Chapter 10

Before I had a chance to react, my mother-in-law swung open the door and dumped a basin of cold, dirty water over me. Automatically, I shut my eyes, feeling the grimy liquid flow down my face.

Once I wiped away the filth and opened my eyes, I spotted my mother-in-law standing in the doorway, hands on her hips, sneering at me. "You little tramp, you can stay out here tonight and ponder your actions!"

With that, she forcefully slammed the door shut.

I remained on the ground for a while, the water slowly dripping from my head. The water was cold, the concrete beneath me was cold, but nothing compared to the chill in my heart.

I kicked off the one shoe on my foot, wiped away my tears, and rose from the ground, walking barefoot out of the neighborhood.

I had considered finding a hotel to stay in, but in the middle of the night, without my phone or any money, it was impossible to go anywhere.

To make matters even more absurd, I realized that in this familiar city, I had no one to turn