I couldn't hold back the grievances in my heart anymore. "Why did you take Howie away? Do you know how much my mother wanted to see him?"

Back then, Marcus had coaxed me to quit my job and have a baby, making me take all kinds of nourishing food.

As a result, the fetus was too big, tearing my privates when I gave birth and leaving me with stretch marks that would last a lifetime.

From then on, Marcus had become unwilling to sleep with me and stayed out all night.

While Howie, the baby I had given birth to with great effort, had been taken away by Old Mrs. Fanning when he was just one month old.

They said that as the heir of the Fanning family, the child must be trained well and must not be influenced by my cheapness.

They also said that according to the fortune teller's statement, my mother would be a hindrance to Howie and the Fanning family's fortune.

My mother and I rarely saw Howie throughout the year. She had missed her grandson so much and finally, Marcus had agreed to let her see Howie, so she had come over to celebrate the anniversary with us.

Unexpectedly...

"I've already said that not letting your mother see Howie is for the good of both of our families. If the Fanning family's fortune were affected, how could you still live the good life you have now? Don't forget that your whole family relies on my support."

Marcus felt a little guilty and snapped impatiently, for he didn't remember the promise he had made casually at all.

Seeing that Marcus and I were about to quarrel again, Cynthia tried to smooth things over, chuckling.

"It's normal for a grandma to miss her grandson. How about this? I won't go to the ancestor worship ritual. Just let Katherine and her mother attend."

For six years, my mother and I were banned from all public occasions related to the Fanning family, except for their ancestor worship ritual.

It was because the ancestor worship ceremony was a grind where one had to prepare offerings without eating, drinking, or even a breather.

No one in the Fanning family was willing to take this, so the responsibility for this grind naturally fell on my mother and me.

Each time, we would be sent away without even a chance to drink some water after working hard for a whole day.

The reason why my mother had been willing to endure such injustice was that she could see Howie at the ancestor worship ritual.

At the thought of this, my heart overflowed with sadness.

"No need," I said coldly, "My mother is dead."

My mother had heart disease and had been getting weaker and weaker in recent years.

I didn't have the guts to tell her about the changes in my marriage with Marcus and had just told her everything was fine, fearing that she couldn't bear to know it.

As my mother got older and didn't have much time left, she wanted to see her grandson more before she died.

A month ago, on Marcus' and my wedding anniversary, my mother struggled to prepare a hearty meal and happily waited for us to come home.

But by the time the food was cold, Marcus and Howie hadn't returned yet.

I made countless calls and looked for Marcus everywhere but couldn't contact him at all.

My mother was so anxious that she was sweating profusely, urging me to call the police.

Just then, I received a call from Marcus' phone, but it was Cynthia speaking.

Her order for me to imitate a barking dog took away my mother's life and also the last bit of my affection for Marcus.

I understood there was no need for me to be in this broken marriage any longer.

"Katherine Selby, I can't believe you even have the guts to tell such a lie to get my attention."

Marcus tugged at his hair in annoyance and continued, "I've already told you that I've been under a lot of pressure at work lately. Can you please stop bothering me?"

When I just got married, my career was rising.

At that time, I would still prepare breakfast for Marcus the next day even after working overtime until ten o'clock every night.

Sometimes, when he was already asleep, I would put sound insulation cotton under the cutting board so that I wouldn't disturb him.

Therefore, Marcus' excuse was indeed lame.

"Sign the divorce agreement, and I won't bother you anymore."

"Your unreasonable behavior will only make Marc dislike you even more."

There was no point in wasting time talking to them, so I just picked up my packed baggage and prepared to leave.

Marcus raged, "Never come back again if you leave today!"

I didn't even look back.

The moment I closed the door, I heard Marcus comfort Cynthia again.

"It has nothing to do with you even if her mother is really dead. Besides, it's better if her mother is dead. In this way, her mother won't affect the fortune of our Fanning family anymore. As for her, she's long since been homeless. When she calms down, she'll get back here with resignation."

Indeed, whenever we had a fight, I was the one who compromised and apologized, even though it was not my fault at all.

This time, however, he would never see me return to him.

As soon as I left that so-called home, I burst into tears.

During six years of marriage, I had wasted all my youth on such a man.

It was not worth it in the slightest.

I couldn't help but think that I shouldn't have accepted the piece of candy Marcus handed to me back then.

That year, I had just graduated from college and started my career. I was still green and ignorant.

My superior had once given me a hard time and asked me to work overtime to revise the plan.

It was already past eleven at night when I finished, and I couldn't get a cab since it was raining heavily. Just when I squatted in front of the office building and cried helplessly, Marcus pulled over and handed me an umbrella and a piece of candy.

"We have met before. I'm an executive of your company's client. You impressed me with your intelligence and vigor."

Marcus asked me to get in his car and took the initiative to take me home.

He carefully took off his coat and put it on me, praising my work ability and saying that I was shining in my career. Then, we exchanged contact information.

I dared not have any unrealistic expectations of our relationship since I was well aware of the gap between our statuses.

I remained rational even though I wished there would be something between us.

But Marcus appeared in front of me more and more frequently. He would come to my company on the pretext of discussing work and specifically ask me to report on my work.

He would occasionally treat everyone in our company to drinks. Everyone else's was the same drink, but mine was exactly to my taste.

Gradually, my colleagues started gossiping about our relationship.

I was at a loss for how to explain, but Marcus held my shoulders from behind.

"I'm pursuing Kathy. She is such an outstanding girl. If I don't work harder, how can I stand out among so many suitors of hers?"

From then on, Marcus was even bolder.

He gave me flowers and gifts, offered me rides, and always prepared surprises for me.

How could I not be moved by the attentiveness of the business bigwig Mr. Fanning to me?

Thus, I said yes when he professed his love to me.

That day, he put a ring on my finger and stuffed a piece of candy in my mouth.

"From now on, I will make your life full of sweetness and will never let you suffer at all."

I was so young and naive as to believe it and allow Marcus to cheat me out of my youth with a piece of candy.

Now that I grew old and ugly, he gave the candy to another younger and prettier girl.