My Reborn 18-Year-Old Revenge Scam? Bankrupting Bullies! - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

The next day at school, Ms. Rodriguez called me in.
I thought she was going to yell at me, but she just told me to focus on my studies.
"Tyler explained everything to me. He said the money was a loan from him."
She patted my shoulder. "...Just hang in there. Things will get better after SATs."
I nodded and went back to class.
Tyler's eyes followed me. I glanced at him once, then looked away without expression.
Tyler's face immediately darkened.
"Tyler, wanna hit the arcade after school?"
"FUCK OFF!"
Tyler cornered me again after school.
I looked at him with zero interest. "What now?"
"I cleared things up for you."
"I know."
"You should thank me."
I said, "Mind your own business."
I didn't need his charity.
"Jess, do you even know how to have a normal conversation?" Tyler was getting frustrated.
I didn't care. "You want me to talk nice? Buy me dinner."
I wasn't about to let my pride make me go hungry.
Tyler asked, "What happened to the money I gave you?"
"I used it."
"For what?"
I scoffed. "What are you to me, exactly?"
For once, Tyler didn't get angry. He asked, "That woman who came in—she's your stepmom?"
"Yep. I've got a stepsister too."
Tyler paused, glanced at me, then turned around. "Come on. I'll buy you dinner."
I didn't refuse.
Besides the fried rice, I even ordered a Coke.
Tyler said, "Want more? You can get more if you're still hungry."
I bit the straw, studying Tyler across from me.
For a split second, I had this evil thought—maybe I should set him up with Maya.
After all, Tyler was good-looking and popular at school.
Lots of girls watched him play basketball, including Maya.
In my past life, I'd suffered so much, and Tyler was the main culprit.
Those two people deserved each other.
But no.
I didn't want to owe any karmic debt in this second chance at life.
After Dad came back, I got clean bedding again.
That night, the whole family went out to a restaurant.
In the bright, bustling dining room, Dad pulled out gifts from his business trip—three items total, one for each of us.
Vivian got a necklace. Maya and I got bracelets.
Vivian beamed. "Thank you, honey."
Maya sweetly said, "Thanks, Daddy."
Only I remained unmoved.
Dad asked, "Jess, don't you like it?"
I said, "It's not that."
"Then why aren't you wearing it?"
I looked at him.
This man in front of me was so clueless. He'd never once noticed that every gift he bought me ended up on Maya's wrist.
He was like a blind man.
I smiled wickedly. "I like Maya's better."
Maya looked stunned.
Vivian reacted quickly. "Maya, why don't you switch with your sister?"
Maya snapped back to reality and smiled. "Of course!"
She took off her bracelet and helped me put it on, saying sweetly, "Sis, I didn't know you liked this style."
I lifted my arm to admire it.
The conflict dissolved into nothing. Dad laughed, looking completely satisfied.
For the sake of that smile, I'd backed down countless times.
But not this time.
I took off the bracelet and dropped it into the boiling fish soup.
"I don't want something someone else has worn. It's gross."
Soup splashed all over Maya. She jumped up, about to curse, "Jess, you bit…"
Vivian quickly covered her mouth.
I smiled.
Right. Better hold it in.
After all, sweet, obedient honor students shouldn't curse people out.
And kind, generous stepmoms shouldn't curse either.
Only Dad was allowed to curse.
Dad's face darkened. "Jess, what the hell are you doing? Apologize to Maya. NOW."
I said, "No."
Dad stood up angrily, raising his hand.
He wanted to hit me.
But he hesitated.
Vivian started crying on cue. "It's my fault for taking your mother's place. It's normal that you hate me, but what did Maya ever do wrong?"
Maya started crying too. "Sis, please don't be mad."
Dad finally hardened his resolve, swinging his palm down. "I said APOLOGIZE!"
SMACK.
A loud slap.
But it didn't land on my face.
Dad froze.
Maya shrieked, "Tyler! What are you doing here?"
Tyler was covering his cheek, standing between me and Dad.
After a moment of shock, I snapped back to reality and pushed him away.
"If we're not family, why are we eating at the same table anyway?"
"Fake as hell."
With that, I turned and left.
Tyler followed behind me, like a lost puppy.
I asked, "Why are you following me?"
Tyler said, "No reason."
"Then get lost."
Tyler's face went through shades of green and white, looking humiliated.
Yeah, he was used to being worshipped. Only with me did he face any pushback, and he couldn't handle it.
"Jess," he said. "Do you literally not know how to be decent?"
I did know how.
But why should I be decent to him?
He'd framed me before, sending me straight to the deepest pits of hell.
This lifetime, he'd been planning to do it again.
"You think just because you cleared things up with the teacher and took a slap for me, I should be grateful?" I said coldly. "Tyler, stop trying to make deals with me."
He wanted to trade this late-blooming kindness for my forgiveness.
I wasn't buying it.
I kept walking forward. Behind me, Tyler roared, "You're doing this on PURPOSE!"
I turned back.
Tyler stared at me. "Jess, you deliberately pissed off your dad. What are you trying to pull?"
I had to admit, he was smart.
"That's my business."
Tyler said, "I just wanted to help you..."
"Don't need it."
I really didn't.
My life belonged to me and I'd save myself.