Before heading to the hotel to discuss marriage matters with my in-laws, I received a mysterious package.

Inside was a diary, its contents crooked, but every word seemed to bleed with pain, recording the hardships and miseries of my later life.

And the girl writing the diary referred to me as "Mom."

The opening lines read: "If I could, I would never let Mom marry Dad, let alone give birth to me, because they are both demons!"

Yet, my fiancé Felix Jonny was as obedient as could be, and my mother-in-law Katie treated me like her own. We were about to become a family.

The diary had no ending, and the "answer" was waiting for me to decipher.

As the experiences I went through gradually matched the entries in the diary, I began a frantic counterattack!

The names, birth dates, the occupation of a teacher, and a passion for dancing all perfectly matched mine, as recorded in the diary.

I was shocked, and a sense of suspicion arose within me. I couldn't help but flip through the pages further.

The diary read:

"Before Mom passed away, she told me about her tragic life. She couldn't protect me anymore and urged me to seize every opportunity to escape."

"Back then, Grandma and Dad promised a dowry of 48,880 to Mom. But after they found out she was pregnant, not only did they not give a single penny of the dowry, they also embezzled Mom's dowry and swindled her savings for many years."

I couldn't help but gasp in shock and horror.

It hit too close to home, as I had just found out this morning that I was pregnant.

I had indeed planned to share the happy news as soon as we met.

My mind went blank, as if it had shut down.

Before this, I even suspected that the diary was a malicious prank by my ex-boyfriend.

But other than me, no one else knew about my pregnancy.

What the hell was going on?

Before I could make sense of it all, a jarring ringtone interrupted my thoughts.

"Sweetie, your darling is calling, sweetie, your darling is calling..."

This was a custom ringtone I set for Felix.

Unconsciously, I answered the call, and from the phone came Felix's extremely gentle voice.

"Baby, we are on our way. Have you and your parents set off?"

I met Felix through a blind date. He was sunny, handsome, ambitious, cultured, and had a decent, high-paying job—a perfect match for all my fantasies about a partner.

After we confirmed our relationship, he was even more considerate and tender.

In a society that often promotes fear of marriage and childbirth, I felt so lucky to have found such a wonderful love.

Therefore, I couldn't fathom associating him with the word "demon."

"Hello, baby?"

I shook my head violently, struggling to clear my mind, and replied.

"Yes, I'm here. We'll be there soon. Please drive safely."

Closing the diary, I was filled with doubts as I left with my parents.

Upon meeting, Felix gave me a big hug and tenderly kissed my forehead.

He also showed great respect to my parents, serving them coffee with ease.

My parents couldn't stop smiling at this prospective son-in-law.

At the dinner table, both sets of parents exchanged pleasantries and then discussed the main topic of the day: the dowry and wedding arrangements.

Katie looked at me with a smile and said.

"Katrina is such a good girl. It's our blessing to have her. We've calculated it, and the dowry will be 48,880. The remaining money will serve as a down payment, and we'll also buy a house with both of their names on it."

"Nowadays, young people don't like to live with the elderly. I understand that. I still have some savings to help with the mortgage, so they won't feel too much pressure. What do you think, Mr. Durham and Mrs. Durham?"

My parents were filled with joy and surprise. They hadn't expected such high regard from my future in-laws.

In our area, a 30,000 dollars dowry was already considered quite high.

Felix's father passed away early, leaving them a sum of money from his business, which allowed him to complete his education and achieve what he had today.

Now that they were willing to provide a 48,880 dowry and put the house in our names, it was already the greatest show of sincerity.

Anyone would be touched from the bottom of the heart.

However, when I heard the amount "48,880 dollars," I began to tremble slightly.

It all matched the content in the diary...

My mother spoke in a gentle voice.

"It's Katrina's good fortune to have such a good mother-in-law, Katie."

My father raised a glass to Katie.

"It's not easy for you to raise Felix by yourself. As parents, we all hope for our children to live happily. We've prepared 50,000 dollars as a dowry, also as a sincere gesture."

Felix and Katie exchanged a glance and shared a knowing smile.

But as I looked at their smiles, I couldn't shake off a feeling of something being off.

Katie said again.

"We hope to set the wedding date soon. They're not getting any younger, so how about we set it for the 16th of next month? I consulted a fortune teller, and it's an auspicious day."

I had been dating Felix for a year, and I thought I knew everything about him.

However, all I knew about him was what he had told me; I had never verified it.

Although the timing was a bit rushed, after a brief discussion with my parents, they readily agreed.

"Then it's settled," said Katie, beaming with joy.

Laughter filled the room, but I remained silent, my head bowed, feeling conflicted.

Felix took my hand and squeezed it gently.

"Baby, what's wrong with you today? You seem distracted. Are you feeling unwell?"

"Oh, no, it's nothing. It's just... so sudden."

Felix looked pleased.

"Baby, we're about to become a real family. I'm truly happy and blessed."

Before unraveling my doubts, I didn't want to rush into marriage like this.

But faced with Felix's expectant gaze, I mustered up the courage and stood up resolutely.

"I want to postpone the wedding for now."

Felix furrowed his brow, and Katie's smile faded.

She quickly said, "Katrina, have we done something wrong? Today was meant to discuss your wedding. If there's an issue, please tell us. We'll do our best to accommodate you."

Felix pulled me back to my seat and patted my hand to reassure me.

"Baby, do you have any worries or concerns? Let's talk about it. We'll face it together and find a solution."

At this point, anyone with a bit of maturity wouldn't refuse.

My parents also looked at me with confusion.

After all, I often spoke in front of them about how good Felix was to me and how he had planned our life after marriage.

My mom often teased me about being a woman who dreaded marriage, fearing that I would forget my parents after getting a husband.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on me.

And I felt extremely uncomfortable.

Canceling the wedding because of a diary entry seemed absurd.

But what if it was true?

I had kept the news of my pregnancy to myself and softly said.

"I... Aunt Katie, Dad, Mom, I'm sorry. I'm just not ready yet. Can you give me some more time?"

Without waiting for everyone's reaction, I grabbed my bag and ran out of the private room.

I was afraid that if I stayed a second longer, they would convince me otherwise.

Back at home, I locked myself in my room and tightly held the diary in my hands.

My parents followed me closely, knocking on my door anxiously.

"Katrina, what's wrong with you? We are really worried," they said.

Then I heard Felix's voice, "Baby, you can tell me anything. Can you open the door and let me in?"

I tried to calm my emotions, making sure my voice didn't reveal my panic.

"Don't worry, I'm just feeling a bit scared all of a sudden. Maybe it's pre-wedding jitters. I want to be alone for a while."

A few moments later, the footsteps outside gradually faded away.

I leaned against the bed and stared at the yellowing diary.

If someone wanted to play a prank on me, they would have to possess clairvoyance, but I didn't believe there was such a person in the world.

I took a deep breath and opened the diary.

The second page read: "Dad bought a new house, and Mom was pregnant but had to take care of another boy. Whenever Mom mentioned this boy, her eyes would fill with fear, but as Mom's daughter, Daisy had never seen him."

The third page read: "The year I was born, Dad got drunk and hit Mom. Grandma almost strangled me. It was only because Mom risked her life that I survived."

The fourth page read: "Mom's body was damaged from the beatings and she couldn't have a little brother. Dad and Grandma became even crueler. Mom carried me and tried to escape, but Dad dragged her back home and broke her leg. Mom could no longer dance with me."

…

The small diary felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and each page required immense courage to turn.

"I grew up and became sensible. Besides Mom, no one in this family loved me. Dad would pull my hair and smash my head against the wall. Grandma would take a needle and stab me, calling me a jinx. Mom fell from her wheelchair, begging on her knees for Grandma's mercy, but in the end, we both ended up being beaten even worse."

"Dad didn't allow me to go to school. It was Mom who taught me how to read and draw. Mom was an excellent teacher."

"When Grandma and Grandpa came to visit us, Grandma would treat me slightly better, keeping my injuries hidden and giving Mom medicine in advance to make her sleep. Grandma would tell everyone that Mom had accidentally fallen and become a vegetable, wiping away her tears as she left."

"I turned ten, and Mom cried, saying she couldn't bear it anymore. She told me to seize any opportunity to escape and find Grandma and Grandpa. I was so scared."

"One night, Mom was abused to death. Her eyes were still open when she died, and there were maggots crawling on her body."

"Dad married another mom. He pointed at me on the bed and told her that I was a vegetable and wouldn't live much longer, so I wouldn't become a burden to them. It was only then that I realized I could hear them when I took the medicine, but I couldn't move or speak."

"I might not be able to continue writing in the diary. My whole body hurts, and they have also broken my leg because I discovered their secret. Mom wasn't the first one to be abused to death, and I might not be the last."

The diary came to an abrupt end on this page.

These few pages recorded the tragic lives of two people, and as if I had personally experienced it all, a chilling coldness ran through my body, and my heart ached intensely.

I couldn't bear to imagine what the little girl who claimed to be my daughter had gone through. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

I held the diary tightly and couldn't snap out of it. It couldn't be proven, but the things she recorded had traces that could be followed.

Perhaps, it had traveled through time and space to save me!

When I walked out of the room after composing myself, Felix sprang up from the sofa, concerned.

"Baby, you haven't eaten anything all afternoon. You must be hungry. I cooked two small dishes. Come and have some."

My parents exchanged a glance and then retreated to their own room, giving us space.

I was indeed hungry, so I sat at the table and watched as Felix efficiently served the meal.

Until then, I had always thought he was the perfect boyfriend.

He remembered my birthday and all the important holidays, always preparing gifts for me.

He considered the fact that I stood for long periods during classes and would give me a foot bath and a massage at night.

Even if we had differing opinions and argued about something, he would always be the first to apologize.

He even accompanied my dad on fishing trips and helped my mom choose which outfit suited her best.

At that moment, a hint of doubt crept into my mind: Could there really be such a perfect man in the world, and that he had crossed paths with someone as ordinary as me?

Felix murmured, "Baby, did I upset you somehow?"

I had anticipated this question and took the opportunity to test him.

I sighed deeply and looked at him with a serious expression.

"A friend told me yesterday that she was beaten by her husband and ended up in the hospital. Felix, you're so good, but after we get married, you won't hit me, will you? I'm a little scared. No wonder so many girls choose not to get married."

Felix's expression hesitated for a moment. He touched his nose and then caressed my face, laughing awkwardly.

"Silly girl, why are you thinking such nonsense? You know what kind of person I am, don't you?"

During my college years, I took a psychology course and knew that when people were feeling guilty, they would scratch their ears, touch their foreheads or noses, or fidget with their feet.

What was he feeling guilty about? My heart sank.

I turned my head away, avoiding his touch.

"I'm feeling a bit panicked, Felix. I want to postpone the wedding. Will you be mad at me?"

Felix let out a sigh and smiled.

"I'll listen to you, but baby, can you not make me wait too long? I'm so eager to have a home with you."

I forced a smile and buried myself in my meal.

From then on, I often used the excuse of being too busy with the new school semester to turn down his invitations for dates.

Late at night, I flipped through Daisy's diary repeatedly.

Each time, I felt a deeper sense of fear and empathy.

It was as if I truly was the mother who had been abused to death.

I couldn't help but think, if I refused to marry Felix, would that poor girl be willing to come back to this world again?

That night, I had a strange dream. I dreamt that I was flying a kite with a little girl in the sunshine. We ran and laughed together, and she called me "Mom."

I woke up from the dream in a daze and found myself in the hospital.

Why did I come here? Should I abort or save her?

I sat in the fire escape for a long time, so long that I heard two familiar voices.

"I told you the hospital is just a money-making scam. It's all up to the divine healer. Felix, you need to find a way to make Katrina agree to marry and have a wedding for my grandson. That way, he will survive."

My whole body trembled. The tearful person speaking was none other than my kind, understanding, and loving prospective mother-in-law.

"I don't know what's gotten into her. She suddenly mentioned her friend being abused and is now hesitant about getting married. Isn't it normal for men to hit their wives? She better not push me too far, or else I'll..."

"Alright, stop. You need to endure a bit longer. The one in the house is useless now. We can't squeeze any more money out of her. Don't mess up the sure thing."

"I know, even if she refuses to marry now, I will find a way to get her dowry. When the time comes, she will have to marry."

Grandson? Wedding? Hitting wives is normal? Dowry?

Bang!

My entire body felt like it had been struck by lightning, and my scalp tingled.

I tried to take a deep breath, but it felt like I was sinking into the sea, struggling to breathe.

Was this Felix's true nature? How many more secrets was he hiding from me?

Daisy's diary mentioned that her mother had looked after another boy while she was pregnant, possibly the "grandson" mentioned by Katie.

Then who was the person in the house?

Daisy's diary also mentioned that I wasn't the first person to be abused to death by Felix.

A bold conjecture emerged in my mind, causing my entire heart to tremble.

The contents of the diary seemed to be gradually becoming a reality.

No, I would never be controlled by others.

Felix, this false gentleman, was nothing but a beast. I had to expose his evil deeds and ensure he faced the punishment he deserved!