Watching as Ma Xiangyang was taken away in an ambulance, Jiang Manyue didn’t follow.

Fortunately, the fire had only broken out in the textile factory’s warehouse, and now it was fully extinguished.

She went straight to the director’s office, where Director Sun looked up in surprise.

“Comrade Jiang? Wasn’t Deputy Secretary Ma taken to the hospital? Why are you here?”

Director Sun was a kind middle-aged woman in her forties, known for being fair and approachable.

“Director!” Jiang Manyue stepped forward and asked, “Has our marriage application been submitted?”

“Marriage application?” Director Sun nodded. “It was sent in yesterday. Why do you ask, Comrade Jiang?”

“Director Sun, please help me withdraw it. I don’t want to get married anymore.”

“What?” Director Sun was stunned, thinking she must’ve misheard.

Everyone in the textile factory knew how deeply Jiang Manyue loved Ma Xiangyang. She had been devoted to him for seven years.

“Xiao Jiang, did Xiangyang do something wrong? Why don’t you want to go through with the wedding?”

“I just came to my senses. Forced love never lasts.”

Jiang Manyue squeezed out a few tears and spoke sincerely. “Please, I’d appreciate it if you could call and have the application canceled.”

Director Sun had always been fair. Thinking of the rumors about Ma Xiangyang’s unclear relationship with his widowed sister-in-law, and how he had run off again today to save Bai Wanrou instead of staying at the wedding, she figured Jiang Manyue must truly be heartbroken.

“Xiao Jiang, are you sure? Once this application is withdrawn, there’s no taking it back.”

“I’m sure, Director.” Her eyes were firm and steady, without a trace of hesitation.

Director Sun sighed. “Alright. I’ll make the call.”

She quickly dialed the civil affairs office.

“Alright, got it.”

“Comrade Jiang, the office said they haven’t processed the application yet. It’ll be rejected as you requested.”

“The rejection will be official in about three days.”

Jiang Manyue’s palms were sweaty from nerves, but hearing that made her finally breathe easy.

Thank goodness Ma Xiangyang had never really wanted to marry her. He had only agreed after she’d begged him repeatedly. If she had waited until the marriage certificate was issued, it would’ve been nearly impossible to escape that family of bloodsuckers.

“Thank you, Director Sun!” Jiang Manyue’s eyes reddened as she thanked her over and over.

Watching her leave, Director Sun sighed again. “Poor girl.”

Another woman destroyed by love. She wouldn’t have asked to cancel the wedding unless she was completely disillusioned.

Jiang Manyue walked out feeling as if a heavy burden had been lifted. In less than half a month, her college admission notice would arrive.

This time, she wouldn’t let those vile people ruin her life. She would take it back.

But if she wanted to go to university, she still needed tuition and living expenses.

Over the years, she had spent nearly all her wages supporting Ma Xiangyang’s family. All she had left was her parents’ death compensation.

Her parents had been long-time workers at the textile factory. Seven years ago, during a flood, they lost their lives while helping evacuate company property and family members.

The factory gave her a six-thousand-yuan compensation, but she was only sixteen at the time.

And unfortunately, she had fallen for Ma Xiangyang at first sight.

She ended up using over three thousand yuan of that money to support the Ma family.

Thinking back on it now, she was filled with regret. How could she have spent her parents’ hard-earned blood money on those scumbags?

Even if only half of it remained, it should still be enough to cover her university expenses.

Determined, Jiang Manyue quickened her pace toward home.

The textile factory family housing was located on the first floor. The three-bedroom unit had originally been given to her parents by the factory.

As soon as she pushed open the door, a small figure rushed toward her.

Thud—a head slammed into her stomach, knocking her back several steps in pain.

A boy of six or seven, dressed in a green mini-army uniform, glared up at her fiercely.

“You stupid pig, what are you doing back here?”

He tilted his head and barked insults at her.

“You think someone like you deserves to be part of the Ma family? Pack your things and get out!”

“Even if you marry my uncle, he’ll toss you out like trash sooner or later!”

The boy was Ma Xiaojun.

As a child, he had a round, bald head that looked like a shiny egg. And just like in her past life, he was already a rotten little ingrate.

His hateful insults stirred up memories of the agony she had felt while burning alive in her previous life. Rage flared in her chest.

So even at this age, he had already hated her.

These words had to have come from Bai Wanrou. No child this young would talk like that without being coached.

Seeing that Jiang Manyue didn’t respond, Ma Xiaojun became even more arrogant. He picked up a little wooden stick and started swinging it at her.

“Get out! This is my dad and mom’s house!”

His dad and mom? So the kid already knew that Ma Xiangyang was his real father.

She laughed bitterly at her own stupidity. The entire family had known the truth—except her.

In the next moment, the little brat was lifted off the ground.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Jiang Manyue grabbed the stick and whipped it across his butt, hard.

“This is your house? Is your name on the property certificate? If anyone should leave, it’s you!”

“Ah!” Ma Xiaojun bawled, snot and tears covering his face.

“Help! Waaaah!”

He had always been the precious baby of the family. No one had ever dared lay a hand on him.

Just a few hits, and he was already unrecognizable from the pain. But even that didn’t begin to match the suffering she’d endured.

A young woman in her twenties rushed out at the sound of the commotion. She had curlers in her hair and wore the most fashionable pink dress.

It was Ma Hongxia, Ma Xiangyang’s younger sister.

Her narrow eyes widened in fury when she saw Jiang Manyue hitting Ma Xiaojun.

“You vile woman! Are you crazy? How dare you hit Xiaojun?”

She pointed at her, shouting, “Let him go right now, or I swear my brother won’t marry you!”

In the past, those words would’ve terrified Jiang Manyue. She would’ve groveled, apologized, and bought expensive gifts just to get on her good side.

After all, she had been desperate for Ma Xiangyang to marry her.

But now, all she wanted was to curse out the whole damn family.

When Jiang Manyue didn’t respond, Ma Hongxia smirked smugly.

“Scared now, aren’t you? Then hurry up and apologize to Xiaojun.”

A person either dies in silence, or explodes in it.

Jiang Manyue sneered coldly. If she could, she’d kill the brat right now.

“Apologize to him? He’s the one who should be apologizing to me!”

She kept hitting him, showing no mercy.

“Ah!” Ma Xiaojun howled louder, until he couldn’t breathe between sobs.

Finally, he broke down and cried, “I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!”

Only then did she stop, rubbing her sore wrist.

Her fierce gaze bore down on him, making everyone shiver.

“Remember what you said. If I ever hear you talk like that again, I’ll beat you every time I see you.”

Ma Hongxia was speechless. She rushed to pick up the crying boy.

What had gotten into her today? She had always been so meek, never daring to utter a word back.

Grinding her teeth, she snapped, “You just wait! When my brother comes back, he won’t let you off!”

Ma Xiangyang? Let her off?

He’d be lucky to survive.

Jiang Manyue’s sharp glare made Ma Hongxia’s scalp tingle. She shut her mouth.

Back home again, Jiang Manyue ignored them and looked around the familiar apartment.

Nothing had changed. Everything was the same as before.

Except her.

She went straight to the balcony, where her tiny room had been partitioned off.

A curtain hung over the space, barely large enough for a folding cot.

In summer, it was so hot she’d nearly faint. In winter, two quilts still couldn’t keep her warm.

While Liu Cuihua and her husband shared one room, Ma Xiangyang and Ma Xiaojun another, and Bai Wanrou and Ma Hongxia a third, Jiang Manyue had lived in this cramped corner.

And she had willingly given it up for these leeches.

She had been utterly foolish.

She sat on the cot and, guided by memory, reached under it to find an old metal box.

Inside should have been the three thousand yuan that remained from her parents’ compensation.

But when she opened it, her blood ran cold.

Only a few coins and crumpled bills remained.

The money was gone.