âYouâre just a drag. Stop clinging to Mike,â
Jack and I had attended the same college. Although we were from different faculties, we began our freshman year together.
I was too softâtempered, so I ignored him. But he persisted.
âStephanie, why are you so arrogant every day? Youâre nothing more than an orphan raised by the Fords. Mike took you in just to warm his bed. Did you really think that youâre a lady in his eyes?
The people around Jack laughed, âSheâs indeed a lady, just not a wealthy one.â
At that time, my face turned red from holding back. I felt wronged and was on the verge of tears.
Jack led those people to encircle me and spoke vulgarly to me.
I panicked and desperately wanted to escape. When I turned around, I noticed Michael standing not far away with a gloomy expression.
I looked at him for help.
That was the first time he treated me with cold indifference. He merely cast a disdainful glance my way and walked away.
Due to his indifference, Jack became more offensive toward me.
It happened in the fall when I was 20 years old. During Michaelâs motherâs birthday party, Jack seized the opportunity and forcefully pinned me down onto the bushes in the backyard.
Hen pressed onto me, his voice laced with disgust and threat. âStephanie, since you let so many men touch you, can I touch you too? You canât just let Mike sleep with you. Let me have some too, hmm?â
I struggled to push him away, but he was too heavy. He covered my mouth when I tried to scream.
âIâll beat you to death if you scream.â
I wasnât afraid of dying, but he was just too strong.
âStephanie, everyone knows about infatuation with Mike. The Fords adopted you out of goodwill.
Yet you repay their kindness with hatred. You even forced him to marry you with some marriage contract?
I slowly abandoned any hope of trying to escape. filled with despair.
My eyes 14 Thinking I had surrendered, he relaxed his grip on me. Then, he immediately attempted to tear my clothes apart.
Seizing the opportunity, I picked up a stone and smashed it on his head.
Jack stared at me in pain and shock before fleeing.
That day, I hid in the backyard. I sat there huddled with my legs to my chest for a long time until night fell, and the autumn rain soaked me through.
That was the moment I resolved to break free from the Ford family.
1 yearned to escape.
I had to leave.
Otherwise, I would die in the hands of the Fords.
Die in the hands of Michael Ford.
I studied hard and strived for various honors and scholarships. No matter how hard I worked, I couldnât counter the malicious rumors spread by others.
Rumors circulated around college that Michael got together with a goddess named Yasmin. They were deemed the perfect couple.
And I became the malicious woman accused of framing, slandering, and plotting against the goddess Jack led the way and proclaimed that I was a promiscuous woman who engaged in multiple affairs and even attempted to flirt with him.
I was helpless, unable to explain myself. I knew it was a trap they had set for me.
The harder I tried to clarify and restore my reputation, the more entangled I was in their trap.
They heartlessly laughed at me and trampled on my dignity. They pushed me toward a dead end, bit by bit.
In the third year of college, there was a student exchange program. It was exclusive to those who had excellent academic performance and outstanding qualities.
I was thrilled at the opportunity. I thought that as long as I could get it, I would be able to leave, and everything would get better.
However, I watched helplessly as the opportunity I had diligently pursued got snatched away by Michael. He went to great lengths only to give it to Yasminâs sister, Eva Bailey.
I cried hysterically and questioned him why.
Why couldnât he just let me go if he despised me so much?
He responded, âYouâll still have many opportunities in the future. Studying abroad isnât your only option. Yasminâs sister has been in poor health since she was a child. She values this opportunity greatly. Canât you just give it to her?!â
This opportunity was not the only thing I had to give away.
I had to give up everything to Yasmin.
Why?!