After Being Strangled By My Nephew, I Was Reborn

I am a non-marriageist. Naturally, my nephew assumed my assets would one day be his and even had the nerve to ask me for a $10,000 bag to impress his girlfriend.

When I turned him down, he held a grudge and strangled me in my sleep.

To protect him, my mother erased the security footage of his crime and lied, saying I had taken my own life. They happily inherited everything, boasting, “She was just a fool; we got what we deserved!”

But then, I woke up. It was the same day my nephew asked for the bag.

——

“Auntie, I only have one birthday a year. Just get it for me,” Ethan said, clutching my arm. He made it sound like a request, but his tone was more demanding. “It’s not that expensive, just $10,000. If you buy it, I’ll make sure my girlfriend, Chloe, knows how generous you are.”

My mother and Richard, Richard, were focused on their meal, not even trying to intervene. Lilith, my sister-in-law, added casually, “Claire, you’re not getting married, so you’ll need Ethan to look after you when you’re older.”

I looked down at my hands, remembering what happened in my previous life.

Back then, I’d refused to buy the bag because it was too expensive. Lilith warned that if I didn’t buy it, Ethan wouldn’t take care of me in my old age. Even though I had a good income and no plans to marry, I tried my best to meet their demands.

But Lilith used that refusal against me. When I said no again, Ethan held a grudge and later strangled me with a scarf while I slept—a scarf I had bought for Lilith.

To cover up for him, my mother deleted the security footage and claimed I had committed suicide. They inherited everything, just as they’d wanted. Ethan and his cronies even bragged, “That Claire was cheap. If she’d just handed over the money sooner, maybe I would’ve let her live.”

He laughed, tossing my photos to the ground and stomping on them, saying, “She got what she deserved!”

My mother rushed to stop him, more concerned about him hurting his foot than about me.

It was all so absurd.

“Auntie, say something!” Ethan demanded, his impatience growing. “Why are you so stingy? I’ll pay you back when I start making money!”

Hearing his entitled tone, I kept my cool and replied calmly, “It’s too expensive. I can’t buy it for you.”

“Why not?” Ethan snapped, slamming his hand on the table. “It’s just a bag! You make so much money every month, why can’t you buy one?”

It was laughable. I smirked, “I’m just not buying it.”

With that, I got up and headed back to my room. Just before I closed the door, I could still hear him grumbling, “Look at her! It’s my birthday, and she’s being so stingy!”

Lilith was whispering something too, shooting me a glance as she spoke.

I ignored them, feeling a deep sense of disappointment. These people—this is the family I’ve always longed to be close to.

But now that fate’s given me a second chance, I’m not going to let their schemes get the best of me.

Not long after, my mom came in with a plate of watermelon, practically pushing it at me, eager for me to eat.

I didn’t move. Instead, I looked at her and said calmly, “Did Ethan put you up to this?”

She looked a bit flustered, probably ready with some excuse, but I cut her off. “I already told him I’m not buying it. They’re only twenty—what do they need with a $10,000 bag? I don’t even spend that much on mine.”

“Tell him it’s not happening.”

“Why won’t you buy it for me?”

Ethan suddenly barged in, pointing at me accusingly. “Claire, with that attitude, do you really think I’m going to take care of you when you’re old? If you’re too stingy to drop sixty grand, you’re just setting yourself up for a lonely death. Let’s see who’s going to be there for you!”

“Who said I’m counting on you to look after me?” I replied, my voice icy. “Just because I don’t plan on getting married doesn’t mean I don’t want kids. I’d rather spend my money raising my own children than waste it on you.”

My mom was taken aback. “Who are you going to have kids with?”