After Being Killed by My Poisonous Cousin, I'm Reborn

After my cousin graduated from college, my parents, in a bid to help out, forced her into my life as my assistant.

They also said that since the young girl had nowhere to live after graduation, she could move directly into my house.

From that point on, she treated my clothes, my makeup, and my bags as if they were her own, using them whenever she pleased.

Every day, she would also hitch a ride with me to and from work.

One day, I couldn't take her home because I had to meet a client.

Her boyfriend blamed me for making her catch a cold after getting caught in the rain.

In the heat of an argument, he pushed me down the stairs, and I died.

When I opened my eyes again, she hadn't become my assistant yet.

*****

"Ms. Lowe, your phone is ringing. Why aren't you answering it?"

My colleague's voice startled me awake, and my phone was ringing continuously. The screen displayed a half-finished project plan.

I was momentarily confused; hadn't I already submitted this project?

The call was from my mom, and I answered it, still puzzled.

"Connie, your aunt just told me that her daughter, your cousin, is graduating from college this year. She wants you to help find her a job. Can you do anything?"

I looked at the empty desk across from me, and it suddenly hit me. I had been reborn.

I was back to the time before Mary Graham had come to work as my assistant.

I immediately refused. "Mom, I really can't help with that."

My mom wanted to try persuading me. "But didn't you just get promoted to supervisor? Can't you put in a word? Can't Mary at least work temporarily at your company?"

"No, Mom. She worked hard to get her education. It's not fair to offer her a job with a monthly salary of just 3,000 dollars.

"Don't go through all the trouble of getting her here, only for her to find the salary too low and the job problematic.

"If Mary doesn't appreciate it, and my aunt blames you for ruining her daughter's future, you'll end up in a thankless situation. It's not worth it."

I knew my mom too well; she was kind-hearted and easily swayed.

In my previous life, my aunt had approached me first, and when I refused, she sent Mary directly to my parents, who couldn't get rid of her.

They felt obligated to help her find a job.

Not wanting to put my parents in a difficult position, I pulled some strings to get Mary to work as my assistant.

But once she arrived, she wouldn't rent a place and moved directly into my home instead.

She said, "Don't worry, Connie. I'll move out as soon as I find a place."

But she never seriously looked for one. Whenever I tried to help, she always found something wrong with the options.

She hitched a ride with me every day and could never get up in time, always arriving just in time to clock in.

At work, she slacked off, never working overtime, and frequently mooched off her coworkers for coffee, snacks, and takeout, even taking a share of the team's bonuses.

Her behavior annoyed my colleagues, but she would dismiss it, saying that this is how Generation Z is "fixing the workplace."

She lived off me, using my things, and even took my luxury bags, which I rarely used, to show off without asking.

When I expressed my displeasure, she said, "Bags are meant to be used, right? I'm just helping you get your money's worth."

One day, it rained heavily, and I was out meeting a client, unable to return to the office by the end of the day.

She had to go home in the rain, and as a result, caught a cold.

Her boyfriend, feeling sorry for her, came to confront me.

He accused me of deliberately scheduling client meetings on rainy days to bully her.

In the heat of the argument, he pushed me down the stairs...

The excruciating pain from falling down the stairs still lingered faintly in my memory.

I knew that unless my mom felt it would affect her directly, she wouldn't have the resolve to reject my aunt's request.

After some thought, my mom finally agreed not to get involved.

I breathed a sigh of relief.