This day left me exhausted as I returned home.

Upon opening the door, I found two people sitting on my sofa, my so called boyfriend and best friend, Malachi and Wendy.

"Alison, I've been messaging you, and you never responded," Wendy said with her soft voice. Malachi chimed in, "Yeah, Alison, why haven't you replied to Wendy's messages?"

I glanced at both of them while changing my shoes. A few neglected details from the previous life started to resurface.

Malachi, who was supposed to be my boyfriend, often appeared with Wendy, and they seemed to be too comfortable in my house. How did they even get in?

In my previous life, I had been naive and thought of them as family, never paying much attention to these subtle signs that something was amiss. What I got in return was that I saved their lives, and they turned around to harm mine.

Wendy said in a coquettish tone, "Alison, why don't you reply to me?"

I responded, "I'm busy, I didn't check my phone."

Malachi sneered, "What's keeping you so busy? You've just been sitting at home all day."

I looked at Malachi for a moment but didn't say a word. How foolish had I been in the past not to realize that they were devious partners, working together to deceive me?

"Alison, I came to you to borrow money. You're so rich now! I'm in a bit of a tight spot. Will you help me?" Wendy said, her voice sweet and needy.

Malachi joined in, "Alison, what's with that look in your eyes? Wendy has been your best friend for years. She's in need of money, wouldn't you help her?"

Sure, I would help. But it could only happen in my previous life.

I couldn't even keep track of how many times Wendy had borrowed money from me. She claimed it was a loan, but in reality, she never repaid it. She didn't even bother giving me a reason for borrowing the money. Out of the 8.1 million she used to buy my storefronts, I have no idea how much came from me.

Back then, I had believed in our friendship and didn't see the need to keep a ledger. I had assumed that when I needed help, Wendy would also lend me money. Looking back, that belief was naive and laughable.

I responded indifferently, "I have no money."

"What?” Wendy exclaimed, “What about the 8.1 million I transferred to you a few days ago,"”

"I lost all in gambling," I said.

"What!" Malachi, who had been sitting on the couch, jumped up, shouting in disbelief, "Alison, are you crazy to lost 8.1 million gambling? You know that my family despises women with a gambling habit. Don't ever dream about marrying me!"

I was irritated, but Malachi's words almost made me burst into laughter. How can he be so awfully confident about himself? If he hadn't persistently pursued me in the past, with Wendy assisting in the background every day, he might not have become my boyfriend at all.

“Oh, what a shame!” I mocked, "But the money has gone anyway."

Malachi clenched his teeth, "I was wrong about you stupid woman! You could've helped Wendy now if the money wasn’t lost in gambling."

I could tell he was genuinely concerned about the money, but I couldn't be bothered to argue with him. I cut him off coldly, "I'm tired and want to rest. You guys can leave."

I had prepared myself for them to potentially hassle me further, but Malachi and Wendy decided to leave. Perhaps they have believed I had run out of money and saw no reason to stick around.

In this life, without my joss paper and its protective powers, I have no idea how long this devious Partner would survive in the apocalypse.

I locked the door, went to my room and took a rest.