So Tired of Life

Michael played a dirty trick on me five years ago. He stole my mother's belongings from Nicole, sold them, and claimed that I was the one who did it.

Nicole flew into a rage. She punished me by making me kneel in the snow for three days and three nights while constantly questioning me about where I had sold the belongings.

Of course, I had no idea.

I told Nicole that it was Michael's scheme to sow discord because he just couldn't stand how nice she was to me. Sadly, she absolutely refused to believe me.

Stealing, disrespecting our late mother, and being reluctant to admit my mistake—all these three offenses hit her nerves.

Due to Michael's lies, Nicole confiscated all my money and kicked me out of the house.

I did fairly well for the first six months. I found a sales job, which was enough to support myself and even leave me with some money to spare.

However, everything changed six months later.

Nicole called me for the only time in five years.

As soon as I answered the call, she asked why I hadn't come back to admit I was wrong yet and said she would forgive me as long as I told her where I sold my mother's belongings.

Since I was filled with resentment at that moment, I yelled at her, "Which part of it wasn't me that you don't understand? Ask your precious brother, Michael! He's the one who sold it!"

Nicole immediately hung up the phone, and I was fired from the company that same day.

She declared throughout Seaton that anyone who dared to hire me was going against her.

As a result, I couldn't find a decent job for the next few years and could only work as part of a nightclub's hype team.

She seemed to be doing this on purpose just for me to see. Not only did she announce that Miguel would be the sole heir to the company, but she also brought him to interviews, dinner parties, and auctions.

She was liberal with her money, often spending millions or tens of millions whenever she wanted. She also frequently appeared on financial news channels with Michael.

On the other hand, I hid in the shadows and drank myself into stomach cancer in order to support myself.

Over the past few years, I sought medical treatments everywhere. I spent all my money and took out numerous online loans, but it still wasn't enough.

The specific drugs to cure my cancer were too expensive, and chemotherapy was beyond my means.

I called Nicole to borrow money, but she cut me off impatiently after I had only said a few words. "Money! Money! Money! Don't you care about anything else?"

Don't even think about taking a single penny from me unless you come back and apologize! Otherwise, you might as well die out there!"

That phone call completely extinguished my hope of living.

I was just so tired of this, of life.

Since she wanted me dead, I might as well die.

At least, I wouldn't be in pain anymore.

I ordered a cremation urn for myself a month ago.

Although I tried my best to get the money, I was still 500 dollars short of the final payment.

The shop owner called almost every day, urging me to settle the payment.

I thought I could raise enough money today.

To my surprise, Nicole gave the manager 100,000 but refused to even give me 500.

She marched out of the club with her group.

As for me, I was throwing up my guts in the bathroom.

Only one thought was on my mind. 'I'd drunk three bottles of whiskey for nothing.'

My supervisor was smoking next to me.

"How exactly did you offend Ms. Thompson? She was livid when she left. What's your relationship with her?"

My stomach was cramping, and my head was spinning.

I could barely keep my eyes open as I held onto the toilet, trying to prevent myself from falling right into it.

"I don't know her. Enemies, maybe."

Got Fired From the Job

The next day, I was woken up by a phone call. It was the owner of the cremation urn shop.

"Jack Thompson, when are you actually going to settle the rest of the money? It's only 500 bucks. Must you drag this out for a whole month? If you can't pay me within three days, I'm not keeping it for you anymore, and the deposit is non-refundable!"

In a fit of panic, I blurted hoarsely, "Give me a little more time. I'll get paid in two weeks, and then—"

"I can't wait two weeks!" he interrupted me, his tone unfriendly. "I've never seen anyone who drags their feet like you, especially when they're here to buy a cremation urn. Don't order in advance if you don't have the money. Why buy such an expensive one if you can't afford it?"

I wanted to say something, but the call was disconnected before I could even speak.

My head was throbbing. I had no choice but to call the manager to request an advance on my salary.

Sadly, his response was just another blow to my shattered psyche. "Just letting you know, you don't need to come to work today," he said. "We can't pay you your salary either. It's an order from Ms. Thompson, so there's nothing we can do."

My mind went blank as my voice cracked with anxiety. "What you're doing violates labor law! I demand arbitration!"

The manager simply sneered at me, "Arbitration? Go ahead, then. Ms. Thompson said she will bear all the consequences, no matter what they are. Besides, her legal team is second to none in the country. If you insist on asking for trouble, then there's nothing I can do."

Then, he hung up on me.

A feeling of frustration welled up inside me, and I couldn't get over it.

I felt so uncomfortable that my face turned pale. At the same time, my throat tasted like rust.

Suddenly, I vomited a mouthful of blood.

As I stared at the glaring pool of bright red blood, I felt as if a knife was twisting in my heart.

Only after a while did I take out some tissue paper to wipe the blood clean.

Then, I skillfully took out a painkiller and swallowed it whole.

I barely had the strength to move after all that.

As I leaned against the bed, I couldn't help but think about what had happened over the past five years since I was kicked out.

A sudden realization hit me. Nicole was the one who had personally ruined all my backup plans.

Now that I couldn't even work in nightclubs anymore, I would definitely struggle to make ends meet, let alone afford painkillers and a cremation urn.

All I wanted was a decent eternal home when I die. What was so wrong with that?

My eyes fell on my trembling hands, and I finally decided to take a trip back home.

I wanted to ask Nicole what right she had to treat me like this.

Quit Fighting Back

Nicole and Michael were having dinner when I got home.

She glanced at me. Her tone was flat as she spoke, "So you've finally decided to grace us with your presence?"

"What gives you the right to make the manager fire me?" I questioned expressionlessly, completely changing the subject.

"Five years have passed. Haven't you humiliated me enough?"

She merely arched a brow at me and answered indifferently, "I'm doing this for your own good. You won't know that home is the best place for you if I don't let you suffer a little.

"Jack, do you know what the word is on the streets about you? I've been the one to keep those nasty comments from reaching your ears. Yet, you've never once thanked me for my efforts!"

Just then, Michael put down his fork and knife and added sarcastically, "Nicole, Jack doesn't appreciate how good you are to him at all. Look at him. He's clearly blaming you!"

"Shut up!"

I couldn't take it anymore. So, I rushed over and raised my hand to punch him.

However, Nicole grabbed my wrist the next second.

"You've even learned to get physical now, huh? As I see it, you still haven't learned your lesson!" she remarked, her voice as cold as ice. "Believe it or not, I'll make it impossible for you to live in Seaton."

My heart clenched as if someone had squeezed it tightly.

She was saying that she would make it impossible for me to live in Seaton. Yet, she completely disregarded the fact that she'd been doing that for the past five fucking years.

She ruined my career and crushed my hope time and time again.

I was worse off than a rat in a sewer. My life was in tatters. As a matter of fact, I couldn't even afford a cremation urn for my ashes.

That was it! I had had enough of her threats!

Finally, I broke down in tears and yelled, "I'm innocent! Nicole, since you've been trying so hard to make my life miserable, then fine. I'll do what you want and die! You'll have no control over me once I'm in hell!"

Nicole turned red in the face, seemingly angered by my words.

"You'll always owe me even when you're dead!"

She pushed me as she spoke.

Even though she didn't use much force, I still fell to the ground.

My lower back slammed into the dining table. The pain made my face turn pale instantly, and I broke out in a cold sweat.

A hint of regret flashed across Nicole's eyes, but she turned her back to me anyway, refusing to look at me.

"You're in no position to even die until you've retrieved Mom's belongings."

With that, she strode away.

I was in so much pain I couldn't get up. Michael stood before me in a condescending demeanor and jeered, "Jack, look at the way you are now. Tsk. How about you get down on your knees and beg me earnestly?

"Then, I'll tell you to whom I sold that crappy bracelet. Deal?"

I glared at him with my eyes bulging with rage. Oh, how I wished I could tear him to pieces right there and then.

Regardless, I knew I was too weak to hit him.

I had lived in humiliation for five years. Yet, never once did I imagine that I wouldn't be able to leave with dignity even in the face of death.

Nicole's words still seemed to echo in my ears.

'You're in no position to even die until you've retrieved Mom's belongings. You'll always owe me even when you're dead!'

Very well. I could finally die in peace once I retrieved my mother's belongings.

I wiped my face, got down on my knees in front of Michael, and begged him earnestly. "Please tell me where my mother's belongings are."

In the past, I would fight back with all my might whenever he schemed against me.

However, not a single rebuttal left my lips over our last few encounters.

As a result, Michael seemed to have suddenly lost interest. He simply tossed me a slip of paper and said, "This is the address. You'll still need to actually get it, though!"