How Death Became My Rebirth

Returning home, Yulissa went up to Benjamin and Miranda, eager to earn some praise.

“Dad, Mom, I've figured out a way to get Cassandra to drop the lawsuit!” Yulissa beamed. sweetly, instantly lifting Benjamin's tired spirits from the day.

“What's your plan?” Benjamin asked.

He tousled Yulissa’s hair as she responded with a charming smile. ‘My daughter is quite clever, Benjamin thought.

“We've got another mock exam on Thursday and Friday. Cassandra’s willing to bet with. me that if | can outscore her, she'll agree to drop the lawsuit and come back home!”

Benjamin snorted dismissively. He hadn’t expected Cassandra to be so bold, challenging Yulissa in this way.

He mused, ‘Lisa's grades practically guarantee her a spot at Juset University, while Cassandra consistently brings up the rear in class rankings. This time, Lisa’s bound to win.

“You're so sensible, Lisa. If you manage to get Cassandra to drop the lawsuit, I'll get you whatever you want,” Benjamin pledged, not even considering the possibility of Yulissa. failing.

To their surprise, Raymond returned home while they were engrossed in their father- daughter bonding session in the living room, with Jasper trailing close behind.

“Dad, what did Dr. Quirke say?” Raymond asked.

Raymond couldn't accept it. The fact that the miracle doctor refused to treat him was. unbearable. The hope seemed within reach, only to become unattainable.

They were informed that Faye’s medicine worked, but they couldn't get their hands on it.

Raymond heard stories of people using the medicine and recovering from years of paralysis. Even the patient from the Zelinski family of Drieso could walk now.

He pondered, “Why? Why must be a cri pple, unable to use my hand properly? It’s right hand we're discussing! If it becomes cri ppled, what am | going to do!’

Benjamin’s expression soured as he faced Raymond's inquiry.

my

‘He caused us all this humiliation, and now he’s here questioning us?’ Benjamin fumed internally.

11: 36 Sat, 17 Feb M

“Raymond, why are you home?” Yulissa approached, holding Raymond's hand, and asked sweetly.

She reassured him, “Don’t worry, Raymond. We're working on a solution. We'll definitely get Dr. Quirke to cure you.”

“Are you sure that Dr. Quirke will treat me?”

Raymond bristled like a hedgehog, prepared to pr ick anyone who came too close.

“Cassandra should have a way...” she said. ‘Honestly, I’m clueless about this. It's unrealistic to make Dad spend hundreds of millions of dollars to get Dr. Quirke to treat Raymond. The Yates Family may be successful and rich now, but knowing Dad’s frugal nature, big expenses are highly unlikely.’ Yulissa contemplated.

In other words, half of the Yates family’s assets were hers, and Yulissa couldn’t bear to lose it. Despite losing a partner in teaching Cassandra a lesson, the remaining five brothers weren’t so bad.

‘Leonardo even brought up the idea of kidnapping and leaving Cassandra on Desert Island. That place is so dangerous, but | bet she'd enjoy it!’ Yulissa chuckled to herself.

“Cassandra?” Raymond frowned.

“Yeah, she knows Mr. Gardner of Whitecrane Hall, and she should have met Dr. Quirke too. Dr. Quirke’s hesitance to treat you might be because...

“She did this on purpose?” Raymond instinctively thought so.

Finding this explanation quite convincing, Raymond turned to look at Jasper,

inquiring. “Jace, is what Lisa said true?”

Jasper was momentarily at a loss for words. ‘It’s true that Cassandra knows Hugo, but Dr. Quirke? How could Lisa lie about that? Not everyone has the privilege of getting to know Dr. Quirke,’ he pondered.

“Cassandra docs know Hugo, but...”

“That must be it! That brat is determined to get her revenge on me!” Raymond quickly jumped to a conclusion.

‘Cassandra, | won't let you off easily!’ he thought.

The following day at school, as Cassandra approached the entrance, someone unexpectedly blocked her way-it was Raymond.. ‘It's no small feat for him to be out of the hospital!’ she thought, and said, “Even a dog. knows not to block one’s way. Please move aside.”

‘Geez, I’m speechless at his audacity. He’s blocking me no matter where | step! Has he lost his mind?’ Cassandra raged to herself.

“Cassandra, can’t you speak properly? Is this how you talk to your brother?” Raymond. was infuriated, thinking, ‘She implied that I'm worse than a dog! How dare she! Is she tired of living?”

Cassandra responded as if she’d just heard a joke. “For someone like me with unknown. parentage, how could | have a brother?”

“You- I'm not here to argue. | heard that you know Dr. Quirke?” Raymond inquired.

Cassandra arched her eyebrows and mused, ‘He’s here for me? Looks like he’s finally found his way over.”

“So what if | do or don’t know Dr. Quirke?”

“H ook me up with him. He’s the only doctor who can fix my hand. Move quickly and set up a meeting for us.” Raymond handed over the task to Cassandra without a second thought, as if this was her duty to fulfill.

“What? Is he out of his mind?’ Cassandra thought.

“Mr. Yates, when did | ever claim to know Dr. Quirke? If you’re unwell, go to a hospital. instead of showcasing your non-existent intellect here,” she jeered.

“Don't play games! If you know Hugo from Whitecrane Hall, then you must know Dr. Quirke.”

Verily, Raymond's peculiar logic left Cassandra dumbfounded.

‘Aren't the Yates family supposed to be smart? Why do they all seem like fools now? In my past life, | must have been blind to meet my end at their hands!” she mused.

“By your reasoning, anyone acquainted with Hugo should also know Dr. Quirke. So, go ask Jasper. Ask if he knows Hugo, then check if he knows Dr. Quirke. If you can’t afford a visit to the neurosurgery department for an appointment, just say the word. | could begrudgingly set it up for you, sparing the Yates family the embarrassment of releasing you into the wild!”

“Now, even if | do know Dr. Quirke, what's the fuss? What makes you think you and the Yates family deserve Dr. Quirke’s help? The Zelinski family paid a cool 2 billion dollars for Dr. Quirke’s services. How much is the Yates family willing to shell out?” she questioned.

‘If you don’t have the ability, don’t harbor any wishful thinking of acquiring things or people beyond your means,’ she mused. 1/6

Raymond was taken aback by Cassandra’s words.

He thought, ‘2 billion dollars for treatment from Dr. Quirke? Can | even afford that? | don’t think so. The assets | have on hand are only 200 million dollars.

“If the Yates family can come up with 4 billion dollars, maybe Dr. Quirke will consider saving you for my sake.”

Cassandra was confident that Benjamin wouldn't spend such an amount of money on this.

Benjamin had struggled financially when he was young, and even if he now had money, he couldn’t change his inherent sense of inferiority. He believed that only money could provide true security.

Therefore, asking him to shell out 4 billion dollars to cure Raymond’s hand would mean giving away one-fifth of his family assets to the miracle doctor.

He wouldn't do it.

Instead, he would likely persuade Raymond to give up.

However, Raymond's two life aspirations hinged on his hands.

If his hand became crip pled, it meant his dreams were shattered.

This was undoubtedly a devastating blow to him.

*4 billion dollars? Why doesn’t he just rob a bank?” Raymond exclaimed.

‘It's such an astronomical sum! Has Dr. Quirke gone crazy for money?’ he thought.

“Why not ask Jasper to browse the Dark Web and find out if it’s pricey to hire Dr. Quirke with 4 billion dollars?”

Despite the Yates family’s heightened market value and social status, their narrow- minded perspectives remained unchanged. “You...

Raymond had never interacted with Faye, and he even considered such an individual likely to be all show and no substance. However, Jasper held great admiration for the miracle doctor.

It seemed that Faye possessed genuine skills and practical knowledge.

Alas, Raymond didn’t have 4 billion dollars! That would have to be provided by

Benjamin!

Ignoring Raymond, Cassandra headed straight to the classroom.

There, she found Yulissa explaining a problem to her classmates. With her kind appearance, she does seem likable. If someone didn’t know what kind of person she was, they might be deceived by her appearance, she thought.

“You're here, Cassandra. I’m explaining some questions to our classmates. Would you like to join us?” Yulissa offered.

“No thanks.”

Cassandra’s indifference left Yulissa feeling disappointed.

Her eyes instantly reddened, garnering sympathy from her classmates.

“Cassandra, can’t you appreciate kindness? Even if you don’t want to join us, can’t you at least say thank you!”

Cassandra found herself at a loss for words.

“What, are you trying the same tactics on me again? I’m just ignoring her. Did | do something wrong? Is it serious enough to make all of you so outraged? Or do you still want to bully me or beat me up? Haven't you learned your lesson after going to court?” she retorted.

Some classmates who were about to defend Yulissa quickly hushed up.

With their not-so-great history at school and in court, anything Cassandra said would be taken seriously by the principal.

After all, the principal had personally apologized for the previous incident and even tweaked the school rules. With less than a month until the SAT, their families had also warned them multiple times not to mess with Cassandra.

They emphasized that those who could enlist Jonathan as a private attorney were no ordinary folks.

If she didn’t seek assistance from the Yates Family, it implied she relied on her own

abilities.

However, in their perspective, Cassandra was just deemed incompetent, ignorant, and a bully misusing her influence to torment Yulissa.

“Cassandra, how can you say that? Our classmates are just looking out for you... Forget it. If you don’t want to join us, then we can’t force you either,” Yulissa said, her words rendering Cassandra speechless.

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