She Backed Him Up, I Backed Out

"Honey, how much money do you have on you? People have been to Aaron's house again. They said that if he doesn't pay them back by today, they'll capture and sell him off on the black market.

"I know you're both on good terms," came someone's voice.

I was momentarily dazed.

The lump I felt in my throat had yet to disappear when I felt someone tugging at my sleeve.

I'd been reborn.

It was the day Carly Moran was trying to borrow money wherever she could on Aaron Langston's behalf.

Back when they were in school, Aaron was a year below her. He was a man with a fair and clean-shaven appearance.

Unfortunately, he had a father addicted to gambling. Word was that he had taken out multiple high-interest loans over the years.

Unable to repay them, he committed suicide, leaving behind his helpless son, who was constantly hounded by creditors.

If I were being honest, Carly was decent to me. In fact, everyone knew she adored me.

In my past life, she'd been borrowing money to help Aaron, claiming that Aaron was like a brother to her and that she couldn't bear seeing him ruined by debt collectors in his prime.

I'd just assumed that she was kind-hearted and didn't dwell on the matter.

However, Aaron's father owed eight million dollars, and scraping together that sum was no easy feat.

On top of that, his creditors were gangsters. If Carly got involved, she could potentially die.

Naturally, I did not want my fiancee to be caught up in this, so I gave her all my savings. In return, I merely asked that she stop involving herself in Aaron's predicament and focus on our wedding instead.

However, Aaron later committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills.

Upon hearing this, I felt sorry for him. Aaron was a promising young man, burdened by a father he was born to.

Carly displayed a momentary sadness, but said nothing to me for some time after.

Yet, I never expected her to kill me because of Aaron.

As I gazed upon Carly's face now, all I could think of was her words to me before I died.

"I clearly said that things aren't like that between Aaron and me, so why? Why were you unwilling to help him?

"Isn't your family quite wealthy? You rich folk will never understand this kind of despair, Jason Reed! How could you be so selfish and callous?

"You stood by, watched him perish, and expect me to marry someone as heartless as you? You rich folk are all scum!" she exclaimed.

Thinking of this made me laugh. My family earned millions each year, and I was the only son.

As such, my parents looked down on Carly's humble background. They wanted me to marry someone of equal social standing.

Since I genuinely loved Carly, they resorted to cutting off financial support to force me to heel.

However, Carly harbored such intense resentment toward me simply because I hadn't asked my family for money to save her beloved schoolmate.

Was I supposed to sell everything I owned just to appease her and her beloved?

Seeing that I didn't speak, Carly tenderly cupped my cheek now. The gesture that once brought me such loving warmth now seemed utterly repulsive.

"Honey, please believe me. I just feel sorry for him and wish to help.

"You know that we've known each other for some time now. Aaron's really a good person. He even said that he looks up to you," she pleaded.

I brushed her hand away. "My parents stopped giving me money ages ago because I wanted to be with you," I said coldly. "Where would I even find the money to give you?"

Carly seemed oblivious to my sarcasm and replied, "But darling, you're an only child. If you explain the situation to your parents, surely they'd help you."

"Then, are you in love with Aaron?" I retorted.