The Last Match Burns the Brightest

Before Grandpa passed, he left behind two things: a billion-dollar fortune and three matches.

He said, "Each of you gets to pick one. Renee, you're the oldest, so you go first."

I did not hesitate for even a second and chose the fortune. That left my adopted sister, Vera Gallagher, with nothing but three matches.

What none of us could have known was that those three matches were no ordinary matches. Each one, when lit, could make any wish come true.

Vera resented our parents for favoring me, so she immediately cursed them a terrible death. Sure enough, Dad suddenly suffered a heart attack and died on the spot, and Mom was hit by a speeding semi-truck on her way to the hospital.

I grabbed a kitchen knife and went straight to Vera to settle the score. I growled, "Didn't I tell you that once you turned 18, I would split Grandpa's inheritance with you? Our parents opened their home to you and gave you everything I had growing up. All these years, you ate the same food and wore the same clothes as I did. How could you betray them?!"

Vera's face was filled with greed. "Since they chose to adopt me, they should have thrown you away and given me all the good things instead! I don't want your handouts. Once you're all dead, the money will be mine anyway!"

With that, Vera sneered and lit the second match. "I wish Renee would be trafficked to some remote backwoods town, forced to carry and deliver eight babies at once, and die from complications!"

I was horrified. I emptied my savings and hired over 1000 bodyguards to protect me day and night, making sure there was not a single weak spot.

However, one night, every single bodyguard suddenly passed out at the same time, and I was kidnapped and sold deep into the mountains.

I was tortured, abused, and forced to endure things no person should ever have to survive. I did not know how much time had passed before I finally swallowed my last breath in agony and humiliation.

When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn on the very day the inheritance was divided.

With trembling hands, my grandfather, Gerald Gallagher pulled out three matches. Everyone in the room was confused.

Someone asked, "Has the old man lost his mind? He's seriously taking out three matches as a family heirloom?"

Another chimed, "Are those matches meant to humiliate Vera? That's way too much, even for him!"

Gerald's voice was hoarse and weak as he said, "Between this multi-billion dollar inheritance and these three matches, you two can only choose one. Renee, you're the oldest, so you go first!"

A chill ran through my entire body, and I suddenly realized I had been reborn. Remembering the tragic fate of my family in my past life, I instinctively turned to look at my parents.

My vision instantly blurred from the tears.

In my past life, I had chosen the fortune. However, Vera Gallagher, my adopted sister, had used the three matches to make her wishes, which led to my parents' deaths and my own miserable end in a remote mountain town.

The pain from those final moments still had not fully faded.

I was not about to make the same mistake twice, so I chose the three matches without hesitation.

Everyone in the room froze.

Someone mumbled, "Has Renee Gallagher completely lost it? Those are just three regular matches! It's not like they're made of gold."

"That's a multi-billion dollar inheritance, and she's just handing it over to someone who was adopted? If Renee wants to play the saint, she should at least pick the right time!"

"I can't even watch this. It's driving me nuts! If she doesn't know how to choose, let me do it for her!"

My parents rushed over and tugged at my sleeve.

My father said, "Renee, did you pick the wrong one by accident? My startup just went public, and Mom's health hasn't been great. We need the money..."

My mother chimed in, "Sweetheart, we know you have a good heart and always think about Vera, but even if you chose the inheritance, you could still give half to Vera later. There's no need to do this…"

They tried their best to persuade me, but I did not waver. I insisted, "I want the three matches. Vera lost her parents when she was little, and her life has been harder than mine. I don't want a single dollar of the inheritance. It's all hers."

Vera was so happy she could barely contain herself. While she signed the inheritance papers with a huge grin plastered on her face, she pretended to thank me.

"Thank you, Renee, for being so generous. Don't worry. When you're broke and begging on the streets one day, I'll make sure to toss a couple of dollar bills your way!"

My parents were so angry that they could not even form words.

I had spent three full years at my grandfather's side while he was bedridden, taking care of him without complaint. Vera, on the other hand, could not stand being around him. She would only ever pop in during the holidays, looking for gifts or some cash.

That was why, in every lifetime, my grandfather had given me the priority to choose first.

I ignored the mockery around me. After all, they did not know that the matches could grant wishes.

That night, I heard my parents tossing and turning in their bedroom.

Mom whispered, "What on earth was Renee thinking? We raised her for over twenty years, and she turned out to be a fool!"

Dad grumbled, "The creditors are coming tomorrow to collect the debt. If we can't pay them back, we'll lose this house!"

My grandfather had always run a strict household with the expectation that every generation would stand on their own two feet.

Dad's startup had been struggling since day one, and he had racked up serious debt from high-interest loans. The plan had been to use my grandfather's inheritance to bail him out, but I had taken the matches instead.

After getting the inheritance, Vera immediately went out partying and blowing money. Expecting her to pay off my parents' debts was nothing but a fantasy.

Seeing my parents unable to sleep all night, my heart ached.

So, I quietly struck the first match.

"I wish for Mom and Dad to become rich overnight!"

After making the wish, I felt satisfied and crawled into bed. However, early the next morning, Mom's scream jolted me awake.

"It's over! Everything's over! The company suddenly caught fire, and everything burned to the ground! The flames even spread to the neighboring stores. We're going to have to pay tens of millions in damages!"

Dad crouched on the floor, clutching his head, his whole body shaking uncontrollably.

I tightly gripped the charred matchstick in my hand, and my entire body went cold.

'How did all of this happen?!'