart. If she had just been honest with me back then, there's no way in hell I, Louis Croft, would have willingly been played for a fool.
Stella let out a cold scoff.
"Did you hear that? Stop wasting your time. I'm never going to take your money!"
A smirk touched my lips.
The next moment, under the shocked gazes of everyone present, I snapped the credit card in half and tossed the pieces into a nearby trash can.
When I turned back, jaws were hanging open all around me.
I looked at Stella, my voice devoid of emotion.
"There was twenty thousand dollars on that card. It was for that overseas exchange program you wanted to join. But since you're so high and mighty, I guess you don't need it.
"I'd rather throw it away than give it to you."

4
Stella froze for a few seconds, her face flushing a deep crimson before she managed to compose herself.
"What kind of game are you playing now? I never asked you for anything! This was all your own idea! And I hate your filthy rich attitude more than anything. You think just because you have some money, you can run my life? You're pathetic!"
Her best friend quickly chimed in, finding her voice.
"Yeah! Stella can't stand guys who reek of money."
"Money isn't everything, Louis. Maybe you should try reading a book sometime. How else are you going to have anything in common with someone like Stella?"
"She's brilliant and beautiful. I heard she's going to study at a top university abroad. One day, you really won't be good enough for her!"
Watching Stella stand there, her expression growing more conceited by the second, I suddenly remembered the first time we met.
Back then, she was sallow and painfully thin, dressed in a wrinkled shirt, looking lost and helpless. She came from a single-parent home, and her mother was gravely ill. She was about to drop out of school to work and pay the medical bills.
At that critical moment, she heard that Croft Industries sponsored gifted students from low-income families and came to us for help. She stood before my parents with a ramrod straight spine, vowing to repay our kindness tenfold.
She was pretty, and the way her eyes reddened as she spoke not only won my parents' sympathy but also stirred something in me.
In just a few short years, she had transformed from a malnourished, impoverished student into a little princess draped in luxury brands. Not only that, but she had become arrogant and condescending, constantly belittling me.
Thinking of how it all ended, my gaze turned to ice.
"If you despise it so much, then consider the sponsorship terminated. The Croft family has done more than enough for you."

5
Before Stella could speak, her friend jumped in.
"Hey! Are you really going to hold a grudge just because we said a few things? How petty can a guy be?"
I used to have a crush on Stella, and by extension, I was generous with her friends, often giving them expensive little gifts. Over time, I had bred a pack of greedy, ungrateful vultures who had lost all respect for me.
The thought filled me with disgust, and I regretted being their fool for so long.
"Get lost."
My cold stare made her flinch and shrink back.
Stella's face was a mask of humiliation, but she forced herself to speak.
"Louis, why are you taking it out on my friend? Don't think you can threaten me with money. I don't care! And you'd better keep your word and never bother me again!"
She glared at me with such loathing you'd think I had committed some unforgivable crime against her.
Seeing her so agitated, Leo gently rubbed her back, shooting a smug, challenging look over her shoulder at me.
In my last life, Stella would deny her relationship with Leo while keeping me at arm's length, knowing it would make me jealous and insecure.
Now, I couldn't wait for them to be chained together, as long as they stayed the hell away from me.
"Fine. I'm a man of my word."
With that cold parting shot, I turned and walked away.

6
That afternoon, I called my assistant, Hayes.
"Starting today, stop all payments to Stella Randell's accounts. The sponsorship is over."
Hayes, who was usually the picture of calm professionalism, looked utterly shocked. Before he could respond, I continued.
"Change the locks on the villa in the Hills. She is not to be permitted entry. Also, she's no longer allowed to run a tab at any Croft-owned businesses. If she can't pay, have her thrown out. Oh, and cut off her mother's medical expense coverage."
The look on Hayes's face shifted from shock to profound relief. He nodded eagerly. "Right away, sir."
In the past, no matter how many times he had warned me about Stella, I had never listened, even finding him bothersome. Now, I couldn't get her away from me fast enough. Experience is a brutal teacher, but you only need to learn its lessons once.
He was about to leave when I stopped him.
"Hayes, wait."
He paused, a questioning look in his eyes. I opened the drawer of my desk. Just as I expected, a beautiful jewelry box was sitting inside. It held a diamond necklace. In my last life, I gave it to Stella for her birthday. She'd called my taste tacky before reluctantly accepting it.
At the memory, I simply handed the box to Hayes.
"This is for you."
He was stunned for a moment, then immediately tried to refuse.
"If you don't want it, I'm just going to throw it away." I dangled the box over the trash can.
After a moment of hesitation, Hayes took the necklace, his face filled with genuine gratitude.
Now that I thought about it, Stella's birthday was coming up soon.
Her good life was officially over.

7
After confirming the cancellation of the sponsorship, I had dinner with my parents and told them everything.
My mother paused, a bit taken aback. "Louis, you used to talk about her constantly. Are you sure about this?"
I nodded firmly. "An ungrateful person doesn't deserve the Croft family's support. Since she feels like our money is an insult to her, let her learn to stand on her own two feet."
My father considered this for a moment, then spoke slowly. "Alright. It's your decision. I'll have Hayes draw up a new list of candidates for the sponsorship."
With that settled, the mood at the table lightened considerably.
In my past life, Stella constantly complained to me, convincing me that my parents looked down on her because she was poor, and she actively drove a wedge between us. After I went bankrupt, it was my aging parents who ran themselves ragged trying to bail me out. The stress caused my father's heart condition to relapse, and my mother lived in a constant state of anxiety.
In the end, there was no miracle. There was only the news of their son's death.
But this time, I would protect my family.
As for the debts Stella owed, I would collect them, one by one.

8
On the way home, my restaurant manager sent me a security video from the downtown steakhouse, one of my father's properties.
In the video, Stella stood surrounded by a group of classmates, speaking condescendingly to a waiter.
"My name is Stella Randell. I know your manager, Mr. Reed."
Her friends chimed in.
"Stella never has to pay when she comes here. It's basically her family's restaurant."
"Why would you pay for your own birthday party at your own place?"
"Exactly. Even Mr. Reed listens to her. You'd better think carefully before you answer."
Leo scoffed. "You must be new here if you don't even know that."
The waiter wavered but held his ground. "I'm sorry, I am new, but our restaurant policy doesn't allow for running a tab. Mr. Reed is out of town and didn't mention any exceptions."
Stella frowned, clearly annoyed. "You're ruining the mood. I'm going to have you fired for this."
She let out a huff and started texting Mr. Reed, holding her phone up for everyone to see as if she owned the place. But the moment she sent the message, a glaring red exclamation mark appeared on the screen.
Visible. Undeniable.
I looked at my driver, who had undoubtedly heard the entire video. "Change of plans. Take me to the downtown steakhouse."
"Yes, sir," he replied, his voice calm.
As the city lights blurred past the window, my expression darkened.
This was going to be a birthday Stella Randell would never forget.

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