My best friend has always been stingy to the bone, so the moment she volunteers to buy a bottle of water for the heir to Bellaris' most powerful family, who collapsed from heatstroke, I know she has been reborn, too.

In my previous life, she and I sat for the college entrance exam together, and when the results were announced, we both got the same high score. Both of us had our eyes on Kingsley University, yet the admissions quota was limited, and neither of us wanted to jeopardize our friendship, so we kept delaying our application.

In the blink of an eye, it was the last day to file our applications, and as I was about to start on mine, I stumbled upon the heir to Bellaris' most powerful family, who happened to be suffering from heatstroke. I not only bought him a bottle of water, but I also held an umbrella over him until he came to.

By the time he regained consciousness, I had already missed the submission deadline. My best friend submitted hers just in time and got accepted into Kingsley University. Because I never submitted mine, the opportunity to attend university slipped past me.

However, the heir apparent was touched by my act of kindness, and he asked for my hand in marriage. In the end, I married him and became a socialite, whereas my best friend, despite getting into Kingsley University, was overwhelmed by the demanding curriculum.

Watching me live with more money than I could spend, she was fueled with jealousy until one day, she snapped and stabbed me.

The moment I open my eyes again, my best friend and I are back on the day the heir to Bellaris' most powerful family passes out from the heat.

"Norman, give me your most expensive bottle of mineral water!"

Someone bumped into my lower back inside the convenience shop, and I jolted awake.

After grabbing the bottle of water, Maya Fairweather shot me a wary glare. She rushed out of the shop and headed straight to a lounge chair outside.

Sitting there was none other than Noah Reed, the heir to the Bellaris' most powerful family, who was pale and suffering from heatstroke. Maya set the water down beside him, pulled out some tissues, and gently wiped the sweat from his face.

Noticing how anxious she looked, I was certain she had been reborn too.

Just as I suspected, Maya turned around and blocked my view of Noah. "Lumiere, hurry up and go to the classroom to fill out the application form. I'll take care of Mr. Reed. You're just getting in the way."

I looked at her coldly. "Relax. I didn't plan on taking care of him either."

After hearing that, she clearly didn't believe me. So, she scoffed. "Yeah, right! In our previous life, you—"

Maya caught herself and zipped her mouth shut, but I already knew what she meant.

In our previous life, Noah had proposed to me because I had taken care of him when he suffered from heatstroke, and he was deeply moved. I married into money, while Maya successfully enrolled in Kingsley University.

However, after graduation, she joined the rat race, whereas I lived comfortably as the pampered wife of a rich man. At our class reunion, her jealousy drove her to stab me.

Somehow, both of us had been reborn.

Several of our classmates nearby were well aware of how stingy Maya was, and they whispered among themselves.

"Maya is usually unbelievably cheap. Yet, knowing the guy is the heir to the city's most powerful family, she suddenly buys a ten-dollar bottle of water. If he were just some regular guy, she wouldn't even spare him a glance. What a snob!"

As soon as their words fell, Maya stiffened and snapped back, "Shut up! I like to help people. What do you guys know? I don't want the Kingsley University spot anymore, Lumiere. I'll give it to you!"

Everyone gaped at her the moment those words rolled off her tongue.

Maya strutted over to me and said, "So what if you're attending Kingsley University? In today's world, even if you graduate from the most prestigious university, you still end up breaking your back for someone else. As a woman, the smartest thing you can do is marry a good man!"

Then, she shot me a cold look. "But that ship has sailed for you, so stop daydreaming!"

I nodded, too lazy to waste my breath on her, and left with the others to fill out our forms. Since she wanted so badly to marry into wealth, I might as well give her that chance.

…

Ten minutes later, we finished filling out our forms.

When we walked past Maya and Noah again, Noah gradually came to.

Noticing him stir, she threw herself at him and held his hand, her face filled with concern. "Are you feeling better, Mr. Reed? Should I rush you to the hospital?"

Meeting her overly anxious eyes, Noah froze for a moment.

Maya placed her hand on his forehead and fretted, "Are you still feeling unwell?"

"I'm alright now. Thank you. Were you the one who took care of me just now?" he inquired.

She smiled bashfully. "Yeah. I thought I'd stay with you for a while. If anything came up, I'd feel better being right here."

As soon as her words fell, a limousine pulled up at the school gates, and the Reed family's butler hurried over. Noticing his family's butler, Noah said, "Thank you for looking after me today, Maya. Let me treat you to a meal."

Maya's eyes lit up with excitement, and she nodded repeatedly.

Before she left, she shot me a contemptuous look. "Lumiere, you're destined to be a pathetic office lady for the rest of your life. I, on the other hand, am going to marry into wealth!"

I watched her strut off and let out a cold, derisive chuckle. I wondered if Maya seriously thought ordinary people like us could just marry into a wealthy family.

A few days later, Maya showed up late at our class' graduation party.

She was born and raised in the countryside, so she usually dressed plainly. However, she was covered in designer brands from head to toe that day. The moment she walked in, she practically blinded everyone.

Maya flipped her hair and walked straight up to me. As soon as she took her seat, she pinched her nose and scowled. "What is that? I'm allergic to cheap red wine. Hurry up and take it away!

"Bring us your best red wine. Don't try to fool us with this garbage!"

Then, she raised her voice. "Everything tonight is on me! Go ahead and eat whatever you want!"

Our classmates gaped at her.

Maya had always been unbelievably frugal. Honestly, it wasn't her fault.

Her family was dirt poor. Sometimes, she had to split a single sandwich into two meals. She had never even tasted real wine, much less bought it for others.

"Maya, are you alright…?" one of them asked cautiously.

Maya immediately pulled out a credit card from her bag and waved it in front of us. "Mr. Reed and I are officially together."

The room exploded. "Maya, you're seeing Mr. Reed?"

Maya lifted her freshly done nails and nodded smugly, grinning from ear to ear. "Mmhmm. He pursued me for days. Initially, I was hesitant, but I ultimately agreed to be with him."

As soon as her words sank in, several of our classmates hurried over to suck up to her.

Maya shot me a disdainful look. "Why do you still look so shabby, Lumiere? You've already graduated from high school, yet you don't own even one decent outfit? How embarrassing!

"But I suppose that's what happens when you have a textbook for a brain. You're not going anywhere in life."

The moment those words left her lips, our classmate jumped in to defend me. "Cut it out, Maya. Lumiere has been accepted into Kingsley University!"

Maya scoffed when she heard that. "So what if she has been accepted into Kingsley University? At the end of the day, she still has to get married, have kids, and work herself into the ground for pennies!

"Lumiere, if you butter me up, perhaps when I marry into wealth, I'll give you a bite to eat and let you ride on my coattails for once."

I merely plastered a smile on my face when I heard that.

Several of our classmates couldn't take it anymore. They snorted and whispered among themselves.

"She sure loves to daydream. Why would Mr. Reed ever marry someone like her? She should seriously take a good look at herself!"

"He's definitely tied to a business alliance. He's only messing around with her. She's genuinely overestimating herself."

"Exactly. It's not like he's blind. There's no way he'd go for someone like her!"

Yet, I was the only one who knew that Maya would truly be able to marry Noah.

…

In the days that followed, Maya updated her social media every day. She was glued to Noah, traveling all over the world as though she'd already become part of high society. She sent me tons of videos to show off, but I ignored all of them because I had already experienced that in my previous life.

In the blink of an eye, I received my admission letter from Kingsley University just as I had hoped, while Maya had fully immersed herself in her new life as a rich man's girlfriend.

The students who were accepted into Kingsley University were scheduled for a media interview that day, but to my surprise, Maya showed up as well. She arrived dressed to the nines, wearing a white dress and flawless makeup.

When our classmates spotted her, they immediately grumbled, "What are you doing here, Maya? The interview today is for the students who were accepted into Kingsley University. Why are you all dressed up? Are you trying to steal the spotlight?"

Maya could have still gotten into a top university even if she didn't qualify for Kingsley University. However, she chose to give it up. Our homeroom teacher tried to talk her out of it. "Education is the key that opens doors in society. If you don't pursue your studies, you will regret it in the future."

She ignored the flashing cameras and swept her cold gaze across everyone. "I have something important going on today. So what if you lot got into Kingsley? Even after you graduate, you'll only be good enough to work as housekeepers for my family!"

There were lots of reporters and, more importantly, the whole thing was being livestreamed. Netizens exploded the moment they heard her outrageous words, spamming the chat and calling her delusional.

Maya, however, didn't seem to care. She only thought everyone was jealous of her.

However, I was aware of the real reason she dressed up so beautifully that day—it was because, in my previous life, Noah had proposed to me on this very day.

The principal couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forward to reprimand her. "Maya! We're on a livestream, and there are reporters present. How can you say things like that as a student of our school? Leave at once!"

As soon as the principal's words fell, Maya shoved him aside, annoyed. "You're the one who should leave! Don't stand in front of me!"

The principal was so enraged by her action that his chest heaved, and his face flushed crimson. He was about to have security drag her away when a familiar limousine pulled up at the school gates.

Maya lowered her head and smoothed out her dress before facing the cameras with disdain. "Who cares about Kingsley University? Consider yourselves lucky that you get to witness a momentous moment in my life today. Make sure you film it well because you'll be able to brag about this for the rest of your lives!"

Just then, Noah stepped out of the car. He was wearing a sharp black suit, and he strode toward Maya with a bouquet.

The reporters instantly turned all their cameras toward them. Everyone at the scene gaped, not knowing what was going on.

Noticing how surprised everyone looked, Maya lifted her chin proudly. "I told you I'm about to marry into wealth, but you lot don't believe me. Do you feel like eating your words now?

"Mr. Reed is here to propose to me. Open your eyes and take a good look. This is the closest you'll ever get to something this grand!"

The very next second, Noah stepped forward, pulled out a ring, and got down on one knee before Maya. "Darling, will you marry me?"

Maya burst into happy tears. "Of course I will!"

The couple embraced.

Maya gleefully held her hand up to the cameras, showing off her diamond ring. "Are you seeing this? This ring alone is worth more than what you people can earn in your entire lives! Who cares about Kingsley University?

"I'm going to become the lady of the Reed family. You'll all end up working for me once you graduate anyway!" Then, she snorted, beaming with pride.

Little did she know, the truth behind her marriage was about to be exposed…