Chapter 10
She nodded understandingly.
“Go ahead, I won’t blame you at all.”
After getting that assurance, I spilled everything about the escape, including how I got the USB drive.
1 braced for Mom’s anger, but she just sighed softly.
“I knew it.”
She took my hand.
“Let’s go. He saved you, we can’t just do nothing.”
Was Mom going to visit in person?
Exactly as I expected, Mom dragged me to Paul’s house.
But this time, Paul didn’t answer the door Ashley did.
“Hello, Ashley!”
Excitement flickered across her face before she turned haughty.
“What are you doing here?”
Mom snorted coldly.
“Not for you. Your Paul saved Betty’s life–I’m thanking him.”
Ashley dug her heels in.
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06:25
Chapter 10
“I’ll tell Paul. You can leave now.”
“You…” Mom looked at her sheepishly.
“Fine, I actually came for you.”
Ashley burst out laughing.
“Thought you’d pretend we’re strangers forever.”
Ashley welcomed us inside. Though Mom’s first visit, she moved like she’d been here a hundred times.
They talked for hours, and I finally pieced together their story.
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Turns out Mom and Ashley were best friends, but Mom ignored warnings and married my deadbeat dad.
Ashley cut all ties in anger.
Life brought both families to the same neighborhood.
Mystery solved–those veggies and fruits on our doorstep?
All from Ashley.
“Mom, who’s here?”
Paul stumbled in sleepy–eyed, then gaped when he saw me.
Ashley teased.
“Should we arrange a Childhood Betrothal?”
Paul flushed crimson.
“I… I don’t want her as my wife!”
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Chapter 10
“Unless… unless-‘
Before he finished, I tackled him.
“I do! I do!”
Our moms roared with laughter.
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Not that I was shamelessly crushing–I’d spotted the red mole on his neck.
I remembered my past life: whenever bullies came, a doll protected me.
He made me laugh, played with me, told me to keep living.
That doll had an identical red mole on its neck.
Mom and Ashley kept chatting when Gerald rushed in.
“Madam, look.”
The video showed Katherine hanging while men whipped her repeatedly.
“Mom, see? We avenged you. Pity us let us come home!”
“Please! We’ll never hurt you again!”
Mom scoffed, handing the phone back.
“Call the police. Don’t bother me with these scumbags again.”
Gerald took it respectfully and obeyed.
“Home now. We’ll visit another day.”
I clung to Paul like glue.
“No! I won’t leave! I want to play with Paul!”
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Chapter 10
Paul held my hand, acting all grown–up.
“Ashley, just let her stay. She’s gonna marry me anyway.”
Mom was speechless and quickly picked me up.
“You little rascal, dream on!”
From then on, I had a little follower by my side.
In the blink of an eye, it was my 18th birthday.
Mom threw a grand birthday party for me.
Under the gaze of everyone, I slowly walked onto the stage.
Paul knelt on one knee and pulled out a diamond ring from his pocket.
“Betty, will you marry me?”
Mom gave me an encouraging look.
I wiped away my tears and excitedly extended my ring finger.
“I do!”
In my past life, Betty at 18 died from endless torment.
In this life, Betty at 18 has many people who love her.
[The End]
