LOGINWhen I first found out about what happened to Isabella and the Gentrys, Mom and I were sharing a meal with Tessa, who had helped us a great deal.After her call ended, Tessa explained the outcome to us with great relish.Mom's hand paused in midair.We exchanged glances but said nothing.We felt none of the joy we expected. Our hearts were as calm as a lake after the ripples had settled, and we even felt a hint of melancholy.If not for Isabella and the Gentrys, our family might still have been whole and happy. In the end, these 15 years had still left Mom and me with lasting scars."Mom," I said softly. "It's all in the past now."Mom looked at me and nodded emphatically. "Yes, it's all in the past now. Villains will always get their just desserts."Tessa smiled and chimed in, "That's right. Aunt Gloria, Adrian, you should use the recovered money to improve your living situation and take care of your health issues. You both still have long lives ahead of you."I looked out th
After the Gentrys failed at both soft and hard approaches, they fell into complete panic.Meanwhile, with Tessa's help, I formally filed a lawsuit against Isabella for her illegal appropriation of marital assets 15 years ago. I demanded a return of the sum with interest.Tessa also compiled the evidence we'd gathered and submitted it to the Office of Personnel Management's investigation team.This included recordings of the two occasions in which they came knocking at our door to threaten and bribe us, screenshots of Phil's social media posts in which he flaunted his luxury car and lifestyle, and my medical records as well as my diagnosis report on post-surgical complications from back then.In the face of truth and evidence, all attempts to make excuses were futile.The investigation team worked with great efficiency. Thanks to a combination of the evidence we provided and their own field investigations, they quickly verified the facts.They confirmed that Isabella had committed
As predicted, Isabella and the Gentrys started off with a softer approach not two days later.This time, apart from Isabella, Phil, and Jennifer, a few distant paternal relatives showed up as well—relatives I had almost no impression of.Isabella's vicious glare had been replaced with an insincere smile. "Adrian, and oh, Mom's here too. Look, what happened back then was a misunderstanding. I was in the wrong back then. Truly, I must've taken leave of my senses!"Today, I specifically brought along some of your family's elders. This is all so I can apologize to you. Let's just clear the air and put this matter behind us."A distant aunt immediately piped up, "That's right, Adrian. As they say, forgive and forget. Jennifer's such an outstanding woman. It's been generations since we've had such exceptional talent within the family. You mustn't ruin her future just because of some water under the bridge!"Mom trembled with rage. "Water under the bridge? That's my husband's life and on
Isabella couldn't hold back from showing up at my door the very next day.I was jolted awake by a thunderous knocking on my door. Mom had also been startled by Isabella's fiendish yelling.However, when we exchanged glances, we could see the mutual simmering hatred reflected in each other's eyes.As soon as I opened the door, Phil attempted to rush in and punch me. "You stinky loser! I didn't think you'd still have the guts to open the door! Well, see if I don't beat you to death!"You vile wretch! Heartless bastard! Jennifer's my only daughter! How dare you report her?"You're the bane of our existence! Jennifer's future was looking so bright, but you just had to set her up, you rotten piece of trash!"His spittle got all over my face.Mom was furious. "Where was your conscience back when you took Adrian's emergency funds meant for his father? It's certainly ironic that you're trying to play the victim now!"Isabella's expression darkened. "That's ancient history at this point
The day after I filed the report, I received a phone call from Mom—the first since Dad's passing.She called using an unfamiliar number, but I recognized her the moment I heard her aged, shaky voice calling out my name."Mom?" I asked in an equally shaky voice."It's me," she replied.She went quiet for a few seconds, then asked bluntly, "I heard that… you reported Isabella's daughter. Is that true?"I tightened my grip around my phone, nails digging into my palm. "I did."Mom fell silent again. After a long while, she asked in a choked voice, "Who did you borrow the 300,000 dollars from back then?"I was momentarily stunned.Just as I was about to come up with an excuse, she spoke up again. "Adrian, I want the truth.""Mom," I whispered, my eyes tearing up. "That money… I got it from selling one of my kidneys."Mom burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably."I was wrong," she cried out in anguish. "I was wrong. I should've realized it sooner! I shouldn't have driven you away
Over the next 15 years, having lost a kidney and endured such trauma, my health was consistently poor. I couldn't take on any heavy labor, and my earnings were barely enough to support myself.I always lived in the cheapest rental houses available in the city slums. Every day, I'd collapse onto the rickety bed after work, and the night would be over in the blink of an eye.I didn't delete Isabella's contact information from my phone. She hadn't deleted me from her WhatsApp either, perhaps because I'd so readily agreed to the divorce back then, so she was satisfied with my performance.For the past 15 years, I'd watched her and Phil live their lives as a silent spectator.She'd married Phil after our divorce, and they'd held a grand wedding.Isabella was very proud of Phil's daughter, whom he and Isabella had conceived behind my back while I was still married to her. Her social media had become an album tracking Jennifer's growth—the awards she won, her academic rankings, her admis







