Chapter 317

Last night Christina went to Apartment 502 in a drunken fit.

Her neighborhood complained that she was too noisy, so the security guards had to carry her back

to her own apartment. It was really embarrassing.

When Christina woke up the next day, she still had a headache. She began to regret that she was

too impulsive yesterday. She rarely lost her temper like that. After thinking for a moment, Christina

got angry and hated Patrick even more.

"You'd better not come back, damn Patrick!" Christina yelled angrily at the ceiling early in the

morning.

She rubbed her temples and still felt a little sleepy. Christina leaned against the bed and frowned.

She vaguely remembered meeting a man last night when she was drinking in the park.

She didn't know him, but he seemed to know Patrick.

Who was that man?

Christina didn't want to think about it and lay down again, about to rest.

Everyone had different troubles.

Crystal's biggest trouble now was to find a job.

She participated in interviews with several companies this morning, but she felt that the opportunity

was very slim. Generally speaking, most companies wouldn't recruit new employees at the end of

the year.

It was getting colder and colder. Although the sun was shining at noon, the cold wind still made

people tremble.

Crystal had been waiting at the bus stop for half an hour. When she finally saw the bus she was

going to get on and wanted to rush over, other people got on before her. It was a pity that she was

too short and thin.

The bus carried enough passengers and left. Crystal was left behind, unfortunately. She looked at

the bus and felt so desperate.

The next bus would come half an hour later and her car was at a 4S Store to be repaired. Crystal

quickly calculated her savings and expenses. She helplessly realized that she couldn't afford to take

a taxi, so she decided to walk back.

Crystal walked straight down the road and looked around, hoping that she could notice some shops

seeking new employees.

In fact, Crystal also knew that she couldn't be a long-term nanny for the Stephenson family. It was

good to resign now. She wouldn't regret it. However, it was almost the new year, and big companies

rarely hired.

During the new year, some shops would recruit some part-time employees. Crystal was not afraid of

hardship or tiredness. She just wanted to find a short-term job that would make ends meet. Busy

work could kill time, and she did not have to think about the Stephenson family all day in a new

environment.

However, just as she was thinking and walking, someone suddenly poured her a large basin of cold

water.

Crystal was drenched, and her coat was dripping with water. She was so cold that she trembled and

could not react at all. She even had water on her eyelashes. What the hell? Crystal looked up.

She was so angry, but the one who suddenly attacked her was more ferocious. He cursed her first.

"Bitch, you want to ruin me? Let's see what you will suffer today!"

It was Simon, Crystal's stepbrother.

Crystal found out that it was Simon and became even angrier. She wiped the water off her face and

took a step back. "What are you talking about?" She shouted

"Are you mad at me? Have I been too nice to you?" Simon roared in a deep voice.

"You said you were going to give me money, but you haven't done that. Bitch, people come to my

family and threaten me to pay the debt. Your sister-in-law wants to divorce me now! It's your fault!"

"It's none of my business.” Crystal tried to hold back her anger and said, "I never promised to help

you."

Passers-by all stopped and looked at them, especially Crystal, who was drenched. When they heard

Simon's words, they gossiped and looked at them curiously.

Crystal felt so embarrassed and ashamed.

There was an alley behind her and someone suddenly dragged her in.

She turned around angrily and wanted to push that person, but as soon as she turned around, she

was slapped. It was a loud slap.

"You useless bitch! All you can do is to embarrass me!" A woman shouted with her thin voice. It was

Crystal's mother.

Simon and Mrs. Zhu stood in front of the alley. Crystal lowered her head as usual. Her eyes turned

red, but she did not refute her.

"They said we could pay 10-million-dollar interest first, and the rest of money can be paid later.”

"I don't have money."

Crystal gritted her teeth and said.

Hearing Crystal's words, Simon was furious and cursed, "Damn it, how dare you say that!" His thick

arm was tattooed with the dragon and tiger patterns. Simon grabbed Crystal's collar and was about

to slap her with his other hand.

Mrs. Zhu was afraid that Simon, a gangster, would hit Crystal hard, so she immediately stopped him,

"Simon, at least she's your sister. Don't fuss about her.”

Simon was not willing to let Crystal go, so Mrs. Zhu continued, "Don't worry about the money. Let

her go first. I'll make sure she gives you the money."

Simon pushed Crystal away in disgust. She stepped back and hit the rough wall behind her. Her fair

neck and jaw were scratched and bleeding.

Crystal lowered her head. Her face was burning with pain. She held back her tears and did not

speak.

Mrs. Zhu walked to Crystal and talked to her in a soft tone. "Crystal, we raised you. Your brother now

owes usury. You have to help him. Besides, when we get old, we still have to rely on him. If you have

money, you must give it to him. We can't be heartless and ungrateful.”

Crystal still lowered her head. The cold wind blew her pale face, making her look so weak and

desperate.

"Also, where did you go on Christmas day? I told you I arranged a blind date for you. I'm so

embarrassed that you didn't appear. Do you know?" Mrs. Zhu complained.

Then, her voice became firm and she said, "Fortunately, he didn't blame you. I've already told him

that you will go tomorrow."

“I won't go."

Crystal said lowly after a while.

Mrs. Zhu knew Crystal would refuse, so she didn't get too angry. She just continued to persuade her

daughter patiently.

"He has a house and a car. Besides, he is the manager of a big company. I mentioned to him that

you are jobless now, and he immediately agreed that if you marry him, you don't have to worry

about work. He would help you find a job, and you wouldn't be fired for no reason like before.

Besides, which company will want to hire people like you? You need to depend on your husband in

the end. You are lucky to marry him."

Crystal's eyes were red swollen. She couldn't help but argue, "Mom, he's in his fifties!"

"What's wrong with his age? Isn't it popular to marry an older man now? Besides, his children all live

abroad. He just wants to find a companion for the rest of his life. All you need to do is to take care

of him. How leisurely it is. After he dies, he will give you half of his assets.”

Mrs. Zhu kept lobbying, "Crystal, we are not wealthy. Tell me, who do you want to marry? How old

are you now? The younger a girl is, the more valuable she is. Who will want to marry you after one

or two years?"

"Don't learn from those vain women. You can't find a rich or handsome husband. Just look in the

mirror and check your appearance. You have to be self-aware. Don't daydream all day. You should

be satisfied."

Crystal couldn't help but shout, "Who says I'm not satisfied?" Her eyes were filled with tears, and she

stared stubbornly at her mother.

"Mom, even if I am not noble, I still have dignity. Don't think about exchanging me for glory. I won't

agree to it even if I die!”

She roared out all the grievances and suddenly pushed her mother away. She ran deep into the

alley quickly and desperately.

Simon immediately chased after her and cursed viciously at her back, "Bitch, how dare you run! I will

break your legs!”

Crystal was scared and she was getting more and more panic.

She was afraid that Simon would really break her legs. In the past, she was often beaten up until she

was bruised and swollen. No one stood up for her in her family. She didn't dare to speak freely or

refuse anyone since childhood. She was already very quiet and tolerant.

She ran for a long time and panted. Not until there were no more terrifying chasing steps behind

her did she stop.

Crystal didn't know where she was. So she sat casually on a stone step and sobbed. She hugged her

head with both hands and suddenly cried loudly.

"I'm really useless.”

"I've already worked hard. I have been so tired. Why do you do this to me? I just want a little

happiness.”

She liked Christina very much because Christina was the first person to help her. In fact, she secretly

envied Christina. Christina was very beautiful, confident, and straightforward. She would do

whatever she wanted. Unlike Christina, Crystal was useless and cowardly. She lowered her head all

day and did not dare to express her feeling even when she was angry because she was afraid of

offending others.

This was a dilapidated old community with few pedestrians, and the cold wind was especially strong,

blowing her hard from all directions.

The cold wind blew her wet clothes to half dry. Crystal sat down on the dusty stone steps and

lowered her head. She felt so dizzy. Suddenly, someone stood in front of her.

When Crystal realized what happened, she couldn't move her body at all.

Before she raised her head, she heard a familiar gentle voice. "Why are you here?"