Chapter 10 : A New Beginning
Though the post never mentioned anyone by name, surprisingly, many of our old high school classmates commented beneath it.
It wasn’t long before Henry’s dirty deeds were fully exposed.
And with them, Linda and my parents were dragged into the storm.
Over the next few days, my phone. barely stopped ringing.
Right now, I stared across the table at the troublemaker behind it all and sighed. “Brat, who told you to get involved?”
Grinning, Susie dropped a slice of steaming beef into my bowl. “Don’t be mad, old man. I know you’d never stoop
Chapter 10: A New Beginning
to using your scars to guilt people.
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“But I just think–why should someone who’s been hurt stay silent? If they don’t know what you went through, they’ll only feel a tiny bit guilty. That’s not enough to make up for what they did, and it won’t help you let go, either. So, I want them to live every day in the same torment you did. Whenever you’re feeling down, just remember–they’re feeling worse. That way, maybe you’ll feel a little better.”
I stared at her, something heavy stirring in my chest.
She was right. My so–called forgiveness was nothing more than a tired compromise.
Years of depression had worn me down until I had no more passion for life.
Putting Henry behind bars wasn’t about revenge–it was just me not wanting a
But that wasn’t enough to make up for the pain I’d endured.
I touched the watch on my wrist, lips curving faintly. “Thanks.”
Susie smiled. “Don’t mention it. I just hate watching bullies get away with it.”
But I could tell she wasn’t being completely honest.
It wasn’t until after dinner that she suddenly spoke up. “Actually… I had an older brother. He died from depression. I was studying abroad at the time, and my family kept it from me so it wouldn’t affect my grades. By the time I got. home… all that was left was a cold
gravestone.”
Her eyes turned red as she spoke.
And finally, I understood why she’d
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reacted so strongly when she saw my antidepressants.
She was scared.
Just seeing those same pills brought her back to her brother. To the guilt of not saving him.
So now… she wanted to save me.
I looked at her seriously. “Susie, things are only going to get better from here.”
She gave me the brightest smile, even as tears slipped down her cheeks. “Yeah. We’re going to be just fine.”
As we walked out of the restaurant, I saw a familiar pair standing at the door.
My ex–wife and ex–daughter.
Or rather–those two blind fools who
Chapter 10: A New Beginning
used to be my family.
I walked past them without a word.
“Daddy…” Tammy whispered timidly.
I turned to her, met her guilty, terrified gaze, and smiled cruelly. “Little girl, your dad’s in prison. I’m not him.”
Tammy burst into sobs.
Linda looked crushed. “Chase… I was wrong. I didn’t know you’d been through so much…”
Susie couldn’t hold back. “How could
you not know? You were the ones who did this to him.”
Linda glared at her with venom.
I stepped between them.
Just that—nothing more. But even that simple gesture wiped all the light from
She opened her mouth, took a moment, then asked, “So you really… don’t want us anymore?”
I said, “Watching you so miserable–I’ll admit, it makes me feel a little bad.”
Her eyes lit up. Even Tammy looked hopeful.
Susie tugged at me like she was afraid I’d fall for them again.
I continued calmly, “Tell you what–give me another ten million, and maybe I’ll feel better.”
Linda’s face went blank, like her soul had just been yanked out of her body. Bitterly, she said, “If you’d just come back to me, I’d give you everything.”
I said, “Sorry. I don’t want your filth.”
She tried to say more, but I pulled off my watch and showed her the scar beneath.
Her face twisted with panic and regret. I felt a twisted kind of satisfaction. “The day I slit my wrist, you were taking Henry to our college reunion.
“My blood was filling the tub… while. everyone in the group chat was praising how perfect you and Henry were. So tell me, Linda–why the hell would I ever want you back?”
She fled in shame.
That night, I received a twenty million settlement.
Soon after, my parents started begging for forgiveness. They bombarded me with calls, messages, even showed up at my hotel, sitting there all day waiting for
me to come out.
They stared at me with red–rimmed eyes, fidgeting like I was some cold, heartless monster.
I found it all unbearably dull.
So, the day the divorce was finalized, I boarded a plane and flew to a remote city.
Just like that, those chaotic people vanished from my life.
Later, Susie moved to the same city.
Only this time, she didn’t settle for just calling me “old man.”
She did everything she could to make me smile again. To help me rediscover what it meant to live.
We fell in love.
Two years later, on a snowy night, I proposed.
Linda came to the wedding.
I saw the tears of regret in her eyes.
Even Tammy stood beside her, crying quietly.
But I didn’t look their way. I just gently rested my hand on Susie’s belly.
Inside, a little one had already begun to
grow.
This time, I would have a real family.
A warm, loving home.
