"Julia, you're out of prison!"

My younger brother came back from outside, carrying a lot of things.

At the sight of me, he looked pleasantly surprised.

Based on my experience of observing people's words and expressions in prison, he seemed exaggerated.

He seemed to be acting.

But I didn't think much of it. My younger brother was still the same. He must be very happy to see me.

"Yeah, I'm out. Why did you buy so many things?"

I went forward to help him.

Linda walked quickly towards me and suddenly stood in front of me.

"Don't move, these are all things bought for the baby. Don't touch them."

I withdrew my hand awkwardly.

To ease the awkwardness, Asher smiled and said, "Julia, this is for your unborn nephew."

"There are several bags of diapers, more than ten pieces of clothes, a baby stroller, and toys..."

He talked a lot. Then he picked up these things, went straight to the baby's room, and piled them in.

"Mom, there are still some at the entrance. Move them in."

When everything was moved in, it piled up.

I was a little surprised, wondering why he had bought so much baby stuff.

His baby was still several months away from being born. I wondered why he had braved such heavy snow and purchased so many things.

And all of the things were piled up in the baby's room, which used to be my room.

"By the way, Julia, now that you come back, where are you going to live?"

After Asher finished moving his things, he looked at me with sweat on his forehead.

"I..." I stammered.

I wrapped my clothes around me, wondering what to say.

At the sight of those piled-up things, I didn't know what to say.

"You can still live in your old room."

Asher slapped his thigh. Seeming to realize something, he said, "I'll tidy it up for you right away."

"Forget it. Don't tidy it up." I waved my hand.

"How can that be?"

Asher turned around and looked at me. With gratitude on his face, he said, "Julia, you were in prison for me. I have always remembered your kindness."

His words didn't make me feel warm.

Maybe it was because I felt too cold with my damp shirt clinging to my body.

They were all wearing down jackets.

"Asher, stop it. Where are you going to put my son's things?"

As soon as Asher moved out an empty box from the baby's room, Julia shouted with her hands on her hips.

Asher stood there, looking at me as if he were in a dilemma.

My dad lit a cigarette and grumbled irritably, saying, "The things are all piled up. How do we move around? The house is so small."

"Don't move things. I won't live here."

I looked at my mom and said, "Give me the key to the house on the Garden Road. I will live over there."

I had another suite over there.

Rubbing her hands, my mother didn't respond for a while.

She looked at Asher.

Asher scratched his head and said awkwardly, "Julia, that... that house is for Linda's parents."

"Oh."

I nodded and smiled faintly.

If I had sold the house on Garden Road five years ago, I would have raised enough money to obtain a letter of forgiveness from the victim's family.

With a letter of forgiveness, I would have been sentenced to at most one or two years, or even probation.

But I didn't sell it. I wanted to leave that house for my parents so that they could live there in their old age.

As a result, it became a home for Linda's parents.

In an instant, a surge of grief and anger welled up from within me, rushing through my whole body.

Indifferently, I looked at them one by one.

I said indifferently, "Aren't you guys going too far?"

Seeing my face change, my mom quickly said, "Julia, don't be angry. Linda's parents are not strangers. It's okay for them to stay there."

Seeing no easing in my facial expression, Asher said awkwardly, "Julia, how about I talk to them in a few days and ask them to move out..."

Before he could finish his words, Linda's glance made him shut up.

My mom said again, "Um... Julia, there are many vacant rooms in the neighboring community. Shall I help you rent one first?"

"No." I decisively refused.

My dad squeezed a cigarette butt and fiercely crushed it into the ashtray, staring at me.

"Julia, what are you causing a scene?"

"I'm not causing any scene."

I met my dad's eyes as he looked at me sternly. Then I said, "I have two houses, but I have to go out and rent a room. Do you think it's reasonable?"

My father slapped the table and said, "Is it fair for you to fight for the houses as soon as you are released from prison?"

"It's not that I'm fighting for the houses. It's that you won't even give me a room."

My father stood up and scolded me as if I were a child, pointing his fingers almost at my head.

"Are you blind? The only vacant room is filled with things. How can you live in it? There are plenty of empty rooms outside. Why don't you rent one? If you can't, go back to prison!"

"Julia Dunlap, don't act like a creditor. We don't owe you anything!"

His words hurt me so much.

My nose tingled, and I cried.

"Well done. You don't owe me anything."

"When Asher got into trouble, you begged me miserably and asked me to take the blame for him. You said that I had done a favor to our family and would do your best to compensate and repay me in the future."

“I suffered for four years there. Now that I'm out, I don't even have a room to live in."

"Is this how you compensate and repay me?"

I felt heartbroken, and my emotions were surging in my chest.

Asher and Julia drove my new car to a bar and killed an elderly couple. My parents found me right away.

Per them, Asher had started working and got engaged. His beautiful life had just begun. This car accident could ruin his whole life.

But my beautiful life had just begun too!

After years of hardship, my steak house finally started to do well.

After paying off the mortgage for this house, I bought another house on Garden Road and a car.

My parents cried and begged me to take the blame. Asher knelt and begged me.

Per them, they would spend their whole lives repaying me once I got out of prison.

I felt sorry for my parents and wanted to help Asher.

So, I ruined myself.

I suffered in prison for four years.

I thought the hard days were over. I thought I could enjoy the affection of my family, but what awaited me was their disdain, indifference, rejection, and betrayal.

The family for whom I gave everything turned out to be a group of ungrateful persons!

"Julia, the past is over. Don't keep mentioning it."

Asher spoke as he furrowed his brows.

"While you were in prison, our lives were not easy. The whole family was shamed because of you. The neighbors pointed at us and judged us. We couldn't hold our heads up."

"Now that you're back, who knows what those people will say behind our backs if you live at home."

"You only think about your grievances, but have you ever thought about us? If you live at home, what will happen to my son? Are you going to let him live with a convict from birth and suffer discrimination from others?"

Asher's words made me tremble all over.

I had ruined myself to protect Asher at all costs.

It turned out that he had such thoughts in his mind!

I couldn't be more disappointed. The last trace of illusion about my family was shattered.

I looked at him and sneered.

"Asher, it was you who drove drunk and killed the couple! It was also you who brought shame to the whole family!"

"I am innocent. I took the blame for you and went to jail for you!"

"Anyone can look down on me as a prisoner, except you, Asher!"

"If you were a real man, you should have taken the initiative to confess your crime! Instead, you are now enjoying my sacrifice, occupying my house, and despising my identity as a prisoner!"

"Asher, ask yourself, do you have a conscience?"