Chapter 8
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The Gunther family’s reputation was in shambles after the media reports were released. They received a verbal lashing from the public every day. The internet had been invented by then, so they were constantly subjected to an endless stream of criticisms.
Frank’s and Madison’s sentences had not been decided yet.
As I watched everything unfold, I sighed in relief. I assumed that the dust would settle soon. What I did not expect was for Joseph to seek me out again.
I had left the house to go grocery shopping when he blocked my path forward. He looked incredibly anxious. He kept his head lowered, continuing to block me without saying a single word.
I clutched my pocket knife as I warily asked him, “What the hell do you want?”
He raised his head to look at me. He had a complicated emotion swirling in his eyes, and his
voice was hoarse when he called out my name.
I didn’t say a single word in response. I wondered if he was going to beg me to empathize with Frank and Madison again.
“You were reborn, weren’t you?”
My expression morphed into one of shock upon hearing his words. I whipped around and
tried to make a break for it.
“I–I’m not going to hurt you!” he stammered.
I halted my footsteps and turned to glare at him before hissing, “Joseph, you really are
disgusting.”
He accepted the insult as he always did. “I’m sorry. I regret what I’ve done. I’m truly in love with you.”
I glared at him hatefully before I slapped him hard across the face, causing my palm to go
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Chapter B
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numb. Joseph sank to his knees in front of me, sobbing as he cradled his cheek. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me that day. I truly regret my actions.”
I stood in place and sneered down at him. My heart felt hollow.
“After you died, I turned myself in. I genuinely loved you… For many years, I was suffocated by my familial bonds. In the end, I’m the one who turned into a laughingstock.
“I used to have feelings for Madison, but I let go of them a long time ago. I was happy whenever I was with you.”
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Madison was his half–sister, sharing the same father. He couldn’t accept this reality. It was hard for him to believe that his gentle, dignified father had long ago betrayed his mother. His mother must be turning in her grave.
My tone was calm when I asked, “Why should someone else take the fall for the sake of your familial bond? You lied to me for a decade.”
I could never find a decent job in my past life. If I were lucky enough to get hired at a somewhat reputable business, I would get fired out of the blue. It turned out that Joseph
had been responsible for all of it.
Tears continued to stream down Joseph’s face. He claimed that he no longer hoped that I
would forgive him. Instead, he asked me what he could do to make it up to me.
I smiled. “Get out of my sight. I never want to see you again for the rest of my life.”
Joseph’s face turned as white as a sheet. He looked as if he was on the verge of shattering
into a million pieces.
I turned around and returned home. The class group chat was flooded with a barrage of endless messages. Everyone was shocked to learn that Frank had done such a thing. They were terrified that they would be the next ones to have their university spots snatched away from them.
Some asked me how I was doing, and I replied that everything was fine on my end.
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Chapter 8
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Mom and Dad prepared a grand feast for me. They stayed home for a couple of extra days
before leaving for their work again.
From that day on, a mountain of gifts would appear at my front door daily. They were all sent by Joseph. Frustrated beyond belief, I threw all of them away. I wondered if Joseph
didn’t understand what I told him. All he had to do was leave me alone.
I would shine like a star in this life, and didn’t want to get involved with useless people. Perhaps realizing that I was throwing them away, Joseph eventually stopped sending the gifts.
Frank and Madison finally received their sentences. Madison was to be detained for five months while Frank was to be imprisoned for three years. I smiled upon hearing the news. Madison, who had once dreamed of studying law, had finally paid the price for her actions.
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