I Funded Her for Ten Years—Now She'll Pay

The charity student I'd been funding got into a college near my house, and now she wanted to move in a few days early to get used to the area.

In my last life, I said yes without a second thought. I bought her everything she'd need to set up, and on top of that I put together a full set of Apple gear as a reward.

But the moment she saw it, her face went dark.

"Auntie, I always thought your family were just ordinary working people. I was actually grateful to you."

"I had no idea you were this rich. Giving me only this much seems a little unfair, don't you think?"

"Two thousand a month for living expenses is way too little. It should go up to at least twenty thousand."

I turned her down flat, and told her if it wasn't enough, she was welcome to find someone else to fund her.

At that, she apologized right away, said she was only joking.

I thought she'd learned her lesson.

I never imagined that very night, while I was working late, she'd give my three-year-old daughter a heavy dose of sleeping pills and then climb into my husband's bed.

By the time I found out, my daughter was already dead from the overdose.

I was beside myself with rage, and while I was fighting with her, she shoved me off the balcony. I died on the spot.

And with the baby in her belly, she not only won my husband's forgiveness, she took my place and walked away with the entire family fortune.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the charity student called.

Faced with her request to come stay at my house early, my expression stayed calm.

"Sorry, but it's not convenient for my family to host outsiders."

"And since you're an adult now, from here on you can sort out your own tuition and living expenses."

"..."

Before I could hang up, my husband Connor Dickerson reached over and snatched the phone from my hand, softening his voice for the person on the other end.

"Mamie Fox, sweetie, your auntie's had a rough day at work and she's in a bad mood. Don't take it to heart."

"It's just staying a few days early, that's all. I promise you, I'll come pick you up at the station tomorrow."

Then he turned to talk me down.

"Babe, what is wrong with you?"

"You've funded her for ten years already. What's a few more through college? If you're going to do a good thing, finish it."

"The poor kid's coming all this way for school. She doesn't know a soul here. What's the harm in staying a few days?"

I grabbed the phone back and looked at him coldly.

"When I say no, I mean no."

"It's my money. I'll give it to whoever I want, and if I don't want to, then nobody's getting a single cent out of me."

Mamie's voice came through at once, thick with tears.

"Auntie, Uncle, please stop fighting."

"This is all my fault. I didn't think it through. I never meant to intrude on your family's life."

"I just won't come, okay? Auntie, please don't be angry with Uncle."

"Please, please don't cut off my tuition and living expenses. I really want to go to college."

I let out a cold laugh.

"Save the act. I'm not changing my mind on this."

And I hung up.

At that, Connor's face darkened in an instant.

"Did you take something today? Since when are you this cold-blooded?"

"Mamie's such a good, sensible girl. Why are you pushing her like this?"

I stared at Connor's face, and all I could see was that ugly look he wore in my last life, up on the witness stand, lying under oath.

Mamie was the one who'd killed me and my daughter.

Yet to protect the child in Mamie's belly, he twisted it all around and painted me as a madwoman, a depressive who poisoned her own daughter and then jumped to her death.

A hatred I couldn't hold down came surging up from somewhere deep.

I pointed at the front door.

"Connor, I'm putting it plainly today."

"If you dare contact Mamie again, we're getting a divorce."

Connor froze. Clearly he hadn't expected me to take it that far.

He sighed and reached over to pull me toward him.

Babe, don't be angry.

You funded Mamie all these years, so I figured you actually liked the kid.

I had no idea you couldn't stand her.

Fine, fine, fine, I promise I won't contact her again. Just stop throwing around the word divorce every time.

I dodged his hand, not even bothering to look at him.

Connor cleared his throat twice.

So, uh, babe, the company just put me on a business trip for a few days.

You rest up at home, and I'll bring you back a present.

I thought that without Mamie Fox around to stir things up, this family could still hold together, at least barely.

After all, it would be too pitiful for our daughter to end up in a broken home so young.

I didn't expect that the next afternoon, when I got off work and went to pick her up from her enrichment class,

the teacher came hurrying over the moment I reached the door.

Nina's mom, what are you doing here?

Nina already got picked up by her dad and a young woman a little while ago.

A bad feeling surged through me, and I quickly called Connor.

The phone rang a long time before he picked up.

Connor! Where did you take our daughter?!

Connor's cheerful voice came through the line.

Off work already, babe? I've already brought our daughter home.

There's a surprise waiting for you here too, so hurry back!

I didn't care about any surprise. I hit the gas and drove home as fast as I could.

I pushed open the door, and there was Mamie Fox, sitting on the couch.

A glass of milk in her hand, lifting it to my daughter's lips.

In my last life, Mamie Fox waited until I wasn't there.

She mixed a heavy dose of sleeping pill powder into the milk and coaxed my three-year-old daughter into drinking it down.

By the time I found her, my daughter's body had long gone cold.

Terror flooded through me in an instant.

I rushed over like a madwoman and swung my hand, knocking the glass clean out of Mamie Fox's grip.

Get away from my daughter!

A sharp crack.

The glass shattered to pieces on the floor, white milk splattering everywhere.

My daughter burst out wailing in fright.

I pulled her tight against me, my whole body shaking.

Mamie Fox let out a startled cry, staring at the milk all over the floor, her eyes reddening as if she'd been wronged.

Connor heard the commotion and came running out of the kitchen.

He saw the mess everywhere and our crying daughter, and roared at me.

What is wrong with you?!

I kept my eyes locked on Mamie Fox and demanded of Connor through gritted teeth,

I'm asking you, why is she in my house?!

Connor quickly pulled Mamie Fox behind him, shielding her.

My trip got canceled, and Mamie had just gotten to the station, so I swung by and picked her up on the way.

I looked at him coldly.

Connor, did everything I said just go in one ear and out the other?

What did I tell you yesterday? You contact her again, and we're getting divorced!

The moment Connor heard that, his temper flared too.

You are completely unreasonable!

I went out of my way to bring Mamie here just so you could see what an outstanding kid she is!

Spend a few more days around her and you'll definitely change your mind!

I was trying to do the right thing so your ten years of support wouldn't go down the drain, and what do you do? You not only refuse to understand me, you threaten me with divorce!

Mamie Fox peeked out from behind Connor, tears dripping down one after another.

Auntie, don't blame Uncle. It's all my fault.

You've both been so good to me. I don't want you fighting because of me.

I'll go right now, so I'm out of your sight.

She made a show of going for her luggage, then stopped at the door and turned back to wipe her tears.

As for tuition and living expenses, Auntie, don't worry, I'll figure something out myself.

Even ifeven if I have to sell my body at a nightclub, I'll come up with the tuition somehow.

Connor grabbed Mamie Fox by the arm, his face full of heartache.

Mamie, don't say such foolish things!

Don't you worry. Even if she won't fund you, Uncle will put you through college!

Then he turned and glared at me viciously.

Look at what you've done!

I actually thought you were a kind woman. I never imagined your heart could be this cruel!

You're trying to push a young girl straight into the fire!

I was so furious I actually laughed.

Whether she'd sold her body was none of my business. I wasn't the one who'd forced her into it.

Seeing that I said nothing, Connor let out a sigh.

"You've been working too much overtime lately. You're in a bad mood, so you're just venting. I won't hold it against you."

"I'm going to take Mamie out for a nice meal first, help her calm her nerves."

"You stay home and cool off! Stop throwing the word divorce around every five minutes."

"Our daughter's only three. If she loses her father this young, the other kids at preschool will make fun of her!"

With that, he grabbed Mamie's hand and headed for the door.

Before they left, Mamie glanced back at me.

There was no mistaking it. A trace of triumph and challenge in her eyes.

Not long after, my phone buzzed.

A message from Connor.

"Since you don't want Mamie staying at the house, I'll take her to a hotel nearby for now."

"I'll take her around these next few days, help her clear her head."

"You just stay home and think hard about what you've done."

Staring at the screen, I let out a cold laugh.

Reflect?

I really did have something to reflect on.

On how blind I'd been back then, marrying a piece of trash who took every chance to side with an outsider over his own family.

Connor's heart had turned completely.

If that was how it was, then there was nothing left to say.

I called my lawyer straightaway.

"Lee, draft me a divorce agreement. As fast as you can."

Then I called a private investigator I knew.

"I need you to look into two people. My husband, Connor Dickerson, and a college girl named Mamie Fox."

For the next few days Connor didn't contact me, and I was glad for the quiet.

But every time I looked at my daughter, I couldn't shake the worry.

This house wasn't safe anymore.

Who knew what other filthy trick Mamie might pull.

So I quickly packed a few of Nina's clothes and her daily things.

I drove her straight to my parents' house.

I'd barely arrived when two photos came through from Mamie.

The first showed a luxury king bed in a five-star hotel, with the full set of Apple products laid out neatly on it.

Scattered beside them were several Louis Vuitton bags and a few designer dresses with the tags still on.

The second was two hands overlapping, matching Cartier couple's rings on their ring fingers.

No need to guess whose hands those were. Connor's and Mamie's.

Looking at the two photos, I laughed coldly.

By now Mamie probably really believed she'd landed herself a rich man.

But she had no idea.

The mansion and the luxury cars my family enjoyed were all thanks to the years I'd killed myself working overtime to reach vice president.

Connor, meanwhile, had no drive at all. After all these years, he was still stuck in the same easy little administrative post.

His monthly take-home pay, after taxes and benefits, came to a pitiful six thousand.

And every cent of it went to his mother.

Worried he'd lose face when he was out entertaining clients, I'd gone and gotten him a supplementary card on my account.

I never imagined he'd take the money I'd worked so hard to earn and play the big spender in front of another woman.

I called the bank right then and froze the card.

My mother heard the commotion and came out of the room. Seeing the look on my face, she hurried over.

"What's the matter? You look awful. Did Connor do something to you?"

I didn't want the two of them worrying, so I drew a deep breath and pushed the feeling down.

"It's nothing, Mom. Just a little trouble at the company."

"I'll probably be swamped these next few days, so I'm counting on you and Dad to look after Nina."

My father came out of the study and took his granddaughter.

"Don't worry about a thing, just go do what you need to. We've got Nina."

"But listen, sweetheart. If anyone ever wrongs you, don't you dare bottle it up."

"Your mom and I are always on your side. Worst case, you come home, and I'll take care of you."

Hearing my father say that, my eyes stung.

In my last life, after I died.

My parents couldn't bear the blow of burying their own child, and before long they both passed away, one after the other.

This time, I would never let that tragedy happen again.

Leaving my parents' place, I drove back to my own neighborhood.

I'd barely parked and started for the building when I ran straight into Connor and Mamie.

Connor's face was livid. The moment he saw me, he charged over.

"Ruby, what the hell is this supposed to mean?!"

"What gives you the right to freeze my card?!"

I looked at him, cold.

"Let me make one thing clear. That's my card."

"When I freeze my own card, do I need to report it to you?"

Connor's face went red with anger, and for a long moment he couldn't come up with a single word to throw back at me.

Mamie saw it and stepped in at once, hooking her arm through his.

"What do you mean, your card?"

"Ruby, don't think I don't know. Connor told me everything. The reason you get to live the life you live is because he's been out there breaking his back all these years."

"I can't believe you'd be this ungrateful, using the fact that you're married to him to get your hands on Connor's money!"

She turned to Connor, her face full of heartache.

"Connor, a woman like this isn't worth you."

"All she'll ever do is drag you down. Just divorce her already!"

Inside, I laughed to myself. A few days ago she was calling him "uncle," and now it was "Connor" this and "Connor" that with every breath.

It was the middle of the evening rush, and the neighborhood was full of people coming and going.

Hearing the argument, they started stopping and gathering around.

The second Mamie saw the crowd, her eyes went red and she pointed at me.

"Everyone, please, be the judge of this."

"She promised she'd fund me all the way through college."

"But right before the semester started, she turned around and said if I wanted to keep the money, I'd have to do what she told me."

"To go... to go keep company with those rich old men she introduced!"

"If Connor hadn't stepped in and offered to fund me for nothing, I might have..."

And with that Mamie covered her mouth and began to weep softly.

The way the neighbors looked at me changed in an instant.

"Oh, would you believe it. She always looks so polished, and behind everyone's back she's running a pimp operation like this!"

"You really can't know a person by their face. She always seemed so easygoing. How can she be this vicious inside?"

"Exactly. She has a daughter of her own. How could she be so heartless to somebody else's innocent girl!"

Listening to the muttering all around, Connor stepped up and, with a faintly smug tone, said in a low voice:

"Ruby, you hear that? The public sees clearly."

"I'm warning you. Unfreeze that card for me right now, and I can still smooth things over for you. Don't let this blow up into something you can't fix."

"And stop giving Mamie a hard time, or I really will think about divorcing you!"

I looked at Connor and laughed out loud.

"Fine."

"Let's divorce. But you leave with nothing."

Connor froze.

Mamie suddenly shrieked.

"Ruby, in your dreams!"

"You're nothing but a lazy parasite. All the money is Connor's!"

"If anyone's leaving empty-handed, it should be you!"

I looked at her and gave a light scoff.

"Mamie, I know you're after a rich meal ticket."

"But before you sank your hooks into my husband, did it not occur to you to run a background check?"

"Take a good look at who's actually earning the money in this house!"