Chapter 1

On his deathbed, Grandpa George left behind a billion-dollar fortune and three matches.

"You two sister may each choose only one thing. Anya, as the elder, you choose first."

I didn't hesitate. I chose the billion dollars.

My adopted sister, Scarlett, was left with three ordinary-looking matches.

What I never imagined was that those matches held a prophetic power. Light one, make a wish, and it would come true.

Scarlett, who had always resented our parents for favoring me, struck the first match. Her wish was for them to die horrible deaths.

Then, Dad collapsed from a sudden heart attack. Mom, rushing to the hospital, was hit by a truck. Both were gone.

I grabbed a knife and went to confront her.

"I promised I'd share the inheritance with you when you came of age! Our parents took you in! How could you repay them like this?"

Greed twisted Scarlett's face. "I don't want your scraps. With all of you dead, every penny will be mine."

Then she struck the second match.

"I wish for Anya to be kidnapped, sold into the mountains, and die in childbirth...after bearing eight sons."

Horrified, I liquidated everything I owned and hired a small army of bodyguards. For months, I was untouchable.

Then, one night, every last guard was found unconscious. I was taken, dragged into a remote village, and reduced to a breeding machine.

I lost count of the time before I finally drew my last, agonizing breath.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the inheritance distribution.

1

When Grandpa George, trembling, produced the three matches, the room fell into bewildered silence.

"Has he lost his mind? Leaving three matches as an inheritance? Is this a cruel joke aimed at the adopted girl? This is too much!"

Grandpa's voice was a frail rasp. "You may each choose only one thing: the fortune, or the matches. Anya, as the eldest, you choose first."

A chill shot through me. I remembered.

I had been reborn.

The memory of my family's fate in my last life hit me like a physical blow. My eyes flew to my parents, standing beside me. Alive. Well. Smiling at me with encouragement.

My vision blurred with tears.

In my previous life, I chose the billions.

I never imagined Scarlett would use those matches to wish us all into our graves-my parents dead, and me ending my days as a broken breeding machine in a mountain village.

The phantom pain of that death still ached in my bones.

Not this time.

This time, I chose the three matches without hesitation.

The room went utterly still.

"Is Anya out of her mind? These are just three ordinary matches, not made of gold or anything!"

"That's billions! Are you really going to leave it all to an adopted girl? Anya wants to be a saint, but look at the situation!"

My parents grabbed my sleeves, their faces etched with panic.

"Anya, did you choose by mistake?"

"The IPO drained us, and your mother's treatments...that money is a lifeline."

"Come on, sweetheart. I know you've got a good heart and you're always thinking of your sister. But if you'd just take the money, you could give her half! There's no need to go this far."

My parents pleaded with me earnestly, but I didn't waver.

"I want these three matches. Scarlett lost her parents young. She's had it harder than I ever did. I don't want a single cent of that billions. She can have it all."

Scarlett looked ready to leap out of her skin with joy.

She signed the inheritance papers with a smug grin, all while offering me the most hypocritical thanks.

"Thank you for your generosity, Anya! Don't worry, when you're poor and begging on the streets someday, I'll make sure to buy you a couple loaves of bread!"

My parents were left speechless with fury.

When Grandpa George was bedridden, I diligently cared for him for three years.

But Scarlett complained about him "smelling like an old man" and only visited when she needed money.

That's why, in the previous life, he gave me the first choice of inheritance.

I didn't respond to their ridicule.

They didn't know the secret these matches held-the power to fulfill wishes.

2

That night, I heard Mom and Dad tossing and turning in their bedroom.

"What on earth was Anya thinking?"

"We raised her for over twenty years, and we’ve raised a fool!"

"The creditors will be here tomorrow. If we can't pay them back, we'll lose the house!"

Grandpa George had been very strict with my father, always insisting his descendants be self-reliant.

Dad's startup company wasn't doing well, and he owed a lot to loan sharks.

He had hoped I would use Grandpa's inheritance to help him through the tough times, but I chose the three matches.

After getting the inheritance, Scarlett immediately went out to party and squander her money. Asking her to pay off Mom and Dad's debt was a pipe dream.

Seeing Mom and Dad sleepless all night, I felt a pang of guilt. I quietly struck the first match.

"I wish Mom and Dad become incredibly rich overnight!"

After making the wish, I lay in bed, feeling content.

But the next morning, I was jolted awake by Mom's piercing scream.

"It's over! Everything's gone!"

"The company suddenly caught fire! Everything's burned to ashes!"

"The fire spread to the neighboring shops, and now we owe them tens of millions in compensation!"

Dad was squatting on the floor, clutching his head, trembling uncontrollably.

I clutched the burnt matchstick tightly, my body turning cold.

How could this happen?! Mom was frantic, and seeing me just standing there dumbfounded, her pent-up emotions exploded.

"It's all your fault for choosing those worthless matches!"

"Matches...fire... it's all fate!"

"If you had chosen the billions, none of this would have happened!"

Mom sobbed uncontrollably.

Dad silently pulled Mom into his embrace, closing his eyes wearily, saying nothing.

My head spun.

How could this be?

I clearly wished for Mom and Dad to get rich, so why did they suddenly go bankrupt?

Could it be the changes brought about by my rebirth?

Were the wishes in this life coming true in reverse?

Thinking this, I rushed back to my bedroom and pulled out the second match.

But before I could make a wish, the front door was kicked open with a bang.

"Well, look at you! While we're busting our asses chasing debts, you're just chilling at home!"

"This is your final warning! If you don't pay us back by tomorrow, we'll chop off your hands!"

"Heard your older daughter's pretty. Maybe we can take her as collateral, let us have some fun!"

Then, they grabbed their bats and smashed our house to bits.

The high-interest loans were still unpaid, and the sudden fire had burdened Mom and Dad with tens of millions in compensation.

Helpless, Mom and Dad had no choice but to call Scarlett.

After ten calls, Scarlett finally picked up, leisurely.

"Honey, your mom and dad are in trouble now. Grandpa left you billions. We're not asking for much, just thirty million, okay?"

"If we can't pay back the debt, the creditors are going to chop off your mom and dad's hands..."

On Scarlett's Ins, her new emerald necklace was worth five million.

But faced with Mom and Dad's plea, Scarlett feigned a helpless sigh.

"Mom, Dad, it's not that I don't want to help. But this inheritance was Grandpa's specific gift to me. I wouldn't dare use it carelessly. Blame Anya for choosing nothing but three matches!"

3

My parents tried to say more, but Scarlett abruptly hung up.

Not long after, Scarlett posted another update on Ins.

The photo showed her holding a small dog, its head adorned with a tiny crown of pure gold.

The caption read: "Money should be spent on those who are worthy."

Mom and Dad trembled with rage.

To gather enough for tomorrow's payment, I sold all my trading cards and signed celebrity memorabilia I had collected since childhood.

I even sold my phone and bought a cheap second-hand one.

Mom sold her jewelry, and Dad sold his car.

After much effort, we finally scraped together a few million dollars, and the tension in Dad's brow eased slightly.

"This should be enough to get through tomorrow's payment to loan shark."

Mom had finally calmed down and spoke to me with sincere remorse.

"Anya, I lost my temper this morning and shouted at you. I know none of this was your fault. I'm sorry, honey. I truly am."

My nose stung, and I fought back tears.

"Maybe...maybe I really did make the wrong choice..."

Dad gently patted my shoulder.

"It's alright, what's done is done. At least this whole inheritance mess showed us Scarlett's true colors, and that's something! Who would've thought? We took pity on an orphan, brought her into our home, and ended up raising such a thankless viper."

Dinner was just bread, but a sense of warmth spread among the three of us.

Dad started talking about his plans for the future, the light returning to his eyes.

"As long as we don't give up, I'll make a comeback. I promise!"

That night, I gritted my teeth and lit the second match.

"II wish for Mom and Dad to become crippled and live in poverty forever!"

Since the first wish had backfired, I would reverse my wish this time!

My true hope was for them to be safe and prosperous.

I clutched the charred matchstick tightly, not daring to close my eyes.

I was terrified that, just like the night before, I would wake to another piece of devastating news.

I didn't ask for immense wealth; I just wanted Mom and Dad to be healthy and happy for the rest of their lives.

Just before five in the morning, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion slammed into me.

My body swayed, and my consciousness blurred.

When I woke up again, everything was silent.

My heart pounded. I secretly crept to Mom and Dad's bedroom door and peeked inside.

They were sleeping peacefully.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

But just as I was about to go back to my bedroom, two piercing screams simultaneously erupted from Mom and Dad's room!

I yanked open the door, nearly fainting from shock. Mom and Dad, who had been perfectly fine moments ago, now had all their toes turned black.

Mom and Dad clutched their toes, wailing incessantly.

My scalp prickled. I quickly dialed 91