The Billionaire’s Curse

The sun bathed the park in golden light, casting long shadows over the swaying trees. Children's laughter echoed through the open space as they played, their carefree joy filling the air. Amidst this peaceful scenery, a young woman sat alone on a wooden bench, completely absorbed in the book she was reading. Rina, a 23 years old with light brown hair and striking blue eyes, had an ethereal beauty that naturally attracted attention. Passersby stole glances at her, some even whispering among themselves, wondering if she was a celebrity. But Rina, used to such stares, ignored them, preferring to lose herself in the world of fiction rather than reality. After three hours, she finally closed her book and stood up, stretching her arms before making her way home. Her small house, though modest, was warm and well-kept, a place she took pride in. She entered her kitchen, preparing to cook lunch when a sudden knock on the door interrupted her. Frowning, she wiped her hands on a towel and approached the door. When she opened it, her eyes widened in shock. Lying on the ground was a white cat, unconscious and wounded. "Oh no!" Rina gasped, immediately bending down. She could see the cat’s soft fur matted with blood, its tiny chest rising and falling weakly. Without hesitation, she carefully picked it up, cradling its fragile body against her chest. "You poor thing…" she whispered, her heart aching as she carried the cat inside. She hurriedly set it down on the couch and rushed to grab a first-aid kit. Gently, she cleaned the wound, applying antiseptic before wrapping a small bandage around the cat’s side. Even as she worked, she felt a strange connection to the feline, something about it seemed… different. Once she was done, she stepped back and sighed in relief. "There. That should help." Leaving the cat to rest, she went to her room to change out of her blood-stained clothes. When she returned to the living room, she turned on the television, hoping the soft noise would keep her company while she ate. Then, just as she was about to take a bite, she felt something move beside her. Her breath hitched as she slowly looked down. The cat was awake. Its large green eyes were locked onto hers, filled with an eerie intelligence as if it were studying her. A shiver ran down her spine, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Smiling, she reached out a hand. "Hello there, little kitty," she said softly, stroking its head. The cat stiffened but didn’t resist her touch. "You don’t have a collar, so that means you don’t have an owner." She grinned. "From now on, you’re my cat. My name is Rina, and your name will be… Ivory!" The cat blinked. Then, to her surprise, it let out what sounded like an annoyed sigh. Had she imagined it? Rina chuckled. "You don’t like it?" The cat’s tail flicked in irritation, but it remained silent. Rina took that as a sign of approval and smiled. "Well, it’s settled then. Welcome home, Ivory." Lying beside her, Adam Smith, a billionaire trapped in a cat’s body, it stared at his own white paw, his mind drifting back to the moment his life changed forever.