Reborn: A Second Chance Through Time

After seeing her bank account, Lily couldn't believe it. She had $10.5 million dollars in her account. Her hands trembled as she refreshed the screen to make sure it wasn't a mistake. A moment later, she ran downstairs to tell her mom the good news.

"Mom!" Lily called out, nearly tripping over her own feet as she dashed into the kitchen. "You're not going to believe this!"

Her mom looked up from chopping vegetables, concerned. "What's going on, Lily? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I just made… $10.5 million dollars," Lily said, her voice still shaking.

Her mom froze, the knife still in her hand. "Lily, what are you talking about?"

Lily quickly explained everything—the paintings she sold online, the investments she made in the stock market, and how everything skyrocketed.

Her mom sat down, staring at her daughter as if she'd grown another head. "$10.5 million? Are you serious?"

Lily nodded excitedly. "Yes! Look!" She showed her mom the bank account balance on her phone.

Her mom's eyes filled with tears. "Lily, this is unbelievable. I don't even know what to say."

"I do," Lily said with a grin. "We're getting rid of that old car this weekend. Either throw it away or sell it to a junk shop. It's too dangerous."

Her mom shook her head. "There's no need for that, Lily. The car still works."

"It's not just about working, Mom. It's about safety. Please, let me do this for you."

Her mom sighed, finally nodding. "Alright, Lily. If it means so much to you, we'll get a new car. But only if it's not too extravagant."

"It won't be," Lily promised. "Just something reliable."

Her mom smiled softly. "So, what's next for you? You've already done so much."

"I'm still going to college," Lily said firmly. "But I'm not going to study art."

Her mom looked surprised. "Really? Why not?"

"I feel like I've learned everything I need to about art. It's time to explore something new," Lily explained.

Her mom nodded, respecting her decision. "Alright, Lily. Whatever you choose, I'll support you."

The rest of Lily's senior year flew by. Noah continued to pick her up most mornings, but one day he had some news to share.

"Emma said yes," Noah blurted out as they were driving to school.

Lily glanced at him, her heart sinking for a brief moment before she smiled. "That's great, Noah. I'm happy for you."

"Really?" Noah asked, his eyes flicking over to her briefly. "I thought you'd be… I don't know… weird about it."

"Nope," Lily said, shaking her head. "I'm glad you're happy. That's all that matters."

For the first time since her rebirth, Lily realized she had truly let go of her feelings for Noah. She felt free—like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. It was a strange but comforting sensation.

Later that week, Lily hung out with her new friends, Leah and Anna, more often. One afternoon, they invited her to go shopping at the mall after school.

"Sure," Lily said. "I need new clothes anyway, and I want to buy some things for my mom."

When Noah asked if she needed a ride home, Lily laughed. "Not today. Leah has a car, and you have a date, remember?"

Noah pouted playfully. "You're ditching me for your new friends?"

Lily just laughed, waving him off.

At the mall, Lily tried on several outfits, always asking Leah and Anna for their opinions. They were quick to compliment her on everything she wore.

"You should be a model, Lily," Leah said, half-joking.

As if on cue, a talent scout approached them. "Excuse me," the woman said, handing Lily a business card. "Have you ever considered modeling? You have a great look."

Lily was taken aback. "Um… I've never thought about it."

"You should," the scout insisted. "Here's my card. If you're interested, give me a call. We'd love to set up a casting."

Leah and Anna were ecstatic. "Lily, you have to do it! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"I'll think about it," Lily said, tucking the card into her pocket. "I need to talk to my mom first."

At home, Lily showed her mom the clothes she had bought. "And there's something else," Lily said hesitantly. "A talent scout approached me at the mall. She said I should try modeling."

Her mom looked at her carefully. "Do you want to do it?"

"For the experience," Lily admitted. "I think it could be fun."

Her mom smiled. "Then go for it, Lily. You've worked so hard. You deserve to enjoy yourself."

"Thanks, Mom," Lily said, hugging her tightly. "I'll call her tomorrow."

That weekend, Lily and her mom bought a new mid-tier car and hired contractors to fix up their house. The once-dilapidated home was slowly being restored to its former glory, and Lily felt a deep sense of satisfaction seeing her mom smile more often.

At the casting for the modeling agency, Lily was nervous but excited. The process was detailed—they measured her, took headshots, and had her walk a runway. To her surprise, she was cast for two major fashion shows: Gucci and Fendi.

When she told her mom the news, her mom was stunned. "Gucci? Fendi? Lily, that's incredible!"

Lily grinned. "And I'll be paid $3,000 for each show. It's not as much as the stock market, but it's a start."

Her mom hugged her tightly. "I'm so proud of you, Lily."

At school, Noah noticed Lily seemed busier than usual. "You've been hard to pin down lately," he said one morning as they drove to school.

"I know," Lily admitted. "I've just been exploring a lot of new things. It's my last year of high school—I want to enjoy it."

Noah glanced at her as the sunlight caught her hair, making it look like it was glowing. For a brief moment, he thought she looked even prettier than Emma. But he quickly brushed the thought aside. "You've really changed, Lily. But in a good way."

"Thanks, Noah," she said, smiling warmly. "I guess I just finally figured out how to live for myself."

As they arrived at school, Lily felt a sense of contentment she hadn't felt in years. She had friends, a supportive mom, and a bright future ahead of her. For the first time, she truly believed that everything was going to be okay.