hapter 7
Lucas Henderson could no longer hide his emotions.
In front of everyone, he broke down in tears.
“Believe me, this wasn’t my intention.”
“As the heir to the Henderson family, I have a lot of pressure on me.”
“I was careless, but I never meant to hurt you.”
“Rozella Mogane, don’t you remember?”
“The day you first came to the Mogane family, when Olivia Mogane pushed you into the pool, it was me who saved you.”
“I liked you from that moment. How could I bear to hurt you?”
As Lucas Henderson spoke, I was swept back to those painful memories.
When I first arrived at the Mogane family, full of hope,
my parents looked at me with disgust.
“Stay away. You’re filthy and stinky. You don’t even look like a young lady.”
I was pale and skinny from the abuse I’d suffered at the hands of the nanny, and I wore only that one faded set of clothes.
Instead of feeling sorry for me, they just felt embarrassed by me, barely even sparing me a glance.
Olivia Mogane pretended to be kind and said she’d take me to take a bath.
Then, she turned and shoved me into the pool, knowing full well I couldn’t swim.
It was Lucas Henderson, passing by, who pulled me out.
Back then, he also promised he’d protect me for the rest of my life.
Who would’ve thought that, in the end, all the pain I endured came from him?
He knew how much I craved my family’s approval.
14:07
Be Your Own Spring
4.4%
Yet, he forged evidence, sent me to prison, and let Olivia Mogane take my spot for the special admission to Harvard.
He knew I was terrified of water.
But still, he watched as my parents tortured me, all while planning his wedding to Olivia Mogane, the one he truly cared about.
That once–pitiful love we shared,
was long gone, buried beneath all the pain and betrayal.
Now, Lucas Henderson was nothing more than a stranger to me.
Someone not worth wasting another ounce of energy on.
I had security escort him out.
But to my surprise, he leaked my whereabouts.
Soon enough, my mom showed up.
As soon as she saw me, she started crying uncontrollably, her makeup running down her face in streaks.
“Rozella, I was wrong. Please, can you forgive me?”
“I promise you, all of Mogane family’s assets will be yours.”
“As for Olivia Mogane, that little bitch, I won’t let her get away with it.”
“Everything she’s done to you, I’ll make sure she pays a thousand times over!”
The woman standing before me, acting all concerned,
was nothing like the one who slapped me by the poolside for Olivia Mogane’s sake.
I was too busy with my research and experiments to engage in this back–and–forth.
I threw all the bags and packages she brought me straight out the door.
My mom clutched her chest dramatically, crying even harder.
“I know you’re angry with me, but you have to give me a chance to make it right.”
“I only have you, my daughter. You only have me, your mom.”
14:08
Be Your Own Spring
4.6%
Chapter 7
“The bond between mother and daughter is something you can’t just break…”
Hearing that, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
“You gave birth to me, but have you ever truly cared for me?”
When I came back to the Mogane family, they didn’t give me a penny.
They bought Olivia Mogane a million–dollar crown, dozens of expensive bags, and dresses.
I just wanted a few thousand for tuition, but all I got was a barrage of insults.
They called me a debt collector, greedy, saying I couldn’t even compare to half of Olivia Mogane.
If it wasn’t for scholarships and help from my teachers, I wouldn’t have made it this far.
Seeing her still trying to defend herself, I pointed at the broken cake on the floor.
“The first time I even knew what a cake tasted like was at the research lab.”
“When I was little, I’d always envy the other kids who got to celebrate their birthdays with their parents.”
“But back then, I couldn’t even get enough food to eat.”
“I didn’t dare wish for anything more.”
“Then, when I found out I was a Mogane, I stayed up all night, thinking that finally, I could get the love
and care I longed for–like those other kids with their parents.”
“But how did you treat me?”
Every year, the Mogane family went all out for Olivia Mogane’s birthday.
They bought her expensive gifts and invited her favorite celebrities.
But I wasn’t allowed anywhere near it, always excluded because they thought I’d embarrass them.
That eight–tier cake?
Even if it was thrown away or smashed, I was never allowed a bite.
Now you
show
up
with a little cake, thinking you can make up for everything?
It’s laughable.
My mom, realizing she was in the wrong, couldn’t find the words.
14.09
Be Your Own Spring
4.8%
Chapter 7
She left, tears still streaming down her face.
After that, it seemed like my mom and Lucas Henderson started some strange competition.
One day, my mom had a huge eight–tier cake delivered.
The next day, Lucas Henderson sent a truckload of roses.
The food at the lab improved noticeably.
They even started lighting off fireworks around the place.
Both of them were trying to buy my forgiveness, trying to get me to overlook everything they had done to
- me.
I couldn’t take it anymore and turned to my professor for help.
The professor furrowed his brows for a moment, then smiled at me.
“Leave it to me. I’ll make sure this issue is dealt with once and for all.”
