Chapter 2

"Daisy! Daisy! What are you daydreaming about, you brat?!"

I snapped back to reality, the anger and hatred from my previous death still surged through my veins, a burning tide.

I clenched my fists without thinking.

My mom said, her face heavy with worry,

"Oh, your brother's wedding is driving your dad and me crazy!"

My dad sat nearby, smoking silently, and said helplessly,

"Gary Thompson is demanding three hundred thousand dollars just to let Brittany marry Jake. Regular folks like us, how could we ever afford that?!"

"It's because you're useless! You're making it so I can't even get married! Mom, Dad, if I can't marry Brittany in this life, I'd rather just die!"

"Oh, my precious boy! You're going to kill your dad and me! If you die, how will we ever go on?!"

"If I can't even afford a wife, what's the point of living?!"

"How about we all go to the Thompsons' today to formally propose, and then we can discuss the dowry?"

My dad took a drag from his cigarette and sighed.

In my previous life, my parents suggested going to the Thompsons' first to discuss the wedding.

Then they planned to slowly negotiate the money with Gary Thompson, hoping to reduce the amount.

I was worried they'd be mocked by Gary Thompson, so I went with them.

Who knew that Gary Thompson would take one look at me and propose an exchange marriage?

Brittany could marry into our family for free, on the condition that I marry him.

I refused to give in, even if it meant death. But that night, my whole family conspired, drugged me, and delivered me to Gary Thompson's bed.

This time, I took a few seconds to calm down and think about how to handle it.

Gary Thompson wasn't just a vile, short-tempered creep who loved to steal; he was infamous throughout the whole town. Even his first wife, Brittany's mom, he tormented to death.

So now, I sneered and said,

"If Brittany really loved Jake and wanted to be with him, she'd convince her dad to lower the price herself."

Jake grew agitated.

"Brittany grew up without a mom; her dad raised her all by himself. She's a good daughter, always respects him—she wouldn't dare go against him!"

"Then that means she doesn't love you at all and doesn't care about you! Her dad knows we don't have that kind of money, but he's still demanding so much. No, I think he just wants to sell his own daughter!"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Brittany and I grew up together; she truly loves me, and I'll marry no one but her in this life!"

"Forget it. Do you even have the money to marry her? She's asking for three hundred thousand, you know!"

I deliberately provoked him.

"You brat! Stop spouting nonsense and upsetting your brother, or I swear I'll beat the living daylights out of you! Are you just jealous he might get married?!"

"Go get ready! We're all going into town to buy some gifts, then we'll head to the Thompsons' to propose."

My mom started urging me to go.

"I'm not going! Go propose what? We have no money! Everyone will laugh us out of town."

"Daisy Liu! I've had enough of you! I'm going to kill you today!"

Jake said, getting ready to rush at me and hit me.

My heart jumped, and I immediately took off running. Soon, I was out of sight.

Finally, I escaped that situation. I didn't have to go to the Thompsons' house.

Later, my parents and Jake went to the Thompsons' by themselves and were verbally abused.

Not only were all the gifts they bought thrown out, but they were also kicked out of the house.

They made it clear: "Three hundred thousand dollars, not a penny less!"