Chapter 3 Five Years Later

Five years later.

I watched my three children running toward me, feeling a surge of emotion well up inside me.

These three children were conceived with that stranger from five years ago. When I discovered I was pregnant, I was at the lowest point in my life and simply didn't have the energy to terminate the pregnancy.

Of course, there was more to it than that. I wanted family. I craved companionship. That was why I gave birth to triplets.

Two boys and one girl.

Behind me, Edna McCarthy carried various bags from the house to our car.

Looking at her, I felt overwhelming gratitude. Edna was once the Lynch family's housekeeper. Though the Lynch family had fallen, she remained loyal. The Lynch family had once helped her during her most difficult time. Now that the Lynch family had crumbled, she stayed by my side, helping me care for my children for five years without complaint.

Without Edna, I don't know how I would have survived these five years.

Honestly, Edna had become family to me a long time ago.

Five years ago, as I stared helplessly at my father's body, it was Edna who pulled me up and took me away from Lakeview.

Later, I learned that my father's company had gone bankrupt.

I had a vague suspicion that perhaps my father had hoped the business marriage would help him get through the crisis with August's father's assistance.

Because of me, that wedding became a laughingstock for everyone.

Under these blows, was my father unable to bear it, choosing suicide?

I didn't know. It was all just my speculation.

Edna brought me to her hometown, Bloomdale, to protect me.

Now my children had grown and needed to attend school. To give them the best education possible, I decided to return to Lakeview.

Five years ago, I vowed to reclaim everything that belonged to me. However, over these five years, just surviving had nearly crushed me.

I never imagined that I would learn to cook, wash clothes, chop wood, build fires, drive—all these things that I thought I'd never encounter in my life had become my reality all these years.

During these years, while working hard to raise the triplets, I also studied. I clearly understood that without my father and without wealth, seeking revenge would be nearly impossible.

But I still had to do it. Revenge had become one of my motivations for living.

Whenever I felt like giving up, I would think back to that dark moment five years ago, and find new determination.

Using my savings from these years, I bought a seven-seater car.

In the car, I asked my eldest son, "Ethan, the three of you have been running to that old hut every day lately. Are you hiding something there?"

Through the rearview mirror, I saw Ethan Lynch's eyes darting around before he answered with a grin, "No, Mom, we're just playing house there."

I shrugged, preparing to start the car.

A strange couple approached, asking about my destination and requesting to travel together.

I had lived in this small town for five years and knew all the locals, but I had no impression of these two.

Still, I didn't think much of it—after all, there were some tourist attractions here, and many visitors came each year.

I figured driving them would earn some money to offset the gas costs.

I tentatively suggested a hundred dollars, which they paid without hesitation.

This made me happy; our luck seemed good.

I started driving, and about an hour and a half later, the couple suddenly asked to get out.

I kindly reminded them not to forget their belongings.

The two hurried away, appearing anxious to distance themselves.

I noticed police officers checking vehicles not far away and had a strange thought.

Had these two committed some crime? Was that why they feared the police?

But I didn't dwell on it. After the police verified my information and allowed me through, I continued on my way.

However, about an hour after parting from them, an unfamiliar phone ringtone sounded in the car.

Edna said, "They left their phone in the car."

I took the phone and answered while driving.

"Hello, did you find my phone? It's mine. Who is this?"

"Hello, I'm the person who gave you a ride earlier. You must have left your phone when you got out."

"Can you bring it back to me? I can pay you for your trouble."

After dropping them off, I had continued driving and was now at least 50 miles away.

We had reached Lakeview, and going back would mean traveling at least a hundred miles, plus I was exhausted from driving.

But they offered to pay, which tempted me. However, as I was distracted by the call, I didn't notice and crashed straight into a Rolls-Royce ahead.

Upon seeing this, my face turned pale with regret.

I regretted picking up those two strangers for a little money.

I regretted even more talking on the phone while driving.

But it was too late now.

I could only get out of the car nervously to negotiate.

This was a limited-edition Rolls-Royce Phantom. Even if I just scratched the paint, it would cost me everything I had!

"I'm so sorry, it wasn't intentional. I'll be responsible for the repair costs. I apologize for the trouble."

I could only speak up despite my fear, knowing I probably couldn't pay it off in a lifetime.

At that moment, the Rolls-Royce window lowered, and the man in the passenger seat spoke, "Let it go. Our boss has urgent matters to attend to. That thing is missing; we can't waste time here."

The suited driver nodded, then the passenger looked at me and said, "Be more careful next time!"

With that, the car drove away.

I bowed in gratitude and apology, watching the vehicle leave.

I was thankful they didn't pursue the matter, otherwise I truly didn't know what I would have done.

But as the car was leaving, I caught a glimpse of a man sitting in the back seat, his upper body bare.

On his chest was a prominent, fierce scar.

He seemed to be looking at me?

A scar?

I froze, my heart nearly stopping.

It was him!

It had to be him!

The man who had slept with me five years ago.

"You—"

Before I could finish, the car had already driven away, and I could only watch it disappear.

I felt somewhat lost. At that moment, the strange phone rang again.

I looked at it, realizing this phone was the source of all my troubles.

"Why did you hang up?"

In my bad mood, I replied, "It's too far to bring it to you. I'll leave it at the police station. They can mail it to you later."

I hung up and drove to the police station.

After dealing with the phone issue, I drove with my children to an apartment building.

I rented a 600-square-foot apartment, paying six months' rent in advance.

Edna and I settled everything, and then I began arranging for the children's schooling and my job interviews.

Because of our financial situation, I could only temporarily place my children in an ordinary elementary school. Even so, one semester's fees were fifteen thousand dollars.

After deducting rent, tuition, and some living expenses, I only had about three thousand dollars left.

This made me anxious.

A week later, I drove my three children to school, then hurriedly went to Skyline Group.

During this week, I had sent out fifty resumes, interviewed with over thirty companies; a few rejected me, but for most, my application just fell into a black hole.

I had received only one successful interview call, and it was from the legendary Skyline Group.

I found it strange—those small companies wouldn't hire me, so why would Skyline Group, standing at the peak of the business empire, call me?

Still, I decided to check it out.