All Chapters of I Was the Grass Beneath Your Feet: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Eight years later, I finally stepped out of prison."Esme Walker, now that you're out, live an honest life. Keep moving forward, and don't look back," a prison guard said.I took the few personal belongings I had from the prison guard and boarded the fishing boat that had come for me.Wendy graduated four years ago, but I had spent eight years in this prison.…As soon as I stepped ashore in Whitville, I saw a luxury car. The window rolled down, and there was my fiance, Lance Stewart, with the same perpetual indifferent expression."I'm sorry you had to go through that. I promised you we'd get married," he said.I didn't answer him and just got into the car.I saw myself in the rearview mirror. My skin was dry and sallow, marred by scars of varying lengths and depths.I looked hideous.Lance noticed how miserable I looked, too. "Esme, you—"He had just started to speak when a ringtone cut him off.I could already guess who was calling and what was coming next. After all,

"My child, God bless you. Literature will always be your home. Give me two weeks, and I'll come pick you up myself!" Iris replied.She was coming in two weeks. I closed my eyes and started counting down in silence.In just two more weeks, I would finally leave this place for good and start a new life.…The next morning, I was woken up by loud laughter. I pushed open my room door as my head pounded painfully.What I saw was a warm, cozy scene.Wendy had been discharged. She was sitting on the couch in a custom-made designer dress, and her makeup was flawless yet understated.My parents, Brett, and Lance were all gathered around her.Everyone cheered in unison, "Congratulations to Wendy on joining the company!"My father laughed heartily, his expression full of pride. "Our Wendy is all grown up now. Time flies, and now she's ready to help out with the family business!""That's right. Once you can stand on your own, I'll fund a new company just for you, Wendy!" My mother chimed

I clenched my fists and turned to Lance. I asked him, "You agreed to this?"Lance looked a little uneasy. "When I'm around, Wendy's hallucinations seem to ease up a bit. You'll understand, won't you?""Then why bother pretending to ask me?" With that, I turned to head back to the "room" I was staying in.Brett, however, blocked my way."Esme!" He looked furious. "How can you be so selfish? Do you even remember who caused Wendy's mental issues?"Besides, you never went to university, and you have a criminal record. What makes you think you're worthy of Lance?""Esme," Lance said, grabbing my hand. "Wendy gave me a kidney back then. I can't turn my back on her."Lance's words made my chest tighten painfully. For a moment, I felt lightheaded from the rush of blood.I was the one who donated the kidney. Since when did Wendy become the donor?Although I didn't expect them to believe me, I still couldn't hold back. I had to speak up."Lance, would you believe me if I said I was the

Early the next morning, fireworks went off outside the church. Guests came and went, but they were all connections of the Walkers.None of Lance's friends or relatives showed up. After all, this wasn't a real wedding to him.However, Richard and Gemma wore custom-made formal wear and assisted Wendy with the wedding as if it were an official ceremony.When most of the guests had arrived, Esme still hadn't shown up. Wendy began to look unhappy.Richard and Gemma frowned, too. "That damned kid. It looks like we've spoiled her too much. She's totally out of line!"Then, they called Perry over. "Go get her. We'll deal with her after the wedding!"Suddenly, something seemed to occur to Gemma. She stopped Perry and asked, "Which room is Esme staying in?""In the storage room under the stairs," Perry replied."The storage room?" The Walkers stared wide-eyed. After all these years, none of them had known."When Ms. Wendy first came to the house, she liked how sunny Ms. Esme's room wa

Back at Walker Residence, Wendy cried and screamed as she smashed things all over the yard. No one around her dared to go near her.After handing the documents to Richard and Gemma, Brett walked up and kicked the raging Wendy aside."Quit the act," he said coldly.His voice was frighteningly icy and sharp as he continued, "Tell me. Who was Charles trying to save when he died? And how did he die? I'm warning you. If I'm asking now, it means I have evidence."And who actually saved Lance? Who withheld Esme's allowance? Who ordered people to torture her in prison?"Wendy turned pale as the questions kept coming."Mom, Dad, you love me the most. Did something happen to Brett? I-I don't understand what he's talking about," she stammered.But Richard and Gemma ignored her pleas for help as they finished reading the documents.Richard rushed forward and slapped her hard across the face."You monster! Your father drowned because you stepped on him and held him down! And you started th