Chapter 1

“Severance Letter? As long as you sign this Severance Letter, you’ll agree to break off the engagement?”

Elder sister looked at me, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Li, don’t just say things out of anger. You’re a girl whose engagement has been broken off-without us, where could you possibly go?”

Mother gripped elder sister’s hand, a trace of panic in her eyes.

I lowered my gaze and let out a bitter smile. “So you do know, mother, what breaking off the engagement means for me.”

In the courtyard, except for Lin Pianyue’s look of disdain, no one else dared meet my eyes.

After a moment, mother spoke hesitantly, “Your elder sister has been to wealthy households and seen the world. Just give in to her this time.”

Father quickly stepped in front of them, echoing, “That’s right, Lu Zhao is a Clerk now. In the future he’ll need to socialize with those high-ranking families. You’ll only embarrass him.”

This time?

Embarrass Lu Zhao?

I let out a breathless laugh, chest aching with anger. “I’ve given in for half my life. Tell me, how much longer do you expect me to keep giving in?”

As for Lu Zhao.

In the three years since our engagement, I have sewn and washed his clothes, cooked his meals, and even the money for his studies came bit by bit from my own work.

And now, I’m the one who embarrasses him…

Mother, looking pained, hurried over and grabbed my hand. “Li, your elder sister has been frail since childhood and can’t bear hardship, and your younger brother Lin Yuefeng is still little. Naturally we have to take better care of them.”

“I know I’ve wronged you, but both palm and back are flesh-what can I do? What can your mother do?”

So they always knew.

They knew I was suffering, knew they were being unfair to me.

But even so, they still expected me to swallow all the hardship and injustice.

Lin Pianyue is the cherished, pampered eldest daughter; Lin Yuefeng, the son who will inherit the family line.

And me?

I’m just a pear that happened to fall from the tree.

If I live, I live; if I rot, I rot.

Lin Pianyue turned to look at Lu Zhao.

With just a gentle blink, tears the size of beans slid down her cheeks.

Not like me, who cries with tears and snot mixed together.

Lu Zhao held my elder sister, her eyes red, his face full of displeasure. “Lin Li, you’re not the one I want to marry. You can’t force a melon to be sweet.”

“Even if you use this act of self-pity, I’ll still find a way to break off the engagement with you.”

“In this life, I, Lu Zhao, will marry no one but Pianyue!”

I let out a cold snort and said slowly, “Sign this Severance Letter, and I’ll break off the engagement with you right now.”

Seeing that I wouldn’t yield to kindness, father became enraged.

He rushed over, raised his hand and slapped me, then pressed his fingerprint on the Severance Letter.

“You really are turning the sky upside down, daring to threaten your father! If you want to leave, then get out now!”

Father used to work as a porter at the docks, and his strength was great.

That slap made my eyes spin with stars, and my mouth filled with the taste of blood.

I took the Severance Letter, finally feeling some relief. “I started earning money at Granny Liu’s Shop to support the family when I was twelve. I’ve repaid the years you spent raising me.”

After all, all you really gave me was a bowl of rice.

I continued, “From today on, I have nothing more to do with the Lin Family. Even if I starve to death or die of illness, I will never come back to this home, and you must never look for me.”

“As for this Marriage Certificate, I’ll just tear it up.”

I tore the Marriage Certificate into pieces right in front of them.

Mother finally panicked. “Li, breaking off the engagement is one thing, but why do you have to leave?”

“Because only if I leave will I not have to worry about being sold for silver, or about saving up money for Lin Yuefeng to get a wife.”

Mother opened her mouth but was left speechless.

She probably never expected this.

The truth is, I always knew everything-I just never said it.

“Get out! Get out now! Wretched thing! Don’t let me see you again!”

Father’s face was red with rage as he stomped and pointed at me viciously.

I walked to the doorway and glanced at Da Huang, crouched in the corner.

“Are you coming with me, or staying?”

Da Huang wagged his tail and followed me out.