“I found you a job, I bought your car and I paid for the renovations of your house in your hometown. You know I'm not in good health and I've done my best to make up for it. Are you still not satisfied?

“And now you want to take even my dowry and betrothal gifts? Are you and your family so determined to drain me dry, until there’s nothing left of me?”

After a few words were shouted, the scene suddenly became noisy.

“This guy wasn't after the money from the beginning, was he?”

“The woman is really nice. She almost treats his parents like gods. The betrothal gifts and dowry belong to the woman. Isn't this just living off her?”

“How dare a gigolo speak so shamelessly? This entire family is nothing but a pack of greedy gigolos!” 

“I've never seen such brazen people, demanding both dowry and betrothal gifts. It's not like they just found out she couldn't have children. What is this if not taking advantage of someone else's misfortune?”

“They humiliated the girl’s family right at their own engagement party! Those who knew the details called it an engagement, but those who didn’t would’ve thought it was a public feud between enemies.”

Tears welled up in my mother’s eyes as she was so angry that she kept searching for the medicine bottle on my father’s body.

I was just about to call emergency services.

As soon as I took out the cell phone, it was knocked to the ground by Rod’s mother.

Not feeling satisfied yet, she stepped on it twice.

The triple-fold screen went black instantly and broke into pieces.

“You little bitch, why are you talking so harshly? We are all family; shouldn't you give a little respect? You should be proud of my son's work and earning money, you know!

“If it weren't for you, would my family have been extinct? My family has been a single-line family for three generations! I only have this one son, so what's wrong with me asking for some security for my son?

“I’m putting it right here. You won't be able to enter my house until these dowries are changed into my son's name!”

As soon as she finished speaking, my father's trembling body fell to the ground.

His lips were bruised, but his hands were still pointing at Rod’s mother angrily.

The latter took several steps back and kept some distance.

“Don't blackmail me. Everyone present is a witness. I didn't do anything to you!”

Seeing that something was about to happen, the relatives from both families fled the box on the pretext of having something to do.

My mother anxiously took out her phone and called an ambulance.

At this moment, Rod walked up to me and said, “You don't want the news of your infertility to spread, do you? The Dudley Family has such a big business, they must have some face.

“My mother is doing this for our own good. Besides, we'll be a family from now on, so it doesn't matter who has the money, right?

“As long as you agree to my conditions, I will get the marriage certificate with you immediately.”

Seeing my father in imminent danger, I could no longer suppress the anger in my heart.

I slapped Rod hard in the face and shouted, “Don't flatter yourself! I’m telling you, I won't get married.

“You can have a baby with whomever you want, just give birth to a son to inherit your family's pots and pans.”

Rod got angry after being beaten. He raised his hand to take revenge on me.

But when he caught a glimpse of the property certificate on the table, his expression instantly calmed down.

“Think about it yourself. Who else would want a hen that can't lay eggs except me?” he mocked me in a cold tone.

I sneered on the spot, “Rod, don't you understand what I'm saying? I'm saying, let’s break up, I don't want to get married.

“Get lost! I don't want to see you again.”

Rod was about to speak when his mother grabbed his arm and spat hard in my face, “Son, don't talk too much to her. She is born with a disability and won't be able to get married. There will be many times when she kneels down to beg you.

“Isn't it just a couple of lousy coins? Her family doesn't even have a son, who will the money go to after they die?

“It's already a great honor for our family to accept a disabled person. Just wait and see. Once the news of this bitch's infertility spreads, she will come back to beg you in two days.”

The three members of the Krueger’s family quickly left the box.

When the ambulance arrived, my father was already dying.

On the way to the hospital, my mother held my father's hand and cried bitterly, “I have long said that no matter what the marriage is, the other party will at least consider the reputation of the Dudley family and take care of you. 

“You insisted on finding someone who is not a good match. Today, it is obvious that their family is here to drain our fortune.

“Your father and I can still protect you now, but when you get married and we get old, it will be all over. He will take your money and find women to have sons with and you won't be able to stop him.

“This misfortune must not be opened. If it happens once, there will be a second one. If you use your infertility as a handle, you will suffer a lot of grievances in the future.”

I curled up on the side, my heart aching to the point of being almost numb.

I could not help but recall the past when I met Rod.

At that time, he was just a Project Manager of a small company.

The future was uncertain.

I was responsible for connecting with him on business matters.

After hearing my identity, he immediately started pursuing me.

I had always felt inferior because of my physical disability, but he did not despise my weakness and was willing to give me a future.

The gifts he gave me were cheap, but they showed his thoughtfulness.

He would cook porridge for me when I had a stomach ache and take me to eat at a roadside stall when the project was successfully signed.

I thought this was ordinary happiness, that I had found true love.

But in the end, it was all in vain. He was betraying me from the very beginning.

Every word between the lines said that he did not care, but every sentence reflects his grievance and concession.

Under his influence, I always felt indebted and kept giving to him.

I did not realize it until that day if I did not need this kind of shackles in the name of salvation.

It was not my fault that I could not have children, it was his deception that was the sin.

The ambulance arrived at the hospital quickly and my father's operation lasted five hours.

During this period, Rod sent me a message. He even added an aggrieved kitten expression with apologetic text.

[Don't mind what happened today. My parents meant well. They are the elders after all. It would be embarrassing for them if you contradicted them before they even entered the house.]

[Change the name of the villa to my parents, as compensation. As for our wedding house, let my uncle and aunt buy you another one. I think that villa is nice, so let's buy one in the same neighborhood. This way it will be convenient for you to take care of my parents after you get married.]

I looked at the screen and my expression turned completely cold.

I did not reply and just deleted his contact information.

After the operation, my father survived.

The doctor specifically advised us to not let him be exposed to any stimulation.

I made an appointment with my mother to take turns to take care of him at night.

While keeping vigil, I opened my phone and deleted all the photos with Rod.

The account that posted updates about our relationship was cancelled.

But the next morning, the news that the Dudley family's only daughter was infertile became a hot topic.

Rod’s mother filmed a video while crying, “What a sin! We only found out the day before the engagement that she was born infertile. A disabled person actually asked for a dowry of 25,000 dollars. Isn't this a scam?

“It's not that I don't want to give it, I just want my son to manage the money, but they don't agree. They also scold us for being country people and ignorant, saying that it is a blessing for our family if their daughter marries into our family.

“Even if his daughter is infertile, I will have to serve her tea and water, wash clothes and cook for her after she gets married, otherwise my son will be kicked out of the house. Everyone, please give us your opinion. How can this be allowed? Are these people still human?”

I was so angry when I saw the face of Rod’s mother on the screen.

While I was lost in thought, my father, who had just woken up, snatched the phone away from me.

After just one look, his heart stopped beating.

Sharp alarms sounded from all the instruments around me.