Chapter 3
1235 Words
Karen seemed to lose interest when I didn't react, so she left, but not before kicking me and muttering, "Urgh! You disgusting freeloader."
Once she was gone, I stood up calmly and dusted off my clothes.
Just then, the butler approached and informed me that Bill wanted to see me in the study.
I made my way upstairs and opened the door to the study, finding Bill sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee. He noticed my swollen face and sighed with a hint of helplessness. "Andy, come and sit down."
I chose the seat furthest from him, waiting for him to speak.
Bill sighed once more and said, "If it weren't for that misunderstanding back then, you wouldn't be here now. Do you hate the Moore family?"
I smiled faintly, shaking my head without showing any emotion. "No. Misunderstanding or not, the arrangement with you is the best outcome, Mr. Moore."
"I'm glad you see it that way." Bill nodded.
I met his gaze. "Don't worry, Mr. Moore. I'll remain loyal and obedient to Karen and do my best for the Moore Group."
"I know you're enduring this for your mother's sake," Bill said softly.
Our eyes met, and I thought I caught a glimpse of regret in Bill's eyes. It disappeared so quickly that I wasn't sure if I imagined it.
Bill continued, "Karen lost her parents young, and I spoiled her, which made her reckless. Five years ago, she caused trouble, and you got caught up in it..."
I interrupted him with indifference, "It's all in the past. Besides, there's only one month left before the contract ends. Afterward, I'll have no ties to the Moore family, and I'll be free."
"Free..." Bill murmured, falling silent, leaving me to wonder what thoughts were running through the mind of this once powerful and shrewd businessman.
I remained silent until Bill broke the silence. "Andy, what do you plan to do once you're free?"
Noticing my silence, he offered, "No matter what you choose, I can provide some support."
I stayed quiet, and Bill added, "You've seen the influence of the Moore family over the last five years. Whatever you need, I can make it happen."
I sneered softly. "I'll manage on my own, Mr. Moore. There's no need to trouble you."
"Young man, life is long; there's no rush to refuse help," he reminded me.
For some reason, I saw a softer side of an old man, almost like a worried parent. My heart softened slightly. "Why don't you tell me what you really want?"
"Well, you truly are a sharp, insightful double Ph.D. holder. I need you..." He hesitated.
"Yes?" I asked.
"I need you to refuse to be entirely obedient to Karen in this last month. Show your emotions and even defy her. Consider it a final life lesson for her."
Bill's eyes were pleading. "She needs to learn to be without you. She doesn't realize it, but you do. But just go easy on her."
I looked at Bill, unsure how to respond. It was amazing how much love an old man could have for his granddaughter.
Though I didn't completely understand it, it was both admirable and sad.
I stood up, looking down at Bill.
"In this last month, I'll take care of the company affairs and honor the contract. Rest assured." With that, I turned and headed for the door.
"Andy, the Moore family owes you a wish."
Bill's voice followed me, but I didn't respond or look back. I opened the door and stepped out.
My mind wandered back to five years ago, to another birthday party for Karen, a night marked by wild revelry.
She was the same arrogant young lady she always was, and I was just a student working part-time at the club. She was surrounded by a crowd of young people, drinking heavily.
I recognized her as my schoolmate. Her family's wealth made her quite well-known there.
I noticed someone spiking her drink. I went over to warn her, but she brushed me off, ignoring my caution. Later, I saw a man dragging her into a vacant private room, intending to violate her.
I found them while I was cleaning the floors. Initially, I thought of walking away, but something urged me to go back and help her.
Maybe it was because of my youthful compassion.
I managed to chase the guy off, but the drug had already taken hold of Karen. She held onto me, refusing to let go as I struggled to free myself.
Her kisses were passionate, her body warmer still as she pulled at my collar desperately...
I had no idea what to do until we were torn apart. Bill stormed in with bodyguards, threatening angrily to imprison me for life.
I was taken away and questioned. I told them everything, but no one believed me.
Eventually, my mentor brought the school officials to my defense, vouching for my integrity and academic record.
Only then did Bill relent and check the surveillance footage.
Though I cleared my name, my mother, upon hearing about my arrest, suffered a relapse of an ongoing illness due to the anxiety.
My father had passed away early on, and my mother, with little education, worked tirelessly in the city to support me, her health already deteriorating.
The shock aggravated her cancer, and she urgently needed a bone marrow transplant.
Bill secretly investigated me, learning everything, and decided I was fit to protect Karen and manage the Moore Group for her. He used every possible way to keep me close to her, turning me into her protector.
Thus, the "five-year contract" began.
The past unfolded in my mind like a film. Standing in the garden, I gazed at the night sky and quietly lit a cigarette.
I rarely smoked. The nicotine was unfamiliar, stinging my lungs and bringing tears to my eyes. But the sharp pain grounded me.
No one truly understood what those five years were like for me and how I was tormented.
They only saw the facade, or maybe that was all they wanted to see.
They called me a servant for the wealthy, mocked my submission to Karen, and ridiculed my loss of dignity for money.
They despised me, avoided me, and even friends and family disdained me.
Yet I was the only one who knew—it was the only way my mother could survive!
Despite holding dual PhDs from a prestigious university, I couldn't immediately find a suitable bone marrow donor for her or conjure ten million in cash for the best medical care.
Refusing Bill's terms, I'd have been forced to watch my mother die, even if it was because of the Moore family, because of Karen!
But life wasn't easy for those without money.
I resented the Moore family and Karen, too! But it seemed my resentment stopped short of real hatred. My inner conflict didn't change the reality.
In fact, sacrificing five years of dignity for my mother's life, ensuring she lived this long, was something I never regretted.
The cigarette burned down unnoticed, and the sting brought me back to the present.
I flicked the butt away and snuffed it out, the tiny ember disappearing beneath my feet.
Looking up at the sky, I didn't see the moon but a deep, inky black.
"It's time to put an end to all of this."
- Writer
