At his birthday, she gifted my house to him, unexpected I also gifted our rings, directly leave

At the birthday party my fiance Wendy gave away the house I saved up for our future home as a birthday present to her ideal guy all while saying a man can only stand tall with a house of his own the guy was touched and hugged her kissing her I turned and walked away the house was gone so no need for a wedding then Johnny called me from behind Joshua it's my birthday today where's my gift looking at my empty hands others in the room shot me disdainful glances whispering about how I was just there for

free food and drink Wendy embarrassed scolded me Joshua how rude can you be who shows up at a birthday party empty handed go out later and get Johnny a Rolex to apologise I had just gotten off work when she dragged me to this so called birthday party only to watch her give away our house before I might have argued with her but now I'm just too tired who said I didn't prepare a gift I said taking off my engagement ring and putting it on Johnny's finger here's a ring for you all the best to you

and Wendy without hesitation I left the room Wendy chased after me and grabbed my wrist Joshua this is going too far I only see Jonny as a brother who are you trying to annoy I told her seriously it's not about bothering anyone I just think he deserves the ring more than I do Wendy snapped as if Jonny would want to used cheap ring throw it away if he doesn't like it I replied fine by me with a pause Wendy retorted fine don't come asking me to buy you another one later then she stormed off back

when we got engaged Wendy's parents demanded a dowry of 280 000 yuan and said they wouldn't include anything in return I didn't care much about these material things giving her all my savings my only request was for her to buy me an engagement ring but Wendy called me materialistic questioning why a man would need a ring we had a rare week long Cold War until she reluctantly went with me to buy a 2000 yuan pair I treasured mine but hers vanished without a trace now I realized force things never truly belong to you leaving the

hotel I walked down the sidewalk a bitter wind hit me yet I felt none of the cold can't be colder than my heart after a while Wendy called me Joshua where'd you go my stomach hurts if it hurts take some medicine why call me I thought before I drop everything for Wendy rushing to her side but now I'm done being the free caretaker hanging up I called my manager Leo does your offer for me to work as a marketing director overseas still stand Leo was thrilled of course Joshua I've always appreciated your hard work and

drive you'll do great expanding our overseas market thanks Leo I won't let you down I booked a flight overseas for the following week treated myself to a suit I've been eyeing and had a nice dinner my job pays well but I scrimped and saved for a house ironically right when the dream was in sight Wendy shattered it I sat in the mall until it closed returning home near midnight loud music bombarded me as I opened the door Johnny and his friends were having a lively party in the living room they smeared cream all over my

carefully chosen leather sofa and trash was everywhere every detail was my effort and care now ruined fuming I turned on the lights the sudden brightness halted their fun as they looked at me annoyed I gripped my anger and said get out Johnny swaggered over with the deed taunting Joshua getting forgetful already Wendy gifted me the house did you forget his friends chimed in yeah this is Johnny's place now we do what we want whenever we want better change the locks Johnny so no random folks sneak in I snatched the deed from Johnny check it the

names on it are Wendy and mine if you don't leave I'll report you for trespassing Johnny was momentarily embarrassed but quickly retorted Joshua stop acting proud Wendy promised to transfer the house to me tomorrow this house belongs to Wendy and me both need to sign to transfer ownership I don't agree furious Johnny called Wendy who arrived minutes later Johnny immediately played the victim Wendy you promised this house to me Joshua was threatening us with trespassing charges Wendy frowned dragging me aside Joshua I gave this house to Johnny you're causing a scene come on let's leave

I shook off her hand Wendy the house was bought with my money what right do you have to give it away feeling humiliated Wendy raised her voice Joshua are you picking a fight so about that 500,000 I lent to your adoptive parents why didn't you bring it up Johnny and his crew looked shocked oh my god that's just being a mooch who nowadays lets a guy just use a woman's money like that Wendy must have a saints patience to put up with this free loading guy whoever marries someone like that is in for bad luck

their words made my face flush and a deep sense of self doubt hit me hard I grew up in an orphanage and was adopted when my adoptive parents found out I was dating a wealthy girl they asked Wendy for a loan of 500 thousand which always made me insecure around her I thought Wendy understood me but now she's just exposing my embarrassment to everyone trying to keep my cool I pulled out a note with the calculations I made during dinner when we bought the house I put in 630,000 subtract the 500,000 my adoptive parents took

you owe me one hundred and thirty thousand from now on this house is yours alone Wendy was shocked as she looked at the notes she didn't expect me to pull something like this Joshua I thought you were different from others but it turns out you're just as petty I chuckled Wendy since your so generous just pay me back the 130,000 okay my words stirred her up and she immediately transferred 130,000 to me on her phone after I accepted it I said see you at the Land Office tomorrow at 8 a with teeth clenched Wendy replied

alright Joshua just wait you'll be crawling back to me crying soon Johnny looking pleased chimed in will be there on time after leaving the neighborhood I checked into a hotel to rest seeing the 130,000 balance in my bank account I couldn't shake off the sadness that's when Johnny sent me a voice recording in the recording Johny mockingly asked Wendy what did you see in that poor kid Joshua no looks no build Wendy's laugh came through just having some fun poor students like him struggling to eat but clinging to their sad pride isn't it fun to

mess with them but I really am getting tired of him he fusses over everything Johnny's exaggerated laughter echoed in the recording so right from the start she was just toying with me I first met Wendy in my sophomore year when I got into college my adoptive parents didn't want to spend on my tuition or any expenses I worked two part time jobs always choosing the cheapest meals in the dining hall exhaustion and poor nutrition caught up to me and I fainted in gym class Wendy and some classmates got me to the campus clinic from then

on she was part of my life she pretended to send money to my meal plan accidentally and started having me join her for meals she'd give me the good parts of the food helping me back to health eventually she confessed her feelings towards me but I hesitated fearing my background wasn't good enough slowly she broke through my defences and into my heart I had thought she was my salvation now I realized that five years of my youth and all my love were misplaced the next morning I got up early to hide my tired appearance from

Wendy and Johnny I styled my hair and wore a new suit I looked sharp Wendy was even taken aback when she first saw me Johnny a bit sour tempered observed Joshua that suit must have set you back 2600 did you spend the 130 000 you got from Wendy Wendy Frown Joshua weren't you always the frugal one what made you buy such an expensive suit I responded with a soft smile firstly the 130 000 yesterday was a refund my own money secondly I don't need permission to buy what I want used to save up for a

house and a future with Wendy but now I don't have a house or a partner to share it with so why should I be stingy Johnny rolled his eyes at me and clung to Wendy's arm come on Wendy let's go in one's my lucky number and today I want to be the first to transfer a house Wendy stood still glancing back at me and finally asked Joshua is there anything you want to say I just smiled I wish you all the best hope Johnny loves the new house Wendy's expression darkened alright but don't regret it

the property signed over smoothly and Johnny happily left the land office titled deed in hand at least it's all wrapped up now as I was about to go Wendy called out to me you know the bridal shop called yesterday they want us to pick our wedding photos today since you dressed up so nicely today to win me over I'll let you come along I turned back giving her a look as if she's lost it Wendy the wedding house is gone why would I marry you Wendy looked momentarily flustered asking Joshua what do you mean I

clearly stated were breaking up the wedding is off did you get that Joshua are you kidding me the wedding's next week everything's already set and now you're calling it off all I asked was to call off the wedding considering you gave away the wedding house last minute my little request is nothing I turned to Johnny if needed just switchgrooms too Johnny you've got the house and the ring naturally you can marry her holding the title deed Johnny eagerly told Wendy I'm with you all the way Wendy sounded serious Joshua haven't I told you that I

always see Johnny as my little brother he's all alone with no one to rely on who knows how long it'll take him to buy his own place if he has to do it on his own as his older sister I'm just helping him out a bit why are you always so jealous for no reason Wendy has told me more than once that Johnny was orphaned at a young age and has been staying with his uncle's family it's really sad and she asked me to be more understanding of her situation I argued back saying just because

Johnny is unfortunate does that mean he gets to depend on you and you just hand him a house what about me am I not unfortunate too what have you ever given me Wendy confidently replied you have me don't you I'm here with you isn't that enough Jeez she's really full of herself I didn't want to argue with her anymore so I turned and walked away that night I posted on my social media expressing that things were over between me and Wendy and our wedding was off a lot of college friends expressed their regret saying we

were once so in love that we were a couple from campus to wedding vows yeah if I hadn't heard those recordings I would have believed that we were genuinely in love but now I know it was all a facade not long after I posted Wendy called me Joshua who gave you the right to unilaterally call off the wedding our wedding is not cancelled in a cold voice I replied whether or not you call off the wedding is your business but I won't be there Wendy we're even now Wendy unwilling to give up ask again Joshua

are you really breaking up with me over a house that's right just because of a house maybe Wendy will never understand that it's not just a house to me it's about having a home hearing the determination in my voice she sounded like she was compromising saying fine we can buy another house we'll save for a couple more years and pay a down payment how's that thinking about these past two years I didn't buy a single new piece of clothing even when I was starving outside I'd go home to cook just to save money every time

I thought about getting closer to that dream house I felt motivated even if things were tough but just because of her words the house was given to Johnny her true love now she casually tells me to save for another 2 years and then what take on a mortgage and save for another 30 years what am I a fool meant to be by her side suffering Wendy a house was my dream but I no longer want it with you right after hanging up with Wendy my adoptive parents called scolding me without any mercy the gist of

it was now that I've cancelled the wedding they won't return the money they borrowed from Wendy I'll have to figure out how to pay it back myself I wasn't surprised by this outcome from the moment they got the money they spent it all on my brother's investments I never planned on getting it back but I did have a final use for that money I told them I'd come by the next day to discuss what to do that night Wendy sent me hundreds of messages from initially ordering me not to cancel the wedding to later pleading

with me I didn't even finish reading before blocking her the next day I brought along a pre prepared agreement and went home my adoptive parents and brother all looked at me with disdain as if my presence polluted the place eventually my adoptive mother spoke first Joshua you were in a good relationship it was heading towards marriage what happened I looked at them calmly they want 288 000 in bride price and for you to repay the 500 000 borrowed otherwise they won't let their daughter marry me mother shook her head repeatedly that's impossible from the moment

we adopted you we've been feeding you giving you an education we spent quite a bit on you so there isn't any extra money for bride price I laughed inside she's not afraid of being struck by lightning saying such things father bang the table then don't marry there's no shortage of bachelor's finding wives these days Wendy's parents said if there's no marriage you'll have to return the 500,000 to their family hearing this my brother who'd been playing games suddenly panicked no that's not possible I've already invested that money with my friends I definitely can't get it

back anytime soon I pretended to be troubled what should we do then if you don't pay up they said they'd call the cops on you for fraud mother said fraud no way haven't you been with their daughter for years hearing her words made me incredibly uncomfortable I didn't want to continue playing games with them anymore there is another way I said which is for me to sever all ties I'll take on the 500 000 debt alone this way even if they report it they'll only come after me hearing this the three of them instantly lit

up agreeing that it was a great idea I took out the Severance agreement and they didn't hesitate to sign after signing I was about to leave when my mother said she made plenty of food and wanted me to stay for lunch thinking this might be our last family meal together I agreed with their burden off loaded my adoptive mother went to cook my adoptive father watched his spy movies and my brother continued gaming felt like I was the only extra person there I pushed open the bathroom door the small foldable bed I used to sleep

on was gone our home had two bedrooms and a living room one bedroom was for my parents the other for my brother when I was first adopted one room was mine but after my brother was born my room became a foldable bed that moved from the living room to the bathroom I slept wherever it was placed they have never really treated me as family leaving me feeling like I didn't belong that's why I wanted to start a family with Wendy I wanted a real home of my own mother did prepare a lot of dishes funny

how the whole table was full of dishes my brother loved not a single thing I liked I ate like I was chewing wax swallowing the food and then I was out of the neighborhood feeling like a walking corpse I never expected to see Wendy rushing over at the gate she handed me a tissue looking all concerned that's when I realized I was crying no wonder my face felt cold every time you come back here you're upset for ages why do you still come back I took the tissue wiped my tears and steadied myself because I

need to tell them I'm cancelling the wedding with you Wendy froze Joshua I said I'd work with you to buy a new house why can't you let this go I walked out expressionless because I'm not in love with you anymore is that reason enough no I don't believe you you used to love me so much this can't just end out of nowhere believe whatever you want just then Wendy's phone rang Johnny's name popped up on the caller ID after hesitating she picked up Johnny didn't I say to call me less often Johnny's voice sounded pained

Wendy I twisted my ankle coming downstairs and fell when he sounded worried where did you fall I'm coming she got Johnny's address and looked at me apologetically from her car window Joshua Johnny twisted his ankle I'll take him to the hospital and come back for you I smiled faintly and nodded go ahead don't keep him waiting twisted ankles hurt a lot with my blessing Wendy seemed relieved I'll be back soon wait for me her car sped off into the traffic like an arrow seen this scene many times no matter when or where Johnny could always

summon her with a call she wouldn't come back actually Wendy was wrong I didn't just suddenly stop loving her my love had already faded from waiting and disappointment time after time sure enough not long after I saw Johnny's post on his feet Wendy once told me whenever I needed her she'd be there she's never broken her word the picture showed Wendy feeding him porridge below that was yesterday's post she said a man only stands tall with a house so she gave me one feeling happy and her post about Disney a trip she wanted for a

long time these posts caused many arguments between us now I liked every one of his posts even after getting back to the hotel my night routine done Wendy finally remembered me and called her voice was tired Joshua I'm here to pick you up where are you no need I'm already back Wendy sounded a bit annoyed you left without telling me had me running all over do you know how tired I am today I mocked lightly Wendy do you think I'm stupid look at the time why'd you think I'd wait I used to be dumb on

a rare holiday Wendy and I planned a hike half way up Johnny called her away she told me to wait for her I climbed to the top waited from sun up to moonrise I knew then deep down she wouldn't come but I stubbornly continued to wait I just wanted to see if she'd remember me she did finally and her first words were scolding Joshua are you an idiot didn't come back when I didn't show you're just standing there for show Wendy remembered too her voice softened sorry Joshua I promise I won't leave you again your

apology means nothing for days Wendy called me or waited downstairs at work but most times she'd leave when Johnny called then call me to apologise this cycle repeated until the day before our wedding Wendy looked at me seriously Joshua Johnny is being discharged today you know he has no family only I can do this for him but I promise this is the last time once we're married I'll keep my distance what made Wendy think my indifference lately the breakup and wedding cancellation was just me being angry that I'd show up on our wedding day I

was done explaining after she left I packed coincidentally I was scheduled to fly out with the team the same day she'd see I wasn't bluffing the next morning I met up with colleagues at the airport before boarding I checked Wendy's messages Joshua the fleet's a no show Joshua the dresser said you didn't pick up the car today Joshua it's our wedding day where are you I sent her my location at the airport and boarded turning off my phone the thought of Wendy in a panic lifted my spirits looking out at the clear skies I knew

a new life awaited when I returned it was six months later now the overseas marketing director I came back to report on our success job done stepping out of the company I saw Wendy waiting she wasn't the vibrant woman I used to know her face was worn with age the moment she saw me she couldn't help rushing forward and hugging me tightly Joshua she said where have you been these past six months I've looked everywhere for you and couldn't find you I had heard from the main office that Wendy was trying to find me but

I had already told them to keep my whereabouts a secret Wendy's act of giving the wedding house to another man didn't sit well with them either and they all turned their backs on her after hitting several brick walls Wendy had stopped coming I thought she'd given up by now I placed my hand on her shoulder and pushed her away looking at her with a critical eye in hindsight my taste back then was pretty poor loving such a lousy person to the point of losing myself was just pathetic my voice was distant and cold Wendy what

are you looking for me for I'm pretty sure I made things clear a while ago Wendy visibly emotional said Joshua let me take you somewhere once we arrive I'm sure you'll forgive me sorry my time is valuable I don't have time to waste with you I said as I turn to leave Wendy grabbed my wrist and pushed me into the back seat of a car locking the doors deftly I was about to call the cops when Wendy pleaded with me Joshua please just come with me to this place I promise if you still can't forgive

me after you've seen it won't bother you ever again driven by some kind of curiosity I put down my phone I wondered where this place was that she was so confident about the route we took grew more and more familiar eventually we stopped below the building of our old wedding home I had a vague premonition then Wendy took me upstairs and stopped at the door of our former wedding home she opened the door with a key inside the decor had returned to how I originally set it up plain fabric sofas a bouquet of tulips on

the table even the once broken ornaments by Johnny and others were replaced exactly as before Wendy pulled out a bright red property certificate and opened it clearly had both our names on it with a change date from three months ago she handed it to me earnestly saying Joshua I was wrong before Johnny and I grew up together he lost his parents young and everyone around always told me to protect and care for him it became an obsession over time but during these past six months without you I realized you are the most important man to

me I love you I've taken back the house hoping to end the conflict caused by it with the house itself her words were well spoken and moving but they were only convincing to the old me the current me didn't need that anymore I pulled out my own apartment key and waved it in front of her I don't need to rely on anyone now I can achieve what I want on my own expanding the market in a new city over the past six months was tough but the payoff was worth it my salary doubled and with

that and the 130 000 yuan I had saved up I was able to put a down payment on a 60 square meter studio apartment it wasn't big or in a fancy location but it was enough for me it's truly my own home Wendy stared at my keys speechless and after a long pause with tears Welling up she Joshua is there really no chance for us anymore without hesitation I said no chance tears rolled down her cheeks I knew she was giving up for real this time confidently reclaiming the wedding house from Johnny and setting it

up again didn't win my forgiveness my new apartment proved to be a harsh reality check I turned and walked away feeling no obligation to comfort her downstairs I ran into Johnny his eyes were filled with bitterness as he said Joshua you must be really pleased with yourself now you think you've won I never took him seriously before and I certainly wouldn't now ignoring him I kept walking away Johnny taunted from behind Joshua let me tell you Wendy is having my baby she will belong to me for sure I just smiled nonchalantly and the words of

blessing came out easily I wish the three of you a happy and blissful family life this trip back was full of challenges after sorting things out with Wendy my adoptive parents stormed into my workplace next it turned out my brother lost 500 000 yuan on a failed investment and then got scammed abroad they scraped together 700 000 yuan by emptying their savings and selling their old apartment between still needed 300 000 yuan more and they wanted it from me I reported them to the authorities they then tried to gain sympathy online manipulating my sense of

duty as a son I posted a copy of the agreement we signed severing ties along with a detailed piece about my life as an adopted child the response was overwhelming as many orphans resonated with my experience I hadn't realized so many shared my story we supported each other online using my story as inspiration we can't choose our birth or parents but through our effort and resilience we can create our own future my adoptive parents failed to guilt trip me out of any money and were instead bombarded online they vanished from sight eventually they managed to

scrape together 1 million yuan but couldn't bring my brother back losing their son in old age LED to a mental breakdown and their eventual suicide after hearing the news I took a day off I went back to handle the burial of their remains five years later I had moved up to the position of vice president in the company I was transferred back to the main office the company had a charity event to help kids with heart disease recover I was there as a representative I didn't expect to see Wendy there she was holding a frail

little boy applying for the company's charity support that's when I found out Johnny had drugged her to get Wendy pregnant they got married because of the baby due to the drugs the baby's development was incomplete in the womb he was born with a severe heart condition they spent all their money on his treatment Johnny ended up leaving since we were once acquaintances I spoke to the people in charge Wendy's kid got approved for the charity support after the event I left in a company car Wendy ran after me with her child to thank me I

just waved it off later a co worker asked why I didn't use the chance to get back at her to settle the score from back then I told them it wasn't necessary we started on the same line but years later when we met again I was at the peak of my life she was just a face in the crowd taking my help that made her suffer more than any revenge ever could