Chapter 1

I waited for my high school sweetheart for five long years. She finally returned to the city after volunteering as a teacher in the remote wilderness of Alaska. But she didn't come back alone; she brought a young man with her.

"Dax saved my life out there, and I can't just turn my back on him," Jane said. To pay him back, she didn't just let him live in our house―she demanded I give him my career.

Later, when I caught them together in their betrayal, she got me drunk and pushed me into the lake. I drowned in that freezing water while they watched.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Jane asked me to hand over my job. This time, I didn't listen. I sold my position to the highest bidder and used the cash to start my own business.

I kicked that ungrateful woman to the curb and climbed my way up. I wasn't just going to survive; I was going to become the town's first self-made millionaire.

1

"You have plenty of muscle, so just go find some manual labor!" Jane yelled. "Dax is our family's hero, so you need to hand over your spot at the power plant to him right now!"

It was the end of the shift at the plant's main gate. Jane stood there with her arms crossed, glaring at me like I was a criminal. Most people would think she was a debt collector, not my fiancée.

The November wind was biting, but my heart felt even colder. In my past life, I felt sorry for her and gave up my future without a second thought. But they just used my kindness to cheat and even had a child behind my back.

I wasn't going to be a fool this time. I took a deep breath to stop myself from snapping at her. I forced a lie through my teeth. "The supervisor said I didn't meet the requirements, Jane. The job isn't finalized."

A crowd started to gather, and Director Miller came out to clear the area. "Please calm down, ma'am," he said, looking at Jane with annoyance. "Franklin's name isn't on the list today. We will let you know if something changes."

Jane didn't fully believe him until she made Dax search my pockets. When they found no hiring papers, she exploded in a fit of rage. "How could you be so useless?" she screamed. "You've been a technician for years and you ended up with nothing!"

"I was counting on you to take care of me now that I'm back!" she continued. "I can't believe I waited five years for a loser like you!" Her insults echoed through the air, attracting more stares from my coworkers.

Finally, she dragged Dax away, still cursing my name. I let out a long sigh of relief and walked into Director Miller's office. This was a new expansion for the plant, and senior workers got first pick of the good roles.

In my last life, she timed her ambush perfectly to take my spot. This time, I had prepared. Director Miller was happy to help because his nephew had been eyeing my position for months.

"Are you sure about this, Frank?" Miller asked, looking at me with a bit of pity. "You're really giving up a steady paycheck?" I knew the economy was about to shift, and scrap metal was the gold mine of the decade.

Staying at the plant meant dealing with Jane's constant demands. I'd rather take a risk and be my own boss. I pulled my hiring certificate out of my sock and handed it over. "I'm sure, Director," I said firmly.

He didn't hesitate to sign the papers and hand me the cash. I left the plant and headed straight for the train station. I bought a ticket for a trip to the northern border, ready to build my own empire.