After the SAT scores were released, despite scoring two hundred points higher than my twin brother Daniel Lewis, my parents still believed that education wasn't important for girls.

In front of the entire family, my mother tore up my acceptance letter and school documents.

I didn't react.

Instead, I smiled and agreed with my mom's actions.

The next day, I went out to look for a job.

I had been reborn.

I knew the apocalypse was coming soon!

College could wait.

Surviving with my sister, whom I owed so much from my past life, was the most important thing.

***

The whole family was sitting in the living room, enjoying the air conditioning, but the atmosphere was tense.

My mom, Audrey Lewis, sighed and said, "Bella, there's no point in a girl getting so much education. Look at me. I only graduated from middle school, and I still married your dad, had you three kids, and lived a happy life."

My sister, Cynthia Lewis, quietly argued, "But Bella can get into the best college. If Daniel can go with his bad grades, why can't Bella?"

My dad, Gary Lewis, got angry immediately. "What's the point of college for her? We can't afford to send two kids to school. Besides, how can you compare Bella to her brother? He's a man. If a woman studies too much, she won't be able to get married."

With that, he grabbed my acceptance letter and documents, and before I could do anything, he ripped them up. "Tomorrow, you start working to help pay for your brother's tuition!

"You're twins, Bella. You're supposed to take care of Daniel."

I just stared at the calendar on the wall, breathing in the fresh air I hadn't experienced in a long time.

I wasn't dead!

No, to be precise, I had been reborn.

In my previous life, Daniel and I took the SAT together. When the scores came out, I scored two hundred points higher than him.

I could have gone to a top university, while Daniel might not have even made it to college.

But Gary and Audrey didn't want me to go to school. They not only refused to spend money on me but also didn't want me to surpass Daniel.

When I saw my documents and acceptance letter being torn apart, I cried so hard I almost passed out, shaking uncontrollably.

Daniel found my reaction hilarious, recorded it on his phone, and posted it online, asking: [What do I do with crazy Bella? So scared, lol.]

I lost my chance to go to school, and my life spiraled downward.

But this time, I didn't react like I did in my previous life. Instead, I nodded seriously. "You're right. It's so hot right now, and the café is doing great business. I'll go work there tomorrow to help pay for Daniel's college."

The three of them didn't expect me to agree so easily. They had prepared a whole list of arguments and excuses, but they didn't need any of them. They just nodded in stunned silence.

I meant what I said. I packed up all my notebooks and study materials and gave them to Daniel, sincerely telling him, "Daniel, you can do it. You're the family's hope."

That night, Cynthia and I lay in bed.

Our room didn't have air conditioning, and it was so hot at night that we couldn't sleep.

Cynthia whispered to me, afraid of waking the other three, "Bella, why did you do that? You're the one who should be going to college, not Daniel. Our family isn't so poor that they can't afford it.

"The preference for boys in our family is way too strong. You should stand up for yourself."

If it were my previous life, I would have said the same thing.

But this time, I didn't.

In my last life, my rebellion only got me insults and beatings.

Soon, the temperatures would start rising. In many places, it would reach 194 degrees Fahrenheit, and the ground temperature would exceed 210 degrees Fahrenheit. Crops would fail, and even people wouldn't survive.

When the extreme heat came, going out during the day would be impossible. It would be like stepping into a giant oven. We could only venture out at night to scavenge for food.

But with five people in the house, no matter how much we found, it was never enough.

Moreover, Cynthia ate something spoiled and got sick shortly after.

Under the pressure and demands of Gary and Audrey, I had no choice but to hold back my tears and take Cynthia out of the house, finding a place for her in an empty building.

But I never imagined that the air conditioner in the building wouldn't work. By the time I returned that evening to bring her medicine, Cynthia had already passed away from the heat and her illness.

Not even two months later, Gary forced me out as well, and I died on the streets.

Now, when I looked at the sweet Cynthia in front of me, I was so sad. In my previous life, I had failed her. But since fate has given me a second chance, I must protect her at all costs.

As I gently stroked Cynthia's hair, I wanted so badly to tell her that I had been reborn, but she was still so young. I was afraid she wouldn't be able to handle the truth and worried she might accidentally reveal it. So instead, I whispered, "Cynthia, studying isn't the only way to a good life. When I make some money, I'll save it for you to go to school."

Cynthia looked at me, puzzled, but said nothing and simply nodded.

I couldn't help but ask, "Cynthia, if I ever hurt you, would you forgive me?"

Cynthia's expression grew even more confused, but she still answered, "Of course, you're my sister!"

Following my plan, I left the house early the next morning, even before the sun came up.

But I wasn't going to work. I needed to prepare for the end of the world. Based on my calculations, we only had about two months left.

I had read plenty of Apocalypse novels, but none of them ever explained how to stock up on supplies with no money. And I didn't have any of those convenient cheat codes or pocket dimensions.

With empty pockets and not a cent to my name, how was I supposed to prepare?

After thinking it over, I decided to turn to online loans.