Chapter 1

"Jack! What the hell's wrong with you! Sleeping on company time?" My boss's angry shout jolted me awake.

I froze.

Memories from my past life came flooding back like a tidal wave. When I'd returned home with a terminal cancer diagnosis, hoping to spend my final days in peace, all I got was mockery and scorn.

"If you're gonna die, at least die useful." My wife Vivian's eyes had been ice-cold. "We don't keep deadweight around here. You can't be cured anyway, so you might as well earn more money."

My mother-in-law Martina had been even worse. "Spend money on treatment? That cash would be better off for us to enjoy."

Under their abuse, I'd dragged my dying body through twelve-hour shifts in increasingly brutal heat.

Until the day my illness finally struck. I'd struggled to the front door and looked through the window to see Vivian and Tony brazenly wrapped in each other's arms on the couch.

"Good riddance when that loser kicks it. The insurance payout will be just enough for us to have a real wedding." Vivian's laughter had been so cold. I'd collapsed on the doorstep, and in my final moments, all I felt was endless regret.

Now I'd been reborn. "While there's still time!" I thought. "If the heatwave apocalypse is real, I've gotta start preparing now!"

I got home and pushed the door open to an empty room. All my belongings had vanished.

"Where's my stuff?" I demanded of my mother-in-law Martina.

"No idea. Probably got tossed when we cleared out the trash." Martina's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Try the flea market!"

My head exploded—my parents' photos, college yearbooks, my stamp collection, all gone. And somehow there was a brand new widescreen TV in the house?

"Quit spacing out and pack up your bedding. From now on, you're sleeping in the attic." Martina stood with her hands on her hips.

"Why?" I couldn't help asking.

"No why. Because you don't make jack, that's why. Simple as that. We had to sell your crap to make ends meet." Martina showed off the new bracelet on her wrist. "Wait for you to make real money? That'll be when pigs fly."

"This is too much!" I clenched my fists.

"Too much? If you actually earned decent money, Vivian wouldn't have to crash at the neighbor's every night, would she?"

My wife Vivian. Before we got married, I'd thought she was my soulmate. Turned out she was all about the money.

While I was at work, she'd quickly taken up with Tony, our neighbor next door. She'd stay over there till midnight and later.

I'd suspected their relationship but never had proof. Every time I tried calling Vivian, she'd hang up impatiently, and I could always hear that sleazy Tony snickering in the background.

"Well, well! Jackie boy, you're home." That nauseating voice rang out. Tony walked in, Vivian holding his hand. When she saw me, she rolled her eyes and reluctantly let go.

"Tony's visiting? How nice, I'll make you some tea." Martina's face lit up with smiles. "Unlike some people who always look pissed off at their own family." She shot me a dirty look.

"Jackie boy works so hard." Tony turned to me, mockery flashing in his eyes. "I'm happy to help shoulder some of the burden of taking care of his wife."

Vivian blushed and playfully punched Tony's arm. She turned to me with a stony expression.

"I'm pregnant." Vivian gently touched her belly.

"The doctor says I need proper nutrition. You better bust your ass and make more money. Don't slack off on weekends either—go pick up side gigs. Otherwise how are you gonna support me and the baby?" Vivian looked at me with disgust.

"Are you feeling okay?" I reached to hug her, but she deliberately dodged away. "Tony and Mom will take care of me. You just need to focus on working."

"Dinner's ready!" Mother-in-law Martina was thrilled. Today's meal was her favorite—steak.

"Not you. You still gotta clean the attic!" Martina shoved a mop and bucket into my hands.

I turned and headed upstairs. The attic was stuffy and sweltering, not even a fan. One minute in there and I was drenched in sweat.

The heat made me dizzy, nearly passing out, but I couldn't stop. I just hoped to finish the chores quickly so I could eat. Thinking about still having to dust the house, do laundry, mop floors, and tend the garden made my vision go dark.

At mealtime, the family sat around the table while I stood to the side, refilling plates and pouring drinks.

"Tony, have more of this caviar." Martina eagerly served Tony. "You're our guest, it's only right."

"Jackie boy's not eating?" Tony smiled and winked at me.

"He can have the stale bread in the fridge." Vivian didn't even look up. "Don't waste the good stuff." Even though that jar of caviar was something I'd bought yesterday—cost me a whole week's wages.

"We're out of wine?" Martina violently threw the empty bottle at me. "Are you deaf? Get to the corner store and buy more!"

I had barely set one foot out of my house when their shrill laughter rang out from behind me. But I didn't care. Because soon, everything was going to change.