Chapter 2

It was the week before graduation. Gerald stood up in class and proposed a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate.

"Everyone, let's hit Vegas before we graduate — my treat, all expenses covered!"

His words sent a shiver down my spine. The memory of shattering bones hadn't quite faded yet.

That's when it hit me. I'd been reborn.

The moment Gerald said it, the whole class erupted.

"That's what we're talking about — old money!"

"If we're going to Vegas, we have to hit the casino! I've seen the ads forever but never actually been!"

Gerald flashed his most dazzling smile. "Then the casino it is!"

Then his gaze drifted to me. He walked over and draped an arm around my shoulder.

"Dallas, I heard the Franklin family has a VIP card at the casino. Lend it to us, man. Let everyone get the full five-star treatment."

My expression went cold. In my past life, everything had started the moment Gerald asked for that card.

He'd used it as a pretense to quietly pocket the Zurich Bank card tied to my father's $30 billion trust fund.

It wasn't until a court clerk called my phone to inform me the company had filed for bankruptcy that I realized the money Gerald had been throwing around all night was my family's trust fund.

When I showed up at Gerald's place to demand repayment, he hid behind Monica with the most pitiful look on his face.

"Dallas, you can't blame me just because your family went bankrupt."

My girlfriend Monica kicked me so hard she cracked my ribs, then screamed at me.

"Dallas, you're the one who gambled it all away. Now you're trying to pin it on Gerald? You're disgusting!"

When I tried to hire a private investigator, Gerald got in his car and drove straight at me — running me over again and again until I stopped breathing.

Afterward, Monica and every classmate testified that my family had gone under and I'd snapped. That I'd thrown myself in front of the car on purpose.

My father had also passed away from a heart attack brought on by the stress of it all.

I reached mechanically into my bag. My fingertips found the cold metal of the card. I wrapped my hand around it tight.

When I didn't respond, Gerald grinned and hooked his arm around my neck.

"Dallas, come on. Let us borrow it for a bit. It's not like you're losing anything!"

"Sorry, that card belongs to my father. I can't just lend it out." I pushed the VIP card back to the bottom of my bag.

Gerald's smile dropped.

"You're going to inherit your dad's company sooner or later anyway. Why are you keeping score between family?"

Monica snatched my bag and turned it upside down. Everything spilled across the floor — my phone, my Switch, my tablet.

She spotted the gold card instantly, picked it up, and held it out to Gerald.

"There it is. Just take it."

When Gerald took it, his fingers lingered over Monica's hand.

"Monica always gets it. Dallas, you could really learn something from her."

Then something else caught his eye. He stared at the console on the floor.

"Wait, is that a Switch 2? I heard those sold out everywhere. I've been trying to get one forever."

Monica caught the look in his eyes and bent down to pick it up, pressing it into Gerald's arms.

"Take that too. Dallas is obviously done with it."

"Thanks, Monica." Gerald's face lit up.

I grabbed both — the console and the card — right out of his hands. "Sorry. Neither of those are available."

Monica's expression curdled. She grabbed my arm. "Dallas, when did you get so petty?"

"Petty?"

I turned and slapped her across the face.