เข้าสู่ระบบI just stood there, silently watching Ingrid. I saw the tears in her eyes and the carefully crafted look of fragility she wore.How utterly laughable.I might be kind-hearted, but I wasn't a fool.What did her suffering in this life have to do with me?"Do you really think I'd still want to marry you now?"I stared at her coldly, my gaze devoid of any warmth.Memories of that unbearable previous life surged through my mind, each scene cutting into my heart like a knife."I know I was wrong. I truly do." Ingrid dropped to her knees with a thud and wrapped her arms around my legs. "You're a good man, and you've always been the one who treated me the best."I was too foolish before, letting that scumbag Edmund lead me by the nose. Now I finally see clearly."I frowned in annoyance. "Get up. You're making me sick."She froze, lifting her head to look at me in disbelief.Her once-bright eyes were now bloodshot, the wrinkles at their corners filled with despair.My voice grew col
After two days and nights of searching, the police finally found Ingrid in a basement on the outskirts of the city.She lay curled up on a filthy bed. Her eyes were vacant, her body covered in dark bruises.It turned out Edmund had never had his leg broken. That was just a lie to lure Ingrid to the hospital.For the past few days, she had been held captive here, forced to take on clients. Whenever she resisted, Edmund would beat her.The police pulled her from the bed of a drunken client.Like a broken doll, she numbly let herself be handled at will. The wounds on her body were so deep they reached the bone.When the police called to update me on the case, I simply replied calmly, "I understand."I had already done more than enough for her. From now on, we owed each other nothing.Life at Elmridge was intense, so intense that I had almost forgotten two months had passed until Ingrid showed up in front of me.I was working on problems in the computer lab when the security guard
I slammed the door shut with a bang.Outside, Ingrid's heart-wrenching cries pierced through. "Wesley, please help me. I really have no other way. You used to be so good to me, so can't you help me just this once?"I turned a deaf ear and continued packing.Whispers floated in from the hallway."Ingrid really has no shame, does she? She's already 'used goods' and still expected Wesley to marry her?""She's treating him like a complete fool."Ingrid's sobs grew louder. "Open the door! I really know I was wrong."Suddenly, a furious roar erupted. "Get back home this instant!"It was none other than Mr. Stewart."Dad…"A crisp sound of a slap rang out."How much longer are you going to stand here embarrassing yourself?" Mr. Steward asked in a voice trembling with rage. "You would actually try to trade marriage for money? You've brought utter shame upon our family!""I had no other choice," Ingrid replied, her voice choked with sobs. "Edmund, he—""Enough!" Another slap echoed
Seeing me ignore her, Ingrid panicked. "What is wrong with you? How can you be so heartless? Don't you have any empathy at all?"I looked at her coldly. "I don't have the money. Even if I did, I wouldn't lend it to you. If you don't stop bothering me, I'll call the police."I turned to go inside. "Do whatever you want, but leave me out of it.""You—" Ingrid trembled with rage. "You heartless monster!"I slammed the door shut without looking back. Through the door, I could still hear Edmund's groans and Ingrid's frantic attempts to comfort him.After a while, there was a knock outside—not at my door, but at Mrs. Underwood's next door."Mrs. Underwood, please lend me some money. I promise I'll pay you back.""Oh, I don't have any spare cash either. I just paid for my son's tuition."Then came Mr. Nash's door across the hall."Mr. Nash, please, have a heart.""Go away, go away! I'm scraping by as it is, so where would I get money to lend you?"Door after door, Ingrid dragged Ed
It turned out these men were the underlings of the loan shark Edmund owed money to.Edmund tried to hand Ingrid over to settle his debt, but it failed. Then, after I reported it, they ended up sentenced on charges of harassment.Edmund trembled as he begged for mercy, "I-I didn't mean to—"Before he could finish, fists rained down on him like a storm. He curled up on the ground, wailing in pain.Ingrid tried to rush forward to stop them, but was yanked back firmly by Mrs. Stewart."Dude, please spare me!" Edmund wept bitterly under the hail of blows. "It was him! He was the one who called the cops! If you don't believe me, just ask him!"I really just wanted to make you happy and let you have some fun with a woman. Who knew this guy would stick his nose in!"To save his own skin, Edmund didn't hesitate to throw me under the bus.The thugs immediately shot me a glare, but I just stood there coldly and unafraid.The bald man clearly didn't buy Edmund's lies and kicked him hard i
Before I could finish my sentence, a vase flew past my ears."Stop trying to drive a wedge between us!" Ingrid shouted, trembling with anger. "Edmund was just worried my parents wouldn't approve of us getting married, so he wanted us to get closer first. Don't you dare slander him!"Looking at her utterly infatuated expression, I felt a mix of pity and amusement. I wondered how she'd react when she finally learned the truth."Edmund, are you planning to make Ingrid your side piece? What about your wife back in your hometown?"Edmund froze and instinctively loosened his hold on Ingrid."Cut the crap! What wife? I don't have a wife!" Edmund tried to sound calm, but the tremor in his voice gave him away. "You're just jealous of me and Ingrid, so you're trying to ruin our marriage!"Edmund's expression caught Ingrid's attention, and she looked at him with suspicion."Edmund, are you hiding something from me?"He grabbed Ingrid's hand and pleaded urgently, "Ingrid, don't listen to h







