My Past Life Was My Greatest Fortune

Ding! 

[Your account has received a deposit of $30,000,000.]

Maverick stood outside the lottery redemption center, staring at his old phone.

As he checked the notification three times before a relieved smile finally appeared. His eyes grew slightly moist.

“Mom… Dad…” He lowered the phone. “This time, you won’t have to struggle anymore.”

Seven days ago, Maverick had been murdered by his own wife, Emily. Greedy and vicious, she had drained him of every penny he earned and even had his parents brutally beaten when they tried to defend him.

In the end, his parents were left homeless on the streets, while Maverick died in utter despair.

But in the next instant, he jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat, only to realize he had been reborn ten years into the past.

As the memories of his tragic end flooded his mind, his entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.

What a fool he had been. When he opened his eyes again, the date on his phone told him everything....August 18, 2016. 

Ten years earlier his parents were still healthy and housing prices in the city were only a fraction of what they would become. 

A decent three-bedroom apartment in a good area still costs under $100,000. And the companies that would later dominate the world were still in very different stages.

Most importantly, Maverick remembered the future. His photographic memory had preserved countless details from his previous life, including the lottery numbers. 

That could account for the ticket that made him hit a jackpot.

Maverick stared at the $30,000,000 balance.

‘First, get Mom and Dad out of that leaking house.’

‘Secondly, I will put this money into stocks I still remember. Turning it into real wealth shouldn’t be hard.’ He thought.

Then Emily’s face surfaced in his mind. The smile faded as his fingers tightened around the phone.

‘I already wasted one life on those people. This time I’m not running from them. I will make sure I’m the one using them.’

Just then his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and saw Emily’s name.

He answered the call.

“Maverick, where are you? My brother just came back from his trip. We’re at the Royal Garden Restaurant. Come over and pay the bill. Hurry up.”

Before he could respond, Emily ended the call.

Maverick glanced at his phone, completely unfazed. ‘She still thinks she can order me around and hang up whenever she pleases. Not anymore.’

He slipped the phone into his pocket. In his previous life, he would have rushed to the restaurant without a second thought, eager to please her no matter how unreasonable her demands were. This time, however, he was done.

He was going to break up with her.

*****

The Royal Garden was one of the more expensive restaurants in the city. 

When Maverick arrived, the place was crowded. In the private room, Emily and Preston sat laughing over a table covered with expensive seafood and wine.

Emily spotted him and frowned. “You’re finally here. Go pay the bill.”

The waiter put the bill on the table. “Your total is $2,000,” the waiter said.

Maverick stared at the number.

Emily worked as a sales representative, earning $1,500 a month. Despite her modest salary, she had a habit of spending money on designer clothes, expensive cosmetics, and weekend outings with her friends. 

Between rent, transportation, food, and other necessities, her salary was barely enough to cover her expenses, yet she never seemed willing to adjust her lifestyle. More often than not, she relied on Maverick to cover the shortfall, treating his money as though it were hers to spend.

He looked up at the two of them. “I’m not paying.”

Emily blinked. “What? It’s only two thousand. My brother just got back. We haven’t seen each other in a long time. What’s wrong with a proper meal?”

“A proper meal you ordered without asking me, then expected me to cover,” Maverick said evenly. 

“I’ve already paid Ethan’s tuition, his rent, his living expenses, and the spending money he went through every month. I even got him that job he quit because it was inconvenient. He’s graduated. He’s been traveling. And the moment he’s back, the first thing you do is call me to settle a two-thousand-dollar bill. How long is this supposed to go on?”

Emily’s face tightened. “We’re getting married. He’s going to be your brother-in-law. Family helps family.”

“He’s your brother,” Maverick replied. “If you want to spoil him, use your own money. Don’t use the engagement as a reason to keep handing me the check.”

Preston leaned back with a smug look. “Dude..it’s just two thousand. Don’t make it sound like you’re doing us a favor. Just handle it like usual.”

Maverick looked at him. “Then pay it. You’ve said that before. Usually it just means you wait until I give in. Not this time.”

Preston froze, the smile slipping.

Emily’s voice rose. “Maverick, what’s wrong with you today? You’ve never been like this. You’re embarrassing us.”

“No. I used to keep quiet and pay. That’s the only difference.” Maverick’s tone stayed level. “You two got used to me never saying no. The moment I do, I’m the one with the problem.”

He glanced at the bill again, then at Preston and Emily.

“Emily...I will make it simple. Either you get down, lick my shoe in front of everyone here, and call me Daddy… or this bill isn’t getting sorted out. Your choice.”