I thought my plan was airtight.

What I didn't expect was Joyce swiping her bank card to buy a Hermès Birkin right before entering the sealed academic building.

My life drained away at an alarming speed.

The moment I saw her in the classroom, I lunged forward and pressed the tip of my pen against her throat.

If I were destined to live under this curse forever, I'd rather die with her.

But before I could apply any pressure, something slammed into the back of my head.

When I opened my eyes again, I was tied to a chair.

Lucas was standing in front of me. "Melanie, you attacked Joyce in front of everyone. And who knows how you treat people when no one's watching? As your boyfriend, I can't just stand by and do nothing."

He sounded so noble and righteous.

Clearly, he'd snooped through my phone, seen that my bank account was already empty, and decided this was his chance to put on a show in front of the lady he worshipped.

I looked around at my classmates, at their accusing glares burning into me, and my heart sank.

I told them the truth about Joyce spending my money and draining my life away, but no one believed me.

Lucas sneered, "You're jealous to the point of insanity. A rich lady like her would never care about the pocket change you have. Did you say Joyce is draining your life? Fine. Let's test it right here. If you die, I'll die with you."

With that, he tore out a sheet of paper and had Joyce write him an IOU for ten thousand dollars.

Lucas reassured her, loudly, that with so many people watching, he would never use the IOU to ask her for money later.

Joyce leaned in delicately against his shoulder, her voice soft and aggrieved. "If this money can prove my innocence, I don't mind giving everyone ten thousand dollars. My family really doesn't care about such a small amount."

She signed IOUs one by one, then transferred the money to everyone's bank accounts.

The choking sensation around my neck grew stronger, and I could feel my life slipping away.

Soon, my entire body began to convulse.

The classroom fell silent. For a moment, I thought they finally believed me.

However, Lucas scoffed coldly. "You act so convincingly. You should pursue a career in acting."

My classmates shook their heads.

"If Melanie were telling the truth, I'd stay single for life. Lying this hard? That's just pathetic."

Voices piled on, one accusation after another. When I opened my eyes, all I could see were fingers pointing inches from my face.

Then a thought flashed through my mind. So that was how it worked.

Finally, everything became clear.

In this life, Joyce would never get the chance to use me as her stepping stone again.

After the suffocating sensation passed, I forced myself to finish the Eddish competition despite the lingering discomfort.

Once I secured the scholarship, I bought a bus ticket home.

As I was leaving, I saw a notification in the class group chat.

Someone texted, "Joyce is taking everyone to an auction the day after tomorrow to broaden our horizons. She said if we want anything, we can bid without holding back. She's paying."

In my previous life, that was how I died.

Even the money I'd gotten by selling my family's house, meant for my mother's surgery, hadn't saved me.

That event was supposed to happen closer to finals. This time, it came much earlier.

Joyce was truly in a hurry to send me to my grave, but too bad for her.

This time, she'd be digging her own grave.

The moment I got on the bus, I received a message from Joyce. It read, "If you beg me for mercy in public, I might consider sparing you, Mel the Genius."

I smiled and didn't bother replying.

I stayed at the hospital with my mother for two days. Just as I was about to go get some water, Lucas called.

He was furious and demanded, "Melanie, what kind of freak disease did you pass on to Joyce? Why is she convulsing just like you did that day?"

I let out a cold laugh. "That's because..."