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