"Finally, you're willing to come back. I thought you would stay at the nightclub and let yourself be touched a little longer."
Zack Walker's sarcastic voice sounded.
I looked at the familiar man in front of me in a daze.
"Didn't Zack stab me to death with a knife? How am I still able to move?"
My phone rang, and the time displayed on it showed it was four years ago.
At that moment, I realized that I was reborn.
I was reborn to the time when I had just known Zack for a year, and all the tragedies of my previous life had not happened yet!
"Huh, another man."
Zack snatched my phone and looked at the caller ID on it, gritting his teeth:
"Catherine Lewis, will you die if you don't mess around outside?"
I looked up at him, and his eyes were full of violence. How did I used to think that it was his way of caring about me? I was brainwashed by him and loved him wholeheartedly.
"Isn't it normal if I work in a bar?"
I poured myself a glass of warm water to relieve my thirst after drinking.
"You finally admit that you're fooling around with some other man outside!"
Zack, as if he had caught me red-handed, took out his phone from his pocket. The video showed me mixing drinks at the bar, pleasing a customer with a fake smile.
He looked so funny when he acted like that.
In my previous life, he pursued me for three years, claiming that I was his only one in this life and he would not marry anyone else. I was deeply moved. When he told me about his failed business and his being chased by a debt collector with no place to go, I let him move into my house and took good care of him, providing him with good food and drink. I feared that he would be under too much pressure, so I always did everything carefully as he wished.
Nevertheless, he not only didn't appreciate it, but he treated me like a servant and took all my money to support his mistress outside.
To repay his debts, I worked hard day and night, doing 10 odd jobs a day, even working as a hostess in a bar. To improve my performance, I endured humiliation and was taken advantage of by customers. In the end, I was stripped naked and filmed in an indecent video.
But Zack, who knew everything, didn't care at all.
"Catherine is just a gold digger who is both slutty and cheap. She says she's making money to repay my debts, but she's just making excuses for her promiscuous behavior. I guess she's probably secretly happy after filming this video. If you like it, you can buy her a bottle of wine. She can even film something more explicit!"
I was livid and asked him to repay the money. I wanted to report him to the police for fraud and defamation. I didn't expect him to stab me to death and dismember my body!
My internal organs and minced meat were flushed into the toilet and down the sewer.
Just thinking about the miserable situation in my previous life made me tremble with anger.
Fortunately, I was reborn and nothing had happened yet. I would make everyone who had deceived me pay a price a hundred times heavier than mine!
I hid all the hatred in my eyes and looked up at Zack with a smile.
"If you don't believe me, I won't go there anymore."
He was stunned for a second, not expecting me to agree so readily.
Being a hostess at a bar was the fastest way to make money and pay off debts, but Zack thought I was trying to seduce other men and attract attention. I desperately explained that it was to pay off his debts, but he just kept insulting me, and in the end, I could only apologize and blame myself for everything.
In my previous life, he took out that video and scolded me for being shameless. I desperately explained how innocent I was, but it only resulted in more heartless mockery and brainwashing from him, making me feel ashamed and sorry for him.
I wouldn't give him that opportunity this time.
With alcohol in my system and exhaustion taking over my body, I didn't want to talk with him. I walked straight to the bathroom, ready to wash up and go to sleep.
Zack saw that I was ignoring him and caught up to hold my hand.
"What's that attitude? You were the one who told me not to worry and that you would help me pay off my debts and support me when my business failed. It's only been a month and you can't stand it and want to regret it?"
Looking at his arrogant and angry expression, I inexplicably found it funny.
"I've seen many men who live off women, but you're the first one who not only does not appreciate it but also badmouths the one who supports you."
I used to wonder what benefits he could get from defaming me, his girlfriend.
Now I realized that Zack was just despicable. Otherwise, how could he come up with such a disgusting idea as pretending to be poor to deceive his girlfriend?
Zack's face turned red from my scolding, and he was about to fight back when the password lock of the house rang.
When I looked at my "pure best friend" in a Chanel white dress and carrying a Louis Vuitton bag, memories from my past life came flooding back.
2In my previous life, Daisy Scott was fired by the company and had nowhere to go, so I took her in.
I let her live in my house without asking for a penny to help her relieve the pressure, but she got together with Zack while I was working hard outside.
When caught in bed, Daisy got down on her knees in self-blame and said to me pitifully, "Catherine, I'm sorry. I know this is wrong, but I can't control my feelings for Zack. I'm a bad woman. If you can't accept it, I can die."
Zack, a selfish fool, being moved by her affectionate and righteous appearance, protected Daisy behind him.
"Daisy and I truly love each other. She is pure and kind, giving me all her pure love. She's completely different from gold diggers like you who are aggressive and hypocritical!"
I was so angry that I almost suffocated.
Why did I stoop so low to become a bar girl?! Wasn't it because Zack said he had failed in his business and owed a lot of debts, almost being forced to commit suicide and needing a large amount of money?!
Daisy saw my bloodshot eyes, and without distinguishing right from wrong, she spoke up for Zack, "Catherine, why are you arguing with Zack again? Zack is under a lot of pressure right now. If he did something wrong, you should just humor him.
"Men all like gentle and considerate women. Catherine, you should learn to humor Zack slowly. Otherwise, Zack will be so pitiful."
In my previous life, although I was angry when I heard that rubbish, I never said anything because of our many years of friendship.
But when I heard those things again, I felt disgusted and hated myself for being blind in my past life and not realizing that she was a bitch.
I nodded and pretended to be obedient.
"Daisy, you're right. I will quit my job and humor Zack at home."
"Quit, quit your job?" Daisy seemed to not believe what she heard and then remembered something.
"It's okay to quit the job in the bar. That place is no good anyway. You still have nine jobs left."
I sneered.
"No, I want to quit all of them and focus on taking care of Zack at home."
"What?!" Daisy shouted in disbelief, "What do you do for a living after you quit all of them?!"
Zack came to his senses. After all, I alone covered the expenses of the whole family.
"I didn't mean that. Just like Daisy said, you can quit the job in the bar, but you can still have the other jobs."
He was still thinking about making me his slave laborer.
I looked at the two people who had already conspired against me at this time and pointed to Daisy.
"Daisy, you are my best friend, right? You don't want to see me break up with Zack, do you?"
Daisy, who claimed to be the gentlest and kindest woman in the world, glanced at Zack with a shy look.
"Of course, no matter what you become, we will always be best friends."
I ignored the derogatory remarks in her words.
"Daisy, you are so kind. I quit all my jobs and lost my income. Don't you still have savings? And you said you felt sorry for living in my apartment for free. Well, I won't take advantage of you. The ten-month rent and one-third of the utilities total 15,000 dollars."
Before Daisy could react, I had already shown her the payment code on my phone.
Daisy looked at me and Zack, looking helpless and pitiful. Zack was immediately attracted and protected her behind him.
"Catherine, don't be so aggressive!"
I just looked at Daisy.
"Daisy, you wouldn't refuse, would you? Aren't we best friends?"
Zack also looked at Daisy. After all, in his eyes, Daisy was a kind and innocent girl. Zack also wanted to see how important he was in Daisy's heart.
Daisy was in a dilemma but made the transfer with a heavy heart, looking like she was about to cry.
With a deeply moved expression, Zack glared at me.
"Are you satisfied now?"
I shook my head.
"I forgot this month's rent. I calculated it wrong earlier."
"You!" Daisy was so angry that she almost cried.
Zack pulled Daisy behind him.
"Don't trouble her. I'll pay for her!"
I asked, "Didn't you still owe more than 1 million dollars in high-interest loans? How come you have money to pay her rent?"
Zack froze, and I sneered in my heart.
He was capable of doing that, as he was a rich kid.
He pretended to be poor because of a bet with his friends. He said I was better at seducing men than all the mistresses he had kept, and he was determined to expose my true nature of being a gold digger under the guise of being affectionate.
What was ridiculous was that I used to love this man deeply and fantasize about paying off his gambling debts and having a better future with him.
Now I wished I could slap Zack hard.
My words left Zack speechless, and his face turned red.
Daisy suffered a huge loss, and her face became even gloomier. She tried to leave but I stopped her.
"What else do you want?"
Daisy almost couldn't pretend anymore.
"Your outfit and bag seem to be mine, right?"
Daisy's family was not well-off, and she had a younger brother still in school. She didn't have money to buy luxury goods, so she often wore my clothes without permission. I remembered mentioning it a few times, and she cried and accused me of discriminating and bullying her in front of Zack.
I didn't want to get angry over such trivial matters, so I always turned a blind eye and found excuses to give her the clothes she had worn.
But now I changed my mind. Even if I burned them all, I didn't want her to wear them.
Daisy's ears turned red with shame, and she sobbed, saying, "I didn't do it on purpose. I can wash it for you. Do you also want to discriminate against me because I'm poor?"
Zack wanted to speak, but I stopped him with a glare.
"But that was bought for me by Zack. I have to wear it tomorrow to meet his friends. If you ruin it, what am I going to wear to save his face tomorrow?"
I sold all my luxury goods in the cabinet at a low price for Zack. That outfit was the only one he gave me after we got together, and I couldn't bear to sell it, so I kept it.
"Forget it, I won't go tomorrow."
I sighed and walked towards the bathroom.
Zack eagerly grabbed my hand and looked at Daisy.
"Didn't you just buy a Gucci outfit and handbag? Take them out and give them to Catherine."
Daisy looked at Zack incredulously, but Zack didn't have any eye contact with her.
Daisy couldn't afford luxury goods. The Gucci outfit was given to her by Zack, and it was bought with my hard-earned money!
I didn't feel happy holding the handbag. Instead, I wanted to smash it on Zack's head and beat him up.
Zack looked at me disdainfully.
"All right, don't embarrass me tomorrow."
Zack was so obedient to me, not because he felt indebted to me, but because tomorrow's gathering was a trap set up for me.
But he wouldn't succeed.
Early the next morning, Daisy used the excuse of broadening her horizons to propose that she would go with me to prepare for the gathering.
3The gathering place was a private swimming pool. When Zack appeared with me and Daisy, it attracted the attention of countless people.
I felt amused when I looked at him pretending to borrow money from his friends and finally being embarrassed.
It took him a lot of effort to deceive me.
I nodded at him, and he immediately found an excuse to go out and smoke.
I casually asked for money.
"Mr. Kennedy, you have known Zack for so many years. You should understand that if he wasn't forced to a dead end, he wouldn't borrow money from you..."
Before I finished speaking, Russ Kennedy interrupted me.
"Catherine, you don't need to tell me so much. We can easily come up with the money. It's just that we can't give away the money for nothing."
I tentatively asked, "So, what do you want?"
Russ thought I took the bait and was in a good mood. With a gesture, the woman next to him skillfully kissed him with wine, creating a seductive scene.
In my previous life, I had a feeling that there was something wrong with the gathering, but Zack said that the loan shark only gave him one day to raise the money. Otherwise, he would get killed.
I didn't care about so much at that time, and I got deeper and deeper until I reached an irreversible situation.
Russ looked at me in a lewd manner, with obvious implications.
Several waitresses wearing revealing clothes brought several large bottles of alcohol, and then various drinks were mixed, with a strong and pungent smell that made my nose sting.
I pretended to hesitate.
"What is this for?"
Russ hadn't spoken yet, but Daisy couldn't wait to say first.
"Catherine, what are you hesitating about? As long as it can help Zack, we can do anything."
Daisy tightly held my arm. She knew that the people who came today were all rich guys and deliberately wore bikinis that barely covered her private parts.
Her skin was fair, her figure was curvaceous, and her face was pure. As soon as she entered the door, many rich young men stared at her.
On the contrary, I was wearing a one-piece swimsuit, deliberately shrinking my neck, so no one rested their gazes on me.
Russ heard what Daisy said and couldn't help but laugh. He generously said, "Zack is my brother. I won't let you be too embarrassed.
"Let's play dice. I give you 100,000 dollars for each round, regardless of winning or losing."
Daisy's face brightened when she heard that.
"Really? Mr. Kennedy is such a good person.
"Catherine, what are you hesitating about? Mr. Kennedy has already compromised to this extent. Do you want to spoil their fun?"
I asked Russ, "Is it really that simple?"
Russ raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"The loser will have to drink a glass of wine as a punishment. Is that too much?"
"Of course not. Catherine, play quickly. Don't you want to help Zack?"
Daisy urged me incessantly, looking anxious as if she were Zack's girlfriend.
The liquor in front of me was a beverage that at least contained 80% alcohol by volume. It could ignite with just a spark.
Not to mention 10 cups, even half a cup could make someone lose consciousness. People with weaker bodies would have to go to the hospital for stomach bleeding.
When I took the bartending class, Daisy audited the class. She must know how strong the drink was. Now she even urged me to do that without hesitation. She didn't care about my life at all.
I smiled and nodded at Russ.
"Once Mr. Kennedy spoke, he would not take back his words. He definitely won't be joking with us."
Then, under the gloating eyes of everyone, I pushed the drink to Daisy and pretended to be hesitant with a frown.
"Daisy, I just took some cephalosporin for my cold this morning. You and I are close friends who share everything, so you care about Zack too, right?"
Daisy's face turned pale.
"But I don't drink, Catherine. Don't joke around. What if I lose and have to drink a beverage with such a high alcohol content?"
So she knew everything.
But I would not let her go.
With a long face, I said, "Didn't you say you can do anything for Zack? Is it a lie?"
Daisy clenched her fists in vexation, but she didn't move.
I paused for a moment.
"Besides, it's just rolling the dice. You might not lose. Daisy, you have such good luck, and you will surely keep winning."
Seeing that Daisy was still hesitant, I used a strong argument.
"Since we can't drink, let's leave. The loan shark won't really kill Zack. At most, Zack will get one of his hands cut off. Let's call him in and go back later."
"Don't!"
Daisy threw the dice and got a one.
She would inevitably lose. The dice had been tampered with long ago.
After a glass of wine, Daisy's face turned red and her heart beat fast. She couldn't tell the directions anymore. The men in the room had been waiting for that moment for a long time and couldn't hold back anymore.
Seeing Daisy leaning against Russ, I closed the door and went out.
In my previous life, I drank for Zack, only to get raped by those beasts.
Now it was Daisy's turn.
That was what she deserved.
There were constant gasps in the room, and I listened silently at the door, with a smile on my face.
I had dealt with Daisy, and the next one was Zack.
Zack was not difficult to deal with. His father David Walker ran a company, evaded taxes, and allowed products that failed to meet the standards to enter the market, causing customers to get cancer. Those were all the things I accidentally learned from Zack in my previous life. After all, I was not that stupid. He had to come up with some facts to deceive me.
I collected the information again, organized the evidence, and contacted a prosecutor, Joseph Baker, a senior of mine.
Three hours later, Zack slowly walked back. When he saw me sitting at the door, he was shocked and pale.
"Why are you here? Where is Daisy?!"
I pretended to panic. "I, I don't know either. I took medicine for a cold. Daisy said she would drink those drinks. I went to the bathroom, and when I came back, the door couldn't be opened."
Zack shouted at me, "Why didn't you call me?! Can you take the responsibility if anything happens to Daisy?!"
I retorted, "Aren't they all your good friends in there? Daisy was just drinking on my behalf. What could possibly go wrong?"
Zack couldn't answer. He just turned around and desperately knocked on the door. As soon as the door opened, a strong smell hit his nose.
The swimming pool was a mess.