I Sleep With the Storm

The day I was released from prison, Selena Lark stood by the roadside, sheltering under a black umbrella. Beside her was a little girl, whose eyes were uncannily like Nathan Slate. Her voice, dampened by the rain, trembled:

Alec.

Ive waited eight years for you.

I walked around her, my steps unwavering. The little girl suddenly rushed over and hugged my leg:

Mommy says youre my daddy.

My body stiffened. I looked down at the pendant clutched in her hand. It was the token of love Id given Selena. But Id smashed it the day our divorce was finalized.

Let go.

I pried her hands away, my voice icy. Selenas face instantly paled. She caught up to me, grabbing my wrist.

Alec, I know you hate me, but after you went in, I had an early birth with Sandy. I only found out she was Nathans child after a paternity test! She pleaded, Im sorry for what I did to you, but Sandy is innocent. If youre willing, she can take care of you in your old age. Ill talk to Nathan; he wouldnt dare disagree.

No need.

I pulled my hand free, my gaze calm. I dont need her, and I dont need you, who sent me to prison.

After all, someone had been waiting for me outside all these years. Id promised her wed get married the moment I was free.

Alec, how can you say that? I had my reasons, you

Does it still matter?

I interrupted her, my voice cold. Ignoring her complicated expression, I turned and walked away. But I hadnt expected the scene to be captured by a hidden reporter. The hashtag #AlecBriarDisownsDaughterUponReleaseFromPrison# broke a hundred million views within three hours.

In the candid photos: I pushed away the little girls hand, Selena frantically chasing me in the rain. She held a ruined high heel in one hand, her daughters hand in the other, clutching the umbrella pitifully between her shoulder and head.

The caption read:

[Abandoning his wife and daughter + corporate fraud. How does a man like this deserve to be released?]

The comment section exploded.

[Ms. Lark is so tragic! Scammed out of her money and feelings by Alec, raising her child alone, and now being treated like this!]

[That little girl is so pathetic, called 'Daddy' only to be harshly pushed away. Alec is utterly inhuman!]

[Wheres Mr. Slate? Wheres our Ms. Larks knight in shining armor? Why isnt he protecting her!]

Nathan Slate, now an industry titan. And my former mentee. He quickly posted an update, a photo of him holding Sandy, with the caption:

[Some people harbor dark intentions, some let bygones be bygones. Right and wrong have always been in the heart.]

Below it were comments overflowing with sympathy for Selena and curses hurled at me, calling me heartless.

I turned off my phone, walking alone into the rain. Just as I reached my rented room in the old part of town, there was a knock at the door. It was Mr. Thompson, my fathers old subordinate. He handed me a rusty USB drive:

Young master, the late chairman hid this in his safe. He said only you could see it.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh. Mr. Thompson, dont call me young master anymore. The Briar family is ruined. I paused, my grip tightening on the USB drive, knuckles white. My father how did he die?

Eight years ago, after I was imprisoned, my fathers company went bankrupt overnight. Even the news of his death by jumping from a building was told to me by a prison guard.

Mr. Thompsons eyes reddened: The chairman didnt commit suicide. He was pushed. The scene was staged to look like an accident.

I plugged the USB drive into my laptop. The moment the video loaded, a chill spread through my veins. In the footage, my father was bound and thrown to the ground. Nathan Slate held a blood-stained knife to his throat. Selena Lark stood nearby, her abdomen slightly swollen, her face filled with terror:

Dad, just hand over the documents. Im pregnant; Nathan cant get into trouble!

My father trembled with rage: Selena, you fool! Alec gave you everything, what is this Nathan Slate? Our Briar family showed him such kindness, and youre conspiring with him to harm us!

Dad, I had no choice! Selenas voice was tearful. Sandy cant be without a father. Alec is already in prison; if Nathan also falls, what will happen to us, mother and child? She continued, Just consider it for your granddaughter; hand over the items.

You you want my granddaughter to recognize her enemy as her father? Youre truly something! Nathan Slate sneered, pushing the blade deeper. Stop wasting time with him! Old man, dont be ungrateful. If you dont speak, Ill make your granddaughter watch you die!

The video abruptly cut off amid my fathers enraged roar. I slammed the laptop shut. The fury in my chest threatened to consume all reason.

My phone rang abruptly. An unknown number. But when I answered, it was the voice etched into my bones.

Alec, are you alright? Did you find a place to stay? Selena Larks voice carried a cautious probe. I know you hate me now, but I truly had difficulties back then.

Difficulties?

I curled my lip, memories flooding back. In my senior year of high school, Selena was cornered in an alley by thugs who tried to steal her living expenses. I rushed forward, taking three punches for her, and slipped her my last fifty dollars. She was saved by me, crying that she had no money, all her familys income went to support her younger brother. Even next semesters tuition was uncertain. Seeing a delicate girl sobbing heartbrokenly before me, my heart softened. I ended up giving her the money I had saved for my own tuition. I said it was fine, my family wasnt short on money, Id just ask my father for more. But behind her back, I worked one odd job after another. Classes during the day, part-time jobs at night. It took me three full months to save enough for new tuition.

Unfortunately, she eventually found out. That night, she couldnt bear to take the bus, choosing to walk to save a dollar. I was hit by a bottle from a customer at a night market stall. She rushed up to protect me. Though much smaller than me, she erupted with astonishing strength. She wielded the shattered half of the bottle, roaring:

Who dares bully Alec, Ill kill him! If youre not afraid of death, come on!

That night, two vulnerable souls huddled together, and our feelings for each other grew unconsciously.

After graduating from college, we squeezed into a rented apartment to start a business. She would hunch over the desk, drawing blueprints, while I stayed up all night writing code. When hungry, wed cook a bowl of instant noodles and share it. She held my face and said:

Alec, when we succeed, Ill marry you and be good to you my whole life.

The day our startup succeeded, I knelt on one knee and placed a custom ring on her finger: Selena Lark, for the rest of our lives, Ill protect you completely. She cried and nodded, promising never to betray me.

And Nathan Slate, he was my junior from my third year of college. His family was poor, his mother critically ill, his father had been in a truck accident, leaving the family deeply in debt. At that time, my father had already succeeded in his business, owning his first company. Upon learning of Nathans situation, my father generously covered all his mothers medical expenses and sponsored his education. Nathan, with red eyes, knelt in our living room, swearing:

Alec, Uncle, you are like my second parents. I will definitely repay you well in the future.

My father patted his shoulder and said: Work hard with Alec; our Briar family will not treat you unfairly. I hired him into the company, personally teaching him core technologies, and gave him important projects to gain experience. Even when his mother passed away, I stayed with him for three days and nights, covering his funeral expenses. My father treated him like his own son, inviting him home for meals on holidays and stuffing red envelopes with cash into his hand. He even used his connections to sort out his sisters enrollment issues. My father often said:

Nathan, you and Alec are like brothers. Youll grow the company together in the future, supporting each other.

But our heartfelt generosity was met with a stab in the back.

My new technology was at a critical stage. Nathan frequently stayed in the office until late at night, under the guise of asking for guidance. I answered all his questions without reservation, even giving him unencrypted code for reference. Selena also started coming home late more often. She always carried a strange perfume scent. Much later, I found out she wore perfume to cover up something sickening. But when I asked, she only said work was busy and told me not to overthink it. She also said Nathan was family and we should take good care of him.

It wasn't until the night before the tech launch that I caught her and Nathan kissing in the office. My core code was being used as a cushion, pressed under Selenas bodycon dress. Caught in the act, she showed no remorse.

Alec, Im sorry.

Nathan doesnt have as good a family background as you. The new technology can only achieve its maximum value with him.

I clenched my fist, my knuckles turning white. I slammed it on the desk, blood instantly staining the documents.

I ate instant noodles with you for three years, shielded you from countless difficulties, pulled you out of the mud, and now youre telling me youve changed your mind?

Alec, dont get agitated. Nathan wrapped his arm around Selenas waist, looking at me provocatively. Those were all your choices. A respectable Briar family heir wouldnt want to take back such trivial things, would he?

Seeing Selenas cautious, on-guard expression, I laughed until I was breathless, but tears welled up. This company, my technology, everything I have, who was it all for? Selena Lark, you said youd never betray me. Were your vows just meaningless words?

She turned her face away, her voice cold. Vows arent to be taken seriously, Alec. Lets part amicably.

I thought that nights betrayal was hell on earth. Until the car accident, when I was severely injured and fell into a coma. When I woke up, what awaited me wasnt comfort, but cold handcuffs. Selena Lark stood in the witness box, wearing a proper suit, her eyes cold:

I personally saw Alec tamper with data, steal company technology, and attempt to frame Nathan Slate. She even produced fabricated chat records. Every word, every sentence, nailed me to the pillar of shame. Watching her righteously denounce me, at that moment, I no longer had the strength to even defend myself.

Three months into my imprisonment, Selena came to see me. She wore an expensive dress, her makeup perfect. A stark contrast to my prison uniform. She pushed a divorce agreement across to me:

Alec, sign it. I had no choice.

Im pregnant, the child is yours. You cant let her be born with a father in prison. She added, Im begging you, let me go.

I looked at her, then suddenly laughed, a profound sorrow piercing my heart. You and he conspired to harm my parents, ruined my life, and now youre asking me to let you go? My voice grew increasingly frantic. If I let you go, who will let me go? Who will let the Briar family go?!

Her voice was pleading, yet her attitude was condescending. For the sake of all our years together, dont make things difficult for me. She pressed, Sign it. Its better for both of us.

I stared at the woman I once loved to my bones, my heart feeling as if countless needles were piercing it. My hand trembled as I picked up the pen and signed my name on the divorce agreement. Each stroke was like carving my own tombstone. From that day on, my youth, all my love and faith, came to an abrupt end.

When the news came that my father, unable to bear the blow, had jumped to his death, I screamed in rage in prison, only to be met with the cold stares of the guards. Meanwhile, theyone soared in success with the technology I developed, the other, pregnant with her enemys child, took over my fathers company. They reveled in everything that should have been mine.

Alec? Are you listening?

Selena Larks voice pulled me back to the present. Staring at the paused video on the screen, my voice was hoarse: So, Nathan Slate couldnt get into trouble, but I could? My parents could?

I didnt mean that! She quickly defended herself. I was pregnant with Sandy, desperate, and Nathan threatened me. If I didnt cooperate, hed kill my brother! I was forced!

I scoffed. Didnt your brother break ties with you long ago, with my help? Didnt your so-called leech family already get a million dollars to cut that connection? I continued, What, the moment Nathan Slate appeared, your relatives resurrected? And you, who always resented your family, suddenly found love for your brother again?

I laughed until tears streamed down my face. Selena Lark, youre truly disgusting.

Alec, I know youve suffered. Her voice was tearful. Ive been thinking of you all these years. How have you been since your release? Is your living situation okay? Do you have money? I can help you.

No need. I hung up directly and blocked her number. But she seemed unwilling to give up, switching to another number and calling again. Text messages arrived one after another.

Alec, I know you still care about me, otherwise you wouldnt hate me so much.

Sandy misses you terribly. She always asks where her daddy is. Shes always thought of you as her real father. I havent told Nathan.

I can make it up to you for what happened back then, if only youre willing to forgive me.

I looked at those texts, feeling nothing but profound irony. After blocking the seventh number, I thought Selena Lark would give up. Unexpectedly, she quieted down, but Nathan Slate began to flaunt their affection online.

He posted a set of family photos. Selena nestled in his arms, Sandy seated between them, all three smiling happily. The caption: Eight years of companionship, grateful for you. Selena, Sandy, having you is my greatest happiness.

Immediately afterward, he posted a video. He had previously taken Selena and Sandy on a vacation abroad. In the video, he personally placed a necklace around Selenas neck, making a heartfelt confession: Thanks to your trust and companionship back then, weve made it to today. For the rest of our lives, Ill protect you both with my life.

The hashtag #NathanSelenaEightYearsOfDeepLove# quickly shot to the top of trending topics. Netizens offered their blessings, and in passing, castigated me again.

[In comparison, Alec is even worse!]

[Ms. Lark and Mr. Slate are a match made in heaven. Alec is just a clown!]

[Poor Mr. Slate, so magnanimous after being framed by Alec. No wonder Ms. Lark chose him!]