Chapter 2
I had still wanted to hold my ground–until I saw Jackson in the underground parking lot, the one who had once brought boundless warmth to my heart.
He was standing in front of a car, speaking quietly with someone.
I recognized that person. He was the secretary to the CEO of the Lockhart Group.
“I heard Carl wants your girlfriend to marry that idiot. Doesn’t that mean all your years of effort were for nothing?”
I heard Jackson let out a cold snort. “Let her marry. She was just a tool for me to vent my desires. A bit of a shame, though–I’ll never find another woman who looks so much like Rosella.”
“Mr. Fletcher, I’ve never understood. Since you love Rosella, why don’t you just be with her? It’d even be better for our plan.”
He shook his head. “No. She’s the most perfect piece of art in my heart. Before marriage, no one can taint her–not even me.
“Speed up the actions against Sullivan Group. And keep a close eye on Lockhart Group’s side, too. I can’t wait to marry the woman I love the most at the peak of my success!”
nor wo
I didn’t cry, I sad–I just felt wave after wave of coldness spread through my body.
The village clerk’s fortune–telling from my childhood proved to be
1216
accurate.
He said I had shallow ties with my kin. I never believed it.
But growing up, reality had proven his words step by step.
When I was six, Carl abandoned my mom and me in the countryside and went to the city alone to work. After a four–year absence, Carl returned to divorce my mom.
At 16, I lost my mother. The village clerk rallied the neighbors to raise me and help me go to college.
At 23, I was thrown into prison by Carl himself.
Now at 27, Carl once again personally pushes me into a pit of fire. Even the man I had loved so steadfastly turned out to be a traitor.
This life was a joke.
Maybe only an idiot would never leave me.
So that very day, I agreed to Carl’s request–to marry the Bradley family’s idiot.
After leaving the rented apartment, I drove to the house where Carl used to live with his mistress, Marsha Lincoln.
Although this neighborhood had already been slated for demolition, it was still clear that anyone who could afford to live here over 20 years ago had to be either rich or powerful.
I let out a self–mocking laugh–no wonder Carl had married into the family. Who wouldn’t want to live a life of luxury and indulgence?
1216
-Chapter 2
Back then, when he left, my mom gave him all of her dowry. She was afraid he’d suffer out there and gave him something he could pawn for
food.
But before he could even reach a pawnshop, he met Marsha.
In a way, that was lucky, because it meant those items were never sold off and remained intact.
After entering the house, I opened a large, dust–covered box and began taking the items out one by one.
Among them was a brocade box containing a dark green emerald
bracelet.
I remembered my mom telling me that it was left behind by someone my grandma once saved. She said that no matter what trouble I encountered, I could bring this bracelet to that person for help.
But before she died, my mom never told me that person’s name.
It didn’t matter anymore. I slipped the bracelet onto my wrist and turned to leave.
Just as I got in the car, I received a call from Rosella.
“Monica, today’s my birthday party. Dad said you should come home and join the fun.”
I rejected her without hesitation. “I’m not interested.”
“Jackson is here too. Monica, I really want you to come celebrate my birthday–just treat it as fulfilling one of my wishes, okay?”
Jackson grabbed the phone at this moment.
12.16
Chapter 2
“Monica, come on over. I’m already here. I’ve prepared your gift–you
just need to show up.”
