Chapter 7
A three–year relationship turned into a joke in an instant.
Out of guilt, Ashton gave me a large sum of money.
But since he was the adopted son of the Smith family, the money was originally mine. When my mom saw an extra amount in my account, she followed the trail and traced it back to Ashton.
Soon, she found out about my relationship with him and, furious, rushed to his house and beat him up–along with Cecilia, who was lying on his bed.
I thought my mom would scold me first.
After all, since I was little, she had always treated this non–blood–related brother very well. She used to praise him constantly, saying he was top of the class, saying he was smart.
Over time, I couldn’t help but see him through rose–tinted glasses.
But after starting over, those filters completely disappeared.
Only then did I realize that Ashton was just an ordinary guy who had nothing but his looks.
When my mom came back, her face was dark. She threw out everything that belonged to Ashton. From that moment on, he had no ties to our family.
After doing all that, my mom called me into the study to lecture me.
But she didn’t scold me–instead, she stood by my side and just said in a
calm voice that I had been wronged.
At that moment, I suddenly felt so foolish.
Compared to a non–blood–related younger brother like Ashton, of course my mom cared more about me..
And yet I had degraded myself for three years, fawning over a scumbag to the extreme.
The marriage was over, and I was finally free.
I went abroad to travel and clear my head, and Hugo came along too.
He said he wanted to officially pursue me.
Over six months, we traveled to various countries.
During the entire trip, I realized he was much better than Ashton, and only then did I understand that truly loving someone means not wanting her to suffer.
In the past, whenever we went out, I was the one doing all the planning, while Ashton just listlessly tagged along.
But Hugo was different–he would plan the route in advance, and whenever we reached a beautiful spot, he’d take the initiative to photograph me.
That half year brought us emotionally closer.
Six months later, we returned home.
The day after I came back, Ashton came to see me.
He looked much more haggard than before.
1100
That was only to be expected. After all, without the status of being the Smith family’s adopted son, he could no longer stay at my company, and no other company wanted him,
And once he had no money, Cecilia dumped him.
It was only then that Ashton realized Cecilia hadn’t refused to marry him because of her career, as she claimed, but because she had been holding out for someone even wealthier.
Back then, when she went abroad, it wasn’t for further studies.
It was because a foreign billionaire said he was willing to marry her, so she flew abroad without hesitation.
Turns out the billionaire was already married and had a child. Cecilia, unwilling to give up, thought she could take the wife’s place and willingly became the mistress. Ultimately, the wife discovered her and sent her back home.
If she could get with Ashton for money back then, she could just as easily run off to another man’s house for money now.
Only then did Ashton realize that I was the only one who had ever truly and sincerely loved him. “Jenny, I’m sorry. I just realized I let go of someone really, really good,
“Now that I’m no longer the Smith family’s adopted son, that relationship between us is gone. We don’t have to care about what others think anymore–we can be together openly and legitimately.
“Jenny, let’s get married again… I miss you, the meals you lovingly made, and your unique scent.”
He looked genuinely regretful, eyes brimming with tears that never quite fell.
In the past, I would have felt sorry for him and found it hard to let go.
But now, after experiencing death in my previous life, I no longer felt anything for him.
Life is my own–it shouldn’t revolve around another person. That only leads to despair.
I stepped back from him and shook my head.
“Ashton, it’s not me you miss–you just want to return to the wealthy life of being the Smith family’s adopted son.
“Marrying me again would improve your life. Companies would want you, and you’d have more money to waste. But unfortunately, I won’t be your stepping stone anymore.”
