"Mom, you love me the most. Please, you, Dad, Clay and Agnes help me. I said I had three hundred thousand in savings because of my pride. I've always been very vain and just wanted to show off in front of family and relatives," I said.

I continued my act, "In truth, I haven't had a job in the city for the past few years. I like buying luxury goods and living in nice places. All these expenses were covered by borrowing money."

"I've maxed out all my credit cards and when I couldn't pay them off, I started taking out high-interest loans. Now I owe more than three millions outside. Please help me. The loan sharks said they'll give me one last month to pay up. If I can't, they'll kill me!"

"Dad, Mom, Clay, Agnes, I don't want to die!" I broke down in tears, crying and repenting, "If you help me this once, I'll dedicate every penny I earn from now on to the Portman Family, no matter how hard I have to work."

My mom was so angry that she was shaking all over and nearly fainted, "This is ridiculous! What bad luck for this family! How could I have raised such a useless daughter?"

By then, my brother had already dragged Agnes and their son back to the dining table to eat. He calmly spoke up, "Then what's with the three hundred thousand balance on your account?"

My eyes were red and swollen from crying, "That's the high-interest loan I took out before returning home. The interest is five hundred a day. It's just for appearances."

My brother slammed his fork on the table, "Natasha, are you joking? Repay three million? This family doesn't even have three hundred thousand! I might have a way, but I'm not sure if you'd agree. If you do, not only can your debts be solved, but I can clear mine as well."

I responded anxiously, "Tell me, Clay."

He lit a cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke before finally speaking, "I know a manager at a nightclub. You look decent. Go work there. The pay is high. How much you make in a night depends on your performance."

I instantly lost all hope, collapsing to the floor in despair.

Agnes, chewing on braised chicken, looked at me with disdain, "Who told you to be so vain? Coming from a modest family but acting like some rich girl. I think your brother's suggestion is good. Go and be a 'star' at the nightclub."

I turned back and grabbed my mom's hand, "Mom …"

She violently shook me off, "Your brother and sister-in-law are right. We don't even have money to spare right now. You created this mess, so you deal with it yourself. Since you can't find work, a nightclub isn't a bad option."

My heart sank to the depths. My parents had worked hard their entire lives and had pensions worth at least hundreds of thousands. Yet, they poured everything into covering Clay's gambling debts and left nothing for me.

I tried probing further, "Dad, Mom, what about our house …"

Before I could finish, my dad threw his cup of liquor in my face, "You dare think about the house? If I'd known you'd turn out like this, I'd rather you'd died out there!"

The sharp sting of the liquor burned my eyes and mouth. I staggered to my feet, "Fine. Then I'll leave and not disturb this family reunion dinner."

But my legs were numb from kneeling too long and I fell back to the ground, making my nephew burst out laughing, "Stupid! Idiot! Is your leg broken?" His words made everyone at the table laugh.

They continued eating and laughing as the cheerful music from the New Year's Eve played in the background.

I finally stood up. It took a long time before my legs could move properly, but my mom grabbed me, "Where are you planning to go now? Sit down and seriously consider your brother's suggestion. After we're done eating, you can clean up the table."

I originally thought she would let me stay for dinner.

I smiled faintly, "If you can't help me, I'll go ask someone else for help." With that, I got up to leave.

Suddenly, there was a loud banging on the door outside, "Open the door! If you don't, I'll break it down! It's New Year's Eve. Time to pay back what you owe!" From the voices, there were six or seven people outside.

Everyone's faces changed and they quickly put down their cutleries.

My mom stood up and slapped me twice across the face, "Why didn't you just die out there? You owe so much money and still dared to give the creditors our home address?"

My dad kicked me hard in the hip, "If I'd known, I never would've raised a jinx like you!"

He used so much force that I couldn't control myself and fell sideways, hitting my head on the edge of the coffee table. It buzzed with pain.

The door shook violently from the pounding.

My mom urged my dad to open it, while Agnes hid behind Clay, clutching my nephew in fear. When the door opened, Clay's expression changed.

He bent over and approached the visitor with a fawning smile, "Ah, Donny is here! Please, come in, come in!"

Donny Chapman, the leader, wore a leopard-print fur coat, a thick gold chain around his neck and a cigar in his mouth. Behind him were a group of swaggering lackeys.

Donny lightly patted Clay's face, "You said you'd pay me back by five this afternoon. What time is it now?"

Clay slapped himself twice hard, "Donny, look at me, such a pig-headed fool with a terrible memory. I forgot something this important. Have you and your men had a reunion dinner? Come in and eat. I'll cheers to you."

Donny took the main seat and his lackeys also sat down without hesitation.

Clay remained bent over, lighting cigarettes for each lackey, pouring them drinks and cursing himself as a pig-headed fool.

My parents, Agnes and my nephew stood by with their heads lowered, not daring to make a sound.

After making his rounds, Clay stood deferentially by Donny's side, ready to take orders.

Donny smiled faintly, extinguishing half his cigar on the dining table, "Clay, since I've come here today, I'm not leaving empty-handed. Your wife, your son, or one of your organs, you choose one for me to take."

"No! Absolutely not!" My mom's voice immediately turned tearful. My dad glared at her fiercely and she instantly fell silent.

Clay's legs gave out and he knelt beside Donny with a thud. My nephew started crying loudly in fear at those words.

Agnes quickly covered his mouth, "Don't be scared. Your dad will figure something out."

Clay begged desperately, "Donny, please give me a few more days. I'll gather fifty thousand and deliver it to you personally."

One of the lackeys kicked Clay in the head, "You said the same thing a few days ago."

Donny remained calm, still smiling faintly, "If you sit at the gambling table, you need to have the capital to gamble. I despise broken promises and hate people who waste my time."

The lackey grabbed Clay from the ground and slapped him repeatedly across the face, "Donny came here personally as a favor to you. He's giving you choices and you're still stalling? Another word and I'll end your pathetic life!"

My parents' eyes reddened with distress, but they could only fret helplessly.

Clay repeatedly banged his head on the ground while kneeling, "Donny, they're all my family. I can't bear to choose any of them."

The lackey sneered, "Then what about one of your organs? Pick one."

Clay suddenly lifted his head, his eyes gleaming. He extended his arm and pointed at me, "Her! Donny, she still has three hundred thousand in her account. Take the money, take her and it'll cover my debt and interest. That's more than enough, right?"

He said, "She's my sister, she hasn't married yet and doesn't even have a boyfriend. She's a virgin. Take her with you and do as you wish." The group turned their gaze toward me.

I finally regained my composure and slowly stood up from the floor.

Clay stood as well, grinning awkwardly, "Donny, look at her, she's not bad-looking, right?" The group's eyes scanned me from head to toe.

Suddenly, my mom walked over, holding my hand, tears streaming down her face, "Natasha, your brother had no other choice. They're already at the door. If we had the money, we would've paid them by now."

She continued, "Do you remember when you were a child and got chased by a dog? It was your brother who took a stick and killed the dog. We even had to compensate the owner. After that, dogs in the whole area avoided you."

"In middle school, when a boy bullied you, your brother broke his arm. He got expelled because of it and couldn't continue his studies. Your brother is so smart. If he'd kept studying, he definitely would've gotten into a good university. He wouldn't have ended up like this …" After speaking, she covered her mouth, sobbing.

I had heard these stories so often they had grown tiresome. My parents were experts in using past deeds to guilt-trip me, which is why, whenever I earned money, I always thought of them. I'd bring home the best food and gifts.

But until I died in my previous life, I never felt at peace. Only after my death, when my spirit lingered around them, did I uncover the truth. They had taken over my villa, hosting lavish feasts within.

I overheard my parents marveling, "Who would've thought Erik's daughter was so capable, leaving us such a fortune."

"The deaths of the Anderson Family were worthwhile. Their savings bought us our house and those two paintings are priceless. I've kept them safe."

"Good thing we didn't impulsively drown that little brat when she was one. I told Clay when she was little never to leave any scars on her. That way, we could still profit from her marrying, or, if worse came to worst, have her marry Clay."

"Erik Anderson, your family dying was just perfect for us. Hahaha."

I forced myself to remain calm and gripped my mother's hand firmly, "Mom, don't worry. Since my brother saved me before, I'll definitely help him. I'll go with them."

My mother hurriedly wiped her tears, breaking into a smile, "Now that's my good daughter."

Donny stood up to leave, but I stopped him, "Wait a moment."

I turned and removed the gold necklaces, rings and bracelets from my parents, Clay and Agnes. Then I took back the tens of thousands I had given them in envelopes, the expensive gift boxes and the toys worth tens of thousands I had bought for my nephew. I carried it all outside in one go.

The family panicked, shouting, "Natasha, what are you doing?"

I clapped my hands, "All of this was bought by me, so I'm taking it."

With a single glance from Donny, his lackeys stepped forward to carry the items I brought out. My parents, brother and sister-in-law were too angry to speak, glaring at me hatefully.

I followed Donny into the car, he said, "Young lady, we're honorable people. We won't harm you. As long as you pay back Clay's debt, you're free to go." Without hesitation, I scanned Donny's QR code and transferred two million.

Only then did he look at me properly, "You giving so much?"

I smiled and said, "Donny, just a small money of appreciation. I'll also need your help with something. If you agree to work with me, I can pay a down-payment fee of five million."