Chapter 863
But Nancy’s boyfriend was insatiable. The more he demanded, the higher her expenses grew. Nancy, once the dutiful girl supplementing her family’s income, gradually sank into debt after debt, entangled in a financial quagmire.
Her burden became unbearable. One day, when a collection notice reached her boyfriend, he- afraid of trouble-simply broke up with her.
Still clinging to hope, Nancy humbly begged for reconciliation, only to witness the unforgiving truth: her boyfriend had long moved on with a younger girl from the same university.
He gleamed from head to toe in luxury, everything bought with Nancy’s sweat and money. Even the gifts for the new girl were lavish beyond measure-things Nancy had never received. She had poured her heart into him, yet the most valuable” gift he ever gave her was a ninety- cent discounted cake on her birthday. At the time, she had been moved to tears.
When reality hit, Nancy felt utterly pitiful and even more foolish. Her hatred for the scumbag could never match the loathing she felt for herself.
A crushing sense of powerlessness enveloped her. But her ex and his new girlfriend were relentless. After humiliating her, they even spread word around school that she owed massive debts.
Everyone e avoided her. The university called her family, urging them to resolve the debt quickly so that other students wouldn’t be affected.
Desperate, Nancy reached out to Ethan. He was busy at the time and barely paid attention, merely transferring her some money and advising her not to cling so tightly to love.
But Nancy never accepted it.
she was gone. 1
By the time Ethan heard from her ab he had, would’ve helped her, ” he said. “That
“Nancy never told me about the debt. If
amount of money… It’s nothing to me.”
Seeing Charlotte’s expressionen further, he added, almost instinctively, “I mean it. I
really do feel guilty about her.”
Throughout it all, Nancy had trusted him as a friend. He had secretly enjoyed the devotion of a bright, young girl, occasionally responding. But he had never truly understood her pain.
It wasn’t until she disappeared that Ethan realized the severity of the situation and the depth of his own indifference.
His “help” had been mere charity. Though he knew of Nancy’s suffering, he responded only superficially. Had he taken the time to truly understand her, perhaps he could have saved her.
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Chapter 863
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Yet even in death, Nancy had still believed he was the best person in the world-better than the comfort her parents could offer.
The last letter she left him was stained with blood, filled with gratitude. Ethan couldn’t even bear to read it twice; he had thrown it away immediately after leaving the police station.
The only thing he kept was a photograph, cut from Nancy’s student ID. Before she disappeared, she had asked him to talk to her for even a few minutes, but he had refused.
So he kept the photo instead, speaking to it occasionally as if it were her-a feeble attempt at atonement.
“She never told you about the debt,” Ethan said softly. “She treated you like her final sanctuary. That was her last shred of dignity.”
Charlotte bit her lip. She understood Nancy now. She finally understood why Nancy had cut off all contact.
“I failed her,” Ethan continued, his voice heavy. But I won’t blame myself entirely. I’ll even resent her a little-dying for a relationship isn’t worth it.
“Love can hurt, but it shouldn’t destroy someone. She… she was only using her pain to nurture others. The way she was bullied, that… was because she never learned to love herself.”
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.

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