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792words2026-01-26 09:10

At the company's annual gala, I won first prize: a ten-day couples'trip to the Maldives.
My best friend pleaded with me to swap it with her, saying she'd never been abroad.
Soft-hearted, I agreed.

But right after the swap, she accused me of betraying the company with fake contracts.
She showed evidence of me" dating" our boss and branding me a mistress.
The boss's wife was so angry that she smashed a wine bottle on my head, and I died right away.
After I died, I found out my friend was the boss's real mistress, and I was just her scapegoat.
Then, I opened my eyes and found myself back at the gala. My friend was holding her consolation prize and begging to swap again.
This time, I agreed again—but whether she'd get to go on the trip depended on what she did.

"Emma, sign this. The boss needs this contract ASAP."
My friend and coworker, Chloe Grant, pushed a pen towards me, urging me to sign. I looked at the calendar and surroundings, it hit me—I'd been reborn to the day of the gala.
Chloe and I were college classmates, joining the same company after graduation. She was the assistant to our boss, Daniel Pierce, while I assisted his wife, Sophia Reed. We even rented an apartment together. I thought we were best friends, but in my last life, I died because of my blind trust in her.
At the gala in my last life, I won the Maldives trip. Chloe, who came from a less well-off family, pleaded with doe eyes to swap my first prize for her consolation prize.

"Emma, you've been there already. Let me have this! You're my best friend—you won't say no, right?"
I gave in, but she turned against me. On stage, she accused me of signing fake contracts to mess up the company. I was shocked, and then Daniel slapped me, claiming I seduced him and ruined his family.
The fake contract was meant to bankrupt his company. Sophia received a taunting email that seemed to be from from me from"me,"with intimate photos of me and Daniel shopping—photos I never sent.
Everyone knew Sophia adored Daniel. She'd dealt harshly with his past affairs, but his apologies always won her back, blaming the" other woman." She thought her man could do no wrong.
So when Daniel knelt, sobbing, Sophia unleashed her fury on me and smashed a bottle on my head. I died instantly. She got the death penalty.I'll never forget Chloe's words before I died:
"Emma, don't blame me. You're always luckier—even winning first prize. I can't stand you doing well. This Maldives trip is your wedding gift to me!"
After I died, I learned Chloe and Daniel were lovers. They were plotting to take Sophia's fortune. I was their sacrificial pawn. After Sophia and I died, they got married during their Maldives trip. Poor Sophia and I were their victims. Now I was reborn, I'd ensure they wouldn't win this time.
"Emma, what's up? Sign it! The boss is waiting!"
I looked at the document. In my last life, signing this branded me a traitor. This time, they were using the same trick. They'd regret they messed with me.
"You want me to sign for you?"
I stared at Chloe, enunciating each word. She nodded, looking confused.
"Yeah! Hurry, up, don't dawdle."
I reached for the pen," accidentally" knocking over a water glass, splashing Chloe.
"Oh no, what are you doing? How can I give this to the boss like this?"
She glared at me, really angry. I quickly signed and closed the file.
"Sorry, Chloe, you were rushing me.I'll take it to the boss for you!"
Before she could react, I strode to Daniel's office and gave him the file. Seeing him made me really angry. This life, I'd make him and Chloe pay.
"Mr. Pierce, it's signed. Should I double-check it?"
I started to open the contract. Daniel looked at me and seemed nervous. In my last life, because Chloe was rushing me, I didn't read the contract carefully and missed the payout was 100 times the original price.
Given more time, I would have noticed the mistake. Now, Daniel must be worried that I'd see the problem.
As expected, he snatched it and signed his name.
"No need, Emma. I trust you."
He gave the signed contract to the client, sealing the deal in less than a minute. Daniel and Chloe arrived a bit late, exchanged a smug smile. I smiled too. This vile pair would soon pay for their deeds.
Stepping out for a call, I returned to find Chloe at my computer. In my last life, she used my account to send taunting email with photos to Sophia. Was she doing it again?