Taking a deep breath, I did my best to remain calm.

"Since things have come to this, there's no need for us to marry anymore. I refuse to do all those chores. I'm not marrying into your family to become a free housekeeper, especially since housekeepers get paid at least a few thousand dollars each month. I didn't even ask your family for a bride price."

At that, Anthony's head snapped up, his face flushed a bright red as he yelled lividly, "You're finally speaking the truth, huh? You're still hung up on the fact that I didn't pay you a bride price, aren't you?"

The moment he said that, my vision went dark, and it was almost like all the strength had left my body.

Anthony and I were alumni from the same university. For eight entire years after we graduated, he remained by my side as a friend. Whenever I broke up with my boyfriends and needed comfort, he would spend the whole night chatting with me. When I was sick, he would buy me medicine.

Like a knight, he silently protected me for eight years.

I had always thought that finding such sincerity in this shallow, fast-paced society was a rarity. So when he eventually confessed to me, I didn't hesitate to agree to be with him.

After we got together, he treated me very well. He was gentle, thoughtful, and understanding, and would always go along with whatever I wanted.

The only problem was that he had no money.

Hence, out of consideration for his pride and feelings, I never once put him in a difficult spot. Every time we went out on a date, I would use all sorts of excuses to pay the bill.

"I have vouchers for this restaurant.

"I won a prize for a free two-person meal.

"There's some money in my membership card, so let's use that to pay first."

When he received his salary and wanted to buy me something, I would think up different reasons to refuse, then come up with various other reasons to transfer him money.

For the past few years, I nurtured our relationship with the utmost care.

Then, at the beginning of this year, he said he wanted to marry me, and I thought that the difficult days were finally over.

However, when I returned home and told my parents about it, they adamantly disagreed.

Mom tugged on me with tears streaming down her face. "One should always marry someone who is their equal. Only suffering and hardship await you if you marry him."

Yet, I repeatedly said to her, "But he really does treat me very well. I'm marrying him because of who he is as a person, not because of his family's wealth. Or in this case, lack thereof."

Unable to win against my stubbornness, Mom finally relented. Her eyes were red-rimmed as she told me, "Then I'll prepare a million-dollar wedding gift for you, along with a marital home at the city center and some other properties. With this, at least you won't have to suffer once you marry him.

"Go on and pursue your happiness. I'll always have your back."

At the time, I thought I was being brave for love.

Yet now, in his eyes, all my sacrifices and sincerity amounted to nothing more than being hung up on that bit of wedding gift.

Thoroughly disappointed in him, I couldn't even find the energy to argue with him.

"If you're convinced that I'm looking down on you because of that, then so be it. I'm calling off this marriage."

I picked up my purse and got ready to leave. All I could think about was how I wanted to escape from this suffocating place as quickly as possible.

However, Joana rushed over and seized my arm in a tight grip, shrieking at the top of her lungs, "Trying to leave already? So you came to our home today to sponge off of us, huh? You drank two glasses of fruit juice and ate almost half a pound of strawberries, then now you're going to leave just like that?

"Marrying into our family is an honor, but you clearly don't have that luck. Whatever the case, you have to pay us compensation for what you ate and drank! Either you do those chores, or you pay up! How are we supposed to live if every woman who comes to our house eats and drinks for free?"

I was dizzy from the sheer anger coursing through me at her shameless behavior, and all I wanted was to get out of here as soon as I could.

"Five dollars for the two cups of juice and ten dollars for the strawberries. I'll transfer Anthony 50 dollars. Is that enough?"

Taking out my phone, I transferred 50 dollars to Anthony on the spot.

"There. I've transferred the money. Can I go now?"

But Joana simply exploded once more.

"What's the meaning of this? Are you looking down on our family? We won't take advantage of you! However, since you insist on calculating everything so clearly, let's break everything down properly! Don't you think you should also pay back all the money my son spent on your birthdays, presents, and flowers?"

Anthony spoke up in a small voice, his tone timid yet self-righteous. "Mandy, it's true that I spent quite a bit on you all these years…"

It was then that I discovered that people really would laugh when pushed beyond the limits of their rage.

I laughed at myself for being so oblivious to Anthony's true character, for allowing myself to be blinded by my love, and for giving my whole heart to someone so unworthy.

The fury simmering in my chest threatened to boil over. I couldn't leave just like that. I couldn't allow myself to suffer such humiliation for no reason. I had to vent my frustration and anger that day, no matter what!

Tossing my bag on the couch, I sat back down with a terrifyingly icy look in my eyes.

"Fine then! Two can play at this game. Since you're so adamant about settling scores, let's list everything your son has ever spent on me and I on him. After we've transferred the money, we no longer owe each other anything, and there will be nothing tying us together anymore."

Anthony was momentarily surprised, but then he huffed and nodded. "Alright! Calculate away!"

While looking through the bills, all the memories that I had deliberately romanticized flashed through my mind's eye. Every single scene was like another slap to the face for me.

The most expensive gift Anthony had ever given me was a lipstick that cost around 20 dollars, and he had bought it only because it was on sale. The rest of his gifts were cheap accessories that cost a few dollars at most, and a shawl made from an automatic knitting machine.

Every time I received his presents, I would pretend to be surprised and delighted. I would hug him and say, "Aww, that's so thoughtful of you, babe. I really like it."

In stark contrast, the phone, watches, shoes, and clothes I gave him were all branded luxury items.

When the seasons changed, and he had no money to afford new clothing, I immediately transferred some money to him. When his family ran into some problems, I would discreetly aid them financially. Even the gifts he had brought to my house last time had been mostly prepared by me beforehand.

"In our three years together, your son spent a total of 327 dollars on me, while I spent 28,500 on him. I can transfer him 400 dollars right away. Think of the extra as me paying him a breakup fee."

Anthony’s face immediately flushed bright red with embarrassment and anger. He raised his volume and demanded, "What do you mean by this? Are you trying to humiliate me? Our family might be poor, but we have dignity!"

I scoffed, my eyes filled with nothing but disdain. "How are you feeling so justified when you're poor? You were the ones who insisted on settling the scores, but now that the actual numbers have come out, you can't accept it?

"25 thousand. I won't ask for the full amount—just that. Transfer it to me, and I'll leave immediately. Staying even a second longer here is making me sick."

Upon hearing this, Andrew, who had remained silent so far, suddenly took a step forward. In the next second, a sharp pain bloomed across my cheek.

"You bitch, how dare you intimidate us like that! Why have I never seen you buy such expensive things for my son? Who's to say that you didn't make all that up to trick us?

"Besides, you're just a regular salaried employee, so how could you possibly have that much money? Maybe you only earned that by selling your body! If my son gets an STD because of you, then not even 250 thousand dollars will be enough! Yet, you have the audacity to demand that we pay you instead?"

Half of my face had gone numb and was throbbing fiercely.

I was utterly stunned at the blow, and before I could stop them, tears welled in my eyes.

Even my own parents had never raised their hands against me, yet I had suffered such humiliation here that day.

As the saying went, a rotten place bred rotten people. Not once had they thought that I was dirty when they happily spent my money, but now that I wanted them to pay me back, they were accusing me of obtaining that money through improper means?

Pinning Anthony with a frosty stare, I shoved down the burning rage in me and said, "Go on, tell them. Did I actually buy you all those things or not?"

Anthony pointedly avoided my gaze, hemming and hawing for a moment before finally replying in a small voice, "Well… You did buy those things for me, but some of them look pretty fake, so maybe they're counterfeit products. Demanding 25 thousand dollars is way too much…"

His words thoroughly shattered what little reason I had left. If not for my upbringing, I was genuinely tempted to storm over and give each of them a hard slap.

I knew that I would lose all control if I stayed any longer, so I took a deep breath, grabbed my bag, and headed for the front door.

"That 25 thousand dollars had better be in my account by tomorrow. If not, then I'll see you in court."

…

Upon returning home, I couldn't hold back any longer and revealed all that I had gone through at the Yarrow residence to my parents, my eyes red-rimmed.

Dad was so infuriated that he slammed a hand on the table.

"Those ingrates! How dare they bully my daughter! I'm going to teach that family a lesson!"

Mom was also shaking with rage, though she hugged me tightly while tears streamed down her cheeks.

Cocooned in her warm embrace, I couldn't stop the tears from spilling.

For three years, I had given everything I had to this relationship, even spending more than 25 thousand dollars on Anthony. I had refused a bride price and prepared a million-dollar wedding gift, yet all it got me in the end was an obedience test and a bout of humiliation.

Thoroughly aggrieved and heartbroken, I cried till I was overcome by exhaustion and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, the sky wasn't even fully bright yet when a loud banging on my front door woke me up.

Upon opening the door, I was dumbfounded to see the entire Yarrow family crowding my doorstep. Even some of the other relatives had come and were blocking the way.

The commotion had also woken our neighbors, who poked their heads out to see what was going on.

When Joana saw me, she immediately sat on the floor and began smacking her thigh while yelling tearfully, "Everyone, come see! It was her! She visited our home yesterday, and the moment she left, I realized that my gold bangle, my heavy 50-gram gold bangle, was gone!"

That had the neighbors erupting in whispers and shooting me furtive glances.

"She looks like such a respectable young woman, so why would she do something like that…"

"She visited their home and stole that lady's bangle?"

Now that she had a crowd of onlookers, Joana intensified her wailing, "Everyone, I just wanted her to help pick up a stool yesterday, and she immediately threw a temper tantrum and scowled at me so ferociously! Kindhearted as I am, I was originally planning on apologizing to her afterwards, but who would've thought she would be so wicked as to steal my bangle while I wasn't looking!"

Pointing a finger at me, she demanded unreasonably, "Hurry up and hand over the bangle! If you can't, then pay me back the market price of six thousand dollars!"

I was already annoyed at being woken up by the noise, so as I retreated inside to shut the door, I snapped back, "I stole your bangle? That lousy piece of jewelry isn't even worth my interest! Forget about six thousand dollars—I'm not even going to pay you a single cent! Now, get the hell off my doorstep! Immediately!

"If you continue to slander and falsely accuse me of something I didn't do, I'm calling the police. Then, I'm going to tell everyone just what you all did yesterday so that everyone can see your true colors!"

Upon hearing that, she immediately slumped to the floor and acted like she was about to faint. "Oh! You're threatening an old lady like me! My head is spinning… I think my blood pressure's spiking again…"

At that moment, my parents rushed out of the house and stood in front of me protectively.

Dad's expression was stony as he roared, "Do none of you have any shame? Yesterday, your whole family ganged up on my daughter and refused to even let her eat anything! Now, you actually dare to come to her doorstep and accuse her of stealing your bangle? I'm calling the police if you won't stop this nonsense!"

Not only was Joana unfazed by that threat, but she grew even bolder and turned to our neighbors.

"Everyone, come be the judge for us! This woman came to our house yesterday and extorted my son by demanding that he pay her 25 thousand dollars! When we refused, she immediately threw a fit! Then, she stole my bangle, yet she has the nerve to turn the tables on me? Fine, call the police! This will be the perfect opportunity for her to face justice for her actions!

"Either she returns the bangle to me right now, or she pays me back 30 thousand dollars, interest included! And I won't accept a cent less! Otherwise, I'm going to utterly ruin her reputation and have her thrown behind bars!"

The Yarrow family relatives chimed in eagerly, spitting all sorts of filth at me while they dragged my name through the mud.

Incensed at this, my parents called the police.

In no time, the police arrived, and once they had gotten a feel for the situation, they began their investigation by searching me.

A female officer stepped forward and opened my purse. She rifled through it for a few seconds before pausing and pulling out a gold bangle.

My mind went blank when I saw that, and I whipped my head around to look at Anthony.

A hint of panic flashed through his eyes before he guiltily turned his face away.

Joana's eyes lit up at the sight of the bangle. She instantly started shrieking, her voice shrill and dripping with smugness, "That's it! That's my bangle! I told you that she stole it!"

Then, she turned to me. "With such concrete evidence as proof, what else do you have to say for yourself? You have two options right now. Either you compensate me 250 thousand dollars for the psychological stress, or I'm suing you for theft and throwing you in prison!"

Trembling with fury, Dad immediately called his lawyer.

The moment the lawyer entered the house, the first thing he did was approach Dad and say respectfully, "Mr. Lance, here is the list of items you've prepared for Ms. Lance as her wedding gift, including one million dollars in cash, a single-story villa worth five million dollars in the city center, and many businesses and other real estate. All of them have been transferred under her name."

This time, it was the Yarrows who were dumbfounded.