He Gave Me Fake Gold, Then Begged Me to Come Back

My mother was in a car accident and needed emergency care, so I took the jar of gold beans Ernest Tanner had given me and went to trade them in for cash. But when they tested them with a high-temperature gun, the gold beans burst apart into little kernels of popcorn. Frozen in disbelief, I contacted Ernest again and again. Please, transfer me five hundred thousand to save my mother! I'll hand over the project I'm working on to Irene! Every message sank like a stone. I frantically flagged a cab and rushed to his company. The moment I got downstairs, the police stopped me. "Miss Swanson, you're suspected of stealing gold worth one million." "Come with us." My eyes went blank. I hadn't even processed it yet. Irene pulled out one gold-bean purchase certificate after another. "These gold beans were all bought in my name. You stole them and cashed them out on your own—tell that to the police!" Tears running down my face, I helplessly dialed Ernest's number. Thirty-eight calls, every one of them cut off after nine rings. As my trembling finger pressed the thirty-ninth call, my phone suddenly received the notice of my mother's death. "Geraldine Swanson, have you made up your mind?" The call connected, and Ernest's icy voice came through. I pressed a hand to my slightly rounded belly and stepped into the police car. "I have." "Let's break up." 1 After seven days locked up at the police station, Ernest finally came to bail me out. "The project you were handling already missed the signing deadline, so I handed it straight over to Irene." "Geraldine Swanson, this is what you get for defying me!" Ernest's brows knotted as he finished, furious. I didn't take in a single word. All I could hear was a ringing in my ears. My mother's body had been kept at the hospital for seven days. All I wanted now was to lay her to rest. "Geraldine Swanson!" "Did you hear me?!" "Starting today, you're demoted!" "Hand every project you have over to Irene, immediately!" Ernest grabbed my wrist, the anger in his voice impossible to hold back. Pain shot through my wrist, but I didn't question him, didn't make a scene. "Ernest, I need to make a trip to the hospital morgue." "The morgue?" "Geraldine Swanson, what excuse are you trying to pull this time?!" "Is your mother really dead?!" "Irene told me everything—you cashed out that whole jar of gold beans!" "If you're a gold digger, then just be one. Why make up some car-accident excuse?" "Aren't you afraid you'll really curse your mother to death?" When Ernest mentioned the gold beans, a mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth. "Geraldine Swanson, do you know what you've thrown away?" "My family had already agreed to let us marry. That jar of gold beans was the final test." "And the result is obvious—you're not worthy at all!" Every word a jab. Ernest's eyes were filled with disappointment and rage. He yanked the ring off my finger. "This was our token of love. I'd sooner throw it to a beggar than give it back to you!" I'd worn that ring for seven years; it had long since become part of my body. Ernest wrenched it off, and the pain felt like a finger snapping. "Ernest, did you ever really love me...?" I murmured the question aloud. I thought back over the ten years I'd spent chasing after him. From a small town to Metropolis City. From a fresh young girl to someone worn out in body and soul. To pursue him, I gave up nearly everything. His family didn't approve of us being together. So I set out to prove I was good enough for him. I fought through one hurdle after another to get into the company. He said we couldn't make our relationship public. So I kept it hidden for five years, never daring to let a single word slip. I poured my heart and soul into clawing my way up at that company. That was how I earned my position and my big projects. And now he wanted me to hand it all to Irene, to grovel and please her. All because Irene could put in a good word for me in front of his parents. "Geraldine Swanson, what did you say?" Ernest frowned and leaned down, trying to catch what I was saying. The next second, Irene's voice suddenly appeared. "Ernest, I can't keep it from your parents any longer." "Once they found out Geraldine had been taken to the police station, they absolutely refused to let you two marry..." Brows drawn in distress, Irene hadn't finished speaking. I cut her off, my voice hoarse. "Ernest and I have already broken up."

"Break up?!" Ernest smiled, but his eyes held down his fury. "Geraldine Swanson, do you really want to break up with me?" "Then I'll grant your wish!" With a low growl, Ernest pulled Irene into the car and drove off. I stood where I was, stunned for a few seconds. The ring I once treasured fell into the muddy water. I didn't pick it up again. I took out my phone and called the hospital. "Hello, may I come pick up a body today?" "Whose body?" "Gloria Fox." My lips trembled as I forced out my mother's name. My throat felt like it had been sealed shut with strong glue, and I couldn't get out another word. "Gloria Fox?" "Wasn't her body already claimed?" The staff member's voice came through the phone. I froze, then anxiously asked who had claimed it. "The person who claimed her was named Irene Delgado." Irene? My body shaking, I hurriedly dialed Irene's number. But every call was hung up on me. Just as my finger was about to press Ernest's number. Irene suddenly posted something on her social media. A vlog of a day experiencing medical life with my sister! When the video started playing, I saw a body lying face down. "Today, my sister is going to give me an important lesson for medical students: cadaver dissection!" "Ugh! Her back is so gross!" "There's actually such a huge area of scarring!" "I feel so sorry for those medical students, having to face such stomach-turning things every day!" I watched quietly, and suddenly my mind seemed to explode. Only blankness remained. This body was my mother. When I was little, my grandmother favored sons over daughters. To force my mother to have another son, she boiled a pot of scalding water. Meaning to scald me to death. My mother sensed something was wrong and rushed back, using her back to block the boiling water my grandmother threw. Her back spasmed with pain, but she divorced without a moment's hesitation and took me with her. Every time I brought up the scars on her back, she gently comforted me. "It was our Gerry who gave Mom the courage to leave the abyss." "These aren't scars. They're the medal my Gerry awarded her mom." And now, my mother. Taken away by Irene for dissection without permission, her body mocked by countless people. The comment section was filled with disgusting remarks. Like so many sharp knives, stabbing me into a bloody pulp. Stabbing me until the pain was unbearable. My body twitched slightly beyond my control, and a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. "Metropolis City Medical College..." "Mom, I'm coming to take you home..." Muttering to myself, my face covered in tears, I took a taxi to the medical college's address. The moment I got out, Ernest called. "Geraldine Swanson, my parents have agreed to give you another chance." "Bring your mother to the old house for dinner tonight." "Ernest, I won't—" Before I could finish, Irene's giggling came from the other end of the line. "Ernest, I want spicy barbecue ribs tonight!" "The spicier the better!" The call was cut off in a hurry. I reached up and wiped away the tears covering my face, then blocked and deleted Ernest for good. I asked my way to the dissection room, my fingers trembling as I pushed the door open. I saw my mother, completely dissected. The body had long lost any resemblance to what it had been. Only skin, muscle, and bone were left on display. Looking at the scars I knew so well on her back, the string in my mind snapped. Like a madwoman, I grabbed something hard and smashed the glass open. "Mom, I'm taking you home."

I held my mother's dissected body tightly in my arms. I walked out of the medical college step by step. On the street, countless people pointed their phones at me and took photos. When the taxi driver saw the state I was in, he was too scared to take the fare. In the dead of night, I held my mother like this and walked slowly toward the crematorium. A small urn held my once tall, towering mother inside. Numbly, I returned to the rented apartment. The moment I opened the door, I was met with a cold demand. "Geraldine Swanson, why didn't you come tonight?!" "How dare you block and delete me?!" I carefully set the urn down in the entryway and turned on the living room light. Ernest Tanner sat on the sofa, his face frighteningly cold. He looked up, his eyes blazing with anger. But when he saw the state I was in, he froze. "Geraldine Swanson, what's going on with you?" "Why is there blood?" I looked down at the dried bloodstains on my body and didn't say a word. As I turned to walk into the bathroom, Ernest suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist. The familiar scent drifted around my neck. Ernest's voice was hoarse as he took out the ring he had thrown away that morning. He forced it onto my finger. "Geraldine Swanson, do you regret being with me?" Before I could speak. He gritted his teeth, his whole body tense. "Regret is useless!" "For the rest of your life, you have to be with me!" Spitting out each word, Ernest loosened his grip on my hand a little. "There's a small problem with the project Irene's handling. Go and take responsibility for it." "She promised me, as long as you go to the company tomorrow and admit the mistake." "She'll find a way to get us married." "Her parents died saving my mom and dad. If she asks, my parents will definitely agree." When Ernest finished, his voice carried a note of excitement. "Haven't you always wanted to go to the Maldives?" "After we get married, we'll go there for our honeymoon..." "Ernest, we've broken up." I calmly cut him off. I took the ring off and threw it in the trash can. "Don't go picking up something you've already thrown away." "I don't want it." The hand around my waist suddenly tightened. Ernest's disbelieving voice had barely left his mouth. His phone rang. "Ernest, I was in the shower when the power suddenly went out!" "Can you come keep me company?" Ernest lowered his voice to soothe Irene. The arm holding me slowly loosened, bit by bit. "Geraldine Swanson, I'll pretend I never heard what you said tonight." "There's no way we're breaking up!" "I've already arranged everything at the company for tomorrow. You just have to cooperate." After grinding out those words through his teeth, Ernest bent down and picked the ring out of the trash can. He carefully set it on the table, then turned and left. The next day, I arrived at the company on time. As soon as I reached my familiar desk, a colleague rushed over to me anxiously. "Team Lead Swanson, why did you come in?!" "You need to leave, quick!" "Headquarters sent someone specifically to investigate the major accident on the project!" "The company lost a hundred million on this project!" "Hurry, get out through the emergency exit!" Pale-faced, my colleague pulled me toward the door. Then Irene suddenly walked over, pointed at me, and shouted. "It's her!" "Geraldine Swanson was in charge of this project!" "The company lost a hundred million because of her mistake. Just go straight to her!" She said it loudly, every word ringing out. Irene looked utterly smug and unafraid. I watched quietly, and just as I was about to speak. Ernest stepped out of his private elevator. "Mr. Tanner, the project's losses are too great. The board has sent us to take away the person responsible." "Is she Geraldine Swanson?" The man in charge raised his hand and pointed at me coldly. Ernest's brow furrowed, his eyes churning with emotion as he looked at me. A few seconds later, he spoke. "It's her."

Several uniformed security guards walked up to me. A familiar scene, playing out all over again. "Hurry up and take her away!" "I really don't know how someone like that ever wormed her way into our company?!" "Maybe she used her looks and slept her way up?" "You should look into this properly!" "Who knows, you might find out how many balding old men she's slept with!" Irene urged them on anxiously from the side, spreading rumors with a gloating look on her face. I didn't shout, didn't make a scene. I just quietly asked one question. "When is the final signing date for the project?" The room went silent for several seconds. A flicker of panic crossed Irene's eyes. She shouted, trying to cover up the panic inside with her voice. "What signing date?!" "Everyone in the company knows you've been in charge of this project the whole time!" I didn't spare Irene a single glance. Instead, I looked straight at Ernest. "Mr. Tanner, you're pinning a hundred-million loss directly on me." "Asking to see the project contract isn't too much, is it?" I said it clearly, word by word. Ernest lowered his brow, irritably loosening his tie. "Geraldine, don't argue with me!" "I said you signed this project, so you signed it!" "Cooperate with the headquarters investigation and try for lenient treatment!" That familiar anger crept into his tone. Ernest simply waved his hand for them to take me away. I stood where I was and took a USB drive out of my bag. "There's no need to go to headquarters for review. I have direct evidence right here." I shook the USB drive in my hand, just after I'd finished speaking to the people from headquarters. Then Ernest's utterly cold voice rang out. "Geraldine, are you arguing with me again?!" "I told you, this project is your responsibility, and you have to bear it!" "You think one USB drive can change anything?" Spitting out those icy words, Ernest walked over to my side. He lowered his voice. "Geraldine, can't you just go along with me for once?" "Can't you behave?" His voice was full of helplessness. Ernest reached out, trying to take the USB drive from my hand. Sensing that I was gripping it tightly and wouldn't let go. His eyes held back a surge of anger. "Fine!" "You wanted to see the project contract, didn't you?" "I'll show you!" The contract was flung out, my name written clearly on it in black and white. Identical to my own handwriting. "Miss Swanson, please don't waste our time!" "Cooperate with our investigation!" The person from headquarters frowned and glanced down at their watch. My eyes were fixed on that familiar handwriting on the contract. My heart clenched beyond my control. The cramps in my abdomen came in wave after wave. The pain was so bad I could barely stay on my feet. I reached out to steady myself on the table, and had just caught my breath. When the USB drive in my hand was suddenly snatched away. "Hmph! Evidence?!" "The project contract is signed in black and white, and Ernest testified, so what evidence are you still going on about?!" "How ridiculous!" Irene laughed and tossed the USB drive into the trash can. The security guards forced my arms down. My slightly rounded belly struck the sharp edge of the table. A searing pain hit, and everything went black. My body pitched forward. "Geraldine!" Ernest reached out and caught me. His brow furrowed, and he murmured softly to comfort me. "It's just a formality. I already had a word with headquarters." "You don't need to be so scared..." But before he could finish. His eyes suddenly froze. "Geraldine, why are you bleeding?" I looked down at the blood spreading rapidly at my feet. My face was pale and awful. "Ernest, congratulations—our child has gone off to be reborn." Ernest's expression froze all at once. His eyes went completely blank. His lips trembled, and he was just about to speak. When the elevator doors opened. Several police officers stepped out. Holding the gold-bean popcorn I'd had melted down at the gold shop a few days ago.