The Mourning of Love

"Since your dad went bankrupt, we've had to take you in. You're just used goods. Poor Adrian, he's been suffering all these years."

I sneered.

"You're a cultured and well-educated family? Yet, you allowed your son to cheat and marry a bar hostess?"

Jessie shouted angrily, "Shut your mouth! How dare you call my future sister-in-law a bar hostess? Rosalind may sing at the bar, but she's independent and doesn't rely on men. She has remained faithful to my brother by staying a virgin. A shameless slut like you can never measure up to her."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"She's a virgin? What, did you witness that when they had sex the first time?"

Hearing this, Adrian's father was so enraged that he lifted a trembling finger at me.

"You vulgar woman! Get the hell out of my house."

I was about to say that I paid for this house, and if anyone should leave, it should be them.

Before I could say anything, the door opened, and Adrian walked in with an arm around Rosalind.

When he saw everyone there, he was momentarily shocked.

Groaning, Rosalind lay on my favorite couch, casually draping my scarf over herself.

Before I could say anything to tell her to put it down, Adrian rushed over and yanked the scarf off her.

"Don't use that."

His eyes showed obvious disdain. Rosalind's lips curled into a smirk.

"Adrian, I don't mind if it's filthy. After all, Colleen didn't ask to be sexually abused three years ago…"

I stared at them coldly.

Rosalind stood up once more, as if trying to adjust her position, but she intentionally let her bag slip, and out fell the property deed.

Covering her mouth, she exclaimed, "Ah, sorry, Adrian's gift fell out."

As she bent down to pick it up, I snatched it away.

That was when I saw that this home of ours had at some point been transferred to Rosalind's name.

For the past three years, I had never cared about these things. But now, he didn't seem bothered that I had sullied the house by being there and had, in fact, given it to Rosalind as a gift.

I picked up the property deed and asked Adrian, “Do you have anything to say?”

A flash of guilt crossed his eyes. He stammered, unable to speak properly, while his parents spoke up behind him.

"Adrian, what are you afraid of? You've been defending this slut for three years. Look at what others have been saying about you. Let's just sever ties with her once and for all."

In the end, Adrian made his decision. He pulled Rosalind close, intertwining their fingers together.

"Colleen, I'm sorry, but as you can see, Rosie and I are together now. I can't keep dragging this on with you. Given your current status, you won't be allowed into the Johnson family. I hope you understand."

I stared at him.

"Why, Adrian? Do you really think I'm tainted just because of that kidnapping incident? But I've proven otherwise to you. Besides, if you truly love me, these things wouldn't matter…"

Adrian suddenly interrupted me harshly. "Enough!"

"Colleen, that's enough. I did love you, so I've tried my best, but I just can't bring myself to touch you. Every time I do, I feel like I'm going to puke. I've seen a psychologist, and I've suffered for three years. Why can't you understand?"

I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

"Jerk! If that's really how you feel, you could have told me. But instead, you chose to hurt me with betrayal."

Adrian's parents were taken aback, stunned by what I had done. They charged toward me, ready to strike.

But then, I stepped back and opened the door.

A group of burly men stormed in from outside, forming a protective circle around me and glaring menacingly at the Johnson family.

I smiled and spoke.

"Adrian, take your family and get lost. I never want to see you again."

At my threat, Adrian spat out harshly, "Colleen, you're the one without money now. I wonder how long you can afford to keep these people around. If you have the guts, don't spend a dime of my money."

I slammed the door shut. Whatever feelings I once had for Adrian were completely gone.

Outside, I could hear the Johnsons talking. "Hmph! Once she runs out of money, she'll come begging Adrian anyway."

By the floor-to-ceiling windows, the bodyguards finished packing everything up for me.

"Ms. Lamb, Mr. Lamb's helicopter will arrive on the rooftop tomorrow. We apologize for the inconvenience of having you stay here for the night."

…

On my last day there, just as I was about to head out, my best friend called and told me to turn on the TV immediately.

It was still early. I opened my laptop, and a live interview featuring Adrian popped up.

Turns out that after I kicked them out last night, Rosalind had suddenly developed severe stomach pain and was rushed to the hospital.

A reporter recognized Adrian as the rising star of the industry and immediately sensed a juicy story.

Rosalind was inside the hospital on bed rest, while Adrian was being interviewed right outside her ward.

Clearly exhausted, he said, "Sorry, everyone. Please keep your voices down. I don't want to disturb my wife."

The reporter looked surprised. "As far as I know, your wife is Ms. Colleen Lamb from the family that went bankrupt, isn't that right?"

Adrian shook his head, looking as if the words were stuck in his throat.

Suddenly, Jessie stepped forward. "Actually, Colleen was abducted before. She's not exactly clean anymore. Everyone knows that. Our family kept her afloat for three years. That was more than generous."

Adrian shoved Jessie aside and snapped at her, "Shut up. Don't talk about Colleen like that. She was your sister-in-law."

Then, he turned back to the camera and said, "Thank you for your concern, but Colleen is history. Ms. Rosalind Muller is the woman I want to protect now. She's suffered too much because of me."

On camera, Adrian looked remarkably sincere. I noticed that the online comments were filled with nothing but praise for him.

Behind me, a bodyguard stepped forward with a blank expression. "Ms. Lamb, would you like us to strike now?"

I smiled and told him to stay calm. It wasn't time yet.

The next second, a clipped video appeared in the comments.

It showed me huddled in a corner after being abducted, looking small and helpless, while a group of men stood before me with leering, sinister smiles.

The footage was blurry, but someone confidently commented that it was definitely me.

I was scrolling through the comments when my phone rang.

Rosalind's venomous voice came through. "Colleen, how do you like my gift? Get out of my house right now. With you being as powerless and penniless as you are now, you don't stand a chance against me."

I replied calmly, "You really surprised me. Since you gave me a gift, it'd be rude not to return the favor. Just wait for your big surprise."

Rosalind panicked, demanding to know what I meant.

But I hung up without another word.

Before shutting down my laptop, I saw a statement released by the Johnson family.

"To prevent anyone from falsely claiming the title of the Johnson family's daughter-in-law in the future, we hereby declare that Rosalind Muller is our only officially recognized daughter-in-law. All others are impostors."

It was strange.

Just days ago, Adrian's betrayal still hurt. But now that he had openly cut ties with me, I actually feel a sense of relief.

The helicopter had been waiting on the rooftop for a long time. I headed upstairs, surrounded by bodyguards.

Just before boarding, one of them handed me a laptop. "Ms. Lamb, the kidnappers from three years ago have been caught. That mysterious person says you're free to reveal the truth now."