Rebirth: I Died as a Nobody, Came Back as a Legend

I found myself sitting in the living room, still in my slightly disheveled party suit from the night before. The lingering effects of the hangover made everything feel hazy and slow. Across from me, Mom and Dad sat on the couch, their faces telling two very different stories. Dad looked incredibly pissed, his jaw clenched and eyes narrowed in anger. Mom, on the other hand, wore an expression of deep disappointment, her eyes sad and her lips pressed into a thin line. It was always disinterest or disappointment with her.

Next to them sat Debbie, putting on a façade of fake concern. Her eyes darted between our parents and me, as if she was playing the role of the worried little sister perfectly. She was dressed impeccably, of course, a huge contrast to my current state.

Dad was the first to break the silence, his voice low and controlled, though it barely concealed the fury underneath. "Jack, what the hell happened last night?"

I winced at the volume, my head still throbbing. "It's not what you think, Dad."

Mom sighed deeply, her disappointment cutting through me more than Dad's anger ever could. "Jack, we've raised you better than this. Coming home in this state... what were you thinking?"

Debbie leaned forward slightly, her fake concern almost convincing. "Jack, we were all so worried about you. What if something had happened to you?"

I looked at her, catching the briefest flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. She was enjoying this, watching me squirm. "I'm fine, really," I said, trying to sound sincere. "It was just a party, and maybe I went a bit overboard."

Dad's anger seemed to flare at my words. "A bit overboard? Jack, this isn't like you. We didn't raise you to behave like this. Underaged drinking?!"

Mom nodded, her eyes still filled with disappointment. "We just want to understand what's going on with you."

"You went on an unauthorized outing and put your responsibilities to this family aside! How dare you act so irresponsibly while you live under my roof?! Are you even listening to me?!" Dad screamed. The fact that they've already formed a bad opinion about me going to the party tells me that Debbie must've told them a pretty wild story. "Didn't I order you to keep a low profile since your spot isn't solidified? Even if you have one good idea, it doesn't mean you can do whatever you want to do in the Spencer name!"

"Please Daddy! Jack is working as hard as he can!" Debbie pleaded for me.

"Don't stand up for him! Let the bastard plead his case!" Dad demanded.

I took a deep breath and looked at Dad. "Sometimes, if rules aren't broken, things would never get done," I said evenly.

Dad's face turned tomato red, and he practically exploded. "Don't you dare lecture me about rules, Jack! Running around with Damien Anderson and his family has brought nothing but embarrassment to the Spencer name! Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Debbie's pleased expression made my skin crawl. But I kept my cool and replied smugly, "Mr. Jacobs didn't seem embarrassed at all. In fact, he was so impressed, he told me to call him 'Uncle.'"

Debbie scoffed. "That's a lie! Prove it!"

I reached into my jacket and pulled out the invitations to Aston's wedding, tossing them onto the table. Debbie's eyes widened. "Those must be fake!"

Mom picked up one of the invitations and gasped. "They've put down my maiden name. How could they know that? Not even you kids know that. Only someone with real political power could get that information."

The room's atmosphere shifted. Dad's anger seemed to waver. I lifted the second invitation envelope and let Mr. Jacobs' business card fall out. Dad snatched it up, looking at it incredulously.

"Mr. Jacobs and I got close enough that he asked me to pass on a message for you to call his personal phone. Sorry for stealing so many of your business cards, but I had to have enough to hand out."

Dad was at a loss for words. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the stack of business cards from the people most important to our expansion that Aston gave me. Dad picked one up and his eyes bulged. "Did you really connect with the heir to the Texas Devereux family? You?"

I nodded, watching Dad's face shift from anger to what I think was pride. Debbie, seeing this, tried to speak up again. "This doesn't excuse you being around a brute like Damien Anderson!"

I laughed. "Debbie, you're a silly girl but you really need to watch what you say. Damien and Aston Jacobs Jr. are cousins, and they're very close. Since Damien likes me, Aston Jr. took a shining to me. We ended up drinking together the whole night because I lost track of time."

Debbie looked shocked. Mom and Dad were quiet, but I could tell they were already seeing me in a new light. I crossed my arms arrogantly. "I made the necessary connections for our family. They all have your number saved, Dad. I apologize for breaking your rules to stay low."

Dad surprised me by yelling, "Nonsense! You don't even have anything to really apologize for. I've clearly jumped the gun here." No apology. Sounds about right.

"Daddy-" Debbie tried to say something,but Dad silenced her.

"Shut the hell up! Just because you couldn't get into the party and caused a scene doesn't mean Jack would've embarrassed us like that! What's your problem? Why aren't you happy he accomplished something before it was even asked for?"

Debbie lowered her head, searching for an answer. "Someone must've sent me a false report," she muttered. "I didn't know."

Dad looked pissed. "Mind your damn business from now on and don't disturb Jack's work with your frivolous teenage gossip. It's obvious your head isn't where it needs to be right now." He turned back to me pleasantly. "Go get some rest, Jack. You look tired."

He dismissed everyone, putting his glasses on to read the business cards I'd pulled out for him with a happy face. That's right, bet everything on me, pay more attention to me, invest in me! Climb higher because of me, it'll only make it that much more satisfying to watch you fall from that high place.

"Jack! Jack!" Debbie called out after me. "Are you mad at me because I told Daddy that you went out secretly? I'm sorry, I just got some bad information."

So what happened in there didn't happen? You weren't trying to get me in trouble? Debbie doesn't know this but this talk was very similar to the one where my parents disowned me in the last life. So that could've happened had I not brought back any useful connection my dad could use.

"No, I knew you would do that," I chuckled.

"I was only worried about you. Not only are you not familiar with how vicious business parties can be the one who accompanied you was Damien Anderson! He's a dangerous person and his family is full of horrible human beings, Jack!" Debbie argued.

"You who was so interested in having tea with him is saying such harsh words about him now?" I raised a brow at her. "I don't feel like talking to you anymore. I've lost all my trust in you after that little stunt you just pulled."

"No! That's not true! It's not about trust when it comes to the Anderson family! But is that guy more important to you than the Spencer family-"

"Debbie, whatever you think is true is true."

"Why the hell did you choose a person like that?! Why is he with you?!"

"I wonder how that's any of your business and why you're so upset about me dating Damien since you have the love you already want."

"Answer my question, Jack!"

"Don't you already know all the answers? I know what you're trying to do, but I have some advice for you. The more you do this, the worse our relationship will get. I'll get going to bed now, I'm hungover," I waved her off and continued on to my room.

"W-wait! What does that mean?!" Debbie yelled.

"I'm done with you. Erwin! Make sure I'm not disturbed and keep my sister out of my room!" I called out. Erwin came rushing out of whatever corner he was lurking in and blocked my sister from following me further.

Once I got to my bed, I collapsed and closed my eyes. Crisis averted for now and it should help that Debbie wasn't smart enough to think up another plan too soon and even if she did, I had a general idea of what she would do.

Thank god for Damien. He may be a little shit but when it comes down to what needs to be done he was the most reliable and trustworthy person I'd ever met. I don't think I would've gotten very far without all of his help. Hell, if it weren't for him I'd probably be a paranoid crying mess. I never thought I'd see the day where I'd have to admit that kind of guy definitely stirred up something in me and not just because he appealed to my fearless and bold side.

I have a crush on him and I want to die because of it.

On one hand I was happy Eli hadn't ruined men for me forever; on the other, I'm scared. What if this warmth goes away? I don't want to survive alone in emptiness again.

Maybe living just for myself was too short sighted.

Now I had to rethink everything.