Chapter 9
I shot David a frosty look before silently turning on my heel to leave.
Afterward, I went to see my ex–mother–in–law, who was lying in hospital bed with her mouth contorted and her eyes askew.
Upon seeing me, she could only produce jumbled sounds, her attempts at speaking reduced to muffled words instead of clear sentences. “Am… Amy, it’s you…”
I sneered and departed from this place of disorder.
At that moment, Mom called.
“Amy, you must listen. Bring back the adopted child right away. David is the one at fault here.”
She continued, “Your father has found a suitable match for you. The man is trustworthy and doesn’t care about your divorce. He’s even offering 80,000 dollars as a betrothal gift. Your brother and sister–in–law are purchasing a new house and are in desperate need of money.”
My father then added over the call, “This money will help your brother resolve his housing issue. It’s beneficial for everyone!”
I scoffed. A good match?
Mom, who didn’t even bother to give me a quilt as a wedding gift, suddenly claims someone is offering 80,000 dollars as a betrothal gift. There had to be a catch.
I laughed bitterly and asked, “Mom, is this guy really as wonderful as you say?”
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Thinking I’d finally come around, Mom beamed and said, “Amy, if you weren’t my own daughter, do you think I’d offer you something this good?”
“If he’s so great, why not have Lorie marry him? She doesn’t have kids, and my brother can’t afford a house. Maybe she could get even more money from him. No one would want to marry someone with a child like me.”
Lorie, my sister–in–law, erupted, shouting curses, “Amy, are you out of your mind? Why should I marry that old, ugly cripple in his 50s?”
I calmly responded, “Lorie, that’s not fair. I’m just trying to help, and you respond by cursing at me?”
Before she could retaliate, I ended the call and blocked my parents and brother from contacting me.
At that moment, Sophie, who was next to me, woke up and gave me a warm smile.
Years later, as Sophie grew up and my savings dwindled, I went back to my high school to teach.
It was two years after that when I heard the news about David again.
David, having lost his manhood, became emotionally unstable and drowned his sorrows in alcohol every day.
Whenever he got drunk, he would take out his anger on Kelly.
Kelly not only had to take care of Mary, who was confined to bed due to paralysis, but she also had to oversee Timmy’s education.
She constantly urged Timmy to study hard to get into Stanford University.
However, kids are naturally inclined to play, and her relentless pressure
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only drove Timmy further away.
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Similar to my previous life, Timmy poured scalding water over Kelly, resulting in burns covering 30% of her body.
Eventually, after enduring a beating from the intoxicated David, Kelly reached her breaking point.
While he lay asleep, she grabbed a brick and struck him, leaving him leaving him partially paralyzed.
Later, Kelly was thrown into prison.
David, much like his mother, was left partially paralyzed and would spend the rest of his life confined to a bed.
Both were left in filthy conditions.
During this period, they attempted to manipulate me into caring for them.
Recalling their past actions toward me, I simply sent them a box of bubble gum and advised them to savor it slowly.
Timmy’s life was tough. With his mother in jail and both his father and grandmother partially paralyzed, he faced difficulties daily.
Thanks to generous donors, he managed to finish junior high, but then he had to quit school to start working.
Unexpectedly, Timmy was also reborn.
While I was on a hike with Sophie, he noticed us.
Seeing me brought tears of regret to his eyes.
“It’s been a long time, Mom. I dreamed you were teaching me, and I even
got into Stanford University. But I was heartless. When Dad and
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Grandma abandoned you in the mountains, I did nothing. I’m such a terrible person!
“Please, punish me!”
As I watched those who had wronged me face their consequences, I felt no satisfaction. Revenge brought no joy.
From then on, I didn’t encounter Timmy again, despite my commute taking me past his house.
It felt like he was steering clear of me.
However, I had overcome that mental barrier and embarked on a new chapter in my life.
