She Regretted It After I Stopped Funding Her

I had supported Lara for seven years, and loved her for just as long. She finally agreed to be with me. But later, I discovered her heart belonged to the childhood friend she grew up with. She had always hated me, believing I used my money to humiliate and demean her. For ten years of our marriage, she remained utterly cold, eventually moving out to live with her childhood friend. I, alone in an empty house, wasted away and died of sorrow.

Then, I was reborn back to the day I first decided to help her. Laras childhood friend stood defiantly in front of her, exclaiming to me:

Do you think being rich makes you so special? We dont want your money!

I simply smiled.

Youre overthinking it.

Id rather burn this money than use it to help you.

Ian, you just flash your cash around, dont you? You think money makes you important? Well, we dont want it!

Luke, standing defiantly in front of Lara, brought me back to reality. My gaze met hers.

Twenty-year-old Lara still had a hint of youthful innocence on her face, dressed in a faded linen dress. Yet, she was incredibly beautiful; tall and slender, with porcelain skin and eyes that shone like stars in the sky. She somehow made the humble dress look elegant. I instinctively took a step back, leaning against a nearby table to steady myself.

How long had it been since I last saw Lara like this?

Ten years?

Or twenty?

It had been too long, I couldn't even remember. After all, that was a lifetime ago.

Lara seemed surprised by my retreat. Luke continued his endless rant, but his words faded into a muffled hum. Everything unfolding before me was an exact replay of my past life. Back then, she refused my help, yet I insisted on giving it.

I had liked Lara for seven years, and I knew her family was struggling. Her father was a gambling addict who'd always come home drunk after losing all their money, verbally and physically abusing her and her mother. Her mother, unable to bear the torment, eventually took her own life. Lara had spent her childhood scavenging, working odd jobs, and relying on scholarships to stay in school.

From a privileged background, our paths should never have crossed. But her excellent grades earned her a scholarship to our private high school, which valued its academic reputation.

Our circle at school was filled with young heirs and heiresses, rich kids who barely bothered with their studies, just drifting through each day, waiting to inherit their family businesses after getting some superficial degree overseas. Lara was different.

She was focused, diligently studying in class and heading straight to work after school. Despite her poverty, she never acted ashamed, always carrying herself with an unyielding dignity. She was utterly unique. Like a beautiful, resilient wild orchid blooming in a greenhouse, standing apart from the pampered, cloying fragrances around her.

That's when I fell for her.

I loved her, and I couldn't stand to see her suffer. Back then, young and foolish, I'd often push what I thought was best onto her, with an arrogant sense of entitlement. She worked nights and couldn't make breakfast, so I'd bring her packed lunches from home.

Lara, our chef makes the best Wagyu beef! You have to try it!

And foie gras, my dad had it specially flown in, its amazing.

As an only child, I had always lived a life of ease, waited on hand and foot. Everyone around me spoiled me rotten, leaving my mind empty of real understanding. All I wanted was to give her the best. I completely overlooked whether she actually wanted any of it.

Other students would jeer, Ian, what does she know about foie gras, ha-ha-ha! She probably cant even afford chicken liver!

Id snap back, What the hell is it to you all?!

I didnt see Laras fingers clench tightly around the lunchbox, her knuckles white. After a pause, she handed the box back to me, her voice flat.

Thanks for the thought, but no thanks.

Oh, dont be like that, Lara, a girl nudged her, winking. If you get together with Ian, youll never have to work again. Go on, snag him!

Yeah, then your dad can gamble as much as he wants, and wont be after your tuition money anymore, ha-ha-ha.

Everyone burst into laughter.

I slammed my hand on the table and shot to my feet.

Everyone, shut up!

The laughter died down. But Lara suddenly stood up and walked out. I chased after her, trying to shove the lunchbox back into her hands. Lara, dont listen to their crap. Eat your food, or you wont have the energy to work tonight.

She stopped, turning sharply.

I froze.

Her eyes were filled with unadulterated hatred and disgust.

Memories fade quickly for teenagers. I soon forgot that incident and continued to pursue Lara. For her, I even started studying hard, getting into the same university as her. My father was ecstatic, doubling my allowance.

At university, Lara became even busier. Her scholarship application fell through, and the poverty aid slot was snatched by a classmate with connections. At her worst, she could only afford a single bun from the cafeteria each day, filling up on free soup. I couldnt bear it, so I offered to help her financially, but she refused. She worked three jobs a day, eventually collapsing from exhaustion on the street.

Thats when I lost my patience, dragging her and insisting she take the money.

Lara, why wont you take my money? What are you trying to achieve by working yourself to death?!

I went to her dean and forcibly paid her tuition. By then, I had matured a little, understanding the need to respect her pride. So, Id always pull her to eat with me, claiming I couldnt finish my food and asking her to share. When we went out, Id pretend to have scored free tickets, bringing her along.

Slowly, my relationship with Lara seemed to grow closer.

I continued to support her until she graduated, and to make her happy, I even helped her childhood friend, Luke.

After graduation, Lara started her own business. Her academic record was stellar; she and a friend had developed a stock-trading software model while in college, but they hit dead ends everywhere, unable to secure any investment. Seeing her so down, I simply asked my father to invest in her.

I remember Lara was very quiet that night. As I held her, almost drifting off to sleep, she suddenly spoke.

Ian, why are you doing this?

At the time, I thought she was going to say, why are you being so good to me, so I complacently replied:

Because I love you.

Lara, do you love me? I held her hand. Ive been so good to you, if you still dont want to be with me, youre completely heartless!

Back then, I was only joking. But Lara didn't say anything, and I assumed she was agreeing. Thats how we got together.

Two years later, Lara and I got married. The wedding was a quick affair. Lara said she didnt like too many people, so we only invited a few close relatives and friends. All of them were mine. From her side, there was only her.

After the wedding, Lara remained distant. I was so incredibly foolish then; I thought it was just her nature. Id pursued her for so many years, surely if I kept being good to her, even a heart of stone would eventually warm. But I never imagined her heart was truly unyielding.

Because her heart, from beginning to end, belonged to someone else.

In the third year of our marriage, our conflicts became irreconcilable. I couldn't tolerate her day-in, day-out coldness anymore. I accused her of being in love with her childhood friend. She just looked at me with cold eyes, saying nothing. When I pushed her too far, she would simply storm out.

Her silent treatment drove me to become increasingly obsessive and frantic. When she returned, Id interrogate her, curse at her. During our most intense arguments, Id blurt out hurtful things:

I wish Id known you were such an ungrateful wretch! I might as well have adopted a dog; at least it would wag its tail at me!

For a fleeting moment, anger flashed across her face, then she quickly regained her composure. After that day, she stopped coming home altogether.

Later, I discovered she had already been with her childhood friend. They had built a new life together outside our home, and even

She was pregnant with his child.

All those years, she lived a complete and happy life with him. While I guarded an empty house alone, my heart full of love curdling into a poisonous, hateful brew.

Laras business flourished, and she became wealthier than my own father. There was nothing I could use to get back at her. The only thing I had left was our marriage.

I gambled my own life to spite her. I refused to divorce her, no matter how much money she offered. She had ruined me, and I wouldnt let her off easy. The man she loved would forever be a clandestine affair. Her child with him would always be a bastard, born in the shadows.

Lara didn't dare sue me for divorce. She feared that a public marital dispute would impact her companys stock value, and her board of directors would never allow it.

And so, she and I dragged out this charade for ten years.

For ten years, no matter how hysterical, how frantic I became, eventually even resorting to pleading she never softened. She never once came back to see me.

In this daily despair, I grew thinner and thinner, falling gravely ill.

Finally, I withered away.

Ian?

I snapped back to reality, looking at Lara beside me.

A profound hatred surged through every fiber of my being. My heart felt as if it would burst, and for a moment, I almost couldn't stand.

After I died, she finally got what she wanted, didnt she? Perhaps, the way she treated me was always meant to torment me to death faster. I remembered my medication being suddenly swapped before I died. When I asked the butler, he merely said it was a milder kind. I didnt suspect a thing. Yet, shortly after taking this new medicine, my health rapidly deteriorated until I couldn't even sit up. Not long after, I died.

It was her, wasnt it? Who else could it be? Hating me so much, wanting me dead so quickly. She wanted to marry Luke. How utterly venomous.

I looked at Lara, forcefully suppressing the urge to rush forward and kill her. I hated her so much! I believed that aside from being a naive idiot when I was younger and not sensitive enough to her pride, I had done nothing to wrong Lara. I hadn't even forced her into marriage. Id even asked if she was willing, and if not, I could wait. Yet, she hated me so profoundly.

Luke, just like in the past, was yelling at me, "Ian, do you think money makes you important? How dare you insult people like this!"

"Take your filthy money and get lost!"

I looked at him. Luke was actually quite handsome, though his worn-out tracksuit made him look a bit shabby. He was staring at me, his expression agitated. This was the man Lara loved, the one she would kill for.

It was the same in my past life. Lara and I were talking calmly; I was telling her that if she felt uncomfortable, she could pay me back for her tuition later, treating it as a loan. But then Luke suddenly accused me of throwing money around, saying I was insulting Lara. It was only through later arguments with Lara that I slowly understood.

She had always felt I was using money to demean and humiliate her.

Suddenly, I found it all so laughable. Seeing Lukes protective stance, I curled my lips into a smile.

Youre overthinking it.

Id rather burn this money than use it to help you.

Laras face blanched.

Lukes expression went blank for a moment.

What did you say?

I smiled.

Dont you think me helping you is insulting? As classmates, how could I insult you like that? In that case, forget it. You two can just keep working odd jobs.

Lukes family situation was similar to Laras; his father owed debts and ran off with money, and his mother worked herself sick to put him through school, now confined to bed. Perhaps because of their similar circumstances, he and Lara had always been close, always hovering around her. He always liked to tag along whenever Lara and I went out. Sometimes Id object, and hed question me in front of Lara.

Ian, are you looking down on me because Im poor? Dont you want to be friends with me?

Before I could reply, Lara would link her arm through his and say in a flat voice, If you think were not good enough, then dont go. Id have no choice but to bring him along.

At dinner, hed stare at the lobster on the plate and say, Do you eat such fancy food every day?

We really arent from the same world.

There were several times when Lara and I were having a good conversation, and hed suddenly interject with a remark like that. Laras smile would vanish, and shed stop talking to me. At first, I thought he was just thoughtless. It wasnt until one time when Lara and I were walking together, and I turned around to say something to him, that I caught his gaze. Lukes face was expressionless, his eyes filled with a murky malevolence and resentment. When he saw me turn, he was startled, quickly forcing a smile. But all I felt was a chill down my spine.

Thats when it dawned on me.

He hated me.

Or rather, he resented me.

Actually, when Lara and I first got married, there was a brief period of harmony. Her company was on track then, having secured its first big contract. After the celebration dinner, she drunkenly hugged me, laughing and saying, Honey, what do you like? Your wife will buy it for you.

I felt for her, knowing how hard she worked for her money, and held her, utterly content.

No need, your company is just starting, its where the money should go. Your thoughtfulness is enough for me.

But she wouldnt let go, clinging to my neck, whining playfully, A wifes money is for her husband! Ill buy you a car, what kind do you want?! Even as she fell asleep, she was still mumbling.

Ian, I have money now.

You dont have to compromise for me or suffer with me anymore.

Sure enough, the next day she bought me a car. But before I could even say anything, Luke showed up. He looked at the car keys in my hand, and his expression suddenly turned odd. Then, he snatched the keys from me, smiling at Lara.

Oh, I remember Ian already had this car when he was in college. One of his friends gave it to him, right?

He even complained it was too cheap to drive.

Honestly, Id long forgotten if that was true. But Laras expression immediately soured. Then she took the car keys and left, her face unreadable. After that, she grew cold towards me again. And the next time I saw that car, Luke was driving it. He curved his lips into a smile, feigning indifference.

Ian, Lara gave me this car. Youre not angry, are you?

Of course, I refused, demanding he give the car back to me. A flicker of resentment crossed his face, and he loudly asked, You have so many cars already, why do you have to fight me for this one?!

You have so many, and I only have this one!

Lara, her face dark, pulled me away.

Let go! If you dont care about it, why fight him for it? Or is it that you just like to fight for things?!

I was young and proud back then, and I couldn't stand that kind of humiliation. We had a huge fight and parted ways angrily. Only later did I understand. Luke wasnt talking about the car at all.

He was clearly talking about Lara. He felt I had stolen her, which was why he hated me so much.

Ian, Lara, regaining her composure, frantically grabbed my arm.

Wait!

I turned back, but seeing her expression, I froze for a moment. Her eyes were a swirling vortex of emotions, as if something was about to break free and erupt! Even her voice trembled slightly.

No, this isnt right!

Ian, why arent you helping me anymore? Dont you like me very much?!

Her frantic outburst startled me. What was wrong with Lara? Had she gone crazy? Or was she upset about my tone with Luke? But in my past life, at this point, I hadn't even won her over yet, and she was always utterly cold and unsmiling towards me. Was she having some kind of episode? I tried to shake her off.

Let go!

She clung on even tighter, her eyes starting to redden.

Ian, dont you like me anymore?

Dont you want me anymore?!

Now I was truly unnerved. When had Lara ever said something like that to me? I stared, wide-eyed.

Lara, what the hell is wrong with you? Did you take the wrong meds or are you possessed?!

But she said nothing, just stared at me unblinkingly, her expression fanatically obsessive. My temper flared. How dare she stare at me like that after everything she did to me in my past life?!

Didnt you think me helping you was humiliating? Lara, or are you just shamelessly waiting for me to beg you, taking advantage of my kindness?!

Lukes mouth hung open, as if he hadnt expected me to speak to Lara like that. Indeed, in my past life, at this very moment, I was at my most infatuated with her. Every word I spoke was carefully chosen, fearing I might wound her pride. But now, I didn't care anymore!

Lara, what kind of person are you?! I sneered.

Heartless, ungrateful. I truly wondered how I could have fallen for someone like that.

Lara, however, wasnt angry. The color simply drained from her face, leaving it pale. I roughly pushed her hand away and walked off without looking back.