Chapter 1 Freedom

The heavy prison gate slammed shut behind me with a loud thud. I shuddered at the sound before slowly returning to my senses from the haze of confusion.

The sky was thick with dark clouds, and the road was empty. Although my surroundings seemed desolate, it was still better than the day I was imprisoned. I greedily inhaled the heavy, damp air, savoring the taste of freedom I hadn't experienced in years.

Clutching the small cloth bag filled with a few of my clothes, I began walking toward the city center. Buses roared past me, but I could only rely on my legs since I didn't have a single penny on me.

The air grew heavier, and the sky seemed to promise an impending storm. Soon, a few raindrops splattered onto the dry ground, quickly followed by a downpour.

I had no umbrella, and there was no shelter on this suburban road. Thus, I could only crouch down by the side of the road and curl up my body as I held the bag close to my chest, trying to shield myself from the rain as much as possible.

Halfway through the downpour, a car drove past. Its headlights dazzled my eyes, forcing me to squint against the bright glare.

The car passed by me but soon slowly reversed. Then, the person inside rolled down the window and called out carefully, "Wendy?"

Hearing the voice, I lifted my head. When I saw the person, emotions stirred within me.

It was Lucas White. He was my ex-boyfriend, the man who had sent me to prison.

The atmosphere in the car was eerily quiet, with only the sounds of pouring rain and the steady hum of the air conditioning.

Lucas seemed irritated as he lit a cigarette and took a couple of impatient drags. When he heard me coughing, he immediately stubbed it out.

"Sorry. I forgot you can't stand the smell of smoke."

"It's fine," I said flatly.

Then, we fell silent again.

After a long pause, Lucas tried to start a conversation again. "I'm sorry I'm late. Something came up with Olivia."

"Heh." I let out a mocking laugh. "It's fine."

This time, Lucas said nothing more.

The summer rain left as quickly as it came. Soon, the downpour subsided, leaving only the earthy fragrance of damp soil in the air.

As the car drove into the city, I noticed the road was unfamiliar. I finally asked, "Where are you taking me?"

Hearing my words, Lucas was startled. Then, he said stiffly, "I found a place for you near the company. You can live there."

A sense of dread surged within me. Still, I suppressed my anger and forced myself to stay calm as I continued to ask, "What about the house my parents left me?"

Lucas didn't answer.

I repeated my question with a cold tone. "Where is the house my parents left me?"

Only then did Lucas reply, "I let Olivia stay there since she really likes the house."

I gritted my teeth and said, "Lucas, that house was left to me by my parents. How dare you let her live there?"

Lucas sighed and acted as if I were a child throwing a tantrum. "You've been gone for years, and the house had been empty all this time. I know you wouldn't want to rent it out, so I figured I might as well let Olivia live there instead of letting it sit there unused. She really likes the place."

I restrained the urge to strangle him. "Lucas, who do you think you are? You don't have the right to decide what to do with my parents' house!"

Lucas remained silent.

Soon, the car pulled into a residential complex, and Lucas stopped in front of an apartment building. He handed me a set of keys and said, "You'll be staying at Apartment 501. I've already moved your things in and paid the rent, so you don't have to worry about it. I won't be going with you since I still have some business in the company."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Am I supposed to thank you for your generosity, Lucas?"

Leaning against the car door, Lucas frowned and said, "Why must you act like this, Wendy? Besides, you're the one who was in the wrong in the first place. It's been five years. You've done your time, and it couldn't have been easy in there. Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"

At that moment, my breath hitched. I clenched my fists and said, "You are the one behind all of that, aren't you?"

Lucas didn't deny it.

My lips were bleeding from biting down too hard, and my entire body trembled with rage. At that moment, I wanted to tear him apart.

Seeing my reaction, Lucas merely sighed and said, "Just behave. As long as you don't cause any trouble, everything will be fine."

I snorted coldly and refused to answer.

Lucas didn't push further. He opened the car door and added, "I've left a position for you at the company. Get some rest and start working once you feel ready." He glanced at me from inside the car. "Now that you're out, just forget about the past."

With that, he sighed once more before driving off.

I watched his car disappear into the distance. My fingernails dug into my palms until they drew blood.

Forget? How could I ever forget?