Chapter 3
1239 Words
But her eyes were not focused on Anna’s injury at all.
Instead, she kept looking around.
“Where’s Jason? Why didn’t he come home with you?”
Anna brushed her hand away and pulled her father aside.
“Aunt Wendy, I came here today to tell you something.”
“From now on, Jason Lincoln’s school matters, where he goes after school, what he does on weekends, and who he spends time with—none of that has anything to do with me anymore.”
“My father will also stop coming here to help at your stall.”
In her previous life, when she had been framed and destroyed—
Jason’s mother had played a major role.
This snake-hearted woman…
In this new life, she would be the first person Anna Nolan would confront.
Hearing those words, Jason’s mother was stunned.
So was Anna’s father.
But Anna didn’t give them a chance to respond.
She continued calmly.
“Aunt Wendy, let me put it this way.”
“My father has been helping at your stall for twelve years.”
“He’s been your unpaid porter.”
“Sometimes he even paid for ingredients and other expenses himself.”
“I’ll consider all of that settled. There’s no need to calculate it anymore.”
“After all, my father genuinely wanted to build a family with you.”
“But it’s obvious that you never had that intention.”
“Jason Lincoln and I are already adults. A relationship like this will only invite gossip.”
“So while my father is still young enough and doesn’t have too many burdens yet…”
“I want him to start his life again.”
“Aunt Wendy, you don’t mind that, do you?”
Jason’s mother hadn’t even opened her mouth to respond when Anna’s father angrily scolded her.
“Anna!”
“How can you talk to Aunt Wendy like that?”
“Adult matters are none of your concern!”
“Just focus on preparing for your exams. You don’t need to worry about your father!”
“Dad,” Anna said, staring straight at him.
“Can you wake up a little?”
“If Aunt Wendy really valued you, would she have refused to be with you all these years?”
“Stop using the excuse that Jason and I were still young.”
“You know the truth better than anyone.”
“Aunt Wendy is beautiful and runs her own breakfast stall.”
“How could she possibly look at someone like you?”
“In her eyes…”
“You’re nothing more than a free porter.”
What Anna Nolan said—
was not a lie at all.
In her previous life, even after Anna Nolan and Jason Lincoln had bought them a villa, Jason’s mother had said these words:
“Jason, I know you’re filial. But your mother and Mr. Nolan will not live together. At our age, matters of young people no longer suit us. It’s better if we stay the same as before in the alley, each living our own lives.”
Anna Nolan had always believed that meant Jason’s mother simply needed her personal space—especially as Anna’s own status kept rising.
It wasn’t until one night, when Anna returned late from a banquet, that she discovered Jason’s mother’s true thoughts.
The woman said to Jason Lincoln,
“Jason, don’t interfere in my matters with Mr. Nolan. I will not marry him, and I will not live with him.”
Jason asked, “Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Because my son is now the richest man.”
“Jason, I’m not hiding anything from you. Back then you were still young. Your father died and left us with a mountain of debt. Out there, Mr. Nolan was the only person who didn’t look down on us. He was willing to take care of both you and me.”
“From the moment I met him, I knew he liked me.”
“But I could never let him have me.”
“Jason, don’t laugh at your mother. Mr. Nolan is just a casual laborer. Is someone like him worthy of me?”
“I only made use of the fact that he was willing—loyally and without complaint—to be a free porter at the breakfast stall. And Anna Nolan too.”
“My son, your status is different now. That only proves your mother made the right decision back then.”
“Look at Anna Nolan and her father. Both of them have been completely devoted to the two of us.”
“But I still don’t want her to become my daughter-in-law.”
“Jason, look at these photos. These are all daughters from wealthy families. Anna Nolan may be your childhood friend, but she’s only the daughter of a porter. She has no powerful background. She’s not worthy of you.”
“Back then, I allowed her to follow you around and watch over you at all times. That was only because of Mr. Nolan—so he could feel that even if he couldn’t be with me, at least his daughter still had a future.”
“Listen to your mother. Marry the daughter of a wealthy family who matches your status.”
“That way you can improve the ‘genes’ of the Lincoln family. And if something happens one day, your father-in-law can help you.”
At that moment, Anna Nolan had almost laughed out loud in anger.
She nearly walked in and asked,
“Aunt Wendy, it’s true that my father is just a porter. But for all these years, he has sincerely loved you.”
“Back when life was difficult, you had your concerns—I could understand that.”
“But now Jason has become the richest man. What concerns could you possibly still have?”
“And now you want to introduce wealthy daughters to him. Then what exactly am I?”
At that time, Jason Lincoln had actually defended her.
He said to his mother,
“Mom, as human beings we should know how to repay kindness.”
“You can’t look down on Mr. Nolan just because I’ve become the richest man now.”
“For more than twenty years, rain or shine, Mr. Nolan helped you carry supplies, organize the storage room, take you to the hospital when you were sick, and even watch the stall when you were hospitalized.”
“And besides, I will not marry any wealthy daughter.”
“Anna Nolan has been by my side for years. I can’t possibly not marry her.”
Back then, Anna’s heart had felt warm.
She truly believed that all her sacrifices had not been in vain.
But reality struck her hard.
Anna Nolan once thought Jason Lincoln had feelings for her.
And indeed he did—
but only the feelings of habit.
The reason Jason refused to marry a wealthy woman was not because he loved Anna deeply.
It was because Jessica Cole already occupied his heart.
Compared to getting to know someone new, choosing Anna Nolan was simply the more convenient option.
At the same time, he could block his mother’s arrangements.
At the same time, he could warm Anna’s heart.
One move.
Two purposes.
Thinking about it now, Anna Nolan felt like a complete joke.
- Writer
