Chapter 3
When Yelena said that, her voice was trembling as if she were really sad.
Yet I just couldn't care less about it.
Seeing that, Channing comforted, "How could you go home? Right now, your parents are on a business trip. Who would come to your rescue if something happened to you?"
He tenderly wiped away her tears, putting on a caring front. "My house, my rules."
Their boring show really wore me out.
Blank-faced, I slammed the door shut, leaving the two of them stranded outside.
Then I walked to my bed, set the dumbbell down, and picked up my laptop. Inside were a lot of photos I'd nearly died to capture—my most treasured memories.
Looking at the laptop, I realized it was completely shattered.
Tears streamed down my cheeks again.
Channing knew how much this laptop meant to me. It was the laptop he destroyed, but years of hard work and dedication.
I used to tell Channing that this laptop was proof of all my efforts to chase my dreams.
With it shattered, all the years of hard work I'd poured into it were down the drain.
In my old timeline, this laptop was my only comfort.
In this timeline, I shall start pursuing my dreams.
Carefully, I placed the broken laptop in my bag.
Though I could bear dumping Channing, this laptop was totally different.
Just as I finished packing up, a tremendous noise sounded from the door.
It sounded like a power drill.
The door was shaking violently.
I suddenly realized what was happening.
That lunatic tried to remove my lock cylinder.
So I yanked the door open.
Channing, still holding the power drill, was thrown forward by the sudden movement and smacked his head hard against the doorframe.
Yelena rushed to Channing's side, grabbing his arm. "Channing, are you okay?" she asked anxiously, her voice trembling on the verge of tears.
She then turned to me and said, "Shania, why did you open the door all of a sudden? Because of that, Channing got hurt. He was worried you might get hurt after closing the door. Why can't you appreciate his love for you?
"If only someone loved me like this, I'd die a happy woman."
"You still have a few good years left, right? How come you can't even land a man?" I brushed past her and walked out.
This self-indulgent show that they were putting on really disgusted me.
What a pair of lunatics.
In my old timeline, Yelena married a tycoon but gave birth to Channing's son. After the wealthy cuckold passed away, the three of them—Yelena, Channing, and their son—inherited his fortune and lived happily ever after.
However, Channing was actually pretty well-off.
Were it not for the miserable experience in my old timeline, I wouldn't have believed he would be such a moral black hole.
As I reached the doorway, Channing roared, "Shania, if you step out that door, don't ever come back again. And this wedding is off!"
I stopped in my tracks.
Right now, I only had 15 days left, which would not be enough for me to get a new house.
The hotel beds were too filthy for me to stay. Renting an apartment wasn't much better—I'd have to pay three months' rent upfront, and most leases started at one year. Worse, I wouldn't be able to get my deposit back before the lease ended.
In summary, moving out was too expensive for me.
In the past two years, all thanks to Channing's discouragement, I didn't work much. Whenever I finally had a chance to take pictures of others, he would come to review everything first. He didn't allow me to touch clients who were too handsome, wealthy, and powerful. Quite annoying he was at that time.
In the end, almost none of my clients ever made it past his so-called review.
I couldn't take on any jobs because of him, yet I was the one paying all the bills. Soon, my savings almost ran out.
Right now, the money left in my account could only get me a flight ticket to Chris.
After paying for my meals and the car rental on the road, there would be hardly anything left.
Although the film crew would reimburse all the fees, I could only get the money after I joined them.
It suddenly hit me—the photographer who used to earn at least $3,000 per shoot was now flat broke.
It wasn't until now that I realized being a hopeless romantic was horrible.
For love, I gave up my career, spent all my money on Channing, and allowed him to gaslight me. What I got in return was his dislikes.
Fortunately, he decided to give his virginity to Yelena. So, we never slept together.
Thinking of this, I turned and went to the living room. After getting myself a cozy posture on the sofa, I turned on the TV.
Seeing me back down, Channing looked much more pleased.
Then he checked the lock cylinder and realized it was broken beyond repair.
He came over and sat beside me, carefully peeling an orange for me with patience.
"Shania," Channing said gently, "don't be so willful again. Be good, okay? Why can't the three of us build a happy life together?"
Indeed, he was even okay with the four of us living together.
In my old timeline, Channing put on a loving act with me while making Yelena pregnant. I just could not understand how he felt about Yelena sleeping with her husband.
I assume it was a mix of feelings of jealousy and hatred.