My Past Life Was My Greatest Fortune

I'm Not a Pushover

Preston's face flushed with anger. He stared at Maverick in disbelief.

“You want me to kneel and lick your shoe?”

Maverick glanced at him. “Do you need me to repeat myself?”

“You bastard!” Preston slammed his hand against the table and stood up.

Emily hurriedly stepped between them. “Enough! Both of you, stop this nonsense.”

She turned to Maverick, her expression filled with displeasure.

“What has gotten into you today? You've never behaved like this before. It's just $2,000. My brother has been away for a long time, and we wanted to have a nice meal together. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”

“Because I'm tired of paying for everything,” Maverick replied. “Your brother is a grown man. Why can't he pay for his own meal?”

“Because we're family!” Emily snapped. “And we're getting married soon. He'll be your brother-in-law!”

“Your brother, your responsibility.”

Emily stared at him, struggling to contain her anger. After a moment, she took a breath and tried a different approach.

“Fine. Let's forget about this argument. We have more important things to discuss, especially with our wedding coming up.”

Maverick leaned back in his chair. “What about it?”

Emily adjusted her expression, speaking as though she were explaining something obvious.

“We're going to spend $200,000 on our wedding. Compared to that, what's $2,000? It's practically nothing. If you can't even spend that little amount on my brother without making a scene, how are we supposed to manage our lives after marriage?”

Maverick let out a cold laugh.

“So you're saying I should pay whatever you demand because we're getting married?”

“That's not what I said!” Emily protested. “I'm saying your attitude is becoming a problem. If you keep behaving like this, you might make me reconsider whether I should marry you at all.”

Maverick looked at her for several seconds before smiling mockingly.

“Who do you think you are? Do you honestly believe I'd be desperate to marry someone like you?”

Emily's face stiffened. “Maverick, watch your mouth!”

“No, you should watch yours. You think threatening me with this wedding will make me obey you? Let me make something clear. I don't need you, and I certainly don't need your permission to live my life.”

Emily's confidence wavered, but she quickly brought the conversation back to what she wanted.

“I'm only trying to make sure our wedding goes smoothly. There are things we need to settle before then, and I thought you would understand that.”

“Stop talking about the wedding,” Maverick interrupted. “We both know that's not what you really want.”

Emily froze.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your brother is in trouble because of his gambling. He owes people $200,000, and now you want me to pay his debt. You're using our wedding as an excuse because you think I'll feel obligated to help once you remind me we're supposed to be family.”

Preston's expression changed immediately.

Emily hurried to deny it. “That's not true! I'm thinking about our future together.”

“Do you think I'm stupid?” Maverick asked coldly. “You thought you could dress up your brother's gambling debt as a family responsibility and I'd hand over the money without questioning you.”

Emily opened her mouth, but no answer came.

Preston finally spoke. “What's wrong with asking for help? You're marrying my sister. If you have the money, why are you acting as though we're asking for your life?”

Maverick turned toward him.

“Because that money belongs to my family. My father's leg was crushed at a construction site, and his compensation is meant to pay for his treatment and secure my parents' future. I'm not handing it over to cover your gambling.”

Emily quickly seized the opportunity.

“Then don't worry about your parents. I'll take care of your father after we get married.”

Maverick stared at her in disbelief.

“You'll take care of him? You couldn't even treat him with basic respect when he visited your family. You took his gift and made him feel unwanted. And now you expect me to believe you'll care for him?”

“That was a misunderstanding!” Emily snapped. “Why are you bringing up the past?”

“Because I remember it clearly.”

In his previous life, he had believed Emily's promises and handed over his money. Preston continued gambling, and Emily's family kept demanding more. Whenever Maverick protested, she reminded him that they were family.

He had sacrificed everything to support them while his own parents suffered.

Worse, when he finally tried to leave Emily, she threatened to take the child he believed was his. He had stayed out of fear of losing the child, only to discover near the end of his life that the child wasn't even his.

'I wasted one lifetime on these people. Never again.'

“I'm asking you one last time,” Emily said impatiently. “Will you help my brother or not?”

“No.”

“Fine!” Her face twisted with anger. “If you refuse to help my family, then perhaps we shouldn't get married!”

Maverick immediately stood up.

“Good. The wedding is off. We're finished.”

Emily froze. She had expected him to panic and apologize, just as he always had before. She never imagined he would agree so easily.

“Maverick, wait!”

She rushed forward and grabbed his arm.

“You can't just leave! What about the restaurant bill? You still have to pay the $2,000!”

Maverick looked at her hand.

“You just threatened to cancel the wedding, and you're still worried about making me pay your bill?”

“It's your responsibility!” Emily shouted. “I've spent years with you. I've given you my youth, and you can't just leave me with nothing!”

Maverick pulled his arm free.

“Your youth? What about the money I've spent supporting you and your family? What about the years I wasted believing you actually cared about me?”

Emily's face twisted with fury. She grabbed his collar.

“You ungrateful bastard! You're going to pay me what you owe me!”

Maverick's patience finally snapped.

'Maybe a slap will help you understand.'

He raised his hand and struck her across the face.

Smack!

Emily staggered backward, clutching her cheek. Preston stood frozen as everyone in the private room stared.