Now that I've been accepted into a prestigious college, my family throws a college acceptance party for me. My older cousin, Jessica Boone, gives me a gift for the occasion—a scratch-off lottery ticket with half the numbers scratched already.

But when she finds out that I won 20 dollars from the lottery ticket, she offers 200 thousand dollars to buy the ticket off me.

Finding it strange, I refuse her offer.

Jessica goes berserk. She starts cursing me out, telling me to go to hell. She even pushes me off the high-rise building right in front of all the guests at the party.

The dozens of people in attendance, including my parents, staunchly support her actions and even start remarking that I deserve to die.

My eyes open once more—I've gone half an hour back in time.

Once again, Jessica mockingly tosses the scratch-off lottery ticket at me and says those familiar words to me.

"Don't be calling me stingy now, Henry. I'll have you know that this scratch-off lottery ticket is worth a million dollars!" Jessica Boone declared. "I already scratched half the numbers, which means I helped you eliminate half of the wrong options, too. The rest is in your hands, and you get to keep whatever you get."

Out of habit, I took the half-scratched ticket before coming to my senses and hastily tossing it aside.

I looked up at the wall clock. It read 11:00 pm—exactly 30 minutes before I died.

No one knew I had been reborn.

Tonight was supposed to be a party to celebrate my college acceptance. My parents had invited all of our relatives over. Jessica, who'd always looked down on me, had come as well.

In my previous life, she'd used a half-scratched lottery ticket to humiliate me. I'd been both furious and embarrassed, while the rest of our relatives simply brushed it off, saying we were a family.

They'd persistently urged me to scratch off the rest of the numbers, which I reluctantly did—and I ended up winning 20 dollars.

Jessica, who'd been waiting to laugh at me, suddenly got excited and immediately offered to buy the ticket off me for 200 thousand dollars.

I'd always been cautious. There were plenty of PSAs going around these days about scams. Jessica had always made it clear how much she hated me, so why was she suddenly making me the generous offer of 200 thousand dollars?

It was fishy, so I immediately declined her offer.

To my shock, Jessica flew off the handle and lashed out at me, hurling all kinds of cruel insults at me. She called me a bastard, a piece of trash, and other far worse things.

I'd been so alarmed that I couldn't even speak. She even started threatening me, saying that she'd kill me if I didn't give her the lottery ticket.

In fact, she began shoving me toward the window with all her might. Scared out of my wits, I cried for help, but all those people who claimed that we were a family instantly changed their tunes and simply eyed me in hostility.

Even my parents joined in and cursed me out, saying I deserved to die.

In the end, Jessica pushed me off the high-rise building, and I fell to my death. Even as I took my dying breath, I had no idea what I'd done to end up like this.

But it seemed as though fate had taken pity on me and allowed me to be reborn.

This time around, I deftly declined Jessica's gift. "It's fine, Jessica. You can keep the one million dollars."

Her mocking sneer transformed into a furious scowl. "Don't be such an ingrate, Henry. Do you seriously think that just because you're an adult now, you don't have to show any respect to me anymore?"

Mom quickly picked up the lottery ticket from the floor and reprimanded me, "You foolish boy! Who turns down money like that?"

My family wasn't as well-off as Jessica's. On top of that, she had a high-paying job, so my parents always felt inferior around her and her family.

The other relatives also chimed in to persuade me.

"Jessica's just trying to be nice, Henry. Hurry up and take it. Why don't you scratch the rest off now? Who knows? You might even win a million bucks."

I wanted to refuse again. But when I looked up and met Jessica's sinister gaze, I couldn't help but wonder if she would throw me off the building again if I kept refusing her.

I had no choice but to take the lottery ticket. "Then I'll scratch it off at home. It's not often that everyone gathers together. Since we're here to celebrate my college acceptance, I don't want everyone to have to wait around just to see me scratch off a lottery ticket."

However, Jessica just wouldn't let it go. "Henry, if you're turning your nose up at my gift, then just say so. What's this crap about not wanting everyone to wait around, huh? You don't need to go to such lengths just to make me look bad!"

Aunt Miranda, Jessica's mother, immediately pulled a long face and glared at me. "Stop being so fussy. As if we care whether you take it or not!"

Uncle Donald, Jessica's father, also lit up a cigarette and snorted tauntingly. "What, you think you're so great now just because you got into college?"

Their remarks terrified my parents, who immediately took their anger out on me. "Henry Wilson! Who taught you to be so snobbish? Jessica is being nice to you by giving you a gift! Why are you being so difficult?"

I wanted to hold my ground, but Mom had already grabbed my hand and scraped one of my fingernails hard against the ticket. The nail tore off, drawing blood, but Mom didn't even seem to notice. Her eyes were fixed on the ticket.

All of a sudden, she cried out in exhilaration, "It's a win! 20 dollars!"

My heart sank at once. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw everyone's eyes falling on me.

Jessica shot to her feet and rushed over to me, her eyes locked on the hand I'd just shoved into my pocket. "What the hell? You actually won some money from the ticket?"

Immediately after, she said the very same words she'd said in my previous life.

"Henry, sell me the ticket. I'll give you 200 thousand dollars for it."

Clenching the ticket in my hand, I smiled at Jessica and said, "My mom must've been mistaken, Jessica. There's no way I'd be lucky enough to win anything on a lottery ticket."

I knew Jessica was no fool. Something had to be up if she was willing to fork out 200 thousand dollars on a lottery ticket that only won 20 dollars.

I could take the money, but who knew if she'd end up regretting the exchange and decide to come after me again? Basically, I couldn't let her have the ticket.

"You didn't win anything?"

Jessica didn't believe me. She held out her hand and demanded, "Give it to me. Let me take a look."

My heart was pounding, but I was able to maintain my cool as I pulled the ticket from my pocket and handed it over.

She examined it thoroughly and confirmed that I hadn't scratched the winning numbers. Enraged, she let out a litany of curses as she threw the lottery ticket onto the floor and stomped on several times.

Then, she glared at Mom and snarled through gritted teeth, "If you're having problems with your eyesight, Aunt Emma, you should probably get your eyes checked."

Mom was so scared she didn't dare say a word. The rest of our relatives all lowered their heads and crowded over, scrambling to pick up the ticket. Then, almost in unison, they let out disappointed sighs.

I quietly let out a breath of relief. It was a good thing I hadn't washed this outfit yet. There'd been a lottery ticket in my pocket from half a month ago. Since it hadn't been a winning ticket, I'd just stuffed it in there and forgotten about it.

Well, it came in handy now.

But I hadn't relaxed for long before my younger brother, Hector Wilson, suddenly said loudly, "Henry, didn't you buy a scratch-off lottery ticket the other day? Did you mix them up?"

Mom's eyes lit up right away. She rushed over and grabbed my arm roughly, growling, "Henry! Did you hide the winning ticket? I knew it! There was no way I was just seeing things. Hand it over right now!"

Jessica, feeling like she'd been played for a fool, marched back over and slapped me hard across the face. "You bastard! How dare you try to play a trick on me? Give me the real ticket. Don't make me give you a good thrashing!"

"I already told you I didn't win anything!" I hastily protested. "Why would I have any reason to lie to you guys?"

Hector chimed in again, "But I didn't see you throw the old lottery ticket away."

At that moment, Dad—who hadn't said a word so far—stepped in front of me. I thought he was finally going to stand up for me, but instead, he slapped me as well.

As I crumpled to the floor, he roared at me, "Give the ticket to Jessica now, you piece of shit! If you waste any more time, I'm going to kill you!"

Despair filled my heart.

Sneering, Mom rolled up her sleeves and walked toward me. "So be it. I'll search him myself. I'll strip him naked if I have to. We'll see if he still refuses to hand it over then!"

"Mom! Dad! Have you lost your minds?" I shouted hoarsely. "You're causing such a huge spectacle at my party over some lottery ticket you think I'm hiding?"

Jessica kicked me. "If you displease me, Henry, forget about the party—I can make sure you don't even get to attend the college you just got into."

Unable to believe what I just heard, I looked at my parents, who both scoffed at me in contempt. "We've got no money, Henry. Jessica and her family are the ones paying your college tuition. If you want to attend college, then you'd better do as she says!"

I tried to resist, but several relatives quickly pinned me down on the table. Right there, in front of everyone, Mom tore open my clothes and started searching for the ticket.

Overwhelmed with shame and humiliation, I was on the verge of tears.

Mom spent over 15 minutes searching every nook and cranny of my body, but she still didn't find a second lottery ticket on me. After shoving me aside, she whipped around and slapped Hector. "You brat! Say any more nonsense, and I'll sew your mouth shut!"

Hector clutched his stinging cheek, his eyes turning red as he glared resentfully at me.

Meanwhile, Jessica continued to stare at me in silence, seemingly deep in thought.

The party meant to celebrate my college acceptance ended up being a complete disaster. What should've been a happy occasion ended up becoming unbearable humiliation for me, and all because of a lottery ticket.

I couldn't stomach the thought of spending any more time with this so-called family of mine. Around midnight, I quietly slipped out and went to see my girlfriend, Daisy Lewis.

The moment she saw me, she pulled me into a tight embrace.

"I went over to your house to see you, but you weren't there, so I asked Hector. He told me about what had happened today. I can't believe you had to go through all of that, Henry," she said in concern.

Even though I was a fully grown man now, in that instant, tears poured down my face. I poured out all of the hurt and grievance I felt to her.

Daisy held me, comforting me the whole time. She even said she wanted to confront Jessica about it.

I quickly stopped her. "Wait! You mustn't do anything impulsive. I still don't know why she did this. If we act rashly, we might end up falling into her trap."

After a few seconds of silence, she abruptly asked me, "Henry, did you give Jessica the real lottery ticket?"

Meeting her gentle gaze, for a moment, I almost told her the truth. As it was, in my previous life, she hadn't been among those who'd watched me die.

The words were on the tip of my tongue when I caught the urgency and greed in her eyes. It felt like a hand had clamped around my throat. Alarm bells were ringing in my head, warning me not to tell her.

But Daisy kept pressing me for an answer, so I forced myself to sound calm as I replied, "After the way they strip-searched me, there's no way I could've hidden the ticket from her, not even if I had some kind of superpower."

In reality, I'd hidden the lottery ticket under a plate.

Back at the party, when I'd ended up scratching the winning number, I'd quickly slipped the real one under a plate while Mom was busy screaming in excitement. Then, I pretended to put it in my pocket, where the old lottery ticket was.

When I saw Daisy eyeing me doubtfully, I pretended to get annoyed. "Do you think I'm an idiot? Why would I turn down 200 thousand dollars and hide a lottery ticket that's only worth 20 dollars?"

She tilted her head up and kissed me on the cheek. "That's true. My Henry is no idiot."

My heart pounded like a drum. I couldn't help asking, "What do you think is so special about that ticket? Why are Jessica and the others so desperate to get it?"

"It's just a lottery ticket. How can it be special?" Daisy replied lightly. "Maybe something got into her, and she decided to use that as an excuse to mess with you and beat you up. After all, you mentioned that she has always looked down on you, right?"

Jessica had indeed always been jealous of my grades and the fact that I'd gotten into the top-ranking university in the country. But she wouldn't go as far as killing me over a lottery ticket, right?

With all the questions brewing in my head, I barely had any of the supper we ordered.

Daisy took me back to her place. "Just stay here for the night. I'll go back to your house with you tomorrow and have a proper talk with your parents for you."

That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. In the middle of the night, however, I suddenly heard the sound of the doorknob turning.

I tensed up at once, clutching the blanket. I thought it might be a burglar, but then I remembered that I was on the 26th floor of an apartment building with tight security. There was very little chance a burglar could sneak in.

That left only one other possibility—Daisy was the one coming in.

Sure enough, she tiptoed over to the bed and softly called my name. When I didn't respond, she started rummaging through my clothes.

I heard her muttering to herself, "Where's the ticket? Don't tell me you really don't have it… Hmph. I only brought you back so that I could get my hands on it, so I'm going to find it no matter what!"

The room was warm, but I felt chilled to the bone.

She searched every pocket, but couldn't find the ticket. All of a sudden, she leaned over my head, covering my mouth and nose with her hand.

"Damn it! There's really nothing! Ugh, you useless piece of trash! Why do you have such rotten luck, huh?"

To vent her frustration, she covered my mouth and nose for a while before letting go, repeating the process over a dozen times before stopping.

After she left, I completely broke down.