Because I wouldn't hook up my bestie Natalie Duncan with my brother Yosef Watson, my parents, Frank and Maria Watson, really started to hate my guts.

Natalie and I ended up locked up and burned to death.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to when Maria had given me her final warning.

Maria demanded, "Layla Watson, you have to bring Natalie here and get her to marry Yosef!"

I said yes, pretending to agree, but I introduced Yosef to a cross-dresser as his girlfriend instead.

***

The last thing I remember from my past life was the fierce pain of being burned alive.

My soul was floating mid-air. I saw Natalie, charred, lying next to me, shielding me till her death.

My overwhelming resentment sent me into nothingness.

When I opened my eyes again, Natalie was right there next to me, watching a movie.

Time had rolled back to when we could still fix things. Natalie wasn't captured by Yosef, and I wasn't burned alive yet.

Overcome with emotion, I hugged Natalie tight.

Just then, the digital lock on our front door beeped.

"Get inside and lock the door! Stay there if you care about me!" I quickly pushed Natalie into the bedroom.

The next second, Maria walked in with Yosef.

Right off the bat, Yosef was eyeballing my place, looking for anything valuable.

Maria's voice was sharp and bitter. "Layla, get on with it and send Yosef two million dollars for spending money. And call over your friend Natalie. Yosef's waiting to marry her."

Seeing my silence, Maria raised her voice. "Natalie's lucky Yosef's into her. Plus, if Yosef marries Natalie, you two will be even closer, practically family, right?"

I just scoffed.

In my previous life, Natalie, not wanting me to be in a tough spot, came out to greet Maria. But that got her stuck with Yosef.

I planned to take Natalie and run away from them. But right before we left, Yosef threatened her using my life as leverage.

By the time I got there, Natalie had already been drugged and locked up by Yosef.

Maria, fearing I'd report Yosef's crime, locked me up too.

Natalie and I tried to escape, but we were caught again. Furious, Yosef set the place on fire, and Natalie and I were burned alive.

This time around, I would settle the score with the Watson family.

I lowered my voice, trying to sound meek. "Mom, it's not that I don't want Natalie to meet Yosef. Her family's nearly bankrupt, scrambling for cash everywhere. She just called to borrow money from me, but I literally just hung up.

And I'm broke now too. Natalie's swindled all my company's cash flow."

Maria pressed harder. "Bankrupt? Her family's the richest in Ankaville. How could they go under? Can they even bounce back?

Damn, if her family wasn't loaded and she wasn't your friend, she wouldn't even be in the running to marry into the Watsons."

I took a deep breath, stifling my anger. "I just met a girl whose family does business abroad. She's even prettier than Natalie. Actually, she invited me for high tea tomorrow. I'll bring Yosef along."

That got Maria smiling. "Got a picture of her? Show me. My son doesn't dine with just anyone."

I pulled up a photo of Andrew Howard dressed as a girl on my phone. Then I handed it to Maria and Yosef, lying that her name was Andrea. Yosef's eyes lit up.

"Damn, she looks easy to woo. Layla, fetch me a nice bag to gift her tomorrow. Make sure it's new," Yosef ordered.

I pretended to be in a pickle. "You know I've never been into luxury goods. I sold the few bags I had to help Natalie with some quick cash.

I heard Dad just gave you a million dollars for spending. Choosing the gift yourself shows more thought. Andrea isn't about the frills. She values sincerity most."

Yosef didn't buy that I was out of bags. He bypassed me and started searching through my closet.

"How do you have nothing? How's that little bit of money gonna cut it for chasing a girl? Go and get another two million dollars for me," Yosef ordered.

Holding back my frustration gave Maria a smug look of satisfaction. She clung to Yosef's arm, all high and mighty. "Yosef, Layla won't dare withhold the money. If she does, I'll kick her out of the Watson family."

I kept apologizing, my voice low and submissive, "Mom, Yosef, just give me a bit of time. Buy the gift yourself for now. I'll make sure the money gets to you."

Pleased with themselves, they finally left.

Natalie stepped out, looking confused. "Layla, are you hiding something from me?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Get Andrew over here. It's time for his killer cosplay skills to shine."

Andrew, a childhood buddy of Natalie's, was big on cosplaying anime and game characters. He loved dressing up as a girl, and looked prettier than most when he did.

Most crucially, Andrew knew how to fight. Yosef wouldn't be able to take advantage of him.

I quickly filled Natalie in on our past ordeal. Then I whipped up a fake three-million-dollar promissory note in Yosef's name for her.

The Watson family's house was just about worth three million.

If the Watsons wanted their son to marry someone rich and snatch their property, I was all in to give them a push.

Natalie and I treated Andrew to a fancy dinner to win him over.

Andrew said confidently, "I got this. Guys like Yosef, who dream about dating anime characters, are an open book to me."

Next day, Andrew showed up in flats and a floral dress.

Yosef practically drooled when he saw Andrew.

I tugged at Yosef's sleeve, signaling for him to present the gift.

Yosef finally said, "Andrea, here is a little something from me. A fancy bag for a beautiful lady."

Andrew barely glanced at the gift bag and said with a hint of disdain, "I usually give this brand to my maids.

But I guess I'll keep it, since you're Layla's brother."

Yosef's face turned red, but he forced a smile and said, "My bad, Andrea, just tell me what you like, and I'll get it for you."

Right in front of Andrew, I offered to transfer money to Yosef.

I told him, "Chasing girls costs a fortune, I've just wired you two million dollars. Spoil Andrea with some surprises."

During the high tea, Andrew had Yosef completely enchanted. Yosef friended Andrew on WhatsApp. Then Andrew excused himself to check on his office and left.

Yosef, grinning broadly, clutched his phone. "Layla, I think Andrea's quite taken with me. When's her period? I'm thinking of getting her pregnant soon."

I laughed. "Andrea's pretty shy and innocent, so you'll have to take the lead. And hey, watch your spending. I had to mortgage my house to scrape together that two million for you."

Using a newly created account, Andrew and I chatted with Yosef for a couple of weeks, which made him even more obsessed with "Andrea."

Yosef ended up splurging one and a half million dollars on gifts for "Andrea."

But "Andrea" only responded with gifts of equal value and never agreed to be his girlfriend.

After a few tests, Yosef completely bought into the idea that "Andrea" was a naive heiress, just a rich girl with more money than sense.

I told Yosef, "Andrea is just testing you. Don't rush things, just keep at it a bit longer."

But Maria was even more impatient than Yosef.

Annoyed that Yosef had blown so much money on "Andrea" without even a touch, Maria couldn't stand it and started bombarding me with calls.

Over the phone, Maria snapped, "Layla, that Andrea isn't right for Yosef. Get her to send all the gifts back.

Yosef spent a ton, and she's just stringing him along. That's a real bitch move.

And you, stop mixing with these shady characters. They're bad news."

Putting on a weepy voice, Andrew chimed in, "Mrs. Watson, I can't believe you think that of me. What Yosef spent is just half of my monthly allowance from my dad. I didn't know you guys were tight on cash.

Don't worry, I won't bother Yosef anymore. I'll send back everything he gave me."

Before Maria could reply, Andrew hung up.

He turned to me and remarked, "Man, that's crazy. I've never met a mom like her before."

Natalie silently gave Andrew a thumbs-up. "The real craziness is still to come."

Within ten minutes, Yosef tried to video call.

Andrew kept rejecting Yosef's video calls, five times in total. Yosef panicked and started sending voice messages: [Andrea, my mom didn't mean it like that. She's tough on the outside but soft inside.

She's just looking out for us. Don't be mad at her.

And hey, I bought that evening gown you wanted!]

Andrew sent back a tearful voice message: [I've never been insulted or hurt like this before. I'm going to return your gifts, and let's not talk anymore!]

I grabbed the phone and added: [Yosef, mom was way out of line. How could she indirectly call Andrea a gold digger? Do you really think Andrea cares about a million or so?]

Fearing he might lose "Andrea," Yosef humbled himself for the first time.

He sent back a voice message, almost begging: [Layla, please, put in a good word for me. I've already chewed out my mom. I truly care about Andrea.]

Seeing my chance, I replied: [Andrea's dad likes a certain bracelet. He said anyone who can snag that bracelet and offer it as a dowry, he'd let Andrea marry him.]

Yosef immediately promised to get it, no matter what.

Actually, the auction for that bracelet was a hoax set up by Natalie.

That so-called bracelet with a starting bid of three million dollars? It was just a ten-dollar knockoff from a street stall.

When Yosef asked me for money, I directed him to Natalie's uncle's loan company.

I told Yosef, "If you want to make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs. Andrea's family has billions, so sincerity means everything to her.

If you skimp on even a bracelet, how's she supposed to trust your love?"

With a little push from me, Yosef ended up signing for a five-million-dollar loan.

Natalie worked her contacts, and Yosef managed to secure the bracelet for six million. After Natalie paid off her insiders, she and I netted four million.

Before Yosef got the bracelet, "Andrea" kept playing up her woes.

"Andrea" said, "Yosef, dear, I think we're not right for each other. Your mom looks down on me, and if I married you, I'd just have a tough enough time.

Does your family prefer sons over daughters? She's so hard on Layla.

Are you actually going to get that bracelet for me? My dad heard it was auctioned off."

"Andrea" broke down crying, and Yosef, pissed off, stormed home and blew up at Maria.

A week later, when Yosef finally had the bracelet, he texted "Andrea" to meet.

Andrew showed up with light makeup, looking vulnerable and delicate.

Instead of Yosef, though, Maria showed up.

Spotting Maria charging into the restaurant like a storm, I quickly pulled Natalie into a corner to hide.

Maria, already fed up from dealing with Yosef, was ready to dump all her frustration on "Andrea."

She confronted Andrew sharply, "So, you're Andrea?

I'm Yosef's mother. If you want to be his wife, you follow our rules.

I don't care if you're an heiress from a wealthy family. Yosef was raised a prince.

Since you've taken our dowry, let's get the wedding sorted quickly. Once you're in, keep your head down. I control the Watson finances. When you have a son, I'll make sure you get some spending money."

Andrew was stunned into silence. Maria, thinking she'd scared him, slammed down a stack of papers. "These are our family rules. Get familiar with them."

Natalie filmed everything and gave Andrew cues.

Choking back tears, Andrew said, "Mrs. Watson, if you don't respect me, just say it directly. There's no need to insult me."

I was blown away by Maria's twisted logic. Here she had a rich and attractive potential daughter-in-law, and instead of welcoming her, she setting harsh rules.

I quickly messaged Yosef: [Mom's about to hit Andrea. Andrea needs you right now!] I spiced up the story and sent Yosef the video Natalie had filmed.

Yosef replied urgently: [Layla, keep Andrea safe. I'll be there in five!]

With the cues from Natalie, Andrew started to provoke Maria.

Andrew snapped back, "Mrs. Watson, your family's too poor to be acting all high and mighty. You think I'd marry into your mess of a family for chump change? And your son? What a disaster. He's ugly and so are his thoughts.

Maybe go see a psychiatrist, huh? Seems like delusions run in your family.

No wonder Yosef is so shameless. He gets it from you, bitch. You're all crooked."

Maria was livid. "You! I'll rip your lips off!"

As she grabbed a pot of coffee to throw at Andrew, Yosef caught her right in the act.