Ruined and Reborn: My Descent and Ascent

The day after the Phillips family went bankrupt, my fiancé, Cary Walsh kicked me out.

He said he wanted me to experience his past life and learn independence.

Later, I was completely cast into the dust, emotionally scarred.

Yet, he appeared like a knight in shining armor, pulling me out of despair.

"Elliana, from now on, you can only rely on me."

But how could he know that the one who returned was a ghost from the past?

When Cary found me, I had heavy makeup on, was sporting dreadlocks, and had a cigarette in my mouth.

"Hey, I won this time, pay up."

I casually tossed the cigarette to the ground, urging the two thugs beside me.

Noticing their eyes fixed on something behind me, I turned around, surprised to see Cary, who seemed out of place in this setting.

The young man was dressed in an expensive suit and leather shoes. His eyebrows and eyes were clear and handsome with an aloof and refined air. Standing in the dirty and muddy alley now, he was just like a god who had been dragged down to the mortal world.

"Elliana, it's time to go home."

Cary ignored the filthy surroundings and my rebel look.

He embraced me gently, as if finding a lost treasure.

Realizing I couldn't break free from his hold, I simply extended my hand to the two men: "Hand over the money."

Silently, they pulled out two hundred-dollar bills and handed them to me.

I stuffed the money into my pocket and followed Cary into the car.

As soon as the car door opened, a graceful girl named Kay Sanderson, who was in a dress, looked over and said, "Cary, you're back..."

Her voice trailed off when she saw me, her expression turning disdainful.

"Elliana, it's been a year, and you've turned into such a delinquent. You're embarrassing us."

"Shouldn't you ask Cary? Isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

Kay was momentarily speechless, turning to Cary with a wronged look.

Cary merely gave her a warning glance and said coldly, "Sit in the front."

Reluctantly, Kay glared at me before moving to the passenger seat.

The partition rose, and Cary pulled me into his arms, his warm breath on my face.

A wave of nausea surged within me, but I suppressed it.

"Elliana, I've missed you." He said, his eyes filled with deep affection, as if the past year had never separated us.

Seeing my silence, he didn't mind, gently undoing my hair and stroking the soft strands.

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to dye your hair back. Don't worry, I won't let those who bullied you get away."

I looked up at him. "I like my hair color as it is."

He didn't care, just patted my back with indulgent helplessness. "Be good, don't be difficult."

I lowered my gaze, a sarcastic smile playing on my lips.

Cary always centered everything around himself.

Whatever he thought I should like, I had to like.

Just like when he kicked me out a year ago, leaving me in the slums.

He said loftily, "The Phillips family is gone, and Elliana should learn to live independently. I went through the same." After that, he sent me here, even ordering everyone not to help me.

Back at the Walsh family villa, I was taken to my old room.

The layout and items were the same as a year ago, meticulously cleaned.

As I sank into the soft bed, my thoughts drifted.

Cary was the illegitimate son the Walsh family later acknowledged, and I fell for him at first sight.

After three years together, I realized I had harbored a traitor.

A year ago, the Phillips family's downfall was Cary's doing.

On the day I was kicked out, I stood in the rain in a thin nightgown, asking him why he did it.

He smiled, tucking my wet hair behind my ear, leaning close and said, "Look at you now, so disgraceful."

My body trembled uncontrollably, and through his eyes, I saw someone else.

A stranger I had met only once.

In the school cafeteria, a tall, thin boy bumped into me during lunch.

He was lanky, with heavy bangs covering most of his face, exuding a gloomy solitude.

Back then, I looked down at him coldly, saying, "Dirty thing, don't touch me."

So, he was that boy.

Knock, knock.

A rhythmic knock sounded, Cary's voice coming through the door: "Elliana, come out for dinner after your bath."

I responded softly, quickly showered, and went to the wardrobe for clothes.

Opening it, I was met with rows of innocent white dresses.

My eyes filled with uncontrollable disgust and fear, my body trembling slightly.

"What's wrong, Elliana?" Cary was suddenly behind me, standing so close I could almost smell the fresh, woodsy scent on him.

"Ugh..."

Almost immediately, a wave of nausea hit, and I rushed back to the bathroom to vomit.

Only when my stomach was empty did I stop.

Through the misty steam, I looked at myself in the mirror.

My face was pale, lips crimson, eyes bloodshot, utterly disheveled.

Cary stood two steps away, his expression obscured by the steam, his face cold.

As I passed him, he grabbed my hand and said, "What's going on?"

I shook off his hand, sneered at him and said, "Hasn't Cary always had people watching me? Shouldn't you know everything that happens to me?"

Then I took all the white dresses out and cut them to pieces in front of Cary.

"Didn't you used to love wearing white dresses?"

"As you said, that was in the past." I continued my task without looking at Cary.

Minutes later, a maid brought new clothes. I chose a red dress to wear.

Cary still took me to dye my red hair back to black.

He loved me with black hair, wearing white dresses, the obedient girl look, yet he was the one who destroyed the old me.

Cary took me to a social gathering.

Some people seemed to have heard the news, their eyes showing little surprise, only disdain and contempt.

Back then, the eldest daughter of the Phillips family was the ideal for many, yet she devoted herself to Cary, the illegitimate son.

After the Phillips family went bankrupt and my parents passed, those who dared not act before were now eager to make their move.