No More Groveling, Just My Future

My mom was obsessed with the grovelandwinherback arc.

After finding out my dad was cheating, she decisively held a press conference to cut ties with him. “A man who can’t control himself?

I wouldn’t even take him if he were handed to me.” My dad cried and begged her to stay, even promising that he would leave all his assets to me.

My mom was so angry she went red in the face and slapped him hard. “Late love is worth less than grass.” “Don’t insult me with your dirty money.

Even if we starve outside, we won’t take a single cent from you.” I quickly grabbed my mom’s sleeve and whispered, “Mom, don’t go too far.

Be careful or you’ll really let the mistress move in.” My mom slapped my hand away hard, looking absolutely certain. “You don’t get it.

This is only the first step in the grovelandwinherback arc!” The reporters at the press conference all applauded. “As expected, the legal wife has backbone.” “This kind of grace?

The mistress could never compare. Look at Bai Lin acting all coy and seductive. One look and you can tell she’s trouble.

She must have seduced Chairman Chen first.” Bai Lin was holding her son, looking like she could collapse any second. She lifted her head with a pitiful expression. “I didn’t.

I’ve known Chairman Chen for twenty years. I’ve never seduced him.” The moment Dad saw Bai Lin’s tears, he couldn’t sit still anymore.

He rushed forward and put an arm around her shoulders. “Bai Lin isn’t the mistress.

We love each other.” Dad swept his gaze around the room, his eyes carrying a warning. “I don’t want to hear a single rumor about her.” “As for you and me, let’s part on good terms.

From now on, I’ll still fulfill my duties as a father, and I won’t shortchange the child.” The two of them clung to each other like a perfect couple.

The reporters quickly changed their tune and started praising them as soulmates who were meant to be, talking about a broken mirror being made whole again, and even questioning whether my mom was the real mistress.

My mom shrieked in fury. “Eric, you bastard. I was your first love. Don’t think you can whitewash cheating.

Scumbag men and trash women should be locked together forever.” “My daughter was born after ten months of pregnancy.

She has nothing to do with you, so mind your own business.” My mom slammed the signed divorce agreement into Dad’s face, then grabbed my arm and dragged me outside.

Like a victorious rooster, she strode through the crowd while proudly holding my hand.

I struggled hard to break free, but she was using all her strength, and my hand was even getting red from how tightly she was holding me.

As she walked, she kept looking back, hoping Dad would come chasing after us. But to her disappointment, the person who came wasn’t Dad. It was Bai Lin and her son.

Bai Lin was a completely different person from before. No longer meek, she blocked our way with a haughty look. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.

You’re loudly saying you don’t want the money so people will think you’re noble, while secretly collecting evidence to file a lawsuit and get a share of the assets.” “A verbal promise means nothing.

Unless you sign this.” Bai Lin handed my mom a sheet of paper, and I hurried over to take a look.

It was a property waiver. “Mom, don’t sign it.” Panicked, I grabbed it, crumpled it up, and threw it away. Bai Lin laughed cruelly and waved her hand.

Her son, Jason, smiled and handed me a whole stack of them. “If you want more, I’ve got plenty.” My mom looked at me and hesitated for a moment. “What?

Where did all that backbone go from earlier? The part where you swore you wouldn’t take a single cent?

Did you feed it to the dogs?” Seeing my mom hesitate, Bai Lin panicked too and deliberately poked at her. My mom’s eyes instantly turned red.

She snatched the pen and was about to sign. “Don’t think I don’t know you’re only with him for the money.

When he finds out your true colors, I’ll be waiting to see how badly you end up.” I was so anxious I felt like an ant on a hot pan and lunged at her to stop her. “Don’t sign, don’t sign!” After signing quickly, my mom slammed the paper into Bai Lin’s face. “Get lost!” Then she slapped me hard and glared at me. “Who cares about his dirty money?

You’re my daughter. Have some backbone.” Bai Lin and her son happily took the waiver and went back inside. We had completely lost our chance at a massive fortune.

I hung my head and walked forward in a daze, feeling like I might as well be dead. My mom couldn’t sense my low mood at all. She kept talking excitedly behind me. “Xia, don’t rush.

Your dad was hiding around the corner spying when you signed just now. He was looking at us with so much reluctance in his eyes.” “Mom was just putting on a show.

The first step of the grovelandwinherback arc has to be a clean break.” “Your dad definitely saw Bai Lin’s vicious face. He’ll get sick of her soon and kick her and her son out.

Then he’ll kneel and beg us to come back. Don’t worry.”

As we walked, my mom’s eyes suddenly lit up, and she pulled me into a rundown building across the street.She stood on the secondfloor windowsill, where wind leaked in from all directions, and excitedly shoved a wad of crumpled bills at me so I could buy a pair of binoculars.“I can’t wait to see your dad crying his eyes out at home and calling my name in his sleep.”I looked at my mom speechlessly.“They’re a happy family of three right now, living in a villa and driving luxury cars. Who knows how happy they are.”My mom frowned and slapped the top of my head hard.“You don’t get it. He’ll regret it soon enough, and then he’ll be chasing after us, begging us to come back.”She muttered under her breath, “That’s how all those grovelandwinherback stories are written.”Watching my mom stay completely lost in her fantasy of a grovelandwinherback arc, I shook my head. She was hopeless.I picked up the crumpled bills from the floor, pushed past my mom, and ran outside.My stomach had been growling the whole way, so I stopped at a steamed bun shop.I swallowed and was just about to take the bun I had bought when someone suddenly reached from behind and slapped me hard.The plump bun rolled several times on the ground and got covered in dust. I stared unblinkingly as it rolled to the roadside.Seeing that, Jason smirked and stomped the bun flat.“Yo, weren’t you acting all high and mighty just now? Can a rich heiress really swallow something like this?”A bunch of his bootlicking friends chimed in sarcastically. “What else can she do? She’s broke now, so she has to scavenge for scraps to fill her stomach.”I clenched my fists tightly, lowered my head, and held back the urge to hit someone.Jason mocked me for a long time. When I still didn’t react, he lost interest, got into the car, drove a circle around me, sprayed me with exhaust, and then sped off.I lifted my head and cursed at the car’s rear until I felt a lot better.Just as I was about to head to school, a sharp red flashed in front of my eyes. It was a stack of brandnew bills.I looked around, rushed over, and stepped on them with one foot. Then, when no one was paying attention, I carefully slipped them into my pocket.My heart calmed down a little too. This money would be enough for me and my mom to get by for a while.I jogged into the classroom, and everyone was pointing at me.“I never thought her mom would be that kind of person. She used to act so arrogant. I always said someone like that wasn’t fit to be a rich wife.”“I heard she almost drove Jason to suicide, and she still had the nerve to come to school.”I didn’t want to pay attention to those rumors. I reached for my books and was about to review my lessons.Jason was pushed over by his classmates until he stood in front of me, holding a few yellowed photos in his hand.They were photos of his mother and my dad when they were young, the two of them linked arm in arm, smiling brightly.The girl who had always disliked me clicked her tongue.“Looks like the real mistress is someone else. No wonder she ran off without taking anything. She was probably scared of getting beaten!”“Definitely. I’ve hated her for a long time. She had a little money and acted like she was above everyone else. In the end, wasn’t it all dirty money from her mom climbing up through mistress status?”I clenched my fists, bit my lip, and stared at Jason.“Your mom isn’t the mistress, so why am I older than you? I can prove I’m a legitimate child born in wedlock. Can you?”I pulled out my parents’ marriage certificate with the official seal on my phone.The classmates looked at him in confusion. Jason couldn’t think of a comeback for a moment, and his face went pale.His eyes darted around, and he pretended to fall, tearing my pocket open in one motion. A handful of red bills spilled onto the floor, the color glaringly bright.“So my money was stolen by you. Your mom steals men, and you steal money.”I gritted my teeth. “Who can prove this money was yours? I clearly picked it up.”Jason looked委屈 on the surface, but his eyes were full of malice. “What a coincidence, then. You just happened to pick up the sequential bills I specifically withdrew.”

My eyelid twitched. Damn it, he’d set a trap for me on purpose. When the others picked it up and looked, sure enough, they were all new bills in sequential order.

One of his friends pulled out a video. In it, I was sneaking the cash out of Jason’s backpack. Everyone crowded around me, accusing and insulting me.

Looking at Jason’s smug, villainous face, I was so angry I felt like my lungs were about to explode. I rushed over and punched him hard. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Just as he clenched his fist and was about to hit back, he caught sight of our homeroom teacher walking over in the corner of his eye.

He immediately turned into a drama queen, rolling on the ground in pain. “Don’t hit me, don’t hit me. Even if you stole my money, I won’t blame you. I’ll give you everything.

Just please don’t let you and your mom come back to steal my dad.” The moment our homeroom teacher came in, he saw me pinning Jason to the floor and beating him until he was black and blue.

He asked what happened with a dark face, and the classmates all rushed to tattle on me. “Not only did Emma steal Jason’s money, she also hit him.” “Emma, come with me to the office.” I followed behind the homeroom teacher in silence.

He was so angry his eyebrows shot up. “Stealing money, hitting people, and you’re this arrogant even at school.

If you were outside school, wouldn’t you be flying to the heavens?” I kept my head down and didn’t say anything. The teacher’s punch landed on cotton.

Furious, his face went red. “Fine.

I can’t handle you, but someone else can.” As soon as he finished speaking, my mom’s furious voice rang out. “Emma, have I ever let you go hungry or go naked?

You ran off to steal money and made me look like a joke.” My mom stormed in and kicked me hard. The pain made me hunch over.

My eyes filled with hurt. “Mom, I was framed.” But my mom wouldn’t listen to a word of my explanation. She grabbed my ear and dragged me outside. “Don’t embarrass me out here.

If your dad finds out you’ve fallen this low after leaving him, why would he ever come back?

Drop out and go work.” Even after the homeroom teacher tried to stop her, my mom still refused to change her mind, and she forced me to withdraw from school.

I looked for days and still couldn’t find a decent job. I was exhausted and starving. In the end, I gritted my teeth and found a dishwashing job in a restaurant kitchen.

After washing dishes all day, I was so tired I could barely stand up straight, and my hands were so soaked they looked like proofing dough buns.

That night, when I got back to the drafty old building, I had just sat down on a pile of cardboard I’d picked up.

My mom excitedly held out her hand to me. “Where’s today’s paycheck?

I need to get a new manicure so your dad can see how well we’re doing without him.” I closed my eyes, mentally exhausted. “Mom, we’re barely even eating. Stop living in a fantasy.

Dad is doing great without you. With a woman in his arms, why would he still be thinking about you? For me, can you please stop making trouble?” My mom was shaking with anger.

She slapped me hard. “What does a kid like you know? This is just how men are.

When he finally comes to his senses and begs me, I’ll make him kneel down and wash my feet.” In the end, even that tiny paycheck of mine was taken by my mom.

I lay on the hard concrete floor, cold and hungry, so I went out to wander around and hoped I could find another job to survive.

I never expected to run into Bai Lin driving her car onto the sidewalk and knocking my mom down. I hurried over to help my mom up and check her injuries.

Bai Lin stepped out of the car carrying the latest designer bag, wearing couture, with exquisite makeup and an elegant figure.

She waved a hand and threw a hundred dollars at us. “Wow, so you can’t afford anything and you’ve learned how to stage a scam?

How about this—take off one piece of clothing and I’ll pay you ten thousand. How does that sound?”

My mom got up and slapped her hard. “You worthless thing who relies on her looks to get by. What are you so smug about? When the groveling starts later, you’ll be the one crying.

A woman as moneyhungry as you will never be the heroine.” Bai Lin laughed in anger. “You’re crazy.

You’ve been watching too much TV, haven’t you?” She glanced at her and sized us up. “You can’t even afford food anymore, and you still can’t bear to part with those clothes.

At least you’ve got some backbone.” “But if you dare hit me, you’ll pay the price.” Before I could think it through, Bai Lin called the police.

When the police arrived and saw that my mom only had superficial injuries and Bai Lin had also been slapped, they thought a mutual apology and settlement would be enough.

But the moment they heard she was Mrs. Chen, they instantly changed their attitude and pressed us to apologize, or we’d be treated to fifteen days in detention.

Seeing that my mom was about to hit someone in front of the police again, I hurriedly held her back and bowed to apologize.

Bai Lin walked over smugly and slapped me several times. “At least you little brat know how to read the room.” I was stunned by the blows.

I subconsciously wanted to hit back, but the police beside us immediately restrained both me and my mom.

Bai Lin sneered as she patted my face and my mom’s face. “Tch, you’re more obedient than dogs.” I was so angry I spat at her, but Bai Lin dodged it.

She shot the police a flirtatious glance and swaggered into the glittering club. “I was worried you’d keep causing trouble before, but seeing you like this, I’m relieved.

Send those two women to the detention center and let them enjoy themselves there.” My mom cursed under her breath as she struggled free of the police and rushed over to grab Bai Lin.

A club employee reached out to stop her. “Ma’am, do you have a reservation? If not, please leave.

This place isn’t somewhere just any cat or dog can walk into.” My mom awkwardly touched her nose. “What are you so arrogant for?

In the past, you people had to beg me to come spend money here.” I dragged my tired body and held her back. “Mom, stop it.” My mom glared at me, her face dark. “Didn’t you see how arrogant they were?

They look down on people.

Back then, they’d be lining up at the door just to carry my bag.” I rolled my eyes at her. “The moment you refused to accept my dad’s assets, you lost the right to reminisce about the past.

You should be living well in the present instead.” My mom’s face went green, then white, then gradually calmed down again.

Excitedly, she took out her phone and showed it to me. “I recorded her acting all high and mighty just now. I’m going to send it to your dad.

He’ll definitely change his mind.” Looking at my mom, who was still completely out of touch, and the police taking out handcuffs to arrest us, I was so angry I couldn’t catch my breath and fainted on the spot.

When I opened my eyes, I was in the hospital. I had passed out for a full day from hunger and exhaustion. My mom was crying as she held my hand. “Emma, don’t die on me.

I sent the video to your dad. The groveling is about to start, and we’re about to live the good life.” Annoyed, I rolled over. “Go see a psychiatrist.

Don’t wake me up.” My mom forcibly turned me back over. “What nonsense are you spouting? You silly child. Why do you think Mom did so much?

It was all to pave the way for you.” I kept my eyes tightly shut. “Mom, is this the path you paved for me—cutting off the assets that were already mine?

Making me drop out and wash dishes? Getting me so tired I ended up in the hospital?” My mom was stunned by my words, then slapped me in a rage and kept nagging in my ear.

It hurt so much I kept crying, and I covered my ears because I didn’t want to listen, but my mom forcibly pulled my hand away. “Please don’t disturb the patient’s rest.” My attending physician pushed the door open and walked in, looking at me with sympathy.

My mom looked up, and her eyes lit up instantly. “Emma, see? I wasn’t wrong, was I? Step two of the grovelandwinherback arc—the second male lead arrives.

He has to be some powerful guy.” The attending physician adjusted his glasses and said in surprise, “Uh, I am indeed from the Sinclair family on the Upper East Side, but I’m not the second male lead you’re talking about.” My heart jumped hard.

The Sinclair family on the Upper East Side—the most influential family in the whole district.

The biggest headache for the current family head was that his only son was obsessed with medicine and had no interest in inheriting the massive fortune. My chance had come.

I bitterly picked up the glass of water on the bedside table and splashed it in my mom’s face, hoping to wake her up. “Mom, can you stop losing your mind?

This is the real world, not one of those domineeringCEO novels you keep reading. Can you wake up already?” Water dripped down my mom’s hair.

When she came to her senses, she grabbed things from the ward and threw them at me while cursing. A hard object smashed my scalp open, and blood ran down my forehead.

My heart was completely dead too.

I reached out, pulled out the IV bottle, and knelt in front of the attending physician. “I heard you have no children and no interest in inheriting the Sinclair family.

I’m willing to be your daughter and take over the Sinclair family for you.”