Chapter 4

Mom frantically waved her hands.

I laughed coldly.

"The reason she didn't say anything is because she's waiting for this debt to fall on me, isn't it?

"But I've long since been drained dry by her. You probably won't get this money back for the next ten years!"

All the relatives' faces went pale.

I continued.

"You all felt sorry for her. Knowing she 'had no money,' you were still willing to loan her money to save her life. But she never considered you family.

"Rebecca! Is what she's saying true or not!"

Lucas stood up.

"Right! When Miranda's dad died on duty all those years ago, the government gave compensation. We never asked how much it was all these years!"

"This, this..."

Mom gripped the corner of her clothes, unable to say a word.

"Since you treat us this way, Miranda did nothing wrong!"

"Someone like you should go home and wait to die!"

Everyone threw her aside and walked out one by one.

"I'm telling you, if you can't pay back this money, we'll only ask Meredith for it, not Miranda. Figure it out yourself!"

"You people!"

Mom looked helplessly as everyone left.

Finally, she turned her pleading gaze toward me.

I coldly turned away.

Before long, I'd packed up my luggage.

"I'm going back to Los Angeles for work. Take care of yourself."

"What about your mother if you leave?"

"Figure it out yourself."

With that, I closed the door.

Over these years, though I'd lost my car and money,

At least my fiancé of five years was still there.

During these three years when my savings ran out, he'd transferred me five hundred thousand to help out.

This time when I returned, he proposed to me.

Seeing my haggard appearance, Ethan pulled me into a tight embrace.

"It's okay. From now on, I'm your family. I'll fulfill my responsibilities as a husband."

At the peak of gold prices, he forcibly expanded the traditional five gold gifts to eleven pieces of gold.

As one gesture of his sincerity in proposing.

His mother also brought me home and prepared a huge table of delicious food.

Things my own mother had never done for me.

Moved to tears, I posted my first social media update in three years: "So glad I met you."

After dinner, I discovered my mother had already called countless times.

When I answered, she launched into a scolding tirade.

"You're out there wearing gold and silver-did you consider my situation at all!

"Your mother is suffering in the hospital while you're having fun outside. What kind of person are you! Come back now! Meredith is getting married, and you need to come back and help! Stop just thinking about yourself!"

I laughed coldly.

Hung up.

Blocked her.

I no longer planned to have anything to do with this family.

Since they didn't consider me one of them, I might as well become a complete outsider.

But that day while picking out a wedding dress, Ethan suddenly burst into the bridal shop.

He yanked the dress I'd chosen from my hands.

"You already have a fiancé at home-why did you hide it from me!"

I froze.

"What are you talking about?"

He handed me his phone.

On it was a wedding invitation sent by a familiar number.

The bride... Miranda?

I was stunned.

"Ethan! I'm not engaged! This groom is just my middle school classmate. I have no idea how my name ended up on an invitation with him!"

"Stop pretending!"

His eyes were red.

"Your mother called me."

"What..."

I stood frozen in place.

"I didn't believe it at first, but the wedding venue, the officiant, the guest list, even the groom! I saw them all!

"Meredith said you two started dating in middle school, and if it weren't for your mother being sick and needing money, you never would have deceived me for financial support!"

"Ethan..."

I tried to explain, but he flung my hand away.

"What am I to you?

"The wedding's off. We're breaking up."

He left without looking back.

I stood alone on the empty street, watching his taillights vanish into the distance.

I gritted my teeth and dialed that familiar number.

"Mom, you told him I was engaged?"

"That's right. Since you won't spend money on your own family, don't think you get to keep it all for yourself. We just changed the name on Meredith's old invitation. She isn't selfish like you."

The call ended.

A cold laugh escaped me.

I immediately bought a ticket home.

So Meredith wants to get married?

Fine. If I can't have my happiness, then neither will she.