“Don't think that just because your homewrecking mother is dead, you can wipe away what you owe me.”
“A bastard child like you shouldn't even exist in this world!”
I explained over and over—my mother never knew my father had another family. She was a woman so kind it made her fragile, and the weight of what she learned broke her. She chose death because she couldn't face it.
Christina wouldn't listen. Or maybe she just wanted an excuse to be cruel.
My resistance, my begging, my explanations—they only made the punishment worse.
It didn't end until Grandma Evelyn came and took me away.
It took me a long time to crawl out of that past. The things it left behind—the ugly, shameful things I could never say aloud—I told only one person. Marlin.
I still remember how long he stared the first time he saw the scars.
He ran his fingers over my skin, careful, so careful, his whole expression soft as he spoke.
“Diana, this isn't your fault.”
“I won't let you go back to that. I'll take Grandma Evelyn's place and keep you safe.”
Back then, I truly believed happiness was one step away.
But now, the man who swore he would protect me, love me for the rest of his life—he was the one who drove the deepest knife into my heart.
I lifted my head and smiled back at him.
“Marlin, you know everything I've been through.”
“I will never be someone's other woman, and I will never forgive anyone who's hurt me.”
“Not you. Not Christina.”
Grandma Evelyn didn't have much time left.
I had no energy to deal with anything else.
Once the wedding was over, everything I'd lost—I would take back every last piece.
My resolve stung him somewhere he didn't expect.
He let go of my hand.
One cold glance, and he turned and slammed the door behind him.
His WhatsApp was still logged in on my laptop.
A string of messages kept pinging, one after another.
“Marlin, why'd you come clean with Diana so fast? I wasn't done enjoying the show.”
“Why else? He obviously missed our Christina.”
“Who'd pass up a beauty like Christina to go for some broke loser like Diana?”
“Walk past that girl and the stink of poverty would make you gag.”
Christina sent a laughing emoji with her hand over her mouth.
Then posted a photo of herself in black stockings.
“Aww, my baby worked so hard. Here's your reward for tonight.”
“Once the demolition paperwork goes through, I'm tearing down Diana's house and building a resort.”
“You're all invited when it's done!”
Everyone in the chat cheered.
Then came a series of memes made from my photos.
One of them was taken the day Marlin proposed.
I was buried in his arms, laughing so hard my face was streaked with tears.
Marlin had asked someone to capture the shot, said he wanted to preserve life's happiest moment.
Then turned around and posted it in the group chat to mock how stupid and naive I was.
I scrolled further up.
There were more—candid shots taken while I was working.
The worst of the old bullies, a thug the others called Da Zhuang, had posted a photo of me falling while delivering food.
Bragging about it underneath.
“Ran into the stupid pig doing deliveries today. I tripped her on purpose and she ate pavement.”
“She was so scared of dirtying my car she practically bowed and scraped to apologize.”
Someone else replied right after.
“Thanks to Marlin for giving up Diana's stall location. Actually found her today.”
“First I sent people to start trouble, then I reported her to the city inspectors for operating without a permit.”
