I got slapped by a rude reader and fainted at a book signing event.
A streamer was broadcasting the ridiculous incident live and I suddenly became famous.
They called me 'Fainted Girl,' mocking me for faking it to extort money.
I was ready to gather evidence and sue, but my boyfriend of five years, Shawn Sterling, stopped me.
I couldn't understand why. He's never been one to let people take advantage of him.
Why was he so forgiving this time?
He told me that defamation cases were challenging to win and that many people spent money on lawyers only to lose the case. He told me to think about our future and avoid making more trouble.
At first, I thought it would be better just to let it go.
But then I found evidence of how he planned the whole incident. He hired someone to hurt me and paid online trolls to attack me.
Part 1
Things got really out of hand. My ongoing comic series and social media were flooded with hate comments.
The editor asked me to come over to discuss possibly canceling the comic.
They tried to soften the blow by saying it would be best if I took some time off to sort out my emotions, implying that the magazine wasn’t necessarily dropping me entirely.
I forced a weak smile and agreed.
It was getting late, but I felt scared to go home.
Without my comic’s publication, my income would drop. How was I supposed to support Shawn now?
I suddenly got a call from Hannah Louse, Shawn's cousin.
She sounded frantic, saying that Shawn had drunk too much and asked me to pick him up.
Shawn had a slight alcohol allergy, so I rushed over in a taxi.
When I got to the bar, the only thing lit up was a big screen.
There, Shawn was lying comfortably with his head in Hannah’s lap.
He watched the video of my public humiliation with great interest.
As the video showed the moment I fainted.
A tiny party poppers went off and expensive champagne splashed up to the ceiling. The crowd’s cheers made the atmosphere ecstatic.
He and his lousy friends sneered, "A disgrace, making a fool of herself like that in public and still thinks she’s fit to meet my friends? Keep dreaming!"
"Shawn is a genius! He can expose the hypocritical woman with just a little trick!" the clamor and mockery were all heard without any concealment.
I dug my nails into my palm and my heart ached so badly I felt like I couldn't breathe.
After five years together, what did my love and companionship mean to him?
I had no energy to argue. A heavy sense of despair felt like a needle stuck in my chest.
I was just about to leave when a delicate hand stopped me.
It was Hannah who called me over. After rolling her eyes at me, she said.
"Yelena Blair, you heard it all, right?"
"You really are pathetic, chasing after Shawn for five years and ending up like this."
Her mean and nasty look was unlike my sweet and innocent cousin.
Hannah saw that I wasn't reacting, so she took out her phone and showed me a video.
He spat, "Yelena, you're still not giving up, huh? See this? If you know what's good for you, get lost!"
The video showed them entangled in a passionate embrace.
The string that was taut in my heart suddenly snapped. "Aren't you two cousins?"
Hannah scoffed, "Only a fool like you would believe that."
She introduced herself as his cousin and Shawn told me she was a sister who had lived abroad for years.
I thought he had finally come around to introduce me to his family.
Chapter 2Hannah had been intruding on my relationship with Shawn for over a year.
Especially last year, on my birthday, Shawn promised me a two-day vacation at a hot spring resort.
Unexpectedly, Hannah suddenly had a heart attack in the middle of the night and he had to leave me alone in the hotel.
Afterward, Shawn also apologized to me sincerely.
He explained, "I know how kind you are, Yelena. Please don’t be upset with my cousin. She’s had a hard life abroad and isn’t in good health. So, we need to take extra care of her."
I didn't overthink it. I even urged him to be considerate toward her.
Who would’ve thought he’d be "considerate" enough to end up in bed with her?
Tonight, I was shocked to discover the truth and felt so sick I could vomit.
Part 2
When I got home, I was drenched by the cold autumn rain and shivering uncontrollably.
So much happened today. I barely had time to react before I felt shattered.
All I wanted was to take a hot shower, get some sleep and leave all my worries outside the covers.
I checked my phone and saw that Hannah had posted something.
The video showed Shawn resting comfortably on her shoulder and they kissed softly.
She captioned it. "Everything works out in the end."
After silently liking the post, I looked around at the cramped one-bedroom apartment and felt like the world was spinning.
Shawn’s blatant betrayal made this once cozy home feel utterly ridiculous.
Luckily, Shawn didn’t come home last night.
I used to resent him for never being around, but now I felt grateful.
Early the following day, he returned as I was packing his things.
He left a lot of stuff here, but I bought most of it for him. I've put it all up for sale on the second-hand market.
His personal belongings fit into a single suitcase.
He sat at the table, noticing I was busy like a bee and ignoring him. He wasn’t too happy about it.
He asked coldly, "Why didn’t you make me breakfast?"
When I didn’t reply, he angrily picked up a vase from the table and smashed it.
He rushed over and hugged me from behind.
"Yelena, why are you ignoring me? Do you look down on me too?"
If he had said something like that before, I would have felt sorry for him and empathized with him.
I would transfer his money to buy gifts to apologize and then coax him for a few days.
Only then did he reluctantly agree to make up.
I used to think this was all just normal bickering between young couples.
I thought once he had a job, he would be happier.
Then, our lives would get better and better.
I never realized he was deliberately trying to wear me down.
My other half had hidden the future I thought was within reach.
So fast I didn't even get the chance to tell him that I was pregnant.
I closed my eyes and pushed him away.
His warm embrace now felt like a bottomless swamp.
I looked into his eyes and said calmly, "Shawn, it's over between us."
"I’ve listed every penny I spent on you over the past three years in a document I’ve sent to your email. Your bags are by the door. Get out. We’ll never see each other again."
Shawn stared at me in disbelief. "Yelena, I was out all day yesterday and you're still giving me a hard time? That's so childish!"
I opened the door and told him to go, but he wouldn't let go of my wrist.
I showed him the video of him and Hannah kissing. Then, I looked at the furious man before me.
Chapter 3Shawn froze for a second, but there was no hint of guilt or surprise at being caught cheating. All he could manage was a straight face with an irritated expression.
"Yelena, I can't believe you were secretly taking pictures! It was just my sister losing a dare and I was helping her out. Why are you making such a fuss about nothing?"
The only reply he got was a deafening slam of the door.
He kicked the door and yelled at me outside, calling me petty and unforgiving.
I was too weak to do anything, so I could only lean against the door and wait for him to leave.
Without realizing it, I was already in tears.
Part 3
I thought I had handled the breakup as gracefully as possible.
But Shawn's blunt and unfiltered words made him seem like a stranger to me.
Throughout our five-year relationship, I always tried to be considerate of his feelings.
I'd seen how ugly my parents could be when they fight, so whenever Shawn and I argued, I chose to swallow my pride and avoid saying anything mean to hurt him.
Shawn's tender, fragile nature often left me feeling heartbroken.
Our five years together were quite a joke
I met Shawn in college.
After we got together, he often complained about being unable to find a stable job for some reason.
His family looked down on him and didn't support him, so he would complain about being broke.
Every time I heard this, I felt a sense of shared struggle.
As a girl with a younger brother, I understood the feeling of being powerless.
I did as many part-time jobs as I could during my free time.
After saving enough for my monthly expenses, I'd scrape a few thousand to send him.
Back then, I just felt sorry for him and his helpless life.
I did my best to support him, absorbing all his negative emotions.
I believed that one day, through our combined efforts, we’d have our own home and wouldn’t have to keep moving around.
After graduation, I gave up a chance to study abroad offered by my mentor, so that Shawn could focus on his creative work.
Desperate to earn money to support our family, I maintained my work and took on extra writing gigs at night to make ends meet.
All for the illusion of a “home” that never even existed.
Looking back now, I realize I spoiled Shawn to the point of indulgence. He only cared about his happiness and disregarded everything else.
I've ended up like this. I guess it's karma for not seeing through him.
Seeing how little money I had left, I knew I had to get my life back together.
After thinking it over, I went to the hospital and asked the doctor to schedule an abortion.
I was born into misfortune. I couldn’t let my child have such a terrible father.
This child and I were simply not meant to be.
Just as I was about to go into surgery, Shawn called me.
As soon as I picked up, deafening music blasted and Shawn shouted on the other end.
"Tell that idiot Yelena who Shawn Sterling is!"
I stayed silent, swallowing back the words I wanted to say.
On the other end of the phone, Shawn continued his rant.
"Yelena, you’ve spent years licking my boots and sending me a bit of money every month. Isn't all your scheming to cling to me and latch onto our Sterling Family?"
"It's too late to break up with me now! You've been completely controlled by me."
"If you're smart, come crawling back and apologize to me. Maybe I'll give you another chance."
Chapter 4So noisy. Was Shawn this kind of jerk?
Looking at the baby's strong heartbeat on the ultrasound, I sighed.
It felt like the delicate, crystal-like image of Shawn in my mind had just vanished like smoke.
During the month I spent recovering after surgery, I saw Shawn completely let loose in Hannah's social media posts.
She posted many updates, each one aimed at reminding me.
It was around this time that I realized ...
Shawn wasn’t just some frustrated art student.
He was the youngest son of the wealthy Sterling Family in this city, naturally above others.
But since there were so many sons in his family, they all fought each other openly for the family fortune.
His father had set strict conditions for the inheritance, wanting each child to be self-reliant.
Shawn, who had always longed for freedom and the arts, had been spoiled by his elders for many years and no longer had the drive to compete with his siblings.
During our five years together, he didn't have significant investments but never lacked anything.
As I scroll through these posts showing off luxury cars and yachts.
I couldn't understand why Shawn would be interested in someone as ordinary as me.
Seeing me working my butt off all the time, it just didn't make sense.
He watched me work tirelessly to secure a stable life, trying to earn extra money to support his daily expenses.
Was each plea for money just Shawn’s test of my love?
What difference could the money I saved each month make to him?
Did he only feel loved if I gave him everything I had?
I wish I could never see him again.
I quickly moved out and blocked all contact with Shawn.
I gradually let go of the regrets, hardships and disappointments I felt about the child and my pitiful love life.
But the anger and resentment in my heart tell me …
Shawn owed me. He owed me for the loss of our child and he must pay for it.
Part 4
Hannah, this girl, was very ridiculously straightforward.
She looked proud and triumphant when she saw Shawn and me fall out.
Every day, she would share stories of her and Shawn’s so-called "true love" since childhood, as if reporting her daily work.
Shawn's deep affection for her seemed half-hearted, especially after her family's fall from grace was mentioned again.
The online rumours about me as the "Fainted Girl" had been getting worse and worse lately.
Somehow, people found out I was pregnant at the time, which explained the fainting.
Though I wasn’t a famous writer, I still had some readers on social media.
The comic based on my love story with Shawn had been a surprise hit.
But then, the popular series was abruptly canceled. When I contacted the magazine for an explanation, everyone gave vague answers before hanging up.
I felt like I was caught in a storm of public opinion with a poor reputation.
Getting famous on the internet wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
My long-absent parents, following the rumors, showed up at my door.
The first thing my mother asked when she saw me was, "Are you really pregnant?"
I nodded. "Yes, I’m … "
Before I finished speaking, my father slapped me.
My left cheek burned and swelled. Then, I swallowed all the words I wanted to say.
My father's face was dark as he put his cigarette on the door, sneering, "How could our family have someone as shameless as you?"
I only opened the door and invited them in, saying, "Family scandals shouldn't be publicized. Let's talk inside."
"You're pregnant before marriage. What good deal can you still get?” My mother picked up a broom near the door, ready to hit me.
My father stopped her and asked me to explain in detail about the man I was involved with.
He wanted to see if I was still useful to him.
I needed this kind of gangster's channel to handle things.
So, I greatly exaggerated Shawn's family background when I told him.
They leisurely sat on the sofa after venting from a high moral ground.
My father said happily, "Getting involved with a man from such a good family is like a blessing for our family! Yelena, even though you have no shame, this child came at the perfect time."
He analyzed, "The Sterlings are currently splitting their inheritance. This child is practically a God-given bargaining chip for you to marry into that family."
I put on a troubled expression and humbly pleaded with him.
"Shawn is irresponsible. He doesn’t want to acknowledge this child and I’m really at my wits’ end. I can only rely on you and Mom to help me."
As soon as I said that, my mother seemed to regain all her confidence and replaced her anger with determination.
She held my hand, teaching me how to hold onto a rich man—forget about pride or dignity. As long as one family member succeeds, the whole family benefits.
I quickly agreed and promised my parents, "Don’t worry, Mom and Dad. I used to be immature, but now I understand that only my family treats me well. I promise if I can marry into the Sterling Family, I will do my best to help my brother buy a house and get married."
My father lit his second cigarette. He declared coldly through the hazy smoke, "Whether he wants to recognize it or not, he’ll have to." Then he pulled my mom away.
My father was a gambler and a thug who was good at making a big scene.
A few days later, my father faked my pregnancy test results and paid a bunch of online influencers to spread the rumour.
People started linking Shawn’s freeloading habits over the past five years to the "fainted girl’s" pregnancy.
This made the rumors even more convincing.
As I thought of how to fuel the fire even more, Shawn and Hannah showed up at my door.