However, reborn with a vengeance, I would live by one rule: if one were to cross me, I would pay it back a hundred times over.

I clutched the phone tightly. "Your mom's the only one who gets it. I'll be tied up here for another couple of hours. Tell her I'm craving her grilled lamb chops, barbeque pork ribs, and that homemade pie mash she makes..."

I rattled off a list of dishes that were notoriously tricky to whip up.

On the other end of the line, Christopher tried to cut in, but I steamrolled right ahead.

"For the main dish, I'm craving your mom's homemade pumpkin soup and her beef and kimchi noodles."

Once I finished, Christopher, a bit flustered, said, "Honey, that's quite a spread you're asking for. Are you sure we can eat all that?"

I played the innocent act. "Oh, well, then just make a tiny bit of each!"

That left Christopher speechless for a moment, scrambling for a response.

I did not give him the chance. "Babe, I have to run. I'm swamped with work. I need to wrap up so I can get home early for the feast your mom's putting together for me!"

I did not wait for his reply; I just hung up.

A smirk played on my lips as I powered my phone off, headed to the salon, and indulged in a relaxing spa session.

Lying there, pampered and at ease, I plotted my day.

The funeral's total expenses, including the bonuses I had promised, came to 33 million dollars.

Any surplus, and I would have to cut another check for the manager.

Next on my list was securing a venue for the funeral, spacious enough for the sea of flowers. That was another hefty chunk of change.

With flowers galore, their arrangement was another puzzle to solve, likely needing a bit of palm greasing to get it done right.

I also had to stockpile plenty of food, water, medicine, and other essentials. That was money, too.

After the house sale, I was still short a whopping 7.5 million dollars.

I eyed my jewelry collection. In a real crunch, it could fetch around three million.

However, that left a 4.5 million dollar gap. What should I do?

Then, it hit me, and I could not help but grin.

I had nearly forgotten the hefty sums Christopher had siphoned off over the years. That should square things, right?

I was just reaching my front door when Sally's voice, laced with venom, reached my ears, her words tangled with Christopher's.

"Chris, Jessica is such a snake. It's late, and she's not back yet. You think she's toying with us?"

Christopher's laugh was like ice. "No way. She's probably tied up with some company mess!"

Sally's voice was thick with disdain. "I've cooked all that food for her. She'll eat herself into an early grave."

Her tone took a sharp turn. "Hey, Chris, Howard's almost ready for school, and you and Chloe can't keep living like this. Let's figure out how to snag her houses, too."

Christopher's words were laced with poison. "That's exactly why you're here. If it wasn't for her old man's last wish, I'd have had the houses by now. A will? It's just a piece of paper. It'll all be mine soon enough."

Sally's laugh was full of false pride. "That's my boy, always the smart one."

I pushed the door open with a frosty half-smile, catching the two smug figures off guard as they scrambled to their feet.

Christopher, ever the rock, greeted me. "You're home!"

I nodded and glanced at Sally. "I appreciate you looking after me."

Sally offered an awkward chuckle. "No need for thanks between family. In my eyes, you're like my daughter. I couldn't rest easily without taking care of you myself. Your favorite dishes are ready. Let's eat."

As I sat at the dinner table, I asked nonchalantly, "I overheard something about Howard, school, and a house earlier. What's the story?"

Christopher and Sally locked eyes, sharing a silent conversation.

With a heavy sigh, Sally said, "Howard's my grandnephew. You wouldn't believe the tough breaks my niece has had. Her man has left her, and she has to raise their kid alone, jobless. And with the kid needing school but having no house to call home, he can't even get into a decent one.

"I feel so powerless as her aunt, unable to help my own kin."

Sally dabbed at her eyes in a show of sorrow.

I dropped my utensils with a clatter. "Well, a man who ditches his kid is lowly, but a woman who won't stand up for herself isn't much better. They're both as sorry as the other."

Christopher's face soured at my words, and I fixed him with a look. "Honey, you agree, don't you?"

He managed a strained nod.

I rose, heading for the bedroom. "I'm done eating."

Sally called after me, "You barely touched your food."

I said, "I've lost my appetite thanks to the pathetic display from those two."

The sun had barely risen when Christopher slipped out the door, murmuring something about work.

However, I knew better. He was off to see that mother and her child.

He had confessed as much in my previous life while cutting into me with a knife through flesh.

He had even warned me that my fate would be grim, apocalypse or not.

I scoffed at the thought.

With all my jewelry stashed in a backpack, I made a beeline for the local pawnshop. The manager did not bat an eye at my request, and just like that, three million dollars landed in my account.

I spent the rest of the day on a shopping spree, dropping 1.5 million on enough food, water, medicine, and supplies to fill ten trucks.

I then led the caravan to my secluded vacation home in the suburbs.

The drivers and movers worked diligently, stowing everything in the basement as I had instructed. Their eyes flickered with curiosity and confusion, but I ignored their silent questions.

The apocalypse had not arrived yet. How could they possibly understand the urgency I felt?

I was not concerned about looters post-apocalypse either. The villa's security was top-notch; any would-be thieves would need more than just guts to breach it. They would need explosives.

With the supplies secured, I hit the road again, heading for Lascora, a place I had found online that seemed perfect for a funeral.

Anxiety gnawed at me during the drive. Sight unseen, how could I truly be sure?

However, as Lascora came into view, relief washed over me. It was ideal. The land stretched for miles, barren except for a few homes to the west. The ground was a blanket of yellow sand, devoid of vegetation, a natural barrier against the threat of wildfires.

I confronted Andrew Smith right there on his property, telling him I needed to lease his land.

Andrew, a savvy businessman, saw my desperation and hit me with a jaw-dropping price of 1.5 million dollars.

I clenched my jaw and accepted.

However, I was no pushover. I demanded he get me five massive iron boxes for the burial gifts within a week.

I made it clear he had to cover for me if there was any flak for the bonfire I had planned for the funeral.

Andrew agreed without batting an eye, and I handed him a 750-thousand-dollar deposit right then and there.

Once everything was set, I could finally relax.

The funeral and logistics were sorted, then it was just about keeping an eye on things, which was the easy part.

Next on my list: getting my money back from Christopher.