Chapter 2

Wendy came back from the city the next day and hurriedly brought me to the government hall to get the baby’s birth certificate done. He was then named Ethan Norn.

They were truly planning to have me toil for them.

Just like the words told me, Wendy also only brought back dozens of dollars as “pension” to humor me.

Since we did not have a fixed income, I could only live a frugal lifestyle to save up on money.

I worked nonstop from dawn till dusk to get by. Even through the toughest seasons, I kept working, sweating and bleeding without a single pause.

Nonetheless, Ethan grew up.

In order to earn money for him to go to school, I did not slack off and often worked several jobs while also asking for money from my relatives.

Wendy did not even care about helping, and I had to pay for everything.

The villagers called me an idiot for working so hard to take care of an adopted son. It would have been better for me to get remarried and give birth to another son. That would have been much better than being a mother to a son not of my own flesh and blood.

Even my parents tried to convince me to stop, but I ignored them and persevered.

My parents were finally unable to stand still when they saw me throwing my dignity away to kneel before a school for three days and nights, all so that I could get Ethan enrolled into that school. The news shocked the entire village.

My father rushed to the school and yanked me to my feet. His face was red with rage.

“Do you have any idea what you’re doing, Scarlet?!”

I shook his hand off and fell down to my knees again with grim determination.

With pity on her face, my mother asked, “Scarlet, did Wendy force you to do this? You don’t have to be scared. Your father and I can reason with her.”

When I saw just how worried they were about me, I felt my heart clench in pain, but I still grabbed her sleeve and shook my head. “No one is forcing me to do this. I’m doing this willingly.”

Disappointed, my father pointed at me with a trembling finger and hissed, “If I had known that you would end up like this after marrying Steven, I would have rather locked you up, even if it means you’d become a spinster! Even if I have to tie you up, I’m dragging you back with me!”

My father grabbed a coil of rope, as if to tie me up.

I fought back furiously.

With tears in her eyes, my mother said, “Listen to your father, Scarlet. We’ve found a good man from the next village for you. Steven is already dead. You don’t have to sacrifice the rest of your life for the Norn family.”

When I realized that I was about to be taken away, I grabbed a pair of scissors from my pocket and put it to my neck. “I’m not leaving until I get Ethan enrolled in this school! Don’t force my hand, Dad, Mom!”

My parents were shocked.

When she saw the trail of blood on my neck, my mother started weeping. My father trembled with rage and gave me an ultimatum. “If you don’t come back with us today, you’re no longer my daughter!”

I was stunned. Then, I saw their anxious and hopeful looks.

A moment later, I threw my body before their feet, but I still refused to move the scissors from my neck.

Utterly disheartened, my parents left.

As I gritted my teeth and wiped away my tears, I continued kneeling as if nothing had happened.

Those words continued showing up.

[Honestly, the villainess is really pitiful. I can’t believe she’d do so much for an adopted son. I think she’s going to break down once she learns the truth.]

[It can’t be helped. It’s her fault for being the villainess. She’s destined to be the protagonists’ stepping stone.]

Was it my destiny to be their stepping stone? I refused to believe it!

With great determination, I finally got Ethan enrolled into the school.

After he got in, I started keeping him company at night while he studied.

Just as usual, I lived a frugal lifestyle. A single piece of clothing would be washed and rewashed until it was worn-out. If it had any tears, I would repair it time and again.

One month after Ethan’s SATs, as multiple cheers rose outside my house, I saw countless cars outside.

Tons of people got out.

Ethan’s homeroom teacher did not just bring over Ethan’s university enrolment letter, but he brought with him good news as well.

“Congratulations, Scarlet! Not only has Ethan made it into an Ivy League university, he also got a full scholarship!”