The Sound of Snow Falling

The day my family went bankrupt, I dragged my father back from the rooftop. Turning around, I accepted Luciens proposal, but for the dowry, I demanded two million dollars. He was silent for three seconds, then chuckled, Deal.

Yet, barely half a year into our marriage, he brought his young mistress home. Before I could even react, he tossed our prenuptial agreement in my face.

Dont get confused about your place. Didnt you already sell yourself to me back then? That price, it should be enough to buy your subservience for a lifetime, shouldnt it?

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my flesh, but I was powerless to retort.

It wasnt until I had a threatened miscarriage, and the medical bill was short by exactly fourteen dollars, that I truly broke. Over the phone, his voice was dismissive: Didnt I already pay you what I owed before we got married? What, did you get addicted to being a gold-digger?

He then turned around and spent fourteen million dollars on a necklace for his new lover, a gift for her first night with him.

Facing the nurses urgent prompt, I forced a smile through my tears. Forget the medicine. Please schedule me for an abortion.

A marriage bought for two million dollars, it was time for it to end.

No sooner had the words left my lips than a bank transfer notification popped up on my phone. Not a cent more, not a cent lessexactly fourteen dollars. The transfer note contained just a few simple words: Buy your medicine. Dont disgrace the Reed name.

I tugged at my lips, a bitter, lifeless smile. Fourteen dollars was enough to cover that specific medical bill, but not enough for the abortion procedure. I knew Lucien wouldnt give me any more money. I had no choice but to swallow my pride and reach out to old friends, hoping to borrow three hundred and seventeen dollars. With that, combined with the money I had and Luciens fourteen dollars, it would just cover the cost of a standard abortion.

But when the messages were sent, replies quickly came in.

Oh, is the great Ms. Evans short on cash? Did two million dollars run out that fast?

Tsk, tsk, if you hadnt haggled like that back then and broken Luciens heart, you wouldnt be shamelessly begging for a few hundred dollars now!

A torrent of mocking messages flooded my screen. But they no longer stung my heart as they once did. In a way, I had become numb, accustomed to it. Accustomed to Lucien treating our marriage as a transaction, and me as an item hed purchased for two million. Accustomed to his friends sneers and sarcastic remarks, finding new ways to call me a gold-digger. Accustomed to the embarrassment of an empty wallet, repeatedly trampling my dignity to beg Lucien for charity.

In truth, at first, I thought I had hands and feet, I could surely cover my normal expenses. I might even save two million to repay the money Id borrowed from Lucien under the guise of a dowry. But Lucien had cut off every path for me to earn money.

Ive already paid two million to buy out the rest of your life. From now on, your time, your freedom, are mine.

He used the tactic of forcing me to beg him for money to vent his resentment towards me. He hated me for treating our love as a bargaining chip for money, believing I had deceived him for three years, only to reveal my true colors for cash. I had explained many times, but he never had the patience to listen.

Whats the point of so many excuses? hed say. You asked for the money. Weve become this way, and you only have yourself to blame.

My phone suddenly chimed. Someone had transferred me three hundred and seventy-one dollars, saying it was a reward for how satisfying it was to insult me.

I wiped the coldness from my face, smiled at the nurse, and said, I can pay now. Please arrange the procedure for me as soon as possible.

But I didnt have enough money for a pain pump. I could only lie wide awake on the cold operating table, feeling cold sweat slowly soak my hair and back. I could even clearly feel the instruments entering my body, scraping repeatedly inside. As the tearing pain hit, I thought of Lucien again.

He once held me in his arms, gently stroking my head. After we get married, we can have a child. Boy or girl, Ill love you both with my life.

But when I actually became pregnant, he said: Alright, how much money are you going to demand for the child this time?

No more, Lucien. I want nothing more. Money, love, and youI want none of it.

After an unbearable amount of time, the surgery finally ended. As the instruments withdrew, the surrounding sounds gradually returned. The nurse unfastened the restraints on my legs and helped me to an observation bed for half an hour. I stared blankly at the dark sky outside the window, tears falling one by one.

Suddenly, a solitary firework shot up, bursting into bloom in the sky. Then, a city-wide display of brilliant fireworks followed. I watched the night sky, bright as day, in a daze. I overheard the envious whispers of a few young nurses:

Did you hear? CEO Reed specially arranged this for his sweetheart! His girlfriend is so lucky!

Oh, what girlfriend? CEO Reed has a wife! But I heard shes a gold-digger. Shes doing worse than his household staff now!

On the way home, I dragged my aching lower body, each step a struggle. An empty taxi pulled up in front of me, rolling down its window to ask where I was going. I waved my hand with difficulty. No need. I couldnt afford the fare.

So, step by step, I walked towards the house, ten miles away. Along the way, many people were reminiscing and marveling at tonights grand firework display.

It was so beautiful! If someone could set off fireworks like that for me, my life would be complete, boohoohoo!

What are you dreaming about? Do you think everyone is CEO Reeds girlfriend? Look at that woman, her face is so pale, and no one cares for her either!

I instinctively looked up at the two young girls whispering. They instantly blushed, quickly saying they didnt mean anything, and asked if I needed help. I shook my head with a smile.

What I wanted to say was, I once had fireworks like that too. Once, I had someone who cared.

That was the day Lucien proposed to me. He knelt before me, holding a ring in one hand, his eyes red. Clara, youre the most special girl Ive ever met. Im willing to spend my life cherishing and loving you.

Will you marry me?

Behind him, fireworks more dazzling than todays erupted. But at that moment, I had just pulled my despairing father back from the rooftop. Creditors were still besieging my house, threatening my mother and seven-year-old sister if I didnt pay them back immediately. I had no choice.

So I could only say to him, Lucien, can you lend me two million dollars?

His expression instantly turned cold, the deep affection in his eyes slowly receding. He slowly stood up, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips.

Everyone says youre with me to climb the social ladder. At first, I didnt believe it.

Clara Evans, youre truly patient. You waited until I proposed to you, until it was public knowledge, to show your true colors. He scoffed, raising his hand to stop the fireworks. He pulled a check from his pocket and threw it at my face. Fine, youre quite cheap, too.

From that day on, our relationship soured. No matter how much I explained, I couldnt shed the label of gold-digger. With Luciens tacit approval, I became the most pathetic joke in the entire citys elite circles. Even his housekeeper earned thirty thousand dollars a month, while I had to beg him for even three dollars.

I kept enduring, hoping that one day his anger would subside, and he would listen to my explanation. Until the first time he brought another woman home, I completely lost it. But he merely looked at me indifferently, asking what right I had to be angry with him. He said he had already paid to buy our marriage, and even if he brought a hundred women home, it was my own doing. In that moment, my heart was shredded, yet I couldnt utter a single word in my own defense.

Against the bitter wind of early winter, I walked for six hours, finally arriving home at one AM. Pushing open the front door, the house was filled with comfortable warmth. Just as I was about to use my last bit of strength to walk to the bedroom, I heard a girls sweet voice from the sofa. Sisters back! Wheres my candy apple?

I looked at the delicate girl in Luciens arms, startled, and instinctively asked, What candy apple?

Stop playing dumb! Didnt I message you to buy a candy apple for Maya when you came back? Lucien sneered, sizing me up. I spent so much money, and you cant even fulfill such a small request?

My phone had already died. I bit my lip, forcing out a reply. Buy your own.

Perhaps my cold attitude angered Lucien. He sprang up from the sofa, looking at me testily. What, you want money again? Didnt I just give you fourteen dollars? Thats enough for a candy apple, isnt it?

Go buy it right now! If you cant get one, dont come back!

I looked at him, incredulous. In the past six months, this wasnt the first time Lucien had spoken to me in such a tone. I thought I was already numb. But a dull ache spread through my chest, even more devastating than the cramping in my abdomen. Outside, it was only a few degrees, and even through the window, I could hear the howling wind. It was past one AM. Where was I supposed to buy a candy apple?

Seeing me frozen in place, Lucien scoffed. What, still not moving? You want more money? Lucien mockingly pulled a red bill from his wallet and threw it on the floor without looking. Is this enough? He paused, sizing me up as if searching for something. You asked me for money tonight, saying you needed medicine. Wheres the medicine?

Clara Evans, youre truly unscrupulous for money now. Are you lying even about fourteen dollars?

Medicine? The baby was gone, what use was medicine? Before I could speak, Lucien waved over a bodyguard, who roughly pushed me out the door. Through the door, his voice sounded even colder. If you cant buy a candy apple, you can stay outside all night.

Then, I heard a light, coquettish female voice, followed by intimate, suggestive sounds. I instinctively wanted to get away from that sound, but I didnt even have the strength to walk. I could only lean against the door and slowly squat down, sitting on the steps outside. The biting cold wind seeped in through my collar, thoroughly chilling my already lifeless heart.

In a daze, I heard the door open behind me. The next second, Luciens anxious curse: Clara Evans, are you crazy?! Cant you find somewhere warm?!

Whats the point of playing the victim?!

Then, I seemed to fall into a warm embrace. I thought it must be a hallucination. Lucien hated me so much now, he wouldnt worry about me. I dont know how long I slept, but when I opened my eyes, I saw Luciens ashen face.

Finally stopped pretending? Its just a candy apple. Do you have to put on a show for me?

What, do you want the world to know you were pregnant and almost froze to death at the Reeds doorstep, so you can demand more money? I opened my mouth, wanting to retort. But my throat was dry and painfully scratchy.

Lucien looked away, no longer at me, and shouted out the door, Wheres the family doctor? Why isnt he here yet?!

Dont let her die in my house!

Tears silently streamed from the corners of my eyes. Lucien, what exactly do you want?

Youre the one who hated me so much you wished me dead, and now youre the one whos afraid Ill die. I closed my eyes, my voice hoarse and unpleasant: Lucien, lets get a divorce.

He spun around, as if hed heard a joke. Divorce? Fine. You give me back two million, and Ill agree to a divorce. He seemed to remember something suddenly, paused, then scoffed. I know what it is. You think you can extort more money now that youre pregnant with my child, dont you?

Tell me, how much do you want this time? Two million? Or five million?

I couldnt hold back the injustice any longer, blurting out, Our baby is already gone

However, before I could finish, Mayas exaggerated retching suddenly came from outside the door. Just then, the family doctor rushed in. After a series of examinations, the doctor hesitated before speaking: Mr. Reed, Ms. Maya Sterling appears to be pregnant.

Boom! Something seemed to collapse completely at that moment.