Chapter 2
Vincent and I were seatmates in high school.
He was the rich kid, and I was the poor kid from a small town.
Back then, I never even dared to imagine I'd get involved with him.
My parents didn't want to pay for my education. But since I graduated valedictorian, I secured a full scholarship and a part-time job.
I went to school, but they only sent me 150 bucks a month.
At sixteen, Vincent would always grab an extra serving at every meal, then wander over to me like it was nothing and say he'd accidentally grabbed too much, sliding the plate toward me.
When I was seventeen, rumors about me started spreading all over the class.
They called me cursed, said I deserved to be cast out by my own blood, and that I'd be a parasite sucking them dry for life.
When Vincent heard all that, he grabbed a broom and went at them without a second thought.
Even when they were sprawled on the floor, begging for mercy, Vincent kept going, showing no intention of stopping.
When I turned eighteen, Vincent told me he liked me.
He showed up with flowers and a necklace, looking super serious. He was so nervous that his face was shaking as he spoke.
We held hands, then kissed. Everything happened naturally; one thing led to another.
On my birthday, Vincent talked me into going to a hotel with him.
With the lights and booze blurring my senses, everything started to spin.
I thought everything was heading in the right direction. Until I found out I was pregnant.
When my parents found out, they were grinning from ear to ear. "She's carrying Vincent's baby. Things are finally looking up for us."
The very next day, my parents barged into the principal's office.
They were demanding answers. "My daughter's only eighteen, and Vincent messed her up like that.
"You rich folks are always picking on us poor people.
"If you don't give us some answers today, we are not leaving."
I overheard them. They were plotting to blow things up and milk the Park family for all they were worth.
As it turned out, my parents had played their cards right.
That afternoon, they walked away with a box overflowing with cash.
Plus, the Park family gave their word: I'd have the baby first, and once I was of age, Vincent and I would get married.
Vincent was over the moon, and my parents were, too.
It seemed like a win-win for everyone.
But a week later, I got expelled for "damaging the school's reputation."
Everyone said I'd seduced Vincent to get into the Park family.
Back then, I could feel people pointing fingers at me wherever I went.
It was both our doing, mine and Vincent's. Yet I was the only one expelled.
Emily Park, Vincent's mom, looked at me with a cold face and said, "The Park family only wants a daughter-in-law who's obedient and sensible."
Later, I found out she was the one behind my expulsion.
Emily had already picked out the ideal girl for Vincent, but he only had eyes for me.
She couldn't take it out on anyone else, so she made sure I got expelled.
Watching me break down and cry until I had nothing left was what made her smile.
Luckily, Vincent always had my back.
When I failed to get into college, he wanted to drop his own college plans, too.
But I talked him out of it, and he reluctantly enrolled.
The day he graduated, Vincent took me straight to the courthouse and made it official. He said I was the one for him, for life.
After we got married, Vincent treated me even better than before. He wouldn't let me lift a finger around the house.
My daily routine was simple: eat and sleep.
He gave me 100 thousand a month, and if I didn't spend it all, he'd threaten to punish me.
Even though the Park family still couldn't stand me, at least I had Vincent's protection.
I really thought this was how life would always be, until Queenie walked into the picture.
Vincent really took Henry's education seriously.
From a young age, he sent Henry to an international school, and during the holidays, he'd hire private tutors for him.
The first time I met Queenie, I honestly didn't know what to do with myself.
She had that unmistakable vibe of someone super smart. She introduced herself, all calm and confident, throwing around professional terms like it was second nature.
"Raising kids at home is super important, especially for the mom. She needs to take the lead." Queenie suddenly turned to me, her eyes practically blazing.
I got so nervous that the cup slipped right out of my hand and shattered on the floor.
Vincent quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "She's a bit shy, please don't mind her."
Queenie smiled. "That's really not a good thing. Seriously, how can a timid, introverted woman possibly be a good mom?"
She ignored me after that.
Vincent and Queenie were chatting up a storm.
They started with education, then moved on to international topics. It was like they'd found kindred spirits. Their conversation drifted all over the place, but the more they talked, the more excited they got.