First Encounter

I broke with my privileged family and was manipulated by my ex-boyfriend for four years.

He used my money to pamper his goddess and support his family. He wished to secretly marry his goddess while keeping me as his mistress.

After the third abortion for him, I finally woke up from the nightmare and decided to leave him.

My ex-boyfriend was Edwin Kent, and we met and fell in love at school.

When I started college, I arrived a month later than the others due to family reasons.

By the time I arrived at school, my classmates were already familiar with each other. I felt like an outsider among already-formed friendships.

During lunch that day, as I stood in line at the cafeteria, a couple brazenly cut in front of me. They were laughing and talking, acting very naturally.

I reminded them twice to go to the back of the line, but they ignored me.

Just as I was about to let it go, Edwin walked up from behind me and firmly told the guy, "Go to the back of the line."

Initially, the two didn't take him seriously. But when he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular arms, the girl didn't hesitate and pulled the guy away.

Blushing with gratitude, I thanked him. He waved his hand and said, "It's nothing. You look too innocent, an easy target for bullies."

What he said was true. I looked a couple of years younger than my peers.

Not to mention my timid personality. Thus, my family had reservations about me attending college so far from home.

After getting my meal, I sought solace in a secluded corner, planning to eat alone as usual. Much to my surprise, Edwin approached with a plate of food and asked me.

"Do you mind if I sit here?"

I shook my head and continued eating with my head down.

He sat down and started introducing himself while eating.

That was how I learned his name was Edwin Kent, and we were in the same grade. His family lived in the same state as our college, and he even shared details about his family and where he lived.

Finally, when I finished eating, he asked me, "I've done all the talking. What's your name?"

"Harper Moulton."

"That's a lovely name. It suits you well." His gaze was direct and filled with passion.

Blushing, I thanked him again. At that moment, a ray of sunlight warmed my heart.

As a child, I never lacked love and care. My parents and sister showered me with affection.

For the same reason, during my first month at college, I felt a deep sense of loneliness and longing for the comfort of familiar faces.

Edwin's presence provided a timely balm for my anxieties.

From then on, he began appearing by my side more frequently, and we gradually became acquainted.

Living in a dormitory was something I had never experienced before, and it wasn't always smooth sailing with so many people under one roof.

Whenever conflicts arose between my roommates and me, I would confide in Edwin. In these moments, he would readily point out their flaws and staunchly support me.

As a result, I started to believe that everything I did was right and that my roommates were intentionally targeting me as a latecomer.

Over time, my relationship with everyone around me became more and more tense.

Since I insisted on my rules, I didn't even have friends in the class. Therefore, Edwin's kindness made me cherish him even more.

Soon, the two of us became a couple.

But one day, I coincidentally spotted Edwin walking alongside the guy who had cut in line at the cafeteria, sharing laughter and conversation.

Feeling a sense of unease, I brought it up with Edwin. But he casually mentioned, "We became friends after that incident."

Now that he said so, I didn't think much of it. It wasn't until much later that the guy who cut in line told me that Edwin was the one who had orchestrated the whole "knight in shining armor" act.

He had it all scheduled the very first day I arrived.

But by then, Edwin's grip on me was unbreakable, and I had no strength left to resist.

The Swan's Death

Once we officially became a couple, Edwin took great care of me. He would spend time with me every day, cook meals, and heat water. We would even video chat before sleeping, and he insisted on watching me fall asleep before ending the call.

All of this perfectly filled the void left by a lack of affection from my family, and I quickly became dependent on him.

He was nearly perfect, except for one flaw. He was somewhat frugal. When we ate, I always ordered one meat dish and two vegetable dishes, while he only got one vegetable dish for himself.

I wanted him to order a meat dish as well, but he said it was unnecessary as the portion was enough.

Luckily, I couldn't finish so much food, and I would only eat a small portion, giving the rest to him.

He rarely bought new clothes. Whenever he saw me buying new clothes, he would advise me to be thrifty and not waste money.

He once saw me buying a set of "Lancôme" skincare products. But upon learning the price, he furrowed his brows and asked me, "Do you really need such expensive cosmetics?"

At that moment, I detected an air of disdain in his eyes. Quick to defend myself, I hastily explained, "My sister uses them too."

But he responded, "What a waste of money. Do you realize how many meals a child from a poor family could have with the money you spent on this skincare set?"

I was stunned. I was just using my money. What did it have to do with children from poor families having enough to eat?

But then he said, "You've been pampered at home, and I don't think you're good at managing finances. Why don't we combine our living expenses, and I'll take care of the budgeting? Don't worry. I won't spend your money, and I'll keep track of everything."

There was some truth to his words. I indeed tended to spend recklessly and lacked financial management skills.

Considering his kindness towards me, I naturally placed my trust in him. On the same day, I handed over my bank card to him.

From then on, he controlled my monthly living expenses of twenty thousand dollars.

I had to ask him for money to buy clothes and shoes, or even for snacks and sanitary pads. Before granting me any funds, he would extensively question me, evaluating whether the expenditure was "worth it."

Though I felt a hint of dissatisfaction, I convinced myself that his frugality was for my benefit and endured it.

University life was rich and vibrant. There were many student clubs. Based on my dance skills, I joined several clubs.

Consequently, whenever there was an event at the school, the dance and drama clubs would be called upon to perform.

Although I was timid by nature, I had a persistent passion for the stage.

From childhood to adulthood, I had taken part in countless performances and competitions at the city, state, and even national levels, resulting in trophies and medals piling up in half of my family's basement.

Moreover, I didn't specialize in just one type of dance. Apart from ballet, I could dance classical, modern, and even street dance with grace.

Not surprisingly, on New Year's Eve of my first year at college, I became famous for my solo performance of "The Swan's Death."

However, he was angry.

Before the event concluded, he dragged me away from backstage, where I was clad only in my ballet costume and a cotton jacket.

In the bitter cold of the northern winter, it could really be life-threatening, but he disregarded it and reproached me in the snow for nearly half an hour.

He kept saying that I didn't respect myself, dressed disgracefully and sought people's attention.

I shivered with crossed arms, crying and begging him to let me go back and put on some clothes. He retorted, "Don't you like dressing lightly? A cotton jacket is more than enough for you."

Then, shockingly, he tore off my thin cotton jacket, leaving me exposed on the snowy night.

It wasn't until someone passed by that he angrily put the clothes back on me and carried me back to the classroom.

That night, in the classroom, he had his way with me.

The Nightmare Begins

At first, I didn't want it.

I cried bitterly and couldn't understand how my passion had become so unbearable in his eyes.

However, Edwin continued to kiss me, apologizing and claiming that he loved me so much that he couldn't bear the thought of other men fantasizing about me.

Under his relentless onslaught, I forgave him and gave him my virginity.

To my surprise, there was no bleeding afterwards.

Edwin looked at me incredulously, examining the clothing for a long time, and suddenly wore a look of hurt.

He began to scold and ridicule me, proclaiming himself nothing more than a scavenger. He completely disregarded my tearful explanations that it was indeed my first time.

Afterward, he hastily cleaned up the scene and left on his own, saying he needed some time alone.

During the following three days of vacation, Edwin never contacted me. Meanwhile, I was bedridden with a fever due to the cold I caught that night.

Seeing my condition worsen, my roommates, despite previous conflicts, took care of me and eventually sent me to the hospital when my coughing persisted.

The diagnosis came quickly: pneumonia, requiring hospitalization.

Alone in the hospital bed with an IV drip, I silently shed tears. I longed for home, for my parents and sister.

But I dared not tell them I was sick, fearing they would come from far away to care for me.

If that happened, I would revert to being the pampered little princess, and Edwin said it wasn't right.

Inevitably, thoughts of Edwin surged through my mind, causing aches in my heart.

I couldn't believe that the person who professed love for me would turn against me because of something beyond my control.

I had read online that many people didn't experience bleeding during their first time.

But how could I make him believe me?

Lost in these chaotic thoughts, I drifted into a deep sleep. When I woke up again, he was there.

Sitting by the bedside, he gazed at me with intense yet icy eyes. However, as soon as our eyes met, his expression changed, as if it were all an illusion.

Edwin gently took my hand and asked how I was feeling and if anything was bothering me.

At that moment, my grievances and longing for him flooded out, and tears once again streamed down my face.

"How could you not believe me? I didn't lie to you. I've never had a boyfriend before," I implored.

He ruffled my hair and said, "I'm sorry. It's my fault. I love you so much and care about you deeply. You have to understand that men attach great importance to these things. Can you forgive me?"

Still weeping, I nodded without hesitation.

But upon reflection, I realized that he never actually said he believed me. Nor did he ever reflect on whether it was right for him to care so much about it.

And so, we patched things up. He visited me after school every day, sometimes bringing two apples for us to share, and other times a single red rose.

The woman next to my sickbed jokingly said, "Miss, your boyfriend is quite thrifty."

I sensed the underlying meaning in her words and felt uncomfortable.

One night, when he came over, I told him I wanted a hamburger.

After a moment of silence, he agreed to buy one the next day.

And true to his words, he brought an Angus combo the next day and stuffed it into my arms.