Stop Loving Me

I am the adopted daughter of the Zhou family.

After my stepfather and biological mother passed away, I was raised by my uncle from the Zhou family.

He took care of me for six years, and I loved him for those six years.

I guarded my secret carefully, believing I had hidden it well.

But when I was kidnapped, my uncle paid the kidnappers double the ransom.

This was because his secretary violated my privacy by revealing my most personal thoughts from my diary and suggested taking advantage of the situation to pay extra ransom, hoping the kidnappers could help rid me of those inappropriate desires.

I was tortured and abused by the kidnappers until I was on the brink of collapse, never daring to love again.

Yet, my uncle, with red eyes, pleaded, "Zhaozhao, don't leave!"

On the day of a major corporate event for the Zhou Group, the kidnappers dumped me outside the company building.

Swarms of journalists rushed over, surrounding me, and even started a live broadcast on the spot.

Within moments, the news of the Zhou family's adopted daughter, pale, vacant-eyed, filthy, and seemingly deranged, topped the trending list.

I lay on the ground outside the company, staring blankly at the sky, as if none of this concerned me.

Reporters constantly shoved cameras in my face, and some maliciously speculated, "I heard this adopted daughter of the Zhou family was naturally arrogant and overbearing, bullying those she shouldn't have, so this is revenge."

"Scoff, but being kidnapped for a month, she must have been terribly abused."

"If it were me, I wouldn't have the face to go on living, but then again, this is the price for bullying others."

I listened quietly to their discussions about me, not offering a single word in defense.

Suddenly, a gasp echoed, and there was Caleb, his strikingly handsome face appearing before me.

Seeing me in such a pitiful state, Caleb's brow furrowed, and his demeanor turned cold and severe.

He pursed his lips, removed his suit jacket, and draped it over me.

"Zhaozhao, Uncle will take you home."

I nodded, struggling to my feet and limping towards the distant black Maybach.

As I walked, the wounds on my feet tore open again, leaving trails of crimson on the beautiful marble tiles at the company entrance.

Caleb watched this scene, his brow knitted tightly.

I smiled slightly, thinking, are you feeling sorry for me?

But wasn't all of this orchestrated by your own hand?

Isn't this exactly what you wanted?

In truth, you should be happy.

After all, having gone through this hellish ordeal, I've come to recognize my own status and identity, completely severing those unacceptable feelings.

Caleb, you really got what you wanted.

Caleb stepped forward and picked me up in his arms, carrying me towards the car.

I looked at him, so close, yet felt no excitement as before, only a serene lowering of my gaze.

Once in the car, I sat obediently in the seat.

Caleb tugged at his tie with some irritation, "Gavin, how did you end up like this?"

I looked down at myself.

The dress no longer showed its original color, my hair was tangled from not being washed for so long, my limbs were covered in wounds, and my feet were still bleeding.

Anyone would be shocked to see me like this.

But why did I end up this way?

Initially, when the kidnappers took me, they only wanted some money and then planned to let me go.

But when they called Caleb for ransom, his secretary took out my cherished diary and laid bare my feelings for Caleb.

She suggested to Caleb that they could take this opportunity to pay extra ransom, letting the kidnappers help rid me of those inappropriate desires.

After a moment of silence, Caleb agreed.

I listened in despair to the voice on the other end of the phone.

The voice that once brought me comfort now left me feeling utterly cold and betrayed.

The kidnappers, thrilled to receive double the ransom, hung up and intensified their abuse.

I was forced to endure unimaginable horrors that night.

All beauty crumbled.

From that moment, I realized clearly that I was nothing more than a burden around Caleb.

If he wished it, I amounted to nothing.

All these years of self-deception were just a joke.

Seeing my silence, Caleb spoke impatiently, "You're lying at the company entrance like this. Don't you know today is a major corporate event for the Zhou Group?"

I knew he blamed me for appearing in this state at the company entrance, affecting the Zhou Group's annual meeting today and bringing negative impact to the company.

But how could I have controlled the kidnappers' actions?

Even if I explained, Caleb wouldn't believe me.

Moreover, after seeing through everything, I learned to be obedient.

I curled up quietly in the seat and said softly, "I'm sorry, Uncle."

Hearing me call him that, Caleb raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

I had always called him Caleb, stubbornly refusing to call him Uncle no matter how he corrected me.

I thought it was the only luxury, the only insistence I had for myself.

But now, it all seemed unimportant.

Caleb looked at me deeply, then smiled, "The kidnappers' lessons were really effective. You've finally given up on those inappropriate desires."

Yes, I finally gave up on those inappropriate desires.

But the price was too devastating.

If I could do it all over again, I would rather have died with my stepfather and mother than live this life now.