Chapter 5

I was eventually driven out by the landlord.

He pointed at my door covered in paint and filth, cursing.

"You jinx! Get out! If you don't leave, I'm calling the police!"

I dragged a shabby suitcase, wandering the streets like a homeless dog with nowhere to go.

Night fell. With nowhere to turn, I could only sit on a park bench.

My phone rang—the demolition office calling to notify me I could come sign the contract.

After hanging up, I looked at my reflection on the phone screen: disheveled hair, sallow complexion, hollow eyes.

I truly had nothing left.

Just then, a black sedan stopped in front of me. A man in a suit stepped out.

He looked at me with pity and handed over a document.

*Voluntary Relinquishment of Guardianship and Severance of Family Relations Agreement*.

Those words burned my eyes like red-hot iron.

"Ms. Reed, Mr. Smith says if you sign this agreement, he's willing to give you another hundred thousand dollars in 'compensation.'"

"This way, Miss Emily can be officially adopted by Lily. Her record will be clean, which is good for her future."

I laughed coldly and didn't take it.

The lawyer seemed to expect my reaction. Calmly, he pulled out another stack of photos from his briefcase and threw them in front of me.

Photos of me sleeping miserably on park benches, picking up bottles near trash cans... every degrading angle captured.

"Ms. Reed, you need to think carefully. If these photos reach the media, what do you think people online will say about you?"

My body began trembling uncontrollably.

Just as I was about to break down, another luxury car pulled up.

Victor and Lily, with Smith, appeared before me.

Smith wore an expensive designer outfit I couldn't even name, her makeup flawless. She walked up to me, her eyes cold and resolute.

She glanced at the agreement by my feet, then looked up at me.

"Mom, be dignified. Just sign it."

Her voice corroded my heart like acid, word by word.

"You can't give me the future I want. Don't drag me down anymore."

I stared hard at her face, trying to find even a trace of reluctance or pain.

But there was nothing.

Seeing my hesitation, she suddenly reached out and shoved me hard!

Unprepared, my back slammed into the metal armrest of the bench. Sharp pain shot through my ribs.

I gasped in agony.

She didn't even look, just shoved the pen into my hand.

"If you don't sign, I'll kneel right now and beg you! Let everyone see how heartless you are as a mother!"

I looked at this face, both familiar and strange.

Looked at the determination and cruelty in her eyes.

I suddenly laughed.

Laughed until tears streamed down my face.

I picked up the pen and forcefully signed my name at the bottom of that agreement.

Then I looked up, meeting her cold gaze, and told her word by word:

"Fine. I'll grant you both your wish. I hope you won't regret this later."