Chapter 3 — Cashing Out of a Broken Past

She raised her hand, intending to lunge forward and strike me. However, her dress was far too cumbersome; I merely stepped half a pace to the side, and Lam Hoan tripped, tumbling headlong onto the floor. My father and brother came sprinting down the stairs as if their lives depended on it.

Hoan Hoan, what happened? My brother glared at me with fury. Tue An, have you been bullying Hoan Hoan again?

Before I could even open my mouth, a heavy slap crashed across my face. A searing, burning pain erupted on my cheek. I stared at my father in utter disbelief. His face was flushed with rage as he barked coldly, I know you hold resentment in your heart and have never truly accepted Hoan Hoan. But she has just given birth and her body is still fragile—how could you bring yourself to strike her?

Lam Hoan let out a sob, looking aggrieved as she whimpered, Father, please don't be angry with my sister. It is not her fault. She told me this dress costs thirty million and that if I didn't pay her, I had no right to wear it. But I don't have the money... She didn't mean to push me.

She lifted her head, adopting an incredibly pitiful expression. It is all my fault for not having the money to give her. Father, brother, if I give her the money, will she stop being angry with me?

My father snorted, his temper flaring. Hoan Hoan, you are far too kind-hearted. Give money to this miserable wretch? She can dream on! I should have known long ago; she is exactly like her mother, nothing but a gold-digging slut!

My heart tightened violently. I clutched my face, staring fixedly at him. His expression was grotesque, his mouth spewing endless vitriol. The mask of fatherly love he had worn for years seemed to shatter into pieces at that very moment. My brother quickly stepped in to restrain him.

Father, do not do that.

A faint flicker of hope ignited within me. But in the next second, he spoke with icy indifference. If we push her too hard, she might cause a scene at Hoan Hoan's wedding, which would be quite unpleasant. If she wants money, give it to her. Consider it alms for a beggar.

He casually pulled out a black credit card and tossed it at my feet, his tone dripping with utter disgust. There is over thirty million on this card. Is that enough? Take the money and get lost. Do not show your face in front of Hoan Hoan again and ruin our mood.

I lowered my eyes, staring at the black card belonging to the Man family. The last shred of attachment in my heart flickered and died completely. I slowly leaned down to pick up the card, offering a careless, cynical smile. Looking at the heap of luggage scattered across the living room floor, I no longer had any desire to pack.

Since Young Master Man has named his price, I will sell everything here to you. I looked at him with biting sarcasm. Since Young Master Man has found himself a new sister and a new mother, the old sister, me, certainly will not be an eyesore to you people anymore. From this day forward, I have no relation whatsoever to the Man family!

I rummaged through the debris on the floor to retrieve my identification documents and turned to leave.

Wait, Lam Hoan said, watching me with a cold stare. If you say thirty million is the price for selling everything to me, then there is one thing you must leave behind.

I was confused for a moment. She sneered, You have already divorced Si Han, so shouldn't you stop wearing your wedding ring? I looked down at the gold ring on my ring finger and suddenly understood. This gold band was a gift from Ky Si Han when we first started dating. It was a pair of rings he had forged with his own hands, engraved with our names. He used to say that gold was the most stable element in the world, just like our love. But we both forgot that gold is also the softest of metals; the slightest external force is enough to distort it. Having been entangled with Ky Si Han for ten years, the ring had become embedded in my finger, impossible to remove. I tugged at it twice, but it wouldn't budge, so I grabbed a pair of scissors from the table and aimed them directly at the band, intending to cut it. The moment the blades severed the gold loop, a thunderous shout erupted from the doorway.

Tue An, what are you doing!

The scissors were snatched from my hand, and Ky Si Han pulled me into a tight, desperate embrace.