On my birthday, my dad made me sleep with a 70-year-old man.
Just to buy a pair of brand-name shoes for my little brother.
I refused. But my dad kept hitting me with three sticks until I passed out.
That night, I escaped.
Many years later.
My mom was kicked out by her son and begged me to take her in.
I agreed. But in the end, she cruelly killed me.
Starting over, I received another desperate call from my mom.
——
When I was 3 years old, my mom finally gave birth to my little brother-brown and red skin.
I thought this younger brother was ugly, but Mom said I should take good care of him because he was younger.
But I didn't expect that.
His birth signified that my hellish life was coming.
Mom didn't have enough breast milk. Dad said it was all my fault.
Since that day, I started changing diapers and cooking during the day, and catching small fish in the ditch at night to make soup for Mom.
Dad named him Peter.
And he changed my name to Monica.
Actually, it was not really a change, just a different character.
I used to be called Monique.
To take better care of Peter, my parents asked me to wait for him to go to school together.
That day, Peter, who was in the classroom, suddenly disappeared.
I just found out that Peter stole money from his classmate and got caught until my father rushed in, and kicked me to the trash can next to the classroom. Peter got angry and beat up his classmate. And the teacher called my Dad.
"Are you stupid? You can't even take care of your younger brother!"
"Bitch, I'll kill you today!"
Fists and kicks landed on me, with only the screams of my classmates and the reprimands of the teacher echoing in my mind.
Amazingly, I didn't even feel any pain. Maybe I was used to getting beaten up worse than this in normal times.
The next day, my father took me to school to withdraw.
While my dad was busy with the paperwork, the teacher secretly slipped a hundred dollars into my hand.
She said, "Monica, you have to escape, go far away, and never come back."
I nodded, and then she smiled.
I had been helping my mother with farming at home for two years, and I was almost 18 years old.
Dad said that when my younger brother got into high school, I would have to go out to work and earn money for his tuition.
I nodded blankly.
Dad was satisfied with my answer and didn't burn cigarette scars on me when he drank any more.
The eve of the storm is always calm.
Dad was informed by the village chief to go to the police station to pick up my younger brother.
It wasn't until the next morning that Dad brought my younger brother back.
As soon as Peter entered the house, he angrily scolded my mother, "It's all your fault. Why didn't you buy me those brand-name shoes?"
"I have nothing to show off in front of them, so I had no choice but to go out and sleep with a prostitute!"
Dad took several puffs of his cigarette before slowly explaining, under Mom's anxious gaze, "He slept with a girl who demanded compensation from our family before she was willing to drop the charges at the police station."
Mom stomped her foot in distress, "This won't do. Peter could go to college and will become an official in the future. How can he go to jail?"
In the end, we compensated the girl with ten thousand dollars, and my little brother finally got to wear the branded shoes he had been longing for.
I was very envious.
Mom said that new clothes and shoes were only worthy of my little brother, and I could wear the ones she no longer wears.
Quickly, it was my birthday.
Mom specially bought chicken in the morning.
Dad also bought a cake from the town.
Mom first took two big chicken legs and put them on Peter's plate, then tore open the chicken breast and put it on my plate, saying, "Monica, eat quickly. This is all lean meat and it's delicious."
She smiled and picked up a chicken wing and put it in her mouth, constantly urging me to eat the chicken breast.
My mom loves me.
She ate only the chicken wings with skin.
Dad was also there, sipping his liquor and saying, "Just eat, what are you looking at!"
Seeing that I still didn't move.
Dad puts down his glass and says, "Eat quickly, finish eating, and go to Gary's house in the next village. Come back tomorrow morning!"
Gary in the next village was an old man who was almost 70 years old.
He liked to stare at me when he was doing farm work.
"Why?"
My little brother rolled his eyes at me and said, "You fool, it's to accompany him to sleep!"
Dad slammed the table in shame and anger, shouting, "Do you know how we get 10,000 dollars for you?"
"If you don't go today, I'll kill you!"
"No!"
"What did you say?"
Mom tried to block me in front, but was pushed down by my father.
"Say it again!"
"No!"
Mom urged me anxiously, "Monica, be obedient and sensible. Just go."
"You will be beaten to death if you don't agree!"
I shouted, "I'm not going!"
This domestic violence broke three sticks.
Until evening, when Dad was too tired to continue, he wanted Peter to take over but was refused by him.
"If you really beat her to death, how am I supposed to collect the gift for me to get married in the future?"
Dad suddenly realized and hit my head with the last blow, then threw away the stick and lit a cigarette.
"If you don't go today, I'll carry you there tomorrow!"
Perhaps unable to withstand the dual torment of physical and mental, I fainted.
I didn't wake up from the bed in the room until dawn.
The clothes stained with blood were also changed to new ones.
The snoring from the next room indicates that everyone was asleep.
I had always remembered what the teacher said back then.
I wanted to escape.
Escape far away...
Many years later, I received a distress call from my mother in the car.
She was kicked out of the house by her biological son and was afraid to return to the village because she was afraid of being beaten by my father.
I drove overnight for ten hours to pick up my mother.
But after a while, I realized something was wrong.
The imported fruits in the house turned into rotten apples, and the selenium-rich mineral water also turned into tap water.
The items in the villa also had a big difference from what I bought.
I asked my mother, and she hesitated and said she had no money to spend.
She had to sell the items in the house for money. But she was afraid that I would blame her if I found out, so she bought counterfeit products and put them in the house.
Instead of getting angry, I transferred 500,000 dollars to my mother's account.
I told her to ask me for money if she didn't have any.
But slowly, things stopped disappearing.
My health was getting worse and I had nosebleeds for no reason.
I told my mom that I wanted to go to the hospital.
My mom immediately got nervous and said, "Why do you to the hospital? You must have too much internal heat. I'll make a soup to cool you down."
I nodded.
But the assistant suggested going to the hospital. I thought it would be a good idea to go and make an appointment with a specialist the next day.
I couldn't sleep at night because of the strong bitterness in my mouth, so I decided to get up and rinse my mouth with some water.
As soon as I went downstairs, I saw that the light was still on in my mom's room.
I heard the sound of someone talking on the phone inside.
"Don't worry, the poison is still working fine. Your sister will die in a month or so, and then the big villa will be yours."
My head buzzed and I suddenly lost consciousness and fell to the ground.
Mom heard the noise and hurried out to check.
My breathing became difficult, but I still managed to say to her intermittently, "Mom~ Mom, help me call 911..."
Mom stood still without responding, and from the phone came the urgent voice of Peter, "Mom, pour all the medicine into her mouth quickly."
Warm tears fell on my cheeks, and I was too weak to resist.
At the moment of my last breath, I faintly heard my mother whispering in my ear.
"My daughter Monica, why are you so disobedient? Mom loves you..."
Buzzing.
The phone kept vibrating on the passenger seat.
There was no bitter taste in my mouth.
There was also no feeling of being in such pain of wishing for death when on the verge of dying.
The caller on the phone showed me the location of my hometown.
Am I reborn?
After hesitating for a moment, I answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Monica! It's Mom."
"Your dad starts beating us after drinking. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I came to your brother's place."
"But your brother's new girlfriend dislikes the smell of me from working at the restaurant, so he kicked me out."
It was the same topic as in the previous life.
I was impatient before and drove the company's warehouse car to pick her up without waiting for her to finish speaking.
I drove for ten hours overnight to get there, but she complained that I picked her up in a van worth only a few thousand dollars.
"Monica, why did you come to pick me up in this kind of car? Too slow."
I smiled apologetically and adjusted the passenger seat cushion, "Sorry, Mom. Besides, the van has more space."
But she stuffed her bag, opened the back door, and got in.
"It takes more than ten hours to get to New York. I'll sleep in the back for more comfort. Take your time, Monica. We're not in a hurry."
I could only nod and say, "Okay."
"But that was in the past. Now..."
I asked coldly, "So what?"
"I want you to come pick me up. I want to stay with you for a while."
Their true intentions were exposed.
It seemed that they knew about me buying a villa before they came to me.
I sneered, "Someone like Peter who kicks the elderly out of the house should be held legally responsible. Mom, I suggest you file a lawsuit in court."
Mom heard it and immediately scolded loudly through the microphone, "Your younger brother is also in a difficult situation now. If you didn't drink up all his breast milk back then, he wouldn't be washing cars now instead of going to college."
"Is that so? Then mom, is your breast milk made of gold or bricks?'"
There was a stunned silence on the other end of the phone for a while.
I continued, "Even if it's made of gold or bricks, he can't get into college just by drinking gold-plated breast milk."
"Besides, mom didn't have breast milk back then. Wasn't it because Dad couldn't make enough money and we had to eat cabbage every day?"
After a long silence, the other side weakly replied, "Monica, can you be sensible?"
Here came the word 'sensible' again!
I was already sick of hearing it!
"Back then, it was you and Dad who repeatedly emphasized that Peter would support you when you are old. Why are you coming to me now? I have to go to work tomorrow."
Click, I hung up the phone, my fingers trembling uncontrollably.
After drifting outside for more than ten years, I had been lonely for too long.
Even if I knew that love was barely detectable, I still wanted to hold it firmly in my hands.
This will led to a miserable death in the previous life.
I considered it as repaying their kindness in raising me. I didn't want any connection with them in this life.
Finally, I sent a few messages to my assistant in the car, and then rushed back to my home at night.
Early the next morning, the doorbell started ringing incessantly.
I yawned and got up to open the door, only to see the butler with a constipated expression on his face.
Suddenly, I had the idea of teasing him in my mind.
Leaning against the door, I said, "Why are you being exploited by the unscrupulous leader again today...".
The words stopped.
The butler saw the mocking smile on my face and stopped abruptly when I turned my head.
Immediately explained, "Miss, this lady caused a scene in the property office and claimed that she is your mother. I think she is probably lying, but I am worried... so I brought her here to confirm with you."
"What a lie! She is my daughter, Monica, isn't she?"
The power of money was really great. This time I didn't go to pick her up, but she came rushing over.
"Yes, she is my mother. Any losses in the property will be counted as mine."
I sent away the butler who looked incredulous.
When I closed the door, I saw my mother stuffing the crystal cup on the table into her arms.
In the previous life, when I asked her why there were fewer things, what did she say?
"Monica, you know that your mother has no job and no income. It's embarrassing for me to ask you for money when I need it."
"But don't worry, I recently found a job washing dishes in a restaurant. I will pay you back when I earn money."
I suddenly felt uncomfortable in my heart, so I immediately transferred the money, "Mom, if you don't have money, just tell me. Buy whatever you want, I'm not short of money."
Now that I thought about it, I really had a problem with my brain before.
Who buy things from their children's homes and exchange money!
She was also afraid of being discovered buying fake goods and putting them back in place.
Besides, I had a maid at home who cooked. Whenever we went out, my mother always used my card and didn't spend any money.
And she had been working for decades, so she couldn't have any savings at all.
Thinking of this, I walked quickly to grab the cup, "Mom, why did you start cleaning as soon as you came in? The maid can do these small things."
My mom awkwardly touched her nose, "I'm used to doing cleaning."
I didn't interrupt and continued to ask, "That's right, Mom, how did you find this place?"
"It was your... your brother's classmate who brought me here. He said he had seen you in New York, so he brought me here by asking people along the way."
She was still clutching the hem of her clothes when she spoke.
She looked completely guilty and nervous.
I also glanced at the white shoes she was wearing, which were clean and hadn't walked far.
I didn't bother to expose her and continued to say, "Oh, but I can't accommodate anyone here..."
"Why? Look at this big TV, this big sofa, how can such a nice house not accommodate anyone?"
I laughed and said, "Mom, the villa's garden has been repaired recently, and there is no water or electricity. You can't even take a shower."
My mom froze for a moment and then said, "It's okay not to take a shower for a few days. And I don't use electricity to charge my phone."
Now you can go without taking a shower and not using your phone?
The day after I brought her back in my previous life, the villa had a power outage and no water.
What did she say again?
"Monica, I'm a clean person, so I have to take a bath. I like to watch videos on my phone. If it runs out of battery, I can't play with my phone."
"It just repaired for two days. Mom, can you bear with it? If not, let's stay in a hotel."
Mom became irritable as soon as she heard this, "No! Besides, staying in a hotel costs money. Monica, I have suffered so much for you and endured your father's beatings for you."
"You used to be so sensible, why have you changed now?"
At that time, I also remembered the scene of my mother throwing herself in front of me on my 18th birthday to protect me from my father's beatings.
I started to unconditionally agree to her requests.
The maid at home had already taken leave and returned home half a month ago to take care of her daughter-in-law.
I had to contact the water company myself and buy a small generator to barely maintain electricity.
But she complained that the water didn't taste good and the noise from the generator kept her awake.
I had to switch to bottled water for daily washing and buy more than ten power banks to keep her charged.
I, who ventured into society too early, had slept under bridges and in parks.
I dare not spend a penny except for necessary expenses for work.
Thinking about this, it really was a sigh. She had endured humiliation for this villa.
"But Mom, the maid needs to take a shower. She's used to it."
"She feels uncomfortable if she doesn't take a shower for a day. And we need electricity for cooking."
I pretended not to care and sat on the sofa, looking at her with crossed arms.
Sure enough, my mother looked uncomfortable.
"But there's no water or electricity here..."
I quickly interrupted her and said, "So, we need to move to a hotel. Otherwise, you can stay here for a couple of days. I don't know when the backyard will be repaired."
My mother replied anxiously, "I'll go too, I'll go."
"It's my fault. I can let you stay in a hotel only."
Mom waved her hand anxiously and said, "It's not bad. I have never stayed in a hotel before."
"Mom. Let's stay here first and I'll call someone to clean up the room for you."
"Actually...um, um..."
Before she could finish her sentence, I took the initiative to carry the bag she brought upstairs.
Then I contacted the professional organizing team to come to the villa and arrange all the valuable items inside the vacant room on the third floor and lock it up.
The refrigerator was emptied in advance when it was decided to repair the garden, and there were only two apples left inside.
After seeing off the organizer, I would also tidy up and get ready to go to work.
Mom looked anxious and asked, "Monica, when do you get off work? I will cook and wait for you to come back and eat."
Even though she knew there would be no water or electricity, she still said these insincere polite words.
I tidied up and put on my watch, looked up at her, and said, "You don't have to wait for me, just eat yourself. Whether I come back tonight or not depends on the overtime situation."
After speaking, I grabbed the car keys and went out.
I didn't laugh until I drove out of the neighborhood.
The only food in the whole villa was two apples she didn't like, and even the drinking water was locked on the third floor.
The next day at noon, I brought a lunch box back to the villa.
As soon as I entered the door, I saw my mother lying weakly on the sofa.
When she saw me coming in, she struggled to get up and said, "Why did you come back so late, I ate two apples yesterday and I'm starving now."
"I worked late last night, so as not to disturb your sleep, I stayed in a hotel."
I put the lunch box on the coffee table, and my mother immediately grabbed it and ate it greedily.
"At least, at least, at least get someone to bring me some food."
The boxed meal was salad downstairs in the company. I didn't expect her to be so hungry.
It seemed that she really didn't have any money. I guessed she had used it all to support her son.
"Mom, you don't like staying in hotels, and I'm too busy with work. There's really no way."
Upon hearing this, Mom slowed down her eating speed, "Who said that? I'm willing, very willing, to stay in a hotel."
I smiled.
"Okay, I'll arrange it for you right away."
Mom nodded and continued to eat.
I immediately took out my phone and contacted the driver and assistant to drive Mom to the hotel.
Before getting in the car, I specifically pulled the assistant aside and instructed, "Don't book an expensive room, just book a seven-day stay."
"Don't tell anything about the company or my income to her. If she asks, just say that I work in a big company."
The assistant nodded.
I also went back to the room to change clothes and tidy up before driving to the company.
The night sky outside the window was full of stars.
I closed my laptop and set off for the hotel.
As soon as I got out of the elevator, I heard the sound of a girl making a fuss.
"How can the daughter of a big villa let her mother sleep in the cheap room!"
I walked up and asked with interest, "Then what kind of room do you think she should stay in?"
"Of course it's the presidential suite."
The girl looked me up and down and said, "You must be Peter's sister."
Mom hurriedly pulled her and gestured for her not to speak, and introduced her to me, "Monica, she is your brother's girlfriend, Olivia."
"Oh, but I only booked your room, Mom, and extended the room fee for seven days."
Mom was in a dilemma, "Olivia is... is pregnant, and Peter's rented house is not suitable for raising a baby."
It seemed that the grandson she mentioned before I died in my previous life was the one in her belly now.
"If renting a house is not suitable, then staying in a hotel should be suitable, right?"
"No, no, it's just that she wants... she wants..."
After a long silence, Olivia couldn't bear it anymore, "I want to stay in the presidential suite, arrange it for me quickly!"
No wonder I didn't see this person in the villa in my previous life.
The presidential suite is indeed more comfortable to live in than my under-repair villa.
I readily agreed, "It's just a presidential suite, it's easy to handle. But the hotel with a presidential suite is a bit far from here..."
Olivia's eyes lit up when she heard that she could stay in the presidential suite, "Distance is not a problem, you have a driver, let the driver take us there."
"Okay, let's do as you said."