Blurb：
Dive into the spellbinding universe of “Eldoria Chronicles,” where ancient prophecies and magical realms collide. Follow the courageous heroine Elara as she uncovers her hidden powers, aided by the loyal warrior Kaelen. Together, they must confront the sinister Shadow King, whose dark influence threatens to engulf the land. With rich world-building, thrilling battles, and unforgettable characters like the wise mage Lyra and the cunning rogue Finn, this series is a must-read for fans of high fantasy. Explore themes of destiny, friendship, and sacrifice in a tale that will keep you turning pages late into the night. Start your journey today and immerse yourself in a story brimming with enchantment and adventure!
Content：
In my previous life, the apocalyptic haunts descended without warning, and the whole world plunged into a living hell.
After two days of starvation, my husband and mother-in-law tied me to a chair.
I begged them desperately, but they did not spare me. Instead, to keep their food fresh, they sliced the flesh straight from my leg.
When I was reborn, I spent every last cent of my fortune to hold a grand, extravagant funeral, for myself.
My husband and mother-in-law thought I had lost my mind.
However, what they had not known was this: anyone who buried themselves could claim the treasures laid to rest in their own coffin: golden coins that could command the anomalies of the end times.
Which meant that with this extravagant funeral, I would stand invincible when the apocalypse arrived.
That time, without me as their “meat” and scapegoat… I would see how long they lasted.
Chapter 1
In the early days of the end times, my villa, thanks to its peculiar design, was a fortress against the lesser haunts. It was our safe haven.
Safe as we were inside, the fact that we could not step outside spelled out a grim reality: no food.
Hunger struck hard, and after two days, my husband, Christopher Larson, and mother-in-law, Sally Parker, had me bound to a chair. It was beyond my wildest nightmares that they would turn on me like that.
My pleas fell on deaf ears; they were merciless. To keep their ‘food’ fresh for a few more days, they went so far as to carve the flesh from my legs. The agony and despair hit me like a tidal wave. I screamed until my voice was nothing but a rasp, only to hear them complain, saying, “This woman’s meat is so tough!”
To keep me from dying of infection, they even shoved anti-inflammatory drugs down my throat.
Those seven days were a blur of torment, and how I made it through, I could not say. On the eighth day’s dawn, the greater haunts arrived, and every last refuge crumbled. My husband and his mother, desperate to live, pushed what was left of me, almost a skeleton, out the door without a second thought.
I lay there on the doorstep carpet, feeling every excruciating moment as the haunts gnawed me down to my bones.
They were thrilled when the greater haunts paused because of me, seizing the chance my sacrifice gave them to flee without a backward glance.
My awareness, my every sensation, did not fade until I was picked clean. I felt it all, every moment of being devoured. I saw with my own eyes my transformation from a person to mere fragments.
However, who could have guessed that I, who had been tortured to death in the apocalypse, would find myself reborn a month before it all began?
Staring at my whole, unharmed reflection, it all felt like a distant dream.
I had to pinch myself, hard, before I could believe it: I was actually reborn!
I had not even started to celebrate when I heard footsteps behind me.
Christopher was there, his arms encircling my waist. “Honey, you’ve been working so hard you’re wasting away. I’m tied up with work. I thought it’d be best to have my mom stay here and look after you.”
Chills ran down my spine, and it took every ounce of self-control to quash the impulse to end him right there.
This had all happened in my previous life. Under the pretense of caring for me, Christopher brought his mother into our home. They preyed on my vulnerability, my longing for the family I lost too soon. They played me with sweet nothings, and I fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.
He claimed he wanted his mother there to care for me, but as soon as Sally arrived, she swiped my jewelry, claiming she needed to tidy our room.
I was so blind then, thinking it was okay if it made her happy.
The very next day, Sally complained of feeling sick.
Chapter 2
Back then, I felt sorry for her, so I took over the chores, winding up as the caretaker for both her and Christopher.
Not long after, Sally lamented that she was intruding on our marital bliss and wanted to rent her own place.
To ease her worries, I handed her the other villa I owned in our neighborhood.
Then, Sally played the sympathy card again, bemoaning her niece’s plight, abandoned by her man, with a child, and no place to call home. She said she was powerless to help.
So, I gave one of my properties to Sally’s niece.
Back then, I truly believed that family was family, and Sally’s kin were my kin.
Sally’s laughter rang out as she clutched my hand, beaming at me like I was her own flesh and blood.
Christopher’s voice was soft as he told me how lucky they were to have me, the perfect wife, in their lives.
However, it was not until everything fell apart, when they turned on me, treating me like nothing more than a resource, that I saw the truth behind their mother-son conspiracy.
Their kindness, their warmth: it was all just a charade to blindside me.
Christopher had never really loved me. He had seen a lonely woman, orphaned and wealthy, and he had crafted his courtship with precision.
The so-called homeless niece that Sally was always fussing over was actually his wife and kids from back home.
With that knowledge, I could not help but smile sweetly and say, “Oh, darling, I’ve been missing your mother too.”
Christopher’s smirk was all confidence as he replied, “You can relax at home. I’ll go bring Mom over, and tonight, you’ll get to savor her home-cooked meals, the ones you adore.”
I played along, my nod full of feigned excitement.
He patted my hair and rushed off to fetch Sally.
I watched him go, my smile twisting into something far more sinister. The gang was getting back together again.
However, this time, with apocalyptic haunts everywhere, I wondered how long their devoted act could last without me being their prey.
Once Christopher was gone, I quickly calculated my wealth.
For years, Christopher had been craftily trying to get his hands on my wealth, but all he managed to snag was a bit of my cash. The real treasure trove in my name? It was a collection of houses.
My dad had been worried about me, his daughter, getting taken advantage of. So, he had a lawyer turn everything he left me into real estate. Thanks to that, I could live a life of leisure, never worrying about my next meal, all on the back of those rental checks.
That was precisely why, in my previous life, the two of them never stopped tricking me out of my house.
Now, facing my own over-the-top funeral plans, I needed to turn all my bricks and mortar into cold, hard cash. However, there was one place I could not part with: the villa I called home. When the end of the world kicked off, that place, with its unique design, became a fortress against the haunts.
That was why, in my previous life, I was only cast out once the greater haunts came in the final stages of the apocalypse.
I was curious to see what the apocalypse had in store for my fortress this time.
However, when the world was in hell, a regular house was not worth anything.
I cracked the safe open, left two property titles inside, and stuffed the rest into my suitcase.
Once everything was set, and with Christopher out fetching Sally, I grabbed my suitcase, hopped in the car, and headed straight for Dustin Hill, my late dad’s business rival.
I did not beat around the bush. I walked into his place, flung open my suitcase full of deeds, and laid it out straight: I was selling off all my properties.
Chapter 3
Dustin looked like I had hit him with a bolt from out of the blue. I could see he was itching to make a deal, but he played it cool, asking me what had gotten under my skin to come to him so suddenly.
If I went around talking about being reborn after the apocalypse, people would think I was insane. Even if he did buy into my story, I would not spill the beans to him.
After all, it was his dirty tricks that had sent my dad to an early grave, choking on his own rage when his project went south.
With the clock ticking, I played the innocent card. “Mr. Hill, my friend has this investment lined up that will triple our money! However, you know the drill. When my old man kicked the bucket, he made sure I was set for life, turning most of my inheritance into real estate. That left me pretty strapped for cash. And the only guy I know who can cough up that kind of dough so fast is you, Mr. Hill. So…”
Dustin’s eyes danced with a wicked glee as he agreed to my pitch.
However, the guy was a shark, only willing to fork over 70 percent of what my properties were worth on the market.
We were talking about a cool 45 million dollars in assets, which meant I only got 31.5 million out of him.
I clenched my jaw and took the deal.
Dustin was all smiles, practically tripping over himself to get me to sign on the dotted line, promising to wire the cash in a month.
I put the brakes on that. “Mr. Hill, my friend says this deal’s got only ten days left on the clock, so I need that money this week.”
Dustin scowled, and I let out a weary sigh. “If that’s too much to ask, then let’s just forget the whole thing.”
Like a hawk on a mouse, Dustin pounced, saying, “A week it is!”
We inked the deal, and Dustin handed over a cool 15 million dollars upfront, agreeing to settle the rest within the week.
I caught Dustin’s smug grin and could not help but scoff to myself. ‘When the apocalypse comes, you’ll see. All this will be nothing but trash.’
After leaving Dustin’s place, I made a beeline for Zephyr City’s grandest funeral home. The ambiance was serene, with soft lighting and the mingling fragrances of lilies and candles. A somber-suited funeral manager approached me, his voice deep and courteous as he said, “Good afternoon. Whose funeral is it?”
I cut to the chase. “I need a funeral. The most lavish one you can pull off. Don’t worry about the cost.”
The manager blinked, taken aback. Then, he asked, “Forgive me, but whose funeral are we planning?”
I pressed my lips together. “Mine.”
He looked at me, a mix of concern and curiosity in his eyes, and asked gently, “Are you sick, or in some kind of trouble?”
I offered a wry smile. “You could say that. If I don’t get this funeral sorted, I may not last much longer.”
His eyes lit up with a mix of intrigue and understanding. “Did you get some kind of omen or advice from a sage to do this?”
I picked up where the manager left off. “Sounds about right. I want you to put together the most extravagant funeral you can imagine. Let’s start with a budget of 30 million dollars. If we need more, I’ll let you know. And schedule it for the 21st.”
In my previous life, the apocalypse hit on the 22nd. If I got the funeral out of the way by the 21st, I could kick back at home and watch the world crumble.
The manager looked like he had seen a ghost. He sputtered, “Your budget is… What? Thirty million dollars? You’re pulling my leg, right?”
Chapter 4
I did not waste time with explanations. I just had him give me the account details.
A few taps on my phone, and the 15-million-dollar deposit was on its way.
The manager was frozen, staring at the transaction alert for a good ten minutes before he snapped out of it, hands shaking with barely contained excitement.
I said calmly, “Consider that a downpayment. I’ll pay the rest on the day. We’re on a tight schedule; the funeral has to be on the 21st.”
His eyes lit up, and he was all deference and urgency as he said, “Please rest assured. Whatever you may request, I’ll make it happen, no matter the cost.”
I nodded and laid out my demands. “Out of the 30-million-dollar budget, set aside 15 million for gold coins settled in my coffin.
“I also need a top-of-the-line mahogany coffin with a velvet lining. For the flowers, the hall should be drowning in lilies, white roses, and orchids. Set aside 1.5 million for them.
“And I want a choir and a string quartet for the whole shebang. I demand a procession of sleek black luxury cars and the finest hearse in Zephyr City. So 7.5 million was meant for them.
“Please prepare soldiers cut from paper, and let them stand together with white flowers to guard my coffin. 4.5 million. Make the paper soldiers as much as possible.
“As for my final resting place, I want a grand, timeless mausoleum, not a run-of-the-mill cemetery plot. Allocate 1.5 million for that.
“This funeral will have one theme: unprecedented luxury. It will be the talk of the town, forever etched in one’s memory.
“And listen up, don’t even think about cutting corners with bulk orders. I’ll be checking. If anything’s not up to my standard, forget about seeing the rest of your money!
“If costs run over, just be straight with me, and I’ll wire the extra funds.”
The manager mulled over my words, then said, “This is a big ask, and it must be perfect. I can’t pull this off alone.”
I nodded. “Get your team together, then.”
He dashed to the back of the shop and slammed a button. Moments later, every funeral manager on the block had bolted their doors and swarmed in, packing the place tight.
With a megaphone in hand, the manager pointed at me and bellowed, “Big news, Funeral Avenue! This lady’s dropping 30 million on her own send-off!”
All eyes snapped toward me, wide with a mix of awe and the kind of concern one gives to someone with a terminal diagnosis.
Whipping out his phone, the manager hollered, “She’s good for it, too. I’ve received 15 million dollars in deposit, already in the bank!”
The crowd’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the confirmation text. They clamored over each other, asking, “What’s the lady’s vision?”
I snatched the megaphone from the manager. “I’ve already told him what we need, and he’ll fill you in soon. Just get everything ready as I’ve asked.”
I paused for effect. “And if you manage to get it all done early, I’ll throw in an extra three million bucks!”
Eyes wide with anticipation, the crowd watched as I passed the megaphone back to the manager.
Stepping off Funeral Avenue, my phone buzzed to life. It was Christopher.
He must have gotten Sally home and realized I was missing.
I picked up, and Christopher’s voice came through, laced with concern, asking, “Honey, where are you?”
I held my bitterness back and said, “Just some last-minute stuff at work. Did your mom get home okay?”
Christopher grunted a yes. “Mom’s been worried sick about how hard you’ve been working. She didn’t even stop to rest after the drive. She kept going on about making her special spaghetti with tomato sauce!”
An icy smirk played on my lips. In my previous life, this mother-son pair played me like a fiddle with that so-called ‘mom-flavored’ spaghetti to win over my heart.
However, back then, I was none the wiser.
Chapter 5
However, reborn with a vengeance, I would live by one rule: if one were to cross me, I would pay it back a hundred times over.
I clutched the phone tightly. “Your mom’s the only one who gets it. I’ll be tied up here for another couple of hours. Tell her I’m craving her grilled lamb chops, barbeque pork ribs, and that homemade pie mash she makes…”
I rattled off a list of dishes that were notoriously tricky to whip up.
On the other end of the line, Christopher tried to cut in, but I steamrolled right ahead.
“For the main dish, I’m craving your mom’s homemade pumpkin soup and her beef and kimchi noodles.”
Once I finished, Christopher, a bit flustered, said, “Honey, that’s quite a spread you’re asking for. Are you sure we can eat all that?”
I played the innocent act. “Oh, well, then just make a tiny bit of each!”
That left Christopher speechless for a moment, scrambling for a response.
I did not give him the chance. “Babe, I have to run. I’m swamped with work. I need to wrap up so I can get home early for the feast your mom’s putting together for me!”
I did not wait for his reply; I just hung up.
A smirk played on my lips as I powered my phone off, headed to the salon, and indulged in a relaxing spa session.
Lying there, pampered and at ease, I plotted my day.
The funeral’s total expenses, including the bonuses I had promised, came to 33 million dollars.
Any surplus, and I would have to cut another check for the manager.
Next on my list was securing a venue for the funeral, spacious enough for the sea of flowers. That was another hefty chunk of change.
With flowers galore, their arrangement was another puzzle to solve, likely needing a bit of palm greasing to get it done right.
I also had to stockpile plenty of food, water, medicine, and other essentials. That was money, too.
After the house sale, I was still short a whopping 7.5 million dollars.
I eyed my jewelry collection. In a real crunch, it could fetch around three million.
However, that left a 4.5 million dollar gap. What should I do?
Then, it hit me, and I could not help but grin.
I had nearly forgotten the hefty sums Christopher had siphoned off over the years. That should square things, right?
I was just reaching my front door when Sally’s voice, laced with venom, reached my ears, her words tangled with Christopher’s.
“Chris, Jessica is such a snake. It’s late, and she’s not back yet. You think she’s toying with us?”
Christopher’s laugh was like ice. “No way. She’s probably tied up with some company mess!”
Sally’s voice was thick with disdain. “I’ve cooked all that food for her. She’ll eat herself into an early grave.”
Her tone took a sharp turn. “Hey, Chris, Howard’s almost ready for school, and you and Chloe can’t keep living like this. Let’s figure out how to snag her houses, too.”
Christopher’s words were laced with poison. “That’s exactly why you’re here. If it wasn’t for her old man’s last wish, I’d have had the houses by now. A will? It’s just a piece of paper. It’ll all be mine soon enough.”
Sally’s laugh was full of false pride. “That’s my boy, always the smart one.”
I pushed the door open with a frosty half-smile, catching the two smug figures off guard as they scrambled to their feet.
Christopher, ever the rock, greeted me. “You’re home!”
I nodded and glanced at Sally. “I appreciate you looking after me.”
Sally offered an awkward chuckle. “No need for thanks between family. In my eyes, you’re like my daughter. I couldn’t rest easily without taking care of you myself. Your favorite dishes are ready. Let’s eat.”
Chapter 6
As I sat at the dinner table, I asked nonchalantly, “I overheard something about Howard, school, and a house earlier. What’s the story?”
Christopher and Sally locked eyes, sharing a silent conversation.
With a heavy sigh, Sally said, “Howard’s my grandnephew. You wouldn’t believe the tough breaks my niece has had. Her man has left her, and she has to raise their kid alone, jobless. And with the kid needing school but having no house to call home, he can’t even get into a decent one.
“I feel so powerless as her aunt, unable to help my own kin.”
Sally dabbed at her eyes in a show of sorrow.
I dropped my utensils with a clatter. “Well, a man who ditches his kid is lowly, but a woman who won’t stand up for herself isn’t much better. They’re both as sorry as the other.”
Christopher’s face soured at my words, and I fixed him with a look. “Honey, you agree, don’t you?”
He managed a strained nod.
I rose, heading for the bedroom. “I’m done eating.”
Sally called after me, “You barely touched your food.”
I said, “I’ve lost my appetite thanks to the pathetic display from those two.”
The sun had barely risen when Christopher slipped out the door, murmuring something about work.
However, I knew better. He was off to see that mother and her child.
He had confessed as much in my previous life while cutting into me with a knife through flesh.
He had even warned me that my fate would be grim, apocalypse or not.
I scoffed at the thought.
With all my jewelry stashed in a backpack, I made a beeline for the local pawnshop. The manager did not bat an eye at my request, and just like that, three million dollars landed in my account.
I spent the rest of the day on a shopping spree, dropping 1.5 million on enough food, water, medicine, and supplies to fill ten trucks.
I then led the caravan to my secluded vacation home in the suburbs.
The drivers and movers worked diligently, stowing everything in the basement as I had instructed. Their eyes flickered with curiosity and confusion, but I ignored their silent questions.
The apocalypse had not arrived yet. How could they possibly understand the urgency I felt?
I was not concerned about looters post-apocalypse either. The villa’s security was top-notch; any would-be thieves would need more than just guts to breach it. They would need explosives.
With the supplies secured, I hit the road again, heading for Lascora, a place I had found online that seemed perfect for a funeral.
Anxiety gnawed at me during the drive. Sight unseen, how could I truly be sure?
However, as Lascora came into view, relief washed over me. It was ideal. The land stretched for miles, barren except for a few homes to the west. The ground was a blanket of yellow sand, devoid of vegetation, a natural barrier against the threat of wildfires.
I confronted Andrew Smith right there on his property, telling him I needed to lease his land.
Andrew, a savvy businessman, saw my desperation and hit me with a jaw-dropping price of 1.5 million dollars.
I clenched my jaw and accepted.
However, I was no pushover. I demanded he get me five massive iron boxes for the burial gifts within a week.
I made it clear he had to cover for me if there was any flak for the bonfire I had planned for the funeral.
Andrew agreed without batting an eye, and I handed him a 750-thousand-dollar deposit right then and there.
Once everything was set, I could finally relax.
The funeral and logistics were sorted, then it was just about keeping an eye on things, which was the easy part.
Next on my list: getting my money back from Christopher.
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