STIGMA

Heavy downpour came as the month of August came to an end. The whole city was blanketed with rain and darkness.

At the North Prison, the door of a prison cell opened with an echoing bang. A slender man wearing a police uniform slowly walked through.

"Don't get into trouble next time, young missy. There is nothing in this world that can't be solved with rationality. It would be a pity if you would have to spend most of your life in a place like this, especially when you're still youthful!" The man frowned and shook his head. With her head down, Joan Gu silently bit her lower lip.

She was clearly wronged, but no one believed her.

All the other prisoners, who had also been released, were picked up by their loved ones or relatives. One after the other, they left until she was the only one who remained. When the rain started to pour, Joan Gu pulled herself together and looked for some place outside the prison to keep herself dry.

The heavy rain got her clothes soaking wet, making her shiver. Her eyes strained up and down the street, hoping that someone she knew would finally come get her.

"You're Joan Gu, right? Why are you still standing here? Didn't your husband pick you up? We informed him yesterday of your release." It was time for the warden to get off work, and he was surprised to see that Joan Gu was still here. The day before the prisoners were released, the family members of the prisoners were informed so that they would be able to fetch them.

"He...he was probably delayed by something important... It's okay. I can wait."

Her heart was torn into pieces. Joan Gu felt that maybe Scott Jian had completely forgotten about her release, but then the cruel reality suddenly hit her.

'You're such a silly girl... He was the one who put you behind bars, and yet you're still expecting that he would pick you up!' she thought to herself mockingly with a wry smile.

She hugged her white coat tighter to her body, and, without a second thought, walked out into the rain. In a matter of seconds, her clothes were completely drenched, her hair plastered onto the sides of her face.

The money she had earned from the part-time jobs she worked in the jail was not enough for her to take a taxi to go home. Gritting her teeth, Joan Gu dragged her legs that felt as if they were as heavy as lead. It was supposed to be the start of summertime, and yet the weather today was as cold as ice.

From time to time, passersby who were in hurry would slow down and stare at her with judgment in their eyes, thinking that she must be crazy for walking out in the rain like that.

'A lot has changed in three years,' Joan Gu thought to herself. With her fairly vague memory, she made her way to the most prosperous entertainment zone in S City.

Meanwhile, a waiter wearing white gloves respectfully opened the doors to the prestigious club in all of S City. A tall, handsome man casually made his way outside.

When he walked past, all the women stared at him with eyes full of thirst. They whispered to each other in excitement, "Oh my god... It's Mr. Lu!"

A confident and voluptuous woman came up to him, twirling a glass of wine in her hand. She intended to introduce herself, but Darren Lu simply brushed past her, not even giving her a single glance. The woman was ashamed and annoyed, but she could do nothing. Darren Lu was always like this. No woman could win his heart.

At the street corner, the paparazzi quickly got on their feet and shot Darren Lu's every move. They hid themselves so well that no one even noticed them.

Upon stepping outside, Darren Lu saw that the valet had not yet returned with his car. Staring out, his face turned into a dark frown.

Joan Gu was walking outside the prestigious club. Being out in the rain for so long, she was starting to feel a bit feverish. With her head down, she mechanically walked around, her feet splashing puddles all around.

Just then, a drunkard accidentally bumped into her. Caught off guard, Joan Gu staggered and fell sideways. Instinctively, she flung her arms around, trying to grab onto anything for support.

In the nick of time, Joan Gu grabbed onto some man's shirt. Surprised, the man pulled back, but with the amount of force, he fell down to the ground. It was at that point that Joan Gu was lying directly on top of Darren Lu at the sidewalk.