I won the first prize at the Christmas party, which came with a bonus of $3,000.

My boss generously doubled the rewards, and I eventually got $6,000.

But my best friend and my boss started egging me on to treat everyone. In fact, they were just getting me to cover the company’s Christmas party.

If I did not agree, my best friend wanted to cut off ties with me, and my boss wanted to fire me.

Due to the pressure, I had to foot the bill, and I even ended up paying an extra $50,000 out of my own pocket.

After I paid the bill, they abandoned me, who was drunk, and I just froze to death on the side of the road.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back to the day when the Christmas party was held.

“Let’s congratulate the first prize winner, Chloe Taylor!”

When I heard my boss, Vincent Peterson’s, familiar husky voice, I noticed that I had returned to the past.

Hearing that I won the first prize, my colleagues cheered for me, and my best friend, Cathy Carter, hugged me. “Chloe, you’re really lucky! I’m so jealous of you!”

But I did not feel any joy at all. The horrors of what I had experienced were still burning vividly in my mind.

In the past, I excitedly went on stage to receive the prize. I wanted to use that money to get my mother a new phone.

But Vincent suddenly announced that he had doubled the prize because my performance last year was outstanding. In the end, I received $6,000.

But before I could feel happy, Cathy egged me on to treat them, and Vincent threatened to fire me if I ruined the mood.

In the end, I had to pay for the Christmas meal that Vincent had preordered, and I paid an additional $50,000.

After I paid the bill, Cathy and Vincent abandoned my drunken self at the roadside, and they sweetly left arm in arm.

In the end, I froze to death at the roadside.

I felt a shiver down my spine. When I recalled Cathy’s wicked face, I instinctively pushed her away.

Cathy did not mind it, but she urged me to go on the stage and receive the prize.

Vincent kept calling my name, and I was forced to go and receive the prize in the end.

I never imagined that winning a prize could fill me with unease, even fear.

I dragged myself toward the stage with heavy legs.

Vincent handed me the card with the prize amount written on it. Perhaps he had noticed my emotions because he said teasingly, “It’s my first time seeing someone unhappy for winning a prize. Chloe, smile!”

I felt like the card I held was a death warrant. How was it possible for me to smile? But I still forced out an awkward and ugly smile.

Vincent continued teasingly, “Chloe, you’re not disappointed with the prize money, are you?

“It’s my fault for not being good enough as a boss. I declare that the first prize will be double the amount!”

The crowd erupted in cheers. My colleagues watched with jealousy, but Cathy clapped and cheered happily for me.

I was stunned and unable to say anything. If this continued, what happened to me in the past would happen again.

I grabbed the microphone from Vincent. “I want to pass up the prize to someone else.”

The crowd instantly fell quiet. Vincent frowned. He wanted to say something, but someone shouted from below the stage.

“Chloe, you’re amazing!”

“Chloe, please give it to me. I’ll have the money to buy food for my son!”

“Chloe, can you give it to me? I need another $6,000 to buy the newest phone!”

I ignored all the voices and looked at Cathy, whose face had darkened slightly. “I want to give the prize to my best friend, Cathy.”

Cathy’s lips twitched. She did not feel happy about it. I could feel that this situation was more complicated than I had previously expected.

When Cathy tried to stand up to say something, Vincent grabbed the microphone from me.

“It’s a bit unfair if you just give it away to someone. Why don’t we just have another lucky draw?”

Before I could consider it further, my colleagues below the stage enthusiastically agreed.

That was fine with me. I did not think that I would be chosen again in another lucky draw.

The lottery machine on the screen began to spin again. [Three, two, one, stop—]

When I saw the name on the screen, I felt my world turn upside down.

How was it possible? There were more than one hundred employees. How did I get picked twice in a row?

Seeing my name highlighted in red sent a chill straight down my spine.

Vincent grinned. “Chloe, you’re unexpectedly lucky! It looks like this is going to be your lucky year!

“Our company will rely on you this year!”

The boss immediately took a pile of cash and put it in my hands.

What everyone else saw as a blessing felt like a sentence of death to me.

Instantly, I just felt I was one step closer to death.

I looked at Cathy, who was below the stage. She looked very happy. It was not like she was happy with me winning the prize, but it seemed like she knew what was going to happen.

When Cathy lost her job in the past, she cried and begged me to refer her to our company.

I knew her skills alone weren’t enough for a position like ours, but I insisted on referring her to the company.

During her first week, Cathy was always yelled at by her department manager because of the quality of her work.

If I had not begged Vincent to give her chance after chance and secretly taken over most of her work, she would have been fired by the company a long time ago.

Even half a month later, Cathy’s ability and the quality of her work had not improved. It affected me as well since I was not able to complete my own work because I shared her workload.

That day, Cathy begged me to finish an urgent task for her again.

When I was working hard, she was eating snacks and watching TV to relax.

At that moment, the anger I had kept bottled up for a long time exploded.

“Cathy, I’ve been exhausted because I was for you for weeks, and you’re just here… chilling at work?!

“If you really want to stay, you focus on your work more!”

Cathy’s eyes welled up in the face of my anger.

“Chloe, I asked for your help only because I thought you were my best friend!

“Don’t worry, I won’t treat you unfairly. When I get my salary at the end of the month, I’ll give you half of mine. Is that okay?”

I let out a bitter laugh. I was doing the work of two people for the pay of one and a half, but somehow it felt like I owed Cathy a favor.

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around and continued watching TV. She completely ignored my words.

I felt like I had wasted my time talking to her. Watching her look of defiant indifference, I let out a heavy sigh.

I could not be bothered with her. This was her choice. It was also her own problem if she could not pass the examination.

A month later, Cathy, who had been slacking off, managed to pass the examination of the company!

Cathy excitedly stood up. “Chloe, you’re really the luckiest person in the world!”

As she said that, she faced our colleagues and egged them on. “Guys, Chloe is so lucky! Shouldn’t we get to share a bit of her luck as well?”

“Yes!”

“Shouldn’t Chloe treat us with her prize money today?”

“Yeah!!!”

The noise at the scene was so deafening that it made my ears buzz and my vision go dark.

I instinctively refused. “The prize money is so little! If I treat you all to a meal, doesn’t that mean I might have to pay extra out of my own pocket?

“Since that’s the case, anyone who wants the prize can have it!”

Right after I said that, my excited colleagues instantly fell quiet.

Suddenly, Cathy stood up in agitation and pointed at me. “Chloe, how can you be so selfish?

“The colleagues and I just want to share a bit of your luck, but you make it look like we’re taking advantage of you!

“You can just treat us to a cheap meal to show your sincerity. Did you think we’re greedy enough to ask you for a lavish feast?

“Honestly, you should be honored that you’re lucky to be able to win and treat us to a meal!”

That sounded nice and all. In the past, they had said the same thing, but when I paid the bill in the end, I had spent $56,000.

Deducting $6,000 from the prize, I had to pay an extra $50,000 by myself. I even lost my life in the end.

With the painful experience of my past, I naturally could not trust Cathy’s sweet words.

When I thought about it, I could not wait to tear Cathy’s pretentious face into pieces.

I looked at Cathy coldly. “I can’t accept this. I don’t want the prize anymore. I’ll just give it to you. Can’t I just let you be the boss today?”

Cathy’s expression instantly changed. She looked shocked and immediately waved her hand to reject it.

“It’s fate that you got picked twice!

“If I take away the prize that belongs to you, wouldn’t that be like tempting fate? That’d be bad news for me, wouldn’t it?”

At the same time, Vincent chimed in.

He gloomily whispered to me, “Chloe, this is a Christmas gathering. It’s our last gathering of the year. Aren’t you ruining the mood?

“If you really don’t want to, I won’t force you. But your behavior’s ruining company unity, and it will affect your promotion rating.”

In the past, I was pressured into agreeing when Vincent had threatened me similarly.

But I knew how to weigh the importance of my job and my life.

I looked at Vincent’s wicked face. The words of resignation were already on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them down.

I smiled faintly. “Alright, Vincent. I’ll handle the expense tonight!”

Only then did Vincent smile in satisfaction. “You’re indeed an outstanding employee! You’re really smart. In the second half of the year, it’ll be your turn to take over the position of the manager of the Sales Department.”

Vincent was painting a grand, empty picture, and Cathy excitedly rushed forward and hugged me.

“Chloe, you’re the kindest and most generous person I ever met.

“Let our colleagues and I share a bit of your luck so that we can make more profits for the company this year!

“Aren’t I right, Vincent?”

The two of them looked at each other affectionately, and Vincent took advantage of the moment, right there in front of everyone.

I did not say a word. I just quietly watched everything that happened.

At this time, I had a fantastic plan for revenge.

“Vincent, is it fine that a friend of mine wants to attend our party?”

Vincent was in the mood. “It’s your treat tonight, so you’re free to invite anyone! It’s fine even if you invite not just one but ten people!”

Cathy chimed in, “Who’s the friend? Do we know this friend?”

I smiled faintly. “You’ll know when she’s here.”

After I said that, I texted the friend whom I wanted to invite.

Cathy and everyone in the company knew her.

I looked at the time on my phone. “It’s late. Shall we go?”

My boss pretended to be considerate. “I already booked the place. Let’s go, it’s definitely worth it!”

I did not hesitate. “Thank you for your help, Vincent.”