The tenth year of loving William Smith,he banished me to River Mouth,a notorious district akin to human purgatory.There,I endured humiliation and degradation.

Initially,my infatuation with William persisted,but the harsh realities of my surroundings gradually erased my foolish persistence.

However,that wasn't enough.

William took one of my kidneys to save his beloved Izzy,condemning me to three years of agony.

Finally,I broke free from my love for William.Yet,he knelt before me,bloody and desperate.

"Claire,forgive me."he begged,"Can you love me like before?"

But William,I won't love you again.

***

On the road back to Mystic Fall City,the piercing sunlight was jarring.It was a stark contrast to the darkness I'd grown accustomed to.

William was standing at the gate while waiting my return.As soon as I was brought closer to him,he asked,"Claire,have you reflected on your mistakes?"

I nodded,avoiding eye contact with him before saying in a low voice,"I know I was wrong."

My experiences in that human purgatory had taught me a valuable lesson.I'd rather die than repeat those years.

William and I were once family friends.When my parents perished in the fire,William rescued me.At fifteen,he seemed divine.

"You'll be safe.I'll guard you forever."he promised me.

"We'll be family forever."

He was the one who told me this but later,he crushed my dignity,publicly shaming me with his words like:

"You're shameless and selfish."

"You're jealous of Izzy."

He exposed my secret diary,revealing my deepest feelings.Then,he sent me to River Mouth to rot.

Everyone knew William's disdain for me.They tormented me,expecting me to succumb to death.But they kept me alive,until Izzy needed a kidney.

William's secretary arrived,cold and detached as he commanded,"It's time to repay your debt."

They took my kidney without anesthesia.I passed out from the pain.When I woke up in Mystic Fall City's hospital,William's face loomed over me.

"Claire,I thought three years would change you.But,You're still disgusting."

He turned his back at me and left.His secretary entered and said in a cold voice,"Mr.Smith says you don't need these medical resources.Just return to the Smith estate."

I was perplexed.

"How do I return?"I asked.

The secretary's response was rude,saying in a gloomy voice,"You're a burden."

I stood up.My wound was aching.I requested clothes,and the secretary provided some,but they were too big.I'd changed.The secretary lent me a belt.

"Thank you."I said politely.

"Hurry up.Don't keep Mr.Smith waiting."He replied in distant voice.

I recognized his urgency stemmed from fear of William's wrath.

In three years,I had seen enough fearful faces.

His secretary ushered me out,concerned that William would be kept waiting.I hadn't anticipated William's presence in the car.The sight of his vehicle filled me with dread.William's past words still haunted me.

He had abandoned me,sending me to River Mouth.The memories of his car were forever tainted.I cautiously entered his car while curling up and clinging to the door,feeling unworthy and occupying as little space as possible.

In River Mouth,I had been constantly reminded of my inferiority.I wasn't worthy of William Smith's attention.If only I had been content with a simple life,I thought.

I shouldn't have fallen for William Smith.Now,I vowed to maintain a safe distance.Standing at William's doorstep,I felt uncertain.

William towered over me.His displeasure was clearly evident.

"You're acting submissive now.Who's the show for?"he asked in a critical tone.

I apologized profusely.William's expression darkened.

"Remember your place and what to say."he warned me in a firm voice.

I understood.I mustn't reveal my painful past.William's eyes flashed with menace.

"I know my mistakes.I'll behave properly."I promised,trying to appease him.

William seemed satisfied.

"Izzy was right.Sending you away would make you obedient."he said while referencing his beloved.

I remained submissive,eyes still downcast.In William's eyes,Izzy was innocent and blameless.William praised Izzy's cleverness.I realized William still controlled me.As long as I didn't disrupt his life,I would be spared.

William led me inside Smith Estate and instructed me,"Remember,Mother misses you.Keep her happy."

I followed him while maintaining a respectful distance.William instructed me to lie about my whereabouts.He said,"Tell Mother you traveled abroad and got caught up in exploring the beauty of the world.That's why you forgot to contact her."

I nodded,still submissive.William seemed pleased.

"Good.You've improved."he said before patting my shoulder.

"As long as you know your mistakes,Smith House remains your home and I'm still your brother."He added.He then pressed his chest,a fleeting gesture.

I noticed but said nothing.I was still wary of his intentions.

I wasn't sure if Izzy had been freely entering and exiting Smith House over the past three years.

In Smith House,William's mother held the highest position,and his father doted on her,listening to her every word.Since his mother loved me so much,his father also grew to like me.I had been raised by them for many years.It was natural to develop feelings for them.However,Mrs.Smith disliked Izzy,and Mr.Smith disagreed with William's relationship with her.

I was well aware of this and used it to my advantage.Mrs Smith once told me she didn't trust her son with Izzy.She said that Izzy appeared fragile and innocent but had calculating eyes and a guilty heart.Mrs.Smith and William argued multiple times,but couldn't come to any conclusion.

So,I exploited this,acting recklessly and clinging to William,being empowered by his mother's support.As long as she stood by me,I believed I would succeed.However,I never targeted Izzy,knowing William's affection for her.I treated those he cared about with utmost care.

William never trusted me or considered me a good person.As a result,he reduced his visits home,avoiding his mother's criticism of Izzy.That period coincided with my relentless pursuit of William.

After moving out of Smith House,I settled next door to William.His attitude toward me deteriorated daily.Less than a year later,he sent me to River Mouth for"training."

During my three years in River Mouth,I realized my excessive clinginess must have driven him to it.

"Claire,my darling,you've finally returned.I almost died waiting."Mrs.Smith exclaimed while rushing to embrace me.

Mrs.Smith usually poised and elegant,was now visibly shaken.Her emotional state revealed genuine longing.She genuinely loved me.I could feel it.

Previously,she attempted to match me with William,but he refused.Each time William hurt me,she compensated with extra affection.

Mrs.Smith embodied maternal love,allowing me to be vulnerable.That's why,despite fearing William,I agreed to return to Smith House.For an orphan like me,Smith House felt like home.In River Mouth,whenever I suffered,I drew comfort from Mrs.and Mr.Smith.

Having devoted myself entirely to William,I had no friends or acquaintances.William controlled every aspect of my life.Friendships,studies,and even my wardrobe were arranged by him.

I grew dependent on him,hoping he'd never leave.This dependence fueled unrealistic expectations,leading to my downfall.Now,like a flower trampled in mud,I was stained and unable to escape.

This reality made me repulsive,even to myself.But knowing someone still care,I must persevere.

Living is painful,so I must distance myself from those who caused me suffering.

"Auntie,I traveled abroad,got caught up in the beauty,and forgot to contact you.It won't happen again."

I forced a smile while speaking lightly,trying to conceal my tremors.

"My poor child,did William withhold your allowance?You've grown so thin."Mother asked.She seemed shocked with my appearance.While embracing me she felt my frailty beneath my clothes.The Mrs.Smith I knew would never let me suffer.

"No,William provided for me.I just slimmed down.It's the current beauty standard."I explained hastily.

I couldn't let Mrs.Smith blame William.He might send me back to River Mouth.I ran my mind and immediately made up an excuse–reducing weight for looking thin.

"Nowadays,girls idealize slimness.I used to be slightly heavier.So,this is normal."I added.

Mrs.Smith made me sit down.Her concerns towards me were visible on her face.She explained,"Becoming this thin isn't attractive.Stay with me,and I'll help you regain your health."

I noticed Mrs.Smith's own weariness and newly gray hair.Three years ago,she was immaculate.There were no such wrinkles or gray hairs.Her transformation pained me.I longed for her vibrant past.

"I slimmed down for beauty,but seeing your gray hairs hurt me.From now on,I'll take care of you."I said gently.

While embracing her cautiously,I fought my deeply ingrained fear.William mentioned his mother's birthday wishes was my return.He brought me back to appease her.

I knew my role.It was'making his mother happy'.But I would have done so voluntarily,even if William hadn't shared her wishes.