My younger sister and I were in a car accident. My life hung by a thread. Grace had only injured her leg.
Mom cradled her in her arms, voice sharp with panic. "Michelle Fox, hurry up! Give your rebirth chance to your sister."
Dad hesitated, brow furrowed. "Michelle's system only grants nine revival chances. She's already used eight..."
"Don't be an idiot." Mom's tone dripped with self-righteous conviction. "Do you really think the System would let her die?"
She scoffed. "That nine-life limit is just a lie she told us to hoard them."
*Mom, you're right.*
I didn't have nine chances. I had ten.
But the tenth revival came with a curse. Once used, I would only exist for seven days. After that week expired, the System would devour my soul, erasing me from existence completely.
Under Mom's relentless urging, I gave my ninth life to Grace.
I saved the tenth for myself.
——
【The tenth revival chance has been activated. Remaining lifespan: 168 hours.】
The System's cold, mechanical voice dragged me back to consciousness. My eyes fluttered open. The first thing I saw was Mom's face, twisted in rage.
"Michelle Fox, are you obsessed with bullying your sister?"
No chance to speak. No chance to explain.
"You rely on your ability to revive people, so you deliberately cause accidents to hurt Grace just to show off! You just want to prove how important you are!"
Her finger jabbed toward me. "Count them yourself. Over the years, how many times have you pulled stunts like this?"
The room spun. I shook my head slowly, lost. "I didn't..."
It was Grace who had demanded cake. Grace who had insisted I drive her to buy it. The crash was an accident.
Mom's livid expression. The disappointment heavy in Dad's eyes. The words died in my throat.
I had lived through this scene too many times. No matter how I explained, the only response I ever got was furious condemnation.
Finally, a sob tore from my chest. "I'm hurt too... I'm hurt worse. It really hurts..."
Grace had a leg injury. I had fractured my spine. If not for the System's revival, even if the doctors had saved me, I would have been paralyzed for life.
Mom's anger faltered. Dad hesitated, taking a half-step toward me.
Just then, Grace burst into loud, wailing tears.
"When the truck came at us, Big Sister turned the wheel!" She buried her face in Mom's chest, trembling like a frightened little animal. "She exposed the passenger side to the impact... Mom, I'm so scared."
Mom's face hardened instantly. "Your father and I are doctors. Do you think we can't tell who is injured more severely?"
"Causing a car accident and wasting medical resources—you are becoming impossible, Michelle."
Dad's face was a mask of disappointment. He joined Mom, and together, they flanked Grace, each holding one of her hands.
"Why are you still hanging around the hospital?" Dad barked. "Go home!"
Every muscle screamed as I struggled off the hospital bed. By the time I reached the billing hall, Dad's voice drifted over from a distance.
"You take Grace home first. I'll take Michelle for a detailed check-up."
A spark of hope ignited in my chest.
But the next moment, Mom's words plunged me into an icy abyss.
"She used a revival. Does she need an exam?" A scoff. "You know how it works. After a System revival, she heals instantly, no matter how bad the injury."
A pause. Then, cruelly: "Besides, it would be good if she suffered some aftereffects. Maybe pain will teach her how to be a good older sister."
"First the accident years ago, and now this? Michelle is getting worse every time."
Mom spoke through clenched teeth. "If she keeps acting out like this, she might as well just die. Donate her body; at least then she'd make a contribution to society!"
I stood frozen.
It wasn't until their car disappeared from the hospital driveway that I finally came back to my senses.
