Như Nguyệt had an expressionless face as she walked out of the classroom with Lâm Dạ Thần. Her posture was straight, her steps calm, and her gaze indifferent as if the mocking words from earlier had never reached her.
The sound of high heels echoed through the hallway.
Inside the classroom, Thẩm Vũ leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes following her figure as it gradually disappeared behind the door frame.
He had never seen her walk with such poise.
No tears, no clinging to him. No reluctance whatsoever.
The midday light shining on her hair made her slender figure suddenly seem distant and cold.
He frowned slightly, a flicker of confusion flashing in his eyes... but it was quickly overshadowed by arrogance.
"Wow, today you're even relying on your family's influence."
His voice was low and cold, laced with a hint of sarcasm.
"After all... you're just a surplus in the Lâm family. Borrowing a name still makes you trash."
He leaned back, his gaze darkening, his eyelashes falling to conceal the emotions stirring within him.
He didn't want to admit — that something was changing.
That girl... was no longer in the palm of his hand as before.
I sat in the shiny Rolls-Royce, the scent of high-quality leather wafting through, making me feel strange. I had braced myself to be scolded by him as usual.
But no.
Lâm Dạ Thần leaned back in the chair, his eyes staring straight ahead, his deep voice resonating:
"The Lâm family… is not to be bullied. We must know how to fight back."
I was slightly taken aback.
This was the first time he didn't scold me for being useless, didn't look down on me as a freeloader.
I turned to look at his icy face, but his eyes revealed no emotion. His words were like a command. A reminder. Or… an acknowledgment?
I didn't respond. I just tightened my grip on my bag, secretly disdainful.
The Lâm family must know how to fight back? Interesting. Perhaps Lâm Dạ Thần… has finally begun to realize that I am no longer the foolish girl I used to be.
The car glided smoothly through the streets, finally stopping in front of the Lâm family villa. As soon as I got out, I heard the voice of the housekeeper:
"Miss Như Nguyệt, the master and mistress are waiting in the living room. They seem… not very happy."
I nodded. Not afraid, not hesitating. I walked in as if I were the owner of this house.
The spacious living room was cold, like the hearts of those sitting inside. My adoptive mother looked up, her eyes full of reproach:
"Can you cause trouble even while at school? You made your older brother come to the school himself?"
My father put down the newspaper on the table, his voice deep:
"Nguyệt, you need to know your place. Don't bring more shame to the Lâm family."
I smiled. Not the smile of a good daughter.
But the smile of a wolf learning to hide its fangs.
"I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. Next time, I'll handle it cleanly, so no one finds out."She was choked up. He frowned.
Only Lam Da Than stood to the side, his lips slightly curved – just a little – as if in appreciation.
I ran away from my family to my grandmother's house.
I walked up to the familiar wooden door and gently knocked three times.
"Come in, Nguyet."
My grandmother's voice was still the same, weak but gentle like the early spring breeze. I pushed the door open, and my eyes immediately welled up.
The room was still the same – simple, rustic but full of warmth. On the table was a cold cup of tea, and by the window was the small figure of my grandmother sitting and knitting, her silver hair cascading gently.
I couldn't help it, I ran to hug her tightly from behind. "Grandma..." I called out, as if in my previous life I hadn't been able to call her enough.
She put down her knitting needles, turned around, and stroked my head, her voice trembling: "My good granddaughter... It's been a long time since you took the initiative to hug me like this. You've grown up, I keep worrying you'll drift away from me...""In this life... I won't leave you anymore." I buried my face in the worn-out hem of her dress, my tears soaking the fabric.
Grandma wrapped her arms around me tightly, as if afraid I would disappear. "In this family... only I truly love you. Nguyệt, remember... even if the whole world turns its back, I will still be the last one holding your hand."
I nodded, choked with emotion. In my previous life, she was the one who secretly sent money to my account, hiding it from the family to help me study. When I was kicked out of the house, she was the only one standing outside the gate in the rain, holding an umbrella, waiting for me all night.
But I, wanting to "understand," gave all my money to my adoptive parents, smiling and saying "I'm fine," making her suffer in silence.
In this life... I will protect her. Even if I have to trample over everything, I won't let her shed a single tear anymore.
She is the person I trust the most.
I told her everything that happened in my previous life — every humiliation, every tear, every time I was pushed into the abyss... and the unjust death I once accepted.
I didn't expect her to believe me. But she didn't interrupt, just sat silently listening, her gaze growing heavier.
After an hour of listening, she gently grasped my hand, her voice trembling but sharp: "My dear, you have suffered too much..."
I looked up and saw in her eyes not only sorrow — but also a simmering anger.
She was once the one who brought the Lâm family to greatness, but throughout those decades... she had never received a single inquiry about her health from her children. They only cared about power and wealth, leaving her to live alone in the large, cold house as she grew old.Even when she fell ill, they only visited her because... of the inheritance.
I knew she had been heartbroken for many years. But she had never blamed anyone. And now, when I told her, all those repressed feelings seemed to erupt.
"Do whatever you need to do. Take everything back from them… bit by bit," she said, gripping my hand tightly.
From a woman who had endured everything, she was now different — cold, clear-headed, and full of determination. I knew… this time I was not alone anymore.
I slept over at her house that night.
For the first time in many years, I had a peaceful sleep. No arguments, no scrutinizing gazes, no sneaky footsteps passing by my room like a thief. Just the gentle scent of jasmine tea and the sound of her flipping through books in the late night.
The next morning, I returned to the Lam family's villa.
As soon as I stepped through the door, a thunderous scolding rained down on me.
"Where have you been all night? Do you even feel ashamed?" my mother yelled, her eyes filled with anger and contempt.
"Out sleeping around and now you come back?" my father chimed in, his voice cold as ice.
I stood still. No rebuttal, no explanation.
Because I knew that no matter what I said, it would be meaningless.
In a past life, I had knelt down, crying and begging them to understand me. But all I got in return was a slap and the words: "Someone like you brings shame to the family."
Now, I no longer needed their understanding. I didn't need their love.
I simply said softly, "I just went to visit Grandma."
That seemingly light statement made them pause for a moment
Grandma – the person they once tried to keep their distance from because they thought she was too principled, too cold, is now my only support.
I looked up at them, unafraid, unyielding. Only coldness, like ice in the summer.
"Visiting Grandma? Who gave you permission?" – my mother shouted, and without waiting for my reaction, a fiery slap landed squarely on my cheek.
My father rushed in too, without hesitation, delivering another slap to my other cheek.
The sound was harsh in the hall, echoing a lifetime of suppressed grievances.
"Good-for-nothing! Going to see Grandma to badmouth your parents? Or to play the pitiful card?"
My cheeks burned, as if my whole being was being torn apart piece by piece. But I did not shed a tear. No more. That feeling… had been crushed in a past life.
I just stood there, silent, staring straight at them.
No anger. No complaints. Just… a lifeless gaze.
This slap – I remember. I will return it – a hundredfold, a thousandfold.
The slap echoed like thunder on a summer afternoon. Just then, my older brother Lam Da Than and my second brother Lam Da Minh came down from upstairs. The sound of their steady footsteps resonated in the heavy air.
I looked up at them – as an unconscious reflex. A glimmer of hope, however small… still awaited someone to step in and stop it.
But no. Lam Da Than just coldly halted, his gaze deep like a winter lake, gliding over my swollen face. Lam Da Minh crossed his arms, leaning against the railing, indifferent as if nothing concerned him.
No words of persuasion. No sympathetic glances. They stood there, like beautiful statues… but completely indifferent.
I bit my lip, clenched my fists until they bled. My heart shattered once again – but I just smiled. A bitter smile, thin as a razor blade.
I understand now. This family… has never had a place for me. Not from a past life. And certainly not in this one.