Chapter 3

After Christian left, I received the bill for my mother's treatment. It was another hefty sum. I didn't sleep well, thinking about selling the jewelry the next day to pay for my mother's medical expenses.

At the pawnshop, as soon as I opened the jewelry box, the owner's eyes lit up. He smiled and asked, "Mrs. Paige, are you sure you want to sell this haute couture Australian white pearl necklace?"

He held it in his hands, examining it closely. "This is top-tier Australian white, worth half a million dollars. Mr. Paige really loves you."

Indeed, Christian had given me the necklace. Five years ago, I was so busy taking care of my mother that I had even forgotten my own birthday. Only Christian remembered. He stood foolishly at the hospital entrance with a cake and a gift box. The weather was cool that night, but my heart felt warm.

I didn't have a gift prepared, so I plucked some foxtail grass by the roadside and made a pair of grass rings. He treasured them, suddenly kneeling on one knee, and asked seriously, "Anna, will you marry me?"

I laughed and said yes. Time flew so fast. Reminiscing about the past felt like it was just yesterday.

I had almost forgotten that Christian really loved me once. The grass rings had long since dried up, and I always felt that something should remain, at least to prove that we had once loved each other.

"I'm not selling it."

Before I could finish, Ruth snatched the necklace from me, frowning. "This pearl necklace is really beautiful, much nicer than that dry grass ring you gave me before, which fell apart in a few days."

Christian paused, then indulgently said to her, "If you like it, it's yours."

I grabbed the necklace back, tears swirling in my eyes, and stared at him as I asked, "This was your gift to me. How can you just give it to someone else?"

He said indifferently, "Is that so? I forgot."

Ruth tried to snatch it back, but the necklace suddenly broke. The pearls fell to the ground, clattering like needles piercing my heart.

"Mr. Paige, I didn't do it on purpose." She jumped into Christian's arms, frightened. He smiled, patted her head, and took her to the jewelry store next door.

I watched the pearls scattered on the ground, foreseeing my fate.

On the way home, my mother called. She hesitated, then carefully said, "Anna, maybe we should stop the treatment."

I held back my tears and choked up. "Mom, don't think too much. We'll continue the treatment."

I heard about new advancements from doctors abroad and bought a ticket for the next available flight. Even if there was just a sliver of hope, I had to grasp it.

Unexpectedly, just as I was about to board the plane, Christian appeared. "Anna, trying to run away again, like you did five years ago, without saying goodbye?"

He questioned me in a low voice, his presence cold and somber.

Before I could respond, he roughly grabbed my arm and dragged me into the car, his eyes red.

"You've been waiting for this day for a long time, haven't you? It’s been five years, and it seems you still haven't given up on leaving me. Don't forget it was you who sold yourself to me."

I remember, of course.

Five years ago, after Warren's accident, I wanted to go abroad to find better treatment for my mother.

But at the airport, I received news that her condition had worsened.

The surgery only needed fifty thousand dollars, but I couldn't come up with the money.

Christian blocked my way, offering to trade my mother's life for the rest of mine.

I agreed.

The memory of that day was too harsh. I wouldn't have thought of it again if he hadn't brought it up.

"Your life, including your very existence, is mine."

He must have been furious, ripping off his tie and throwing it aside, then fiercely kissing me.

I trembled in fear, pounding on his shoulders, frowning and saying,

"Christian, you're hurting me. I just wanted to find a better doctor for my mom."

But he wouldn't believe me.

Like a beast, he tore my dress and was deaf to my heart-wrenching cries.

I didn't know how long it took, but I eventually ran out of strength.

"Anna, don't think about leaving. You owe me, and you'll never be able to repay it in a lifetime."

The car windows were foggy.

Christian was breathing heavily, whispering in my ear.

"Then I'll give you back your life."

I looked at him, vacant-eyed and utterly desperate.

His deep pupils suddenly contracted, his expression full of disgust as he said disdainfully,

"Then just die. Stop pretending. Don’t try to elicit my sympathy. You don't deserve it."

His words pierced my heart.

Despite the pain, I began to laugh through my tears, looking into his eyes and saying,

"Christian, you know I've never lied."

With that, I pulled out my hairpin and stabbed it towards my neck without hesitation.

If I had no attachments, I wouldn't fear death.

But my mother was still waiting for me to visit her.

The thought of living flashed through my mind, and I loosened my grip.

Christian scoffed, as if mocking my cowardice.

He drove me home but secretly took my phone and keys away.

By the time I noticed, he had already locked the door.

"Christian, you bastard. Let me out. I still haven't paid for my mom's treatment."

I shouted loudly, using all my strength to bang on the door.

His tone was very cold. "You think I'd believe such a poor excuse? Just stay there and don't even think about leaving me."

Only a door away, I suddenly felt he was a stranger.

As he walked further away, I had no choice but to drop all my dignity and kneel on the ground, crying and begging,

"Please let me out. I beg you..."

Despite my cries, he never looked back.