8
I withdrew my hand, speaking calmly. “Once things settle here, I’ll bring my parents over.”
“And what about me? Are you really leaving me?”
“I know now the gambling debts were all Declan’s doing. I’ve made it clear to him. From now on, whether he lives or dies is none of my business, even if he’s your brother, I won’t care anymore.”
“Jasper, please don’t be mad at me. We’re married. You running off to the capital without a word, what is that?”
Hearing this, I smiled faintly.
I suddenly wanted to ask her if she ever truly saw me as her husband.
“What about me? Are you really done with us?”
“I’ve come to realize all those gambling debts were orchestrated by Jasper. I’ve made it clear to him that from now on, his fate is none of my
concern. Even though he’s your brother, I’m finished with him.”
“Nolan, please don’t be upset with me anymore, alright? We’re married, and you just took off to New York without a word–what’s going on?”
Hearing this, I gave a faint smile.
I suddenly wanted to ask if she ever truly saw me as her husband.
On the day we were supposed to get our marriage certificate, she was visibly impatient and didn’t even wait for the process to be completed before abruptly leaving.
The same thing happened in the past.
Especially after Jasper’s fall, every time she saw me, it was with anger and accusations.
“He’s your own brother! Why didn’t you answer his calls? If it weren’t for you delaying, he wouldn’t have died!”
“How can a murderer like you still walk this earth? You didn’t even spare your own brother! Seeing you makes me sick. You better not show up
in front of me, or I might just kill you!”
Every time she smashed everything in the house, I would silently clean up the mess.
But soon enough, the new décor I bought would be broken again.
Year after year, we were tangled like this for ten years. Looking back, I don’t even know how I managed to hold on.
“Phoebe, take a closer look. We never even got the marriage certificate.”
Phoebe’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at me.
“What are you saying? That’s impossible!”
She never cared about the whereabouts of our marriage certificate. Even when I walked out of City Hall, full of joy, she just poured cold water
on the moment.
Now, what right does she have to bind me with this so–called marriage?
“If you don’t believe me, go check with City Hall. We never got the certificate that day. So now you have no right to dictate my life, Phoebe. Since you never wanted to marry me, let’s just give each other freedom this time.”
After saying that, I walked past her without caring about her stunned expression.
Maybe she truly felt my resolve this time because Phoebe stopped seeking me out. But not long after, Ethan told me that an influential figure
sinterested in investing in our small company.
But she didn’t know that I’ve already tried in my previous life.
I’ve already been deeply hurt by her and won’t give her another chance to hurt me.
However, faced with the enormous investment, I couldn’t let personal reasons affect Ethan’s decision. So I laid everything out for him and left the decision in his hands.
Ethan thought about it seriously and ultimately decided to refuse.
He put his arm around my shoulders, acting like a brother.
“Even without her investment, my company can still run. Worst case, we’ll work extra hours to make some side money. But I would never let a brother be held back by a woman!”
Half a year later, our project officially launched, and I received my first share of the profits.
I brought my parents to New York and learned from them that Jasper never quit his gambling habit. After being discharged from the hospital, he was coaxed away by that dealer woman again.
Now, without us covering his debts, it won’t be long before the debt collectors come after him.
As for Phoebe, after returning to Johnson City, she became depressed and was ousted by the company’s board. Now she stays at home,
refusing to see anyone.
She often calls me in the middle of the night, saying all sorts of things.
Later, I blocked her number, cutting off all her fantasies.
I think this is the only way I won’t regret this new life.
