I have been in love with Jeremiah, the heir of a wealthy family, for five years. Everyone said that he loved me so much that he would even give me his life.
But he pushed me forward to take the blame because his first love accidentally stabbed someone.
Before going to prison, he hugged me affectionately and promised to get married when I was released from prison.
With his promise and the longing for the wedding, I endured the torture in prison.
After I was released from prison, I waited for him to pick me up with joy, but I saw him trying on a wedding dress with my first love.
The man who promised me that he would protect me for the rest of my life shed tears that day.
"I'm sorry, Lainey, the Ross family will never let a woman who has been in prison marry in."
After that, he personally drove his car and broke my legs, and said to me: Don't compete with Margaret for the position of young lady. As long as you are obedient, I will make it up to you for the rest of my life.
Then he walked past me with his first love's eyes covered, "Don't look at her, she is covered with blood and very dirty."
It turns out that men's promises are so hypocritical.
I took out my cell phone and called his mother: "I have repaid the Ross family's kindness, and I will leave in a week."
I need a week to pack up and heal my legs.The senior who I met in prison was waiting for me to take over her business.
——
“Lainey, is Jeremiah bullying you? Tell me, I’ll set him straight, alright?”
Hearing her concerned voice, I quietly tilted the phone toward the cracked door, letting the breathless, lust-laced moans seep clearly through the call.
Her words halted. The silence on her end said everything.
I lowered the phone and turned my wheelchair back toward the bedroom.
Auntie, you saved my life after the car accident.If you hadn't saved me , I would have passed away like my parents.In return, I gave your son a kidney and I offered to marry your son and do 99 things for him to help him get out of the shadow of a broken heart.Now that his first love is back, I won't bother you anymore."
My tone was cold and decisive, leaving no room for sentiment.
Not long after, Jeremiah walked in, now in a clean set of clothes.
He said easily. “ It was my fault. I was careless and forgot you were reaching into the trunk..”
“Lainey, stop overthinking. What you need to do now is focus on becoming my bride. Leave everything else to me.”
I dropped my gaze.
If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, Jeremiah Ross pressed against another woman, their bodies entwined, I might’ve believed his lies.
Seeing how low my spirits had fallen, he thought I was merely upset about my legs.
He suddenly grabbed my hand and started slapping his own face.
“I’m sorry, Lainey. It’s all my fault. I should’ve been more careful. I swear I’ll never let this happen again. Please forgive me.”
I said nothing. My lips remained tightly sealed.
Suddenly, he snapped. His voice turned cold.
“Lainey, even if you're upset, there should be a limit. Wasn’t it you who wanted so badly to marry me? In one week, your wish will come true.”
I sneered. If I hadn't heard them say that Margaret's car accident that killed a couple a few years ago was about to be discovered and I needed to take the blame again, how could Jeremiah have coaxed me into marrying him? But I won't let them do what they want this time. I will find evidence within this week and let everyone know the truth.
Moments later, as if regretting his tone, Jeremiah softened. He reached out and gently patted my head.
“I’ve got a dinner engagement tonight. Be good and wait for me at home.”
Jeremiah had been gone for an entire day and night, yet my phone buzzed nonstop with updates of his whereabouts.
Every single one came from his first love, Margaret Watson.
As I scrolled through her social media posts, I stumbled upon one from five years ago: she had accidentally stabbed someone and had been plagued by nightmares ever since.
Jeremiah, ever the savior, had spent a fortune tracking down reclusive healers just to help her sleep soundly.
My grip on the phone tightened, fingers curling until my knuckles turned pale.
The most recent post showed that just past midnight, Jeremiah had accompanied Margaret to celebrate an anniversary.
It read, [Still the cherished little princess. Someone said a surprise is waiting for me tonight. I’m thrilled!]
The photo showed Jeremiah clumsily baking a cake, dressed in a soft pink apron. Cream coated his sleeves, smudged across his shirt, and splattered all over the counter, a chaotic scene wrapped in affection.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced.
I remembered the time I’d been sick and too weak to get up and had asked him to make me a simple bowl of cereal.
But he had only frowned and muttered, “I’m a grown man. How would I know how to make that stuff? Just hold out. Or order something, I guess.”
I reached out and lightly traced the man’s face in the photo. Those brows and eyes I once adored, no longer held a place for me.
My fingers moved to the diamond pendant resting at my neck, the one my parents left me before they passed.
Whenever unease crept in, I would instinctively reach for it, searching for the comfort of their presence, even if only imagined.
At some point, Margaret barged into my room. The moment she saw something in my hand, she rushed over to snatch it.
“What are you doing?!” I gasped in panic.
But Margaret didn’t stop. Instead, she screamed, “You bitch! How dare you secretly keep something that belongs to Jeremiah?! Someone as filthy and lowly as you have no right to even touch his things!”
In the heat of the struggle, I shoved her hard.
Margaret fell to the floor just as Jeremiah walked in.
“What the hell is going on?!”
Tears welled up in Margaret’s eyes as she whimpered, “Brother Jeremiah, I know she’s always hated me, but I didn’t think she’d actually push me over a diamond pendant…”
“I just thought it looked like the one you gave me back then I asked her to let me see it, but she wouldn’t, and then she pushed me.”
Jeremiah’s face turned cold as he glared at me. “Lainey, apologize to Margaret!”
I held the pendant tighter. “She tried to steal something that’s mine.”
Margaret whispered pitifully, “Sister’s always right, isn’t she? I’m just the worthless trash she says I am. I should’ve known better… I’m sorry, Sister…”
Jeremiah growled, “Lainey, apologize to Margaret now, or I won’t forgive you.”
When I stayed silent, his eyes dropped to my hands, where I clutched it like a lifeline.
Without warning, he stepped forward, forced open my fingers, and yanked hard, the string snapped.
A red mark bloomed around my neck from the force.
“Give it back! That’s mine!” I lunged to retrieve it, but my legs gave out and I collapsed to the floor.
Jeremiah frowned and said coldly, “You pushed Margaret earlier. Consider this your apology.”
“Based on what—”
Before I could finish, Margaret picked up the pendant and smirked at me.
“This really is lovely. I’ll respectfully accept your gift then, thanks for your generosity, Sis.”
Jeremiah’s expression eased slightly. His eyes swept over me with thinly veiled disgust.
“You should learn from Margaret. Look how gracious and calm she is.”
“Stop making trouble. You’ve got no one left to shield you. Think about that.”
I was silent. What I had to do this week was to find the evidence they had framed me with, and then leave. In addition, during this time in prison, I kept thinking about it, and I always felt that the car accident that happened to me and my parents was unusual.
