After Prison, My Ex Shoved Money in My Face

The day Chloe and I agreed to move to the same city, I never showed up.

She probably still can't figure out what happened.

I just went back to my hometown to pack, and suddenly I was gone, completely off the grid.

A few days later, I finally called Chloe.

The moment she picked up, her voice was sharp with accusation: "Leo, are you trying to ghost me?"

I glanced at the stark, cold walls around me and forced out words I didn't mean.

"Yeah, that's right. I'm heading overseas for a better life."

"Let's just not contact each other anymore."

Five years later, I was running a small stall at a night market in a popular tourist spot, just trying to make ends meet.

I customized handmade leather goods for tourists and sold little wooden carvings I'd made myself.

One evening, a light rain started to fall. Ben, the guy at the stall next to mine, packed up his things and called out, "Leo, it's raining, aren't you going home?"

I shook my head, a bitter taste in my mouth.

I hadn't sold anything all day, and I just didn't want to go back to an empty apartment.

Ben tried to coax me. "Buddy, this isn't how you make money. You haven't eaten all day. Don't be so hard on yourself."

Just as he finished speaking, two people stopped in front of my stalla couple.

"Hey, how much for this wallet?"

The man casually picked one up, examining it.

I instinctively lowered my gaze, wiped down the display, and eagerly introduced, "Basic cowhide is $20. For the vegetable-tanned leather, it's $30. If your girlfriend likes it, I can even throw in a handmade wooden carving. I made them all myself."

The man didn't even look at me. He just pointed to a classic design.

"Just this one. Forget the carving. I'm not interested in street vendor stuff."

The woman beside him held an umbrella over his head, her voice full of playful scolding.

"Only you would think to wander through a night market in the rain."

My hand, which was reaching for the leather, froze.

It had been a long time since I'd heard that voice, but I knew I'd never forget it. Not even if I lived a hundred years.

It was Chloe.

I sneaked a quick glance and finally saw her.

She was thinner, even more beautiful. The awkwardness of her student days was gone, replaced by a confident, polished air.

In that instant, my heart felt like a leaf ripped from its branch by a wild storm, spiraling aimlessly, utterly lost.

I mechanically grabbed my tools, burying my head to steady my racing thoughts, and started working on the leather edges.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe pull up a chair and sit down, her arm still raised, holding the umbrella for him.

I instantly remembered college, how she'd always wait for me downstairs at the library when it rained, always tilting the umbrella to cover me more.

But that favoritism, that special care, no longer belonged to me.

Now, she stood beside another man, sheltering him, her eyes completely focused on him.

"Wait, don't bother."

The man suddenly tossed the wallet back onto the stall, a frown on his face.

My thoughts snapped back to reality. I asked, flustered, "Miss, is it... is it not the style you like?"

He shook his head, his voice laced with disdain. "The edges of this leather are so rough, and there are scratches. How can you even run a stall with workmanship like this?"

That's when I noticed my own rough hands.

Years of woodworking and handling leather had left my fingers and the web between my thumb and forefinger covered in calluses and tiny scars.

In that moment, my face burned, and my chest tightened with shame.

Chloe, beside him, suddenly chuckled and patted his shoulder, pulling her wallet from her bag.

"Forget it. Just take the money. Let's go."

She finally looked at me.

That look made her hand, mid-reach for cash, freeze.

I watched her expression slowly turn rigid, even the muscles in her face subtly twitching.

Those eyes, once so gentle and captivating, slowly filled with a complex mix of emotionsshock, confusion, and finally, pure hatred.

The man pulled out a tissue and wiped his hands, then turned to her. "What's wrong? You know him?"

She suddenly laughed.

She pulled out a few extra bills from her wallet and threw them all at me.

"No, I don't. He just looks pathetic."

"Consider it charity for a beggar. Let's go."

Those two sentences pierced me like sharp hooks, digging deeper and deeper into my heart.

She recognized me.

Right when I was at my lowest.

Chloe didn't know that my lowest point wasn't now.

The year we graduated, we'd planned to move to the same city. Before leaving, I had to go back to my hometown to pack.

But the moment I walked through the door, I saw a scene straight out of a nightmare.

My stepfather was pinning my mother down, one hand on her head, the other viciously swinging a fist.

Seeing me enter didn't make him stop; if anything, he hit her harder.

"You worthless hag! You're just as filthy as your son! You live off my dime, drink my liquor, and now you won't even serve me? I'll beat you to death!"

My mother's screams and my stepfather's curses blended together, assaulting every nerve in my body.

I couldn't take it anymore. I lunged forward and shoved him away.

But I was no match for him. In just a few seconds, he was back on his feet and punched me.

Mom struggled up and grabbed his leg. "Please, stop! He'll make money in the future!"

The mention of money only enraged the brute more. He broke free from my mother, then grabbed me by the throat.

In that moment, I felt like I was going to die.

As despair closed in, my hand found a fruit knife on the table. Without thinking, I plunged it into his chest.

Barely in my twenties, I suddenly had a death on my hands.

On the day I waited for my sentence, I called Chloe.

Her first words were an accusation, asking why I was so heartless.

I wiped away the tears that had already streamed down my face and, for the first time, spoke to her with contempt.

"Chloe, to be honest, I'm going abroad in a couple of days to live a good life."

"Only a fool would stay with a poor student like you."

Those cruel, forced words, meant to devastate the then-penniless Chloe, made my whole body tremble.

Her voice shaky, she warned me not to regret it, and we never spoke again.

Later, I was sentenced to five years for manslaughter. My mother took her own life a week after my sentencing.

From that day on, I lost not only my mother but also my freedom.

I regretted it, but it was too late.

Chloe was wonderful, irreplaceable by anyone in the world.

And the castle I had spent over twenty years building inside myself had crumbled.

I wasn't worthy of her.

Not anymore.

After I got out of prison, no company would hire me. I finally managed to find a delivery job.

But when my criminal record was discovered, my usually kind boss suddenly turned cold. "You kid, do you know how much trouble you'll get me into if the company finds out? Get out! Get far away!"

Who would have thought that I, a graduate of a prestigious university, wouldn't even qualify to be a delivery driver?

After that, I could only rely on the woodworking and leather craft skills I'd learned in prison, doing odd jobs, barely getting by.

The money Chloe threw at me today was almost my entire month's income.

But I didn't want to keep it.

That money, hitting my body, felt worse than a slap to the face.

Before bed, I got a call from Sam, my college roommate.

He was the only friend I'd kept in touch with after my release.

"Leo, I've invited Chloe to my wedding next month. My dad has a business deal with her, so I couldn't really avoid it."

"But you have to come. We promised each other in college."

I tidied up the money I hadn't managed to refuse earlier and replied calmly, "It's fine. I have something to return to her anyway."

Once it's returned, maybe I can finally let it go.

Sam's wedding was held at his dad's hotel.

It was my first time back in this city in over five years.

Even though I'd been back in society for six months, I still felt uncomfortable and out of place in crowded areas.

"Leo, don't be so stiff."

Sam patted my shoulder, trying to reassure me. I managed a dry smile and waved him off to attend to his guests.

Soon, people started taking their seats. I realized I was at a table with my old college classmates, but no one recognized me.

Chloe arrived with that handsome man from the other day. Before they even sat down, they caused quite a stir.

"Wow, Chloe looks like she's about to get married!"

She didn't try to hide it, openly holding hands with the man.

Then she glanced in my direction, smiling as she nodded. "That's right. Everyone's invited to the wedding when Brandon and I get married."

So his name was Brandon.

I lowered my head, wishing I could disappear.

All I could do was try to be as inconspicuous as possible.

But Brandon saw me.

"Heyaren't you that guy from the night market the other day?"

His words drew countless eyes to me.

Finally, someone recognized me.

"You're... Leo! Right?"

I nodded faintly, still not lifting my head.

The person slapped his thigh.

"It really is! But what happened to you? I remember you used to be so sharp, now you look so haggard."

I forced a smile, unsure how to answer.

Some of Chloe's close friends at the table started throwing veiled insults. "Well, well, looks like our brilliant Leo finally got his karma. We hadn't heard from you in years; we thought you'd vanished in the pandemic."

The words were harsh, but I could bear them.

Compared to the abuse I'd suffered in prison, what was this?

Besides, this was Sam's wedding. I couldn't let him be embarrassed.

During dinner, I just focused on the food in front of me.

Chloe scoffed, serving Brandon some food while making a sarcastic remark. "Mr. Black, have you been abroad so long you can't stand local cuisine anymore?"

I mindlessly finished my last bite, then gently set down my forks.

"Please enjoy your meal, everyone. I have to go."

As I said this, my gaze swept across the room, finding no eyes to meet among the table full of people.

I left in a hurry, without saying goodbye to Sam, and without finding a suitable chance to return Chloe's money.

But just as I stepped out of the hotel, someone stopped me.

Chloe, somehow, had gotten to the entrance before me.

She dragged me to a deserted corner without a word, her face a dark storm cloud, ready to burst.

"Leo, what's your game? You said you were going overseas for a better life. Why are you back now?"

My throat tightened. I looked at her, helpless.

"They're right. This is your karma for abandoning me."

"Are you jealous? I'm rich and powerful now, and my boyfriend is handsome and caring."

"Most importantly, he loves me! He wouldn't just abandon me! You're the one who got dumped!"

A tidal wave of pent-up anger crashed down on me, making it hard to breathe.

Just then, Sam rushed out, panting, and stepped in front of me.

"Chloe, what are you doing? You know Leo, he"

"Sam!"

I quickly cut him off.

I pressed the money I'd been carrying into Chloe's hand, grabbed Sam, and turned to leave.

I didn't want her to know.

I wanted it to stay buried forever.

Later that evening, Sam found time to call me.

"Leo, don't stay cooped up in that small tourist spot. Come work at my dad's hotel."

I felt a mix of daze and unease.

"Is that... appropriate? Won't I cause trouble for you guys?"

Sam answered casually, "No big deal. It's just a temporary maintenance job. You won't have to be in the public eye often, and it pays better than your stall."

This time, I suddenly wanted to try.

On my third day of work, someone was having a birthday party in the main ballroom.

It had nothing to do with me, but I was suddenly called down by Mr. Miller, the manager, to help move equipment.

When I got to the hall, I realized it was Chloe's birthday.

I'd actually forgotten.

Not only were many college classmates there, but also friends she'd made in the city over the past few years.

I looked around, trying to find Sam in the crowd.

I didn't want to be seen at this party.

"What are you staring at? I didn't call you down here to gawk!"

Mike, the junior manager, shoved a box of liquor into my hands without asking. "Go on, hurry! The main table is waiting for it!"

I didn't have time to refuse before he pushed me. I walked like a zombie, carrying the box through the bustling crowd.

Just as I reached the main table, Brandon suddenly turned and bumped my arm.

My grip slipped, and the box overturned.

With a crash, several bottles shattered, liquor spilling everywhere, splashing onto Brandon's shoes and pant legs.

"Hey, what are you doing?! Watch where you're going!"

"I'm sorry."

I mumbled an apology, fumbling to clean up the glass shards on the floor.

Brandon was furious.

"What good is 'sorry'? Do you know how much these pants cost? Clean it up already!"

I instinctively glanced at Chloe. She frowned slightly but remained silent.

I knew then; she wasn't going to intervene.

"Hurry up, what are you thinking about? Is this how your staff handles mistakes here?"

Fine.

I pulled out the cloth I always carried and knelt to wipe the spilled liquor from the floor.

In that moment, everyone was watching me.

Before I even finished, Brandon's cold chuckle came from above me.

"Friends, classmates, many of you here know this guy, right? Does anyone know where he's been all these years?"

My mind exploded.

He was doing this on purpose?

He asked me in a mocking tone, "Leo, right? Should I help you tell everyone where you were during those missing years?"

I understood instantly. Brandon had investigated everything about me.

Though I didn't know why, he was clearly determined to expose me.

The room buzzed with whispers, like an annoying swarm of flies.

I looked up, meeting Brandon's triumphant gaze.

He looked down at me, smiling maliciously.

In that moment, I felt like an animal backed into a corner.

And they were all executioners waiting for me to surrender.

If I was going to die either way, I'd rather jump myself than be played by them.

I stood up, looking at him, at Chloe, at the countless eyes fixed on me.

I wouldn't hide anymore.

"No need for you to trouble yourself. I'll tell everyone myself."

"Years ago, I accidentally killed someone. The time I was gone, I was serving my sentence in prison."

This confession wasn't for others; it was for myself.

I just wanted to live my life honestly.

"What did you say?"

Chloe shot to her feet, staring at me in disbelief, her eyes burning with a fierce fire.