Later, I discovered that he left me at the hotel to die that night because Yasminâs father, Roger Bailey, fell ill He had suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage while drinking. His hospitalization, recovery, and subsequent recovery cost a lot of money.
Michael insisted on the best for everything. He demanded a private room, the finest nurse, an elite medical team, and topânotch rehabilitation He could spend tens or hundreds of thousands, or even millions for Yasmin without batting an eyelash.
Yet, he treated me with extreme cruelty.
While Yasmin enjoyed his unreserved generosity, I carried a heavy burden.
It seemed that no amount of money and kindness I had shown throughout my life would be able to repay him.
For a long time, I struggled to differentiate gratitude, guilt, and feelings. I couldnât distinguish them clearly.
Sometimes, I wondered if I really loved Michael, What did I love about him?
Did I fall in love with him when he rescued me?
Did I become infatuated when he risked his life and rushed into the car to carry my parentsâ
bodies?
Or was it the moment when he gazed at me with concern and fear of losing me when the car exploded?
As it turns out, I was deceiving myself.
Back then, I believed Michael genuinely cared about me.
I believed he loved me as well.
Unfortunately, it was all just a figment of my imagination.
Even the love I once felt for him now felt like a distant illusion.
âStephanie, arenât you ashamed to keep lingering around the Fords? You were already an adult when you entered the Ford family. Have some shame, will you? Youâre staying here just to get close to Michael, right?â
That day Yasmin fell down the stairs at the Ford residence was the day I got discharged.
Aunty Lois traveled to Georgeke as Michaelâs father was unwell. He had been undergoing treatment there throughout the year. This time, Aunty Lois intended to stay with him for about half the year.
I felt scared whenever Aunty Lois wasnât around. In her absence, there was no one to protect me.
Michael would treat me even more cruelly without her in the house.
1 contemplated escaping or finding refuge in the dormitory. It didnât matter if I had to rent a house and live in the basement.
But Michael caught me in the act every time. He always brought me back and questioned how long I intended to keep up this act.
âStephanie, the same trick loses its effectiveness once overused.â Yasmin stood by the staircase and looked at me mockingly.
âDo you know what people are saying about you? Theyâre saying that you bring bad luck. You have caused the death of your parents, âEven Michaelâs father fell ill since you joined the family. Whatâs the point of someone alive?
âShut up.â I lost control of my emotions after being provoked by Yasmin.
Because it was the day of my parentsâ death anniversary.
like you being In the first two years after I joined the family, Michael still remembered my parentsâ death anniversary. However, he soon forgot about it.
âI would have quickly died if I were you,â Yasminâs cousin sneered along with Michaelâs friends, all mocking me.
They never regarded me as a human.
âMichaelâs not back yet.
âStephanie, I heard youâre lacking a man? Come, let me offer you some warmth while Michaelâs away.
I shivered at their disgusting words as if it was a curse.
âLetâs go, come with me.â Yasmin held my wrist and dragged me down the stairs forcefully.
I retreated in fear, watching as Yasmin deliberately released my hand while I struggled. She sneered at me and then tumbled down the stairs.
Everyone was shocked and quickly stood up.
Horror filled me as I watched Yasmin lay in a pool of blood on the ground. Then my gaze shifted to Michael, who had just entered. I shook my head anxiously.
It wasnât me, it wasnât me.
But nobody would believe me.
Even if everyone other than Michael saw that it wasnât me, they wouldnât defend me.
âStephanie! How can you be so evil!â Eva rushed over and slapped me. A punch and kick soon followed Touted up in the corner, holding my head. I was too scared to move.
âIt wasnât meâ¦â
It really wasnât me