Chapter 4

I don’t know when it started, but Mason began mentioning Amber more and more.

At first, he said she was sweet and obedient. Then, he said she was pitiful, living under another family’s roof. Eventually, it became: "Valerie, stop bullying Amber all the time."

I wanted to have a serious talk with him, but it coincided with the anniversary of my mother and sisters' deaths. I had to focus on the memorial service first.

But when I returned home from the cemetery, I witnessed a scene that would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Mason and Amber, those two disgusting hypocrites, were lying naked on my white bedsheets, tangled together in passion.

"Hehe, Mason, why didn't you go to your future mother-in-law's memorial today?"

"What mother-in-law?... A dead woman from the countryside doesn't deserve that title... If I had to choose a mother-in-law, I’d choose yours..."

A loud buzzing filled my ears. I completely lost my mind. I charged into the room like a feral animal, grabbing the knife on the nightstand and swinging.

The blade sliced right across Amber's beautiful, flawless face. Her blood-curdling screams still echo in my mind. Honestly, it was incredibly satisfying.

After the incident, considering I was the victim of a betrayal, the judge initially wanted to give me a suspended sentence.

But Mason hired the most expensive legal team in the country, even bribing witnesses to commit perjury, just to ensure I received a solid three-year prison sentence.

Time flies. It has been seven years since I was released from prison.

I exhaled slowly, quietly studying the man standing before me.

It must be nice to be rich. Time hadn’t left a single mark on this handsome man's face.

But it had gifted me with cracked skin on my hands, a chin-length haircut for convenience, and grease permanently embedded under my nails.

I gently pushed the black card back to him.

"There's no need, Mr. Miller. I’m doing quite well now."

"I have food, shelter, and my freedom. I’m not stealing or begging. I earn my living with my own two hands."

"I’m just an ordinary citizen. No great wealth, but no great tragedies either."

But Mason stubbornly kept his hand extended.

"Just take it... as my compensation to you. Once you take the money, let go of your resentment. We’ll be even."

I looked at him, slightly amused.

The arrogant young master of the Miller family had actually learned how to compensate someone.

In the past, he never bowed his head to anyone.

"That’s even less necessary. I saved your life because you were my boyfriend at the time, and I went to prison because I voluntarily assaulted someone. That’s just justice."

"Neither of us owes the other anything."

Mason clenched his fists, his eyes locking onto mine.

It was as if he was trying to confirm, over and over again, that the woman standing in front of him was indeed Valerie.

Finally, his head dropped slowly, and a faint glint of moisture appeared in the corners of his eyes.

"Valerie... you’ve become such a stranger."

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

"We haven't seen each other in years. It’s only natural."

"Back then... I just lost control of my emotions for a moment," he stammered, his voice cracking. "For all these years, I’ve been thinking... if you hadn't impulsively committed that crime, I would have married you out of guilt. I would have treated you a thousand times better..."

I remained silent, letting the ticking of the clock stretch the quiet into infinity.

"Everyone has their own path to walk." I pulled a lollipop from my pocket, peeled off the wrapper, and popped it into my mouth. "Never regret what you’ve done, and never look back."

"You—"

Mason was choked up by my simple words. After a long pause, he said half-angrily:

"One thing about you hasn't changed. You’re still as stubborn as a rock!"

I nodded cheerfully. "My neighbors say the same thing. They call it persistence."

"Valerie!"

Mason clenched his fists. After hesitating for a long time, he suddenly called me by my old nickname.

I dazed for a moment. The way he pronounced those syllables was exactly the same as before.

Seeing me space out, his voice softened:

"If you won't accept my money, I can talk to your father for you. You probably don't know, but Arthur has late-stage pancreatic cancer. The doctors say he doesn't have much time left."

"If you ask for his forgiveness now, you can still get a share of the inheritance. It’ll be enough for you to live luxuriously for the rest of your life..."

"Really?" I smiled genuinely. "Karma finally caught up to him."

Having his suggestions shut down repeatedly, Mason finally snapped. He grabbed my arm, trying to drag me toward his sports car.

"Valerie, how long are you going to keep up this stubborn act?!"

"Look at yourself! Look at what you’ve become!"

"Renting a tiny, dark apartment, doing this filthy, exhausting manual labor!"

"Eating greasy, cheap takeout, getting excited over a thirty-cent condiment packet!"

"Do you think living like this makes you look cool? Or unique? Do you think it’s attractive?"

"You’re just a low-class mechanic! The absolute bottom of society!"

I looked down at myself—my overalls were covered in grease, my hair was tied in a messy ponytail, and there was probably dirt on my face. I argued back honestly:

"It’s not that bad. At least I still have a clean, scar-free face. Unlike some people..."

As if his tail had been stepped on, Mason’s face flushed red, and he practically jumped:

"Amber has had reconstructive surgery! It’s completely fixed! Even though there are scars, she can cover them with makeup!"

"But you? You smell like motor oil, and your hands are as rough as sandpaper! What man could ever stand you?!"

Getting increasingly emotional, he started swinging his expensive Hermès bag at me as if to beat some sense into me.

Right then, the glass door creaked open again.

A boy and a girl, like two little rockets, came bursting into the shop...