“If you had listened to me and let me go, you wouldn’t be in this situation now!”
Jackson replied disdainfully,
“Avery, you just got lucky and hooked up with my brother. Do you really think he’d lift a finger for you?”
I stared at Jackson’s still arrogant face.
Lucky?
I don’t feel that way at all.
My original family was somewhat wealthy.
But both my parents died when my siblings and I were very young.
We were raised by my aunt’s family.
But they treated us very poorly.
They were always hitting and scolding us.
My parents‘ inheritance was also taken by them.
My uncle even made advances on me, but out of respect for my aunt, he never dared go too far.
For my younger siblings, I chose to endure.
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For my younger siblings, I chose to endure.
Until I became an adult.
I always thought once I was grown, things would get better.
When I could earn money, I’d take my siblings away and raise them myself.
But reality hit me hard.
My uncle got into gambling and lost all the property.
Our treatment by my aunt’s family was dreadful. They were abusive, both physically and verbally. They even took over the inheritance left by my parents. My uncle often made unwelcome advances towards me, but out of respect for my aunt, he never went too far. For my younger siblings‘ sake, I endured it all until I became an adult.
I always believed that once I grew up, everything would improve. I thought that once I earned enough money, I could take my siblings and raise them on my own.
But reality was a harsh blow. My uncle became addicted to gambling and lost our house. He even targeted me and my siblings.
While fleeing with my siblings, I happened to save Grandma Nora, who had fallen into water during a walk. Seeing our dire situation, Grandma Nora took us in, promising to help us.
She suggested I marry Jackson as a form of gratitude, believing that my presence would separate Jackson and Phoebe, whom she didn’t want together.
Naively, I thought marrying someone like Jackson would secure a peaceful life for me, and my siblings would be well cared for.
Instead, I found myself alone for five years after the wedding. During those years, I tried to meet Jackson countless times, but every attempt failed.
If we could just be seen together, it would confirm our relationship and stop the wealthy bullies from harassing me and my siblings. Yet, my siblings continued to suffer indignities.
Then, one day, I defended my sister, and Gideon noticed. He helped us and, after learning about my background, began pursuing me.
I agreed to be with him because I saw hope and a promising future for my siblings.
We easily got together, and soon, I was pregnant. We went abroad to check the baby’s gender, and, to our joy, it was a boy. Knowing this, Gideon treated me even better.
But then Jackson’s return shattered everything.
Gently touching my still aching abdomen, I asked, “Jackson, do you have any regrets?” Jackson sneered, “I have nothing to regret.”
His response made me clench my fists as I spoke clearly, “You abandoned me for five years after our wedding, only to return and cause the death of our child, yet you feel no remorse!”
“Your existence forced Phoebe and me to be together in secret, Jackson replied, recalling some amusing memories,
Phoebe was brought before me in the same room again. She no longer had her previous arrogance, looking utterly defeated.
Her child had been cruelly taken from her, and she would never conceive again. Upon seeing me, she bristled with anger.
“Why do you get to be with Gideon, while I’m stuck with a coward like Jackson?”
Her words didn’t affect me. I simply asked what I needed to know, “Was it you who kept interfering, preventing me from seeing Jackson?” “Did you instruct your friends to opera
