After Rising From The Ashes

Because I wouldn't hook up my bestie Natalie Duncan with my brother Yosef Watson, my parents, Frank and Maria Watson, really started to hate my guts.

Natalie and I ended up locked up and burned to death.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to when Maria had given me her final warning.

Maria demanded, "Layla Watson, you have to bring Natalie here and get her to marry Yosef!"

I said yes, pretending to agree, but I introduced Yosef to a cross-dresser as his girlfriend instead.

***

The last thing I remember from my past life was the fierce pain of being burned alive.

My soul was floating mid-air. I saw Natalie, charred, lying next to me, shielding me till her death.

My overwhelming resentment sent me into nothingness.

When I opened my eyes again, Natalie was right there next to me, watching a movie.

Time had rolled back to when we could still fix things. Natalie wasn't captured by Yosef, and I wasn't burned alive yet.

Overcome with emotion, I hugged Natalie tight.

Just then, the digital lock on our front door beeped.

"Get inside and lock the door! Stay there if you care about me!" I quickly pushed Natalie into the bedroom.

The next second, Maria walked in with Yosef.

Right off the bat, Yosef was eyeballing my place, looking for anything valuable.

Maria's voice was sharp and bitter. "Layla, get on with it and send Yosef two million dollars for spending money. And call over your friend Natalie. Yosef's waiting to marry her."

Seeing my silence, Maria raised her voice. "Natalie's lucky Yosef's into her. Plus, if Yosef marries Natalie, you two will be even closer, practically family, right?"

I just scoffed.

In my previous life, Natalie, not wanting me to be in a tough spot, came out to greet Maria. But that got her stuck with Yosef.

I planned to take Natalie and run away from them. But right before we left, Yosef threatened her using my life as leverage.

By the time I got there, Natalie had already been drugged and locked up by Yosef.

Maria, fearing I'd report Yosef's crime, locked me up too.

Natalie and I tried to escape, but we were caught again. Furious, Yosef set the place on fire, and Natalie and I were burned alive.

This time around, I would settle the score with the Watson family.

I lowered my voice, trying to sound meek. "Mom, it's not that I don't want Natalie to meet Yosef. Her family's nearly bankrupt, scrambling for cash everywhere. She just called to borrow money from me, but I literally just hung up.

And I'm broke now too. Natalie's swindled all my company's cash flow."

Maria pressed harder. "Bankrupt? Her family's the richest in Ankaville. How could they go under? Can they even bounce back?

Damn, if her family wasn't loaded and she wasn't your friend, she wouldn't even be in the running to marry into the Watsons."

I took a deep breath, stifling my anger. "I just met a girl whose family does business abroad. She's even prettier than Natalie. Actually, she invited me for high tea tomorrow. I'll bring Yosef along."

That got Maria smiling. "Got a picture of her? Show me. My son doesn't dine with just anyone."

I pulled up a photo of Andrew Howard dressed as a girl on my phone. Then I handed it to Maria and Yosef, lying that her name was Andrea. Yosef's eyes lit up.

"Damn, she looks easy to woo. Layla, fetch me a nice bag to gift her tomorrow. Make sure it's new," Yosef ordered.

I pretended to be in a pickle. "You know I've never been into luxury goods. I sold the few bags I had to help Natalie with some quick cash.

I heard Dad just gave you a million dollars for spending. Choosing the gift yourself shows more thought. Andrea isn't about the frills. She values sincerity most."

Yosef didn't buy that I was out of bags. He bypassed me and started searching through my closet.

"How do you have nothing? How's that little bit of money gonna cut it for chasing a girl? Go and get another two million dollars for me," Yosef ordered.

Holding back my frustration gave Maria a smug look of satisfaction. She clung to Yosef's arm, all high and mighty. "Yosef, Layla won't dare withhold the money. If she does, I'll kick her out of the Watson family."

I kept apologizing, my voice low and submissive, "Mom, Yosef, just give me a bit of time. Buy the gift yourself for now. I'll make sure the money gets to you."

Pleased with themselves, they finally left.

Natalie stepped out, looking confused. "Layla, are you hiding something from me?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Get Andrew over here. It's time for his killer cosplay skills to shine."

Andrew, a childhood buddy of Natalie's, was big on cosplaying anime and game characters. He loved dressing up as a girl, and looked prettier than most when he did.

Most crucially, Andrew knew how to fight. Yosef wouldn't be able to take advantage of him.

I quickly filled Natalie in on our past ordeal. Then I whipped up a fake three-million-dollar promissory note in Yosef's name for her.

The Watson family's house was just about worth three million.

If the Watsons wanted their son to marry someone rich and snatch their property, I was all in to give them a push.