The Life of Freedom I Long For

Felix and I had been inseparable for ten years, and everyone thought we would end up married.

When he got into fights at school, I took the blame and got expelled in his place. When he slept with countless women, I delivered birth control pills and breakup money in his place. I had always played the part of the shameless doormat, and everyone believed I loved him more than life itself.

But the moment he took over as the heir to his family's fortune, he dumped me. He looked at me with scorn and disdain. "Kathy, maybe once upon a time we were in love, but it's been too long. You're dull, and you've drained away every ounce of my affection. I don't want to spend the rest of my life with you, so get out of my sight. I'm going to marry someone I truly love."

Everyone was waiting to watch me fall apart. But when I saw the hospital's proof that my mother had been cured, and the extra hundred million dollars in my bank account, I genuinely smiled.

"Fine. I'll leave," I said.

The truth was, I had stayed with a player like him only because of a business deal. Now that I had the money, it was time for me to walk away.

The Price of Freedom

For ten years with Felix, I had lived without dignity. He was infamous for being a player, and because I kept forgiving him without limits, I became the laughingstock of everyone around us.

On the day he officially became the heir to his family's fortune, he dumped me. But when I looked at the hundred million dollars sitting in my bank account, I couldn't help but smile.

My mother had fully recovered, and I had the money in hand—so I readily agreed to the breakup.

Everyone was stunned when they watched me leave without a second thought.

"No way. Did she really just leave?"

"She didn't even hesitate. Something's off."

"Right? She used to love Felix so much—she'd have died for him!"

All eyes turned to Felix, whose expression had turned beyond grim. He let out a cold snort and mocked loudly, "Kathy, stop playing hard to get. You've loved me for so many years, you think I'll believe you can let go just like that?"

His childhood sweetheart, Eleanor, echoed, "I guarantee you'll regret it in a few days. And when you come crawling back to beg Felix, he won't take you back."

Felix frowned, hesitated for a moment, then added, "I'm not going to go soft on you."

I gave a cold laugh and quickened my pace. Whatever they said now meant nothing to me.

Back then, Felix had fallen for me first and pursued me relentlessly. But I wasn't interested in him at all, so I kept my distance.

Yet, everything changed when my mother fell gravely ill and needed expensive treatment, while my father—deep in gambling debt—was being hounded by loan sharks.

When I couldn't